The VISES of Garage Journal

[CRSINMICH]

MINI VISES:
I had time to take a closer look at those mini vises I bought today. The red micro vise with 1 inch jaws is not quite a toy but far from a real vise, although it was mounted to a bench when I found it. The blue-green machinist/drill press vise has 1½ inch jaws and seems to be made fairly well, but I’m going to check the sides for square. I should be able to make use of it from time to time. There is a poorly made name stamped on top of the rear jaws. I now have my first India vise! The largest of the three which has the massive 2⅝ inch jaws has been altered. I believe that it began life as a clamp on but someone cut the lower part of the clamp off and converted it to a front mount. I think they also drilled and tapped two holes up from the bottom. It still is a good vise. The jaw faces are flat and smooth – very smooth.

 

[bagged89s10]

Ok, this was odd. No getting up in the wee smalls, no chatting, no Jedi mind tricks. I just walked into an estate sale and bought 3 vises for $5. Of course…

Those little machinist/drill press vises are really handy. I just found one in my vise like and started using one to hold small stock.



Oh yeah. $5 for 3 vises is a you **** deal!

 

[bagged89s10]

Did some handle work tonight.

The nose Before


The nose now




Having a 6x48 belt sander really helped make quick work of smoothing out the nose.

Just waiting on some steel so I can attempt my first new vise handle.

 

[CRSINMICH]

Did some handle work tonight.

bagged: I like understatement too but that was more than SOME handle work. You know there are good treatments and medications for OCD.

Spectacular results as ever.

 

[joe.striper]

AP:

Joe: so how do you know what i paid? do you have drones or minions following me around? the usually 35 minute drive was an hour each way because nobody knows how to drive in the rain or drive slow in the SLOW LANE.

cheers and thanks

Drivesit, i know because i almost called on it. I'm in Maine buying thst HUGE American Scale and staying in Portland ME overnight. Went to search CL, put in Portland CL took me to CL Portland OR and I found that vise. Almost called the guy, it had been up 3 hours, then I realozed...DUH!!

 

[joe.striper]

Those little machinist/drill press vises are really handy. I just found one in my vise like and started using one to hold small stock.



Oh yeah. $5 for 3 vises is a you **** deal!

You need a bigger vise Veeps!!

 

[nickelmore]

First one is the brute that we use at my hobby shop. It mounted on a bench thats 1 inch steel plate probably 6.5 feet by 4.5 we use 4 air cylinders attached to casters when we move it.

[/IMG]

Second one is a little Wilton that I picked up years ago I guess I need to clean it up at some point. Any idea on how to date this one?

I can't say I have ever seen one of these mini Wiltons, looks like it has close out stamped in the top by both jaws, but I did not have my good glasses on.


Good ol Chicago USA

 

[Hemi49]

Did some handle work tonight.

The nose Before


The nose now




Having a 6x48 belt sander really helped make quick work of smoothing out the nose.

Just waiting on some steel so I can attempt my first new vise handle.

BAGGED
It looks great!.....Nice work....
Hemi

 

[Outlawmws]

990: yes, like i say the price is optimistic. with the pin missing the swivel jaw might be a little difficult to get loose, but the Parker guys here might like it because i can't say i see that model often or at all that i can remember. Parker isn't in my top 5 personally, but they are well made and a quality vise.

Sure you have; that's the same model I bought off of Carla some time back... Someone else also has one.

 

[Outlawmws]

MINI VISES:
I had time to take a closer look at those mini vises I bought today. The red micro vise with 1 inch jaws is not quite a toy but far from a real vise, although it was mounted to a bench when I found it. The blue-green machinist/drill press vise has 1½ inch jaws and seems to be made fairly well, but I’m going to check the sides for square. I should be able to make use of it from time to time. There is a poorly made name stamped on top of the rear jaws. I now have my first India vise! The largest of the three which has the massive 2⅝ inch jaws has been altered. I believe that it began life as a clamp on but someone cut the lower part of the clamp off and converted it to a front mount. I think they also drilled and tapped two holes up from the bottom. It still is a good vise. The jaw faces are flat and smooth – very smooth.

CRS; Side view of the red mini please?

 

[anndel]

Ok, this was odd. No getting up in the wee smalls, no chatting, no Jedi mind tricks. I just walked into an estate sale and bought 3 vises for $5. Of course…

Nice Scooooooooooooooooooooooore

 

[CRSINMICH]

CRS; Side view of the red mini please?

Outlaw: Here ya go.

 

[CRSINMICH]

Nice Scooooooooooooooooooooooore

anndel: Thanks. They just kept appearing in front of me and I just kept grabbing them. I think I've been to a few too many estate sales. The guy who ran this one knew me.

 

[topop101]

anndel: Thanks. They just kept appearing in front of me and I just kept grabbing them. I think I've been to too a few too many estate sales. The guy who ran this one knew me.

lol. That will happen ! I speak with many faces that I see so often year after year and I don't even know there names...

 

[CRSINMICH]

lol. That will happen ! I speak with many faces that I see so often year after year and I don't even know there names...

Top: At one of the first estate sales I went to I overheard someone else standing in line say to his friend, "That one guy is here". His friend replied, "All of those 'one guys' are here". I guess that includes me now.

On an unrelated note: I'm going to another sale in about 2 hours.

 

[bagged89s10]

bagged: I like understatement too but that was more than SOME handle work. You know there are good treatments and medications for OCD.



Spectacular results as ever.

Thanks man. It only took be about 2 hours tops.

 

[bagged89s10]

BAGGED

It looks great!.....Nice work....

Hemi

Thanks hemi

 

[Evergreentree]

Check this one out. D. Simplex 84p. A woman wants to unload it for a song. I think she said 9". What do you guys think?

$100

 

[Evergreentree]

Another pic

 

[joe.striper]

First one is the brute that we use at my hobby shop. It mounted on a bench thats 1 inch steel plate probably 6.5 feet by 4.5 we use 4 air cylinders attached to casters when we move it.

[/IMG]

Second one is a little Wilton that I picked up years ago I guess I need to clean it up at some point. Any idea on how to date this one?

I can't say I have ever seen one of these mini Wiltons, looks like it has close out stamped in the top by both jaws, but I did not have my good glasses on.


Good ol Chicago USA

That Reed 4c is an ultimate vise for nearly everyone. The little Wilton is early. Unscrew the dynanic jaw until it separates and turn the jawvover. You will see a date stamped on the bottom, usually as something like 05 53.

Guys here would definitely covet both of those vises.

 

[Evergreentree]

Last pic.

Curious on quality of brand, and what flaws you guys see. It's big. Can't find info on this one

 

[CRSINMICH]

Last pic.

Curious on quality of brand, and what flaws you guys see. It's big. Can't find info on this one

EGT: Did you try searching for Desmond or Desmond Stephan? I can't quite read the number just left of the SIMPLEX in the photo. Can you read it on yours? I don't see any obvious flaws with that vise except that it is not in my shop.

Check this link: http://scuttle.dayid.org/wiki/index.php/Desmond_Stephan_Vise

 

[Gazedo]

Can anyone identify this one? Really old looking semi exposed screw fixed base.
http://fortmyers.craigslist.org/chl/tls/5352561023.html

 

[Evergreentree]

It says 84p. I can't find any specifics of this particular vise. It's an hour and half drive, which I guess is not to far for an addict...

 

[drivesitfar]

Joe: that's too funny about the Portland, Maine and Portland, Oregon and you looking at a vise i bought because i found the American Scale #79 in Maine before you did and was thinking about it and talking to another member about it when Thrum posted the link on our thread. SMALL WORLD?????

Nickle: my two favorite vises you own. more pictures of the big Reed 4c if you have time would be great. also since i think Wilton made thousands of the Chicago baby bullets before they left Chicago that vise could have a date even into 1980's like some have on the Wilton date stamping thread we have in vintage tools section. my guess yours is in the 40's or 50's so if you don't mind pulling out the dynamic jaw and cleaning off the key to see the date and post it for our study that would be great. also would tell you when it left the factory.

Outlaw: i guess not often then for the swivel jaw Parker. the one you bought from Carla looked so much better and how long ago was that? care to post more pictures of it or remind me (us) what post that was?

 

[drivesitfar]

Gaz: for $25 i'd buy that vise and you might have heard i don't really NEED another vise. looks like a Reed, but maybe you can get a few more pictures and of the other side? and maybe a few without all the red paint on it?

EG: that vise is more than likely a 4 inch vise and Desmond or Simplex are well made and became Rigid vise company. that price isnt too bad if the stand is included, but check the jaws closely to see if any damage or welding repairs.

CRS: are there vises at the sales today or just old tools? you might want to meet some of the guys at the sales you go to because some are members here i'm pretty sure. good luck

 

[Evergreentree]

I don't think it's a 4" jaw..

 

[rmalkow2]

Top: At one of the first estate sales I went to I overheard someone else standing in line say to his friend, "That one guy is here". His friend replied, "All of those 'one guys' are here". I guess that includes me now.

On an unrelated note: I'm going to another sale in about 2 hours.

After all these amazing vise acquisitions your reputation must be preceding you at estate sales now. You may have to start wearing different disguises to retain your stealth.

 

[CRSINMICH]

It says 84p. I can't find any specifics of this particular vise. It's an hour and half drive, which I guess is not to far for an addict...

EGT: If I was you I'd be on the way there right now! Ah...how far would that vise be from Michigan? Just asking.

p.s. Be careful of creeping vise addiction. You might find yourself buying mini vises by the handful if you don't watch out.

Drives: There were no vises pictured for today's sale but there were none pictured yesterday either. There are too many tools at today's sale for there not to be some kind of clamping device buried somewhere in there unless those pesky heirs grabbed it already.

 

[Evergreentree]

To far from Michigan crs, as well as all the rest of the vises! All of them!

 

[drivesitfar]

EG: maybe you should start looking in Connecticut because Joe and Bagged find vises on the ground and in their driveways up there.

it might not be a 4 inch vise, but you'd be amazed how bit a picture looks compared to what you see in person unless there is a tape or can involved. i also remember a guy that had a ruler that started at 3 so when his tape said 10 inch jaw it was really a 7 incher. go figure and BEE CAREFUL because as CRS and others have said the vice for vises is real and it sounds like you are heading towards building more shelves or getting a storage unit soon.

 

[Evergreentree]

Yes. I'm looking for a new bench right now...then I'll need To buy a house with more property for a pole barn to house shelving units and equipment!

Somewhere she send a pic of a measurement of the jaw. I can't find it at the moment.

 

[GETRIDAONE]

Can anyone identify this one? Really old looking semi exposed screw fixed base.

That is most likely a Prentiss that is made in a Lewis style pattern. The top bar tends to warp over time so check to see if it straight.

 

[zkling]

Can anyone identify this one? Really old looking semi exposed screw fixed base.
http://fortmyers.craigslist.org/chl/tls/5352561023.html

IIRC Getridone is correct, that is a Lewis tool co. vise out of NY. I ran across a swivel base version of that one time.

 

[xxaler]

Yes. I'm looking for a new bench right now...then I'll need To buy a house with more property for a pole barn to house shelving units and equipment!

Somewhere she send a pic of a measurement of the jaw. I can't find it at the moment.

Get in your vehicle and go. Thats a steal regardless of jaw size.

 

[drivesitfar]

ZK: do the feet on that Lewis vise that we thought might be a Reed or Prentiss look like that normally or is that a repair? i do see some writing on the side just above it, but with all that crappy paint on it i'm having a hard time reading it.

do you happen to have any pictures of your Lewis to post?

EG: can you tell this might not be the place to ask if you should buy a vise yet?

 

[bl00]

Check this one out. D. Simplex 84p. A woman wants to unload it for a song. I think she said 9". What do you guys think?

$100

If the fist digit of the model is an 8 then it's an 8" jaw. Here's an later version from Ridge/Ridgid. It should be a good solid vise.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=44782&page=272

 

[CRSINMICH]

[QUOTE CRSINMICH Drives:There were no vises pictured for today's sale but there were none pictured yesterday either. There are too many tools at today's sale for there not to be some kind of clamping device buried somewhere in there unless those pesky heirs grabbed it already.[/QUOTE]

Well okay, I'll let you all in on a secret. I don't always score vises. This guy had a garage full of tools and metal thingies but no vises! As predicted though, there were clamping devices to be had. I got $10 worth. In case you can't tell from the pictures, those are2 1/2 inch Adjustable C clamps from Chicago and the vise grips are Craftsman.

 

[Loydski29]

Anyone know the manufacturer of this vise? It's one we have at my work but it has no identifiable marks.

 

[drivesitfar]

Loyd: Probably bison or leinen but definitely European. Love the foot pedal for the true third hand helper. Maybe our members across the pond have one to tell you more.