The VISES of Garage Journal

[oldldh]

Outlaw...

I take back almost everything bad, I ever said about you...

Notice I said --- Almost!!!

You are a truly magnanimous human being to try to help a fellow vise-a-holic out of a jam, like that...

Wow, I am impressed...

 

[JZiggy]

Picked up a clean little Reed 103 at the flea market today, $35 (seemed pretty fair to me).

I don't know the Reeds real well... would this be a 60's version?

 

[Off-Street Parking]

I've got a little one like that to sell one of these days. Not sure if refinishing it will bring more money than original or not? I personally like original.

 

[Outlawmws]

That's not a beat working vise so...

Refinishing that little Prentis would lower its value. Carefully clean the painted surfaces. (WD-40) you can de-rust the metal surfaces, again carefully, pop the swivel lock loose (mini screw jack from inside the housing) and call it good.

You have almost 100% paint, WITH the pin-striping. leave well enough alone!

 

[vertguy]

Picked up a clean little Reed 103 at the flea market today, $35 (seemed pretty fair to me).

I don't know the Reeds real well... would this be a 60's version?

Nice vise and price. I have the big brother to yours (104-1/2) and think the 60's is the right era for this style.

 

[bagged89s10]

Those jaw covers are really nice, and will look great polished over the satin base, make the combo a great showpiece! Where are they available from?

I found them on eBay

 

[va.grouseman]

Zigg and Vert, both Reeds are real nice.---Reeds are my favorite and I think Drives' to.

 

[yossarian19]

I've developed a "thing" for Reed and Athol vises, though my daily use vise is a Paramo #5. The Reed 204 I'd bought and cleaned up, I gave to a good friend. Kinda miss the vise but I'm glad I gave it away. I'll find another.
Yesterday, I "happened" to find myself at the same shop I'd found the Reed in. Walked out $108 lighter but heavier by an Athol 624. The main screw is a little worn, racks slightly at fully open, but pretty good shape overall and plenty of life left in it.
4" jaw, 6 1/4" open with full threads, three bolt base with a cogged swivel (single handle). It weighs 59 lbs, not bad for a 4" vise.
I've cleaned it with a wire brush, steel wool & WD 40 and put it back together. Unsure if I want to paint it or leave it as is.

 

[Evergreentree]

Yos- sweet Athol! I enjoy them to!



Count me in on leaving the Prentiss original!

 

[Bob!]

That's a twin to the one I have mounted on my garage bench. I wouldn't part with it for $7 even if it hadn't been my Grandfathers. Congratulations on a good find. Are you planning on spiffing it up before you use it or just giving it a quick lube? Welcome to the thread. If you do make it all shiny and new looking take lots of pictures.

yes sir,i would like to clean it up and paint before mounting.
i also went back and bought another vise for $7 i'll post a pic in a few

 

[topop101]

Digging around in a small town True Value hardware store and came across there user vise . This is the biggest Babco I've ever seen. 8" and in minty condition. They said it has been there at least 30 years. That was how long the guy working there has been there. He said it looked old when he got there. It was a cool old building and had a big walk-in safe they use for storage.
I offered to trade them a 5" Wilton bullet vise and they laughed..

 

[PoorOwner]

That's a sweet vise.. Made in Oakland CA? Hmm
I wouldn't trade it for some wilton either if I had used it for 30 years

 

[rockscout]

Hi y'all I've been lurking and learning for a while figured this is the place to share and ask what my options are. I just broke my rock island 574 vise. Was clamping down and the threaded screw snapped. I wasn't banging on it or anything like that just putting some weight into it. Blew my mind since I've never had this happen. I'm thinking of welding it back together but figured I'd ask if there are any other options before I tart burning metal.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Jim Johnstone]

Hi y'all I've been lurking and learning for a while figured this is the place to share and ask what my options are. I just broke my rock island 574 vise. Was clamping down and the threaded screw snapped. I wasn't banging on it or anything like that just putting some weight into it. Blew my mind since I've never had this happen. I'm thinking of welding it back together but figured I'd ask if there are any other options before I tart burning metal.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Have a machine shop make a new one? Personally I'd go that route before welding it back together.

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using Tapatalk

 

[topop101]

That's a sweet vise.. Made in Oakland CA? Hmm
I wouldn't trade it for some wilton either if I had used it for 30 years

Can't blame a guy for trying... Never know until you ask

 

[bagged89s10]

I've never seen one of these swivel jaw Wilton bullets before.

http://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/281934881402

 

[Fordriver6]

Bagged:Here is another swivel jaw Wilton that's been on Craigslist for a while.

http://easternshore.craigslist.org/tls/5406930026.html

Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

 

[Outlawmws]

Digging around in a small town True Value hardware store and came across there user vise . This is the biggest Babco I've ever seen. 8" and in minty condition. They said it has been there at least 30 years. That was how long the guy working there has been there. He said it looked old when he got there. It was a cool old building and had a big walk-in safe they use for storage.
I offered to trade them a 5" Wilton bullet vise and they laughed..

Babco's were considered decent if not very heavy duty vises back in the day. These days they are imported from you-know-where...

 

[CwazyWabbit]

Hi y'all I've been lurking and learning for a while figured this is the place to share and ask what my options are. I just broke my rock island 574 vise. Was clamping down and the threaded screw snapped. I wasn't banging on it or anything like that just putting some weight into it. Blew my mind since I've never had this happen. I'm thinking of welding it back together but figured I'd ask if there are any other options before I tart burning metal.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Post a picture of the broken screw so we know where it's broken.

 

[rockscout]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[zkling]

Digging around in a small town True Value hardware store and came across there user vise . This is the biggest Babco I've ever seen. 8" and in minty condition. They said it has been there at least 30 years. That was how long the guy working there has been there. He said it looked old when he got there. It was a cool old building and had a big walk-in safe they use for storage.
I offered to trade them a 5" Wilton bullet vise and they laughed..

They were foolish on that me thinks, but as long as it works for them. Pretty sure that was made in china, should be marked on the side of the dynamic jaw. Can't read it from the pics. They are a nice heavy vise for a stamped slide unit though. Here's one I did a while back just for the hell of it.

 

[drivesitfar]

Rockscout: can you post up more pictures of your vise? if the screw is the only thing broken maybe you can put a post in the vise parts thread asking for a replacement that somebody might own from a Rock Island vise of the same model that has something else broken.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=88292&highlight=vise+parts

also welcome to the forum

Top: thanks for old safe picture and you can also post that and any other old pictures on the OLD PICTURES thread i started in vintage tools that is getting some nice pictures. i'm curious about Babco's history because i thought they were all imported from either Taiwan or China. that one you posted does have some nice lines and it looks pretty stout so understand you liking it.

VA: YES, Reed is probably my favorite, but others are not far behind

Yoss: nice looking Athol and i vote BLO

 

[mroneeyedboh]

What do you all use for grease on a wilton? I'd assume to use something like a grease? Can you lightly heat the metal to allow it to creep and get into the pores better?

 

[MikeinNorthWales]

I have to ask- what is the purpose of the swivel jaw?

I know, new guy question. Sorry, but I can't figure it out from the pics.

 

[meatsis]

I have to ask- what is the purpose of the swivel jaw?

I know, new guy question. Sorry, but I can't figure it out from the pics.

To hold irregular shaped objects. You pull the pin out and the rear jaw conforms to the shape of the object being held. Like this.

 

[topop101]

Babco's were considered decent if not very heavy duty vises back in the day. These days they are imported from you-know-where...

Yeah . I restored a pair for a farmer . They were 6"ers. Darn heavy ! That's why I was over this 8"er. I may have to return there with a Wilton in hand. It might make a difference worth a shot in my mind... Wiltons are a dime a dozen ... 8" Babco's ...not so much

 

[Outlawmws]

They were foolish on that me thinks, but as long as it works for them. Pretty sure that was made in china, should be marked on the side of the dynamic jaw. Can't read it from the pics. They are a nice heavy vise for a stamped slide unit though. Here's one I did a while back just for the hell of it.

ZK, the older Babco's WERE made in the USA, in Oakland CA. Current Babco vises are imported. They look about the same so I'd guess the tooling/factory was shipped overseas,

 

[Outlawmws]

What do you all use for grease on a wilton? I'd assume to use something like a grease? Can you lightly heat the metal to allow it to creep and get into the pores better?

You could, but I doubt it will actually penetrate much if at all. What it WILL do is to get any moisture out, so their is less chance of rust forming under the grease.

 

[MikeinNorthWales]

To hold irregular shaped objects. You pull the pin out and the rear jaw conforms to the shape of the object being held. Like this.

Thank you!

 

[trijeff]

Didn't think I liked the newer style Wilton C series but they are definitely growing on me. This is a 2013 C1

 

[G20-Budo]

I like them Trijeff! They look solid to me, still have the pipe jaws, etc..

 

[drivesitfar]

TJ: i've saved another BRIGHT GREEN vise of yours to my laptop. are you going blind doing those or do you just wear sunglasses?

amazing work and painting skills

 

[CwazyWabbit]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If the section where the break is doesn't ever screw into the main nut I'd give welding that a go, if nothing else it would get you going again till you could find a replacement.

The threads in the area of the break will probably have stretched so if that section does go into the main nut I doubt you'd be able to get it to work smoothly again.

If you do decide to weld it then taper the break so you can weld it in multiple passes and get the full thickness welded.

Pay particular attention to keeping it straight (apologies if I'm teaching you to **** eggs)

EDIT: another option if the break is actually in the nut area would be to chop some off the handle section of the screw, this will of course mean you end up with a shorter screw and perhaps not the full opening ability of the vise..... but it would mean you may be able to use the vise again.

 

[zkling]

ZK, the older Babco's WERE made in the USA, in Oakland CA. Current Babco vises are imported. They look about the same so I'd guess the tooling/factory was shipped overseas,

I never said they weren't Drivesitfar is the one that said that. The dynamic jaw on the vise top posted clearly had COO cast into the front of it. Can't make it out in the pics, but to me it looks longer than 3 letters.

 

[drivesitfar]

Ziggy & Vert: nice looking reed vises: they look like 60's but not sure when they changed to that jaw style and big reed logo on the cast.

 

[Shiftless]

I've never seen one of these swivel jaw Wilton bullets before.

http://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/281934881402

Bagged:
Looks like somebody got to the seller and made an offer to end the auction early. Wasn't me. (Although I did have a bid in last night.)
Will we be seeing that vise on these pages soon?

 

[Shiftless]

Regarding the Babco vises:

After checking information on Dayid's page it looks line the Babco vises marked "Oakland CA 94621" like the one in question were made in Japan. Later ones not marked Oakland I suppose would have been made in China.
Babcos pre dating the one in question (also from Japan) were marked Oakland 14 which was the postal zone for Oakland prior to national zip codes being enacted in 1963.
94621 is the current zip code for that area of Oakland.

Although I live only a few miles from Oakland, CA I have never seen a Babco vise marked Oakland at a local sale. Just the later inferior models.

 

[Outlawmws]

I never said they weren't Drivesitfar is the one that said that. The dynamic jaw on the vise top posted clearly had COO cast into the front of it. Can't make it out in the pics, but to me it looks longer than 3 letters.

Look again; I'm pretty sure that is U.S.A.

 

[Shiftless]

Outlaw:
Oakland CA is certainly in the USA but after a little research it seems as though that company put its office location on the vises even though they were cast in Japan. Deceitful? of course!

 

[KMScott]

If the section where the break is doesn't ever screw into the main nut I'd give welding that a go, if nothing else it would get you going again till you could find a replacement.

The threads in the area of the break will probably have stretched so if that section does go into the main nut I doubt you'd be able to get it to work smoothly again.

If you do decide to weld it then taper the break so you can weld it in multiple passes and get the full thickness welded.

Pay particular attention to keeping it straight (apologies if I'm teaching you to **** eggs)

EDIT: another option if the break is actually in the nut area would be to chop some off the handle section of the screw, this will of course mean you end up with a shorter screw and perhaps not the full opening ability of the vise..... but it would mean you may be able to use the vise again.

CW, I might add that if you chuck the spindle up in a lathe and say ream a hole for a press fit 3/8 x 2" dowel pin on both broken half's. This does two things, first it aligns the spindles half's and also gives a little more strength before welding. But the handle might have to be removed depending how you drill and ream the hole's. I would also suggest welding with a strong type rod and giving both sides a healthy chamfer. If I was doing the repair then I would use 680 Eutectic rod with my TIG welder since this rod has 140,000 tensile strength and a little less on the shear strength.

Rockscout, if you are looking for a replacement then it would be a good idea to know what kind of threads you have (Square, Acme or Buttress threads) and the diameter along with the pitch.