The VISES of Garage Journal

[drivesitfar]

DB: if I was closer i'd trade you something more suited for banging on so I bet some member will gladly trade you a better vise than you can find on your own for that swivel jaw big Rock Island. or like CRS says 2 vises are good to have in any shop.

good luck and Avatar (sp?) should be in the GJ profile so just keep looking if you want to download a picture and stick around here for a while.

 

[va.grouseman]

Dbowling, here is a #54 I picked up in Roanoke VA. about two years ago and it weighs 126 lbs., if that gives you any idea about the size.---They are made heavy and solid---Your getting a hoss.---The swivel jaw is for wedge and odd shaped objects, and they are somewhat weaker at the swiveling mechanism, ("like Drive said"), than a non swiveling static jaw.---So if you anticipate some hard pounding, I'd get me a second vise that could take a whoopen.---But do get the Rock-Island.---That's a buy.

Notice the tolerances.---Their as tight as the Reeds.

And don't worry about not having a swivel pin.---Easy to make with a grinder, easier with a lath, still easier if someone else does it for you.

 

[Ratchet.]

Picked this up last week, for a bargainous £30

nice old Paramo with 4 and a half inch jaws, in great condition too, some use marks but hasn't been abused

not too sure about age, but based on the limited amount of information i can find about these vises im thinking it may be ww2 era as there is no model number, jaws have through bolts, and the slide has beveled top, plus brass components in the qr mech, which i believe on later ones were made of steel/iron if anyone can correct me please do

will be giving it a sympathetic clean up, the black paint appears original, so will likely just touch in a few areas that someone has sanded for some reason and leave the nice patina elsewhere.

There is quite an interesting story behind Paramo for those that dont know, company was basicaly created by the government during ww2 as Record basicaly made all the vises in the UK at the time they were concerned that if the factory got bombed there would be supply problems

the vices were made by Parramore & Sons foundry, reputedly with seconded Record staff... and were close copies of Parker perfect vices, (which record also copied) hence the visual similarity

 

[va.grouseman]

By the way Drive, The #150 Star of David Morgan weighed 86.6 lbs.

 

[Shiftless]

DB:
on the idea of having an ABSOLUTE MINIMUM of 2 vises in your shop.
When restoring a vise it is often necessary to clamp down pieces to work on them. Hence the need for 2 vises. Two is not excessive. Two hundred might be getting close!
Grab that swivel jaw vise!
I'd be happy to trade you a monster Columbian and throw in an extra smaller one too.

 

[Outlawmws]

Drives, "Looking like a Morgan", and Morgan having anything to do with those are two different things.

I've never heard anything about Morgan importing vises.

 

[Outlawmws]

Am I the only one on here without a superawesomecool Reed 104? Dammit! I am consumed by jealousy!!

New goal for 2016: find a fixed base Reed!

I don't have one.

But I do have two 104-1/2's

 

[Outlawmws]

DB, I would not be to worried about only having two bolts from the swivel base mounting to hold the vise. That's is all that is really holding it to the base, so its pretty much the same. You could try to get the center swivel bolt hole into the act, but I seriously doubt it would make a whole bunch of difference.

 

[dbowling]

thanks guys will get the vise and probably another as has been suggested..my neighbor said something about he might have a extra vise laying around he bought and never mounted that I could have..

 

[Z3K3Y]

I have the opportunity to purchase this chas parker vise.. i know nothing about it. it does have damage.. seller says it has 4 inch jaws.. im wondering if you guys can give me some info on it and if its worth buying. he says the jaws are pinned in . from the pics it looks like brass jaws.. is this vise salvagable or should i pass?

 

[Ridjobradi]

I brought a Reed 4C back from my father's house. My uncle gave it to him in 1989-1990 after the building it was in exploded.

I am interested in any restoration / rebuild threads. I am on the Gulf Coast and need to keep things painted. I travel often and don't want to come home and see major rust issues.

I tend to go overboard when doing things like this, so my current thought is electrolytic rust removal and then paint. I was wondering if I should refrain from that and wire brush it followed by a etching primer and paint. What color was it originally?

 

[Hemi49]

I brought a Reed 4C back from my father's house. My uncle gave it to him in 1989-1990 after the building it was in exploded.

I am interested in any restoration / rebuild threads. I am on the Gulf Coast and need to keep things painted. I travel often and don't want to come home and see major rust issues.

Ridjo
Go to Vintage Tools, Vise Repair 101........you will find tons of information and pictures on vise restoration......Welcome to the group
Hemi

 

[KMScott]

I have the opportunity to purchase this chas parker vise.. i know nothing about it. it does have damage.. seller says it has 4 inch jaws.. im wondering if you guys can give me some info on it and if its worth buying. he says the jaws are pinned in . from the pics it looks like brass jaws.. is this vise salvagable or should i pass?

Looks like someone was using brass rod to drive the pins out and instead drove the jaw out of it's nest. Might want to pass on this one unless you have metal working skills. Might be worth $50 in that condition. The jaws are steel.

 

[Ridjobradi]

Hemi49 - Thanks for the redirect. I have done my other tools, but would like to see what the vise are doing.

Most of my tools are pre WWII and have all been stripped and redone. My Myers drill press will be next.

 

[Outlawmws]

Rid for the bare steel parts, a coating of Boiled Linseed Oil (BLO) works well and won't impair use.

 

[Outlawmws]

Looks like someone was using brass rod to drive the pins out and instead drove the jaw out of it's nest. Might want to pass on this one unless you have metal working skills. Might be worth $50 in that condition. The jaws are steel.

I was thinking someone replaced the pin(s) with copper and it sheared or fell out. Or that jaw could have been set in place for the pic...


I'd take a look, but if there is no real damage to the jaw or jaw shelf, that could be a good deal. (especially with the "damage", if damage it is can be used to drive the price down.

 

[Tedley]

I bought a vise from a thrift store booth today. H.B. Smith co. Westfield Mass.
It had been broken and welded so that it wouldn't close... but I wanted it. I was able to grind on the weld enough to get it closed, then I scrubbed it with navel jelly washed, dried and painted. No idea where to mount it... I may keep it out back on a table reserved for real nasty stuff. Under a bucket?

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[va.grouseman]

Ridjo, you keep that 4C in the family.---It will last for generations and they don't get better than a 4C.---On top of that, that one looks real nice.---Has been treated with respect.

 

[Outlawmws]

Hmmm... is that a new brand for the Mfg list someone was keeping? Drives?

 

[McBrownie]

I brought a Reed 4C back from my father's house. My uncle gave it to him in 1989-1990 after the building it was in exploded.]

Reeds are explosion-proof too?

 

[Ridjobradi]

McBrownie - It was in the Phillips explosion in 1989. The entire area was bulldozed and it knocked out windows a mile or so away.

It is also possible that it landed right where it started and they just didn't know it. Old refineries are not known for knowing where each piece of equipment is located. We do know that, there wasn't a maintenance facility in the area it was found.

 

[McBrownie]

McBrownie - It landed hundreds of feet from where it originated. It was in the Phillips explosion in 1989. The entire area was bulldozed and it knocked out windows about a mile away.

It is also possible that it landed right where it started and they just didn't know it. Old refineries are not known for knowing l where each piece of equipment is located. We do know that, there wasn't a maintenance facility in the area it was found.

Hope no one was hurt. Here are some more controlled explosions.

 

[drivesitfar]

Ridjo: when I get my pictures transferred to my new laptop i'll post up a few more pictures of my Reed 4C that has a BLO finish on it. or check out the Vise repair 101 thread and I'm positive I've posted it several times over on that thead.

amazing story if that vise was actually airborn and looks that good because doesn't yours weigh 190 pounds? I don't think I have the circle A on the dynamic jaw and can you take a few pictures of the casting that looks like yours might also have a patent date on it?

nice find and if you have a spot for that in your shop you will love using it and everybody that stops by will notice it and their eyes will pop out.

Outlaw: i'm guessing you are talking about the H.B. Smith vise? on page #2 of the vise repair 101 thread there is a E.B. Smith and a H & B companies listed. I hear VA has another addition almost ready for me to transfer over or if he wants maybe he should just start a thread with all the vise companies he is a major part of finding and we'll see if we can add a few more down the road.

also the vise company history has many many small threads and a ton of information on this "LITTLE" thread. I and maybe others would love to see that information all on one thread. it would be nice to know when and how companies came to be or disappeared and why. I think I remember one thing while checking out my L. M. & V and Massey vises that were two separate companies, but the owner of L.M. & V married Massey's daughter and started another company with his name Fulton. just not sure what happened to Fulton did it disappear or get sold to Athol or some other bigger company? it would be another thread where some of you with all those catalogs and knowledge can say what you know so all of us that want to learn more can.

ALL: I know i'm not buying vises or maybe i'm not buying as many vises and selling a few. in any case I found this one tonight that I don't see often around our area. it's a Rock Island swivel jaw with the coachmaker's jaws. the stand was full of cement and I almost left it, but lifted it in and out of my Honda and i'm going to go hang on my inversion table in a few minutes because I know if I don't my back will be speaking to me tomorrow.

anybody have one of these? I forgot to measure it and didn't have a scale handy but I think its a 4.5 inch wide jaw and maybe 60 pounds and #158.

 

[CRSINMICH]

Tedley: Here is a picture of a No. 2A H.B. Smith vise. The H stands for Henry by the way. I got this just before the weather turned cold last fall and haven't been able to do anything with it in my unheated shop. The jaw towers are seriously hollow so don't beat on it. You might want to fill them with lead. The Aug. 1, 1865 patent for a combination machinist/pipe vise was issued to HB Dart who worked at HB Smith Co.

EDIT: HB Smith Co. is still in business. They originally made boilers and now are a heating and cooling business. I don't think they have made vises for quite some time.

Drives: It would be a great idea to collect the information about lesser known vise manufacturers that members have posted. Nice RI by the way.

 

[Fordriver6]

Heading out early to check out that Parker 273 I mentioned a few days ago. Hope it is in as good condition as the pictures look.

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[Fordriver6]

Picked up the Parker 273 for $83. The old ad EOC_Jason posted in another thread has the weight as 78 pounds without the swivel base. So I'm figuring close to 90 pounds, so i got it for a little under $1 a pound. He wanted $150 to start, negotiated to $85 but only had $83 in my wallet. The front collar actually isn't broken. It will turn in and out but it's stiff. The swivel base and swivel jaw are both stuck.
Here it sits on the toolbox I built in the back of my Cherokee.

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[Ridjobradi]

Driveitfar - I will get some more pics of the casting for you

 

[GETRIDAONE]

Ford. The original pictures were hard to see. I'm glad the collar is intact and you got a great deal on that one. Be patient with getting the pin and jaw to move.

 

[Fordriver6]

Ford. The original pictures were hard to see. I'm glad the collar is intact and you got a great deal on that one. Be patient with getting the pin and jaw to move.

I plan on taking it slow starting with PB Blaster and if that doesn't do it, soaking it with either acetone/atf or diesel fuel. I'll keep y'all posted.

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[Fordriver6]

Well, taking it slow turned into simply spraying PB Blaster on it and tapping things with a hammer to get them apart.

I'm gonna clean it up in the parts washer and probably wire wheel it. I'll put it back together and then I'll start taking the in depth disassembly pictures with clean parts and clean hands.

I'm considering doing the popular BLO treatment to this one; as this one is gonna be bolted down and used.

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[va.grouseman]

Drive, I saw that Coachmaker's swivel jaw.---I was going to call about it but then I saw where it was located and just knew that Drive would beat me to it.---Besides not many people want to ship something big and heavy across the continent, and even fewer will.---So I didn't even bother to call---Glad you got it.---That's the total package.---It's got everything except pipe jaws.

So I just settled for a 60 lb. Dunlap in pretty good shape.---Pics when it arrives.

 

[drivesitfar]

VA: yep it was on Craigs for maybe 5 days and I was going to let somebody else pick it up. it has a few flaws, but what 100 year old vise doesn't. i'm almost getting too picky because after a 2 hour ferry boat ride and drive I almost passed on it because of the flaws that really are not that bad. I liked the old guys selling it and I think I had their eyes popping out of their head when I lifted that base without the vise on it directly into the back of my Honda. yes it's full of cement so it was a little harder pulling it out, but I managed and wasn't even breathing hard like I would have last year when I was 20 pounds heavier.

thanks for the courtesy and you can email me for a heads up if you see one in my area like anybody else can and if I don't want to buy it for myself and it's convenient or doable i'll buy it and ship the ones I don't want to own. you'll have a better chance this year than in years past of me not wanting to own one because i'm cleaning house still.

looks like you might need to buy a little more chain or build that next barn if you keep adding to the gang like you have. I bet it would take almost losing an arm for you not to smile when walking out to your family of old iron you've amassed.

Ridjo: no hurry, but i'm sure we'd all like lots of before and after pictures of your Reed 4C. also just an FYI you'll need to get some advil handy or get in great shape moving that vise around much even in halves. good luck

FR: did you want to mention how you took that old swivel jaw apart? i'm guessing it was rusted shut including the pin?? did you hit it with that hammer or do tell?

CRS: thanks for the scoop on HB Smith. also thanks for the kudos on my new vise purchase.

 

[Fordriver6]

FR: did you want to mention how you took that old swivel jaw apart? i'm guessing it was rusted shut including the pin?? did you hit it with that hammer or do tell?

The short version is yes, a hammer and a punch basically took everything apart after spraying with PB Blaster. The pin for the swivel jaw came out last. I got everything disassembled including the main nut and put a punch thru the big hole in the bottom at an angle to the pin hole. My hands got pretty nasty so didn't take many pics. I'm gonna clean it up then reassemble, so I can take detailed pics of exactly how it came apart.

All told it came apart much easier than I thought it would. I was planning on putting it in a container of diesel fuel if it was really stuck.

Here are the few I took before my hands got completely nasty.

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[joe.striper]

Just found these 2 Wiltons for $100 each. Picking up more vises later. .could be s good day. Model 1740 and 9350 Schiller Park

 

[slotard]

Has anyone here built there own vise out of steel plate? I have some scrap 1/2" plate sitting around and am considering trying it. I'd have to pick up some steel (some heavy wall rectangular tube for the slide), but it could be a good excuse to get a little stick welding in (wouldn't trust my MIG on 1/2"). http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php?41441-Converting-scrap-metal-in-to-a-heavy-duty-vice is one example, although I don't think I like the offset jaws - I'd just go wider both ways.

 

[Outlawmws]

Ford, Nice score on the Parker and congrats on an east disassembly! Interesting that it has the early 1 piece brake shoe.

 

[Rileysan]

Has anyone here built there own vise out of steel plate? I have some scrap 1/2" plate sitting around and am considering trying it. I'd have to pick up some steel (some heavy wall rectangular tube for the slide), but it could be a good excuse to get a little stick welding in (wouldn't trust my MIG on 1/2"). http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php?41441-Converting-scrap-metal-in-to-a-heavy-duty-vice is one example, although I don't think I like the offset jaws - I'd just go wider both ways.

I'm certain it's been done, but the issue is that mild steel will distort under pressure. After clamping down a few times, it would probably frustrate you so much you'd throw it out as scrap.

On the other hand, I wouldn't want to discourage any fun shop project!

Brian

 

[slotard]

I wouldn't have expected 1/2" plate to distort that much. Where would you expect it to distort?

I suppose I could do something silly like buy higher carbon steel and then PWHT but that would be harder to build and cost more.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Slotard,

Thanks for sharing the home made vise link. The guy did a nice job. IMO: the offset is an advantage if you have a large workpiece that can go down to the floor unobstructed.

The first picture is a homemade vise that I googled.

The second vise picture is one that I found in a CL ad, some time back. I don't know if it was homemade or manufactured (I think homemade). But it gave me an idea that I could build one, with my limited skills.

 

[slotard]

I found that first one on google too and while it would be very easy to make, I don't think it would hold up to much clamping force - the fixed jaw would crush too easily. The second would likely work fairly well if the welds are well done.

I agree that there's some advantage to the jaws sticking out, I just don't see why you couldn't have it like that on both sides (which is what I'd do).