The VISES of Garage Journal

[mbsinmich]

Not counting the mezzanine!

slotard: I can't tell if you are kidding but here's how you can tell if I'm kidding: If I'm speaking or writing I'm probably kidding.

 

[CRSINMICH]

Not counting the mezzanine!

You know, for kids. That gag's got whiskers!

 

[Smokeshow69]

Huh, came across something odd on CL.

It does look old (but China **** has been around long enough that it could too), and the screw/handle are big enough that it appears to be heavy duty and likely US made, but he claims there's no brand on it. I just asked about other markings too, as it would be very strange to be completely unmarked.

edit: he says no markings

This vise is a Rock Island. May even be labeled craftsman but still made by Rock Island. I restored a craftsman just like this. Good vise but the rear slide shelf is broke so I would pass.

 

[bagged89s10]

This vise is a Rock Island. May even be labeled craftsman but still made by Rock Island. I restored a craftsman just like this. Good vise but the rear slide shelf is broke so I would pass.

Agree, definitely a rock island.

 

[drivesitfar]

Smoke: I don't see that crack on the rear shelf you mention. any chance you have one of those programs with a pointer or circle to show me (us) what you think is a crack?

 

[Rileysan]

This made me smile - esp if you replace the letter 'c' in vice with an 's'.

Brian

 

[Fretters]

Smoke: I don't see that crack on the rear shelf you mention. any chance you have one of those programs with a pointer or circle to show me (us) what you think is a crack?

The shelf for the jaw insert, hence the visible hole behind the jaw insert/face.

 

[ChargerRT]

Hey found this one at the local peddlars mall... whats everyones opinion on it?

 

[drivesitfar]

Fretters: I think i'm seeing and saw what you did on the static's jaw, but I think Smoke said the slide is cracked and I didn't see that. I do need to update my readers to glasses which might help, but I have my display set to large so I can almost read it from across the room without glasses if I wanted to.


Charger: i'm not a huge fan of Columbian, but that coachmaker style vise is an old one and has some style. i'd pass on that particular one because speaking of cracks look at the top of the slide on the back where some past owner used a BFH most likely.

 

[McBrownie]

This made me smile - esp if you replace the letter 'c' in vice with an 's'.

Brian

Here you go:

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Charger,
I'm assuming that you paid 15$ for it. If that's all you paid and you like a challenge, you did good.
If I had that vise, I'd bore a hole in the end for a flat head screw and a recessed nut, in the end of the slide. Then, I'd braze the crack. I believe that the embellishments in it would make a cool restoration.

Not having the grip that a machinists vise has, it would make an invaluable back up vise. Assuming that there are no other issues,

 

[Rileysan]

Hey found this one at the local peddlars mall... whats everyones opinion on it?

If that was only $15, you did well. I wouldn't have hesitated on that vise. Great find!

Brian

 

[drivesitfar]

Riley: look at the top of the back of the dynamic slide? that's the crack Mark was talking about brazing. it looked like it was $115 so I would have passed, but hell yes if only $15 i'd have bought it even if for parts.

 

[ChargerRT]

It is $15 but I havn't bought it yet... probably going back today to get it and throw it on the gun bench

 

[Rileysan]

Riley: look at the top of the back of the dynamic slide? that's the crack Mark was talking about brazing. it looked like it was $115 so I would have passed, but hell yes if only $15 i'd have bought it even if for parts.

I can't tell what the written price is to be honest. If $115, then I totally agree!

 

[bluebolt]

For $15 I would have picked it up.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Drives,
At first I thought 115$. Peddler flea markets here in the Evansville area have obscene prices.

Charger,
Hope you get it. Don't forget to pull the dynamic jaw out of the body. Any more damage than the pictures show would be a deal breaker (IMO).

 

[CwazyWabbit]

The shelf for the jaw insert, hence the visible hole behind the jaw insert/face.

On that style of jaw surely it's called the tenon rather than a shelf

 

[jakemac]

At $15, even if the vise is beyond repair you could double or triple your money parting out the good bits. Jump on it.

 

[Nuts]

I am trying to figure out what this small vise belongs to. It looks as if it was meant to slide onto another piece of equipment? It has the markings "23 5246-2" and a triangle with an "A" inside. Allied?

It's a Columbian 23 clamp on vise.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nice-Vintag...999046?hash=item2362c60186:g:qIEAAOSwd0BVyezc

 

[slotard]

Chas Parker 955. Are those big cracks in the jaws, or is that something else?

 

[CwazyWabbit]

That looks like someone has welded the jaw inserts on

EDIT: I take it that is next to a kids tractor and not a full size John Deere?

 

[slotard]

Yeah, since it isn't straight I wasn't sure that what I was seeing was the backs of the inserts.

He says it's a 5", so unless he meant 5' it's a kids tractor.

 

[bagged89s10]

Yeah, since it isn't straight I wasn't sure that what I was seeing was the backs of the inserts.

He says it's a 5", so unless he meant 5' it's a kids tractor.

Yes a 955 is a 5" jaw vise. Looks like someone tried to weld the jaw inserts to the vise.

 

[Outlawmws]

That first pic almost looks like there is meandering crack in the top of the slide

 

[Outlawmws]

It's a Columbian 23 clamp on vise.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nice-Vintag...999046?hash=item2362c60186:g:qIEAAOSwd0BVyezc

Now we know who made them for Sears in 1969.

 

[drivesitfar]

Slotard: that Parker looks like those are maybe Lead jaw covers so maybe the jaws underneath are in great shape. I see a dip or possible crack in the top and back of the dynamic's slide that Outlaw noticed too so check that out.

CW: if the model # on that Parker 955 wasn't showing I might have thought it was the mythical 12 inch 600 pound Parker Joe keeps mentioning his minions have waiting for him.

 

[Nuts]

Now we know who made them for Sears in 1969.

Yup.

I have a Sears, Columbian made anvil and one of the Craftsman 3.5 in also from Columbian.

I'm up to 8 Columbian/Sears/Craftsman products. I guess by default I've become a Columbian *****.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Smoke: I don't see that crack on the rear shelf you mention. any chance you have one of those programs with a pointer or circle to show me (us) what you think is a crack?

Never mind. I was tired when I posted and thought a piece of the vise was missing That fufills my idiot post for the week

 

[slotard]

Can someone circle the crack? I see the line at the edge of the jaws (that appear to be soft) but that's it.

 

[joe.striper]

I normally dont buy exposed screw vises but this one was sooo clean i couldnt pass it up for $35.

 

[bagged89s10]

Worked on prepping this Wilton woodworking vise for paint yesterday. Anyone have a source for a Wilton Sri let for the front or a a file so I can print one?

 

[topop101]

I've been working a ton of hours not leaving me much time to work up any of my vise inventory but I did manage a trip through the machine shop in the power plant my crane is set up at. Many Vise's and lots other very nice machines, press's , grinders , lathes , mills and such. Most vises were Wilton's or Columbians , A few parkers, 4, 6 and 8 " vise's .There were at least 14 vise's in the shop!

 

[nutsnbolts]

I have the vise bug...and I am finding myself looking at ads on Craigslist, following threads here, learning about the different models. The whole thing is quite fascinating!

I have so many questions, I don't know where to begin. Are there books or maybe a website where I could go read up and learn about them? Different companies, models, what is collectible, valuable, etc? Otherwise I am going to drive you guys ape **** with all my questions

 

[joe.striper]

http://providence.craigslist.org/tls/5471776549.html

8" Columbian... $400

 

[TreePointer]

I have the vise bug...and I am finding myself looking at ads on Craigslist, following threads here, learning about the different models. The whole thing is quite fascinating!

I have so many questions, I don't know where to begin. Are there books or maybe a website where I could go read up and learn about them? Different companies, models, what is collectible, valuable, etc? Otherwise I am going to drive you guys ape **** with all my questions

A good place to start: Everything you need to know about bench vises

More: http://scuttle.dayid.org/wiki/index.php/Category:Vise

 

[nutsnbolts]

Very cool, thanks!

 

[Rossco]

Old Record Vise. 5" jaw width.

Selling it on the local classifieds for $40.

 

[drivesitfar]

N&B: when I joined GJ I had already read this vise thread a couple times, but it was a lot shorter read a few years ago. somebody made a 4 part 3 hour video of some of the vises on the first third of this thread and I think each part is close to an hour long on YouTube. so reading this thread, watching you tube videos are a good start.

next if you want to see how many vise companies there are we've put together quite a few on page #2 of the Vise Repair 101 thread.

then another good spot to see pictures and vises is dayid's vise wiki and here's the link I just checked that seems to be working

http://scuttle.dayid.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

also ask a few questions because you wouldn't be the first person to do so. I'm still asking them just like others here so we all just keep learning too.

good luck and BEE CAREFUL like I mentioned to you because there is a real vice for vises that can be addicting.

Smoke: SENIOR MOMENT is what I call them.

TOP: welcome back and nice pictures of the vises you get to see working at your work.

 

[Jcrapola]

I've been working a ton of hours not leaving me much time to work up any of my vise inventory but I did manage a trip through the machine shop in the power plant my crane is set up at. Many Vise's and lots other very nice machines, press's , grinders , lathes , mills and such. Most vises were Wilton's or Columbians , A few parkers, 4, 6 and 8 " vise's .There were at least 14 vise's in the shop!

Hey TOP! Ur back! I was pretty bummed when I saw banned under ur name.. Nice to have u amongst the living again!