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The VISES of Garage Journal

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Smokeshow69

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Dec 7, 2012
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Huh, came across something odd on CL.

00303_52UZ5VJdJZK_600x450.jpg


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.
 

drivesitfar

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Oct 23, 2013
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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?
 

ChargerRT

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Apr 20, 2015
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Louisville, KY
Hey found this one at the local peddlars mall... whats everyones opinion on it?
 

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drivesitfar

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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.
 

Mark in Indiana

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Aug 11, 2010
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Southern 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,
 
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drivesitfar

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Oct 23, 2013
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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.
 

Rileysan

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Sep 11, 2015
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4,298
Location
Milwaukie, Oregon
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!
 

Mark in Indiana

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Southern 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).
 

jakemac

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May 21, 2013
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New England
At $15, even if the vise is beyond repair you could double or triple your money parting out the good bits. Jump on it.
 
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CwazyWabbit

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Jan 9, 2015
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Surrey, UK
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? :p
 

slotard

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Jun 21, 2012
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137
Location
Alameda, CA
Yeah, since it isn't straight I wasn't sure that what I was seeing was the backs of the inserts.

blkJ505h.jpg


9Q65D5jh.jpg


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

bagged89s10

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Mar 13, 2005
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4,607
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CT
Yeah, since it isn't straight I wasn't sure that what I was seeing was the backs of the inserts.

blkJ505h.jpg


9Q65D5jh.jpg


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.
 

drivesitfar

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Oct 23, 2013
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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. :lol:
 

Smokeshow69

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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 :thumbup: That fufills my idiot post for the week :p
 

joe.striper

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Sep 13, 2013
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agawam, ma
I normally dont buy exposed screw vises but this one was sooo clean i couldnt pass it up for $35.
 

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bagged89s10

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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?
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1457404671.010218.jpg
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1457404677.642429.jpg
 

topop101

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Jan 1, 2015
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Location
NW Missouri
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!
 

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nutsnbolts

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Jan 15, 2016
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Seattle, WA
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 ;)
 

TreePointer

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Oct 25, 2011
Messages
396
Location
PA
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
 
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drivesitfar

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Oct 23, 2013
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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: :lol_hitti 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

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Joined
Mar 12, 2013
Messages
147
Location
North of Detroit
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!
 
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