The VISES of Garage Journal

[diagnosis]

That looks so nice it deserves another page of publicity. And I'm not even the biggest fan of Wilton generally! Well done!

Thank you, I appreciate it!

Thank you very much Diagnosis, your Wilton looks absolutely top drawer!

The jaws are 4 1/4'' wide and it opens to to 6 1/2".

There's still some original paint left on the sliding jaw! Which after 6 years of ownership I've only just noticed!

And to think I was going to buy a brand new one...

Thanks for the compliment on the Wilton, and the info on your #23! Just trying to come up with some comparative info for the #83, which is actually smaller @ 3 1/4" jaws. I thought that maybe the '3' indicated 3" jaws, but I gess not. I snapped a couple of jaw screws trying to remove them, and was considering buying a set of replacements with new screws, but haven't found any specific replacement for the #83, but had seen a set for the #23... I guess the search continues.

 

[bluebolt]

That is awesome. Hopefully my skills will improve and get one of mine to look that good one day. Thanks for posting .

Yeah Chilang you need LOTS more practice. Stop by my place I will let you redo several of my vices!

 

[bagged89s10]

Worked on this Athol not as refined as Joe Stripper or Kevin's work and thank you both for the pointers I also need to learn how to do handles. The forging sure is rough on these tough to get the letters painted without smudging need to redo that. Had to mill the jaw faces they were bad, word of advise don't try and use a belt sander on jaw faces you can really screw them up

Great work on that athol! Top of the jaws look super smooth.

 

[ganymede]

jipps,
you have an awesome shop !

 

[jreb10]

Polish made, known as Bison. The logo is FPU. I have not had one but they have a very good reputation.

 

[drivesitfar]

Dave: it's a Polish made BISON vice and the initials are FPU on the side. it's static jaw moves back while the front jaw is the actual static. it's a great vice if you are thinking of owning it and they are one of my favorites.

Jipps: thanks for the pictures of your vise family.

 

[Outlawmws]

Any ideas who made this vise? I'm guessing import, didn't see a makers mark on it anywhere. 6" jaw, and the slide is a dovetail and looks to have gib adjustments. I'm not a vise expert but this didn't look familiar.

igor Polenzski.

 

[CrotalusAtrox]

Yeah Chilang you need LOTS more practice. Stop by my place I will let you redo several of my vices!

bluebolt Thanks I am still learning a few things. I need to work on the rear of the slide it is uneven and needs to be squared up need a chop saw it's about .25 out of whack. I may polish the entire side of the jaws, there are a few nicks that are covered by paint but I think it would look better if they were polished even with the nicks.

bagged Appreciate the compliment I only went to 400 grit on the jaws should of hit them a tad more with 400 and maybe go to 600. They would of really smoothed out, maybe on the 614 1/2. I need to take a couple days off and reload some more ammo for shooting this weekend. This vise addiction has kept me busy that last few weeks chasing, fixing, selling and loving every minute

 

[MillerMig760]

Looking at picking up a beefy vise for metal working, and ran across this 6"
vise locally. Anyone recognize the make? Good deal for $50? Too big for small shop/ garage use?

 

[Fordriver6]

Looking at picking up a beefy vise for metal working, and ran across this 6"
vise locally. Anyone recognize the make? Good deal for $50? Too big for small shop/ garage use?

Chicom, the big "6" on the dynamic jaw gives it away. Probably not too big, as the Chinese imports are light in weight for a given jaw width. Probably a good beater vise until you can find a good USA one that's a known quantity in regards to the metal that's its made from.

I have a imported 6" Wilton that's on a small welding table that my dad had for years. It's been beat on, held things that were heated with a torch, had the handle hit with a hammer and had a cheater pipe on the handle as well. It still works and since it's missing half the paint, I don't mind continuing to use it as a beater vise. Keeps me from abusing any of the quality USA ones I have.

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[FMC1959]

It is a no name made in China vise, it will do fine for most jobs.

Check online prices at HF, Northern tool and a couple of others, I think you can probably get a new no name vise for $50.

 

[partsproduction]

Here is my FPU vise I bought out of Pinterist. The jaws are 3 1/2". I painted it with car trunk spatter paint, which said on the side "Made only for trunk interiors", heh heh. I never was one for rules. After cooking under halogen lights I sprayed urethane clear wood spray as a protectant.

 

[va.grouseman]

Wilton Swivel Jaw on EBay.






http://www.ebay.com/itm/182067967662?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[drivesitfar]

ALL YOU PARKER FANS: I can't say I've seen a Parker with a letter for a model # and this one for sale for $99 in my area has been up for sale for weeks now and still available. not sure why it's not sold, but it doesn't interest me so passing on it so someone with a NEED can buy it.

Anybody have a Parker C vise or is this one fairly rare?

PP: maybe the paint and process is a little unconventional, but it looks good now. good job

 

[va.grouseman]

Parts, that is a beautiful job on the FPU, and the trunk paint looks like it is, or should be original color.---I noticed the 6 incher that Davethorik posted had a chunk missing at the front of the static, and in the course of 2149 pages, I have seen several with the same damage in the same spot.---Must be a weak or stressful point.

 

[MillerMig760]

Chicom, the big "6" on the dynamic jaw gives it away. Probably not too big, as the Chinese imports are light in weight for a given jaw width. Probably a good beater vise until you can find a good USA one that's a known quantity in regards to the metal that's its made from.

I have a imported 6" Wilton that's on a small welding table that my dad had for years. It's been beat on, held things that were heated with a torch, had the handle hit with a hammer and had a cheater pipe on the handle as well. It still works and since it's missing half the paint, I don't mind continuing to use it as a beater vise. Keeps me from abusing any of the quality USA ones I have.

Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

It is a no name made in China vise, it will do fine for most jobs.

Check online prices at HF, Northern tool and a couple of others, I think you can probably get a new no name vise for $50.

Thanks for the info fellas. Looking for something that I can abuse that won't break the bank. I'll check out some new ones to compare.

 

[partsproduction]

The most aesthetically sculpted vise on earth.

Of course beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but anyone who appreciates Michelangelo's sculptures would probably agree that the designer of the Oliva vise line in Portugal 60-70 years ago was trying to mix beauty with function.

The design seems to be that of a conservationist too, as there is little wasted iron, and it makes me think of "Constant Section" design. There are no obvious weak elements, and the base seems to flow outwards to the sides to allow the slide to enter, and carrying upwards to the jaws there seems to be a feeling of massive strength to meet any needed pressure from the work being held.

In short it is far and away the most beautiful vise ever made, and to me that aspect eclipses the functional need it seems likely to meet.
This would be a vise for an artist, perhaps a metal sculpter, but more for inspiration which is far more valuable than work holding. It seems to me that the fictional metal sculpter would have a less rare vise for actual work.

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc225/partsproduction/IMG_2015.jpg

I've since surface ground the tops of the jaws;

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc225/partsproduction/IMG_2009.jpg

 

[partsproduction]

More images of the Oliva;
The logo

Sharing space with a soda can for size;

This is an OO model, the O model is even rarer and has about 2" wide jaws, maybe 2 1/4".

 

[partsproduction]

The right side;

And note the care taken to tie the forces from the nut to the sides;

 

[partsproduction]

Grouseman,
"I noticed the 6 incher that Davethorik posted had a chunk missing at the front of the static, and in the course of 2149 pages, I have seen several with the same damage in the same spot.---Must be a weak or stressful point."

I couldn't find the image, but this vise was sold as NOS, and looked as if it had never seen any work. I'll google FPU and maybe see what you are referring to.

 

[va.grouseman]

Yea Parts, I believe it on yours.---Davethorik's FPU is in post 42961.---Look close.

They are still really top tier vises, and I would like to have one of those 6 inchers.

 

[PghJKB]

Yea Parts, I believe it on yours.---Davethorik's FPU is in post 42961.---Look close.

They are still really top tier vises, and I would like to have one of those 6 inchers.

Here is the image with the damaged circled.

The FPU is in my top three. But all this business of "static" jaw, "dynamic" jaw seems to confuse people. How about "Front" jaw and "Rear" jaw?? The rear jaws moves (which means if something being held in the jaws falls out it is more likely to end up on the work bench, not the floor.)

The rear jaw rides on a way and has a gib. Once the first screw on the gib is overtightened, that chunk of iron is susceptible to shearing off.

All FPU owning Tarzans out there, the gib screw should be snug, not TIGHT.

JKB

 

[CRSINMICH]

ALL YOU PARKER FANS: I can't say I've seen a Parker with a letter for a model # and this one for sale for $99 in my area has been up for sale for weeks now and still available. not sure why it's not sold, but it doesn't interest me so passing on it so someone with a NEED can buy it.

Anybody have a Parker C vise or is this one fairly rare?

Drives: Here's a Parker ad from 1902. There were quite a few letter models once.

 

[diagnosis]

The Olivia vise is a really nice design, it looks very balanced.

I was just cleaning up my latest project, and randomly started thinking about buying a smoker. As I leaned in closer to the old sawdust, grease and grime I realized the previous owner must have worked with a lot of hickory! It's too bad the smell won't stay with the vise, and create random rib cravings every time I clamp something in.

 

[Evergreentree]

Diagnosis-lube the lead screw with liquid smoke! Dunno the viscosity....

I totally agree on the look of the Oliva vise! Seriously a beautiful vise! I've had one saved on fleabay for months! Beauty beauty! Curvy as an Italian lady, or Brazilian...depending on your taste...

 

[drivesitfar]

PP: Olivia is SWEET. you seem to like the mini vises and always like what you have to post. any family pictures you want to post of your growing vise family please do.

DIAG: I think you have just mentioned another addition to vise restoration. VISE SMELLS sounds like a great idea. I think JOE mentioned that putting a vise with BLO in the smoker might change that smoker's and your garage's odor in a not so positive way. just sayin.

 

[partsproduction]

PghJKB your's was perhaps forced in a nearly full open position, that would put a lot of force on a very small area. However, I agree the vise should have been able to "Show" it's distress without breaking. On a big American vise they simply stop working when alignment of the screw and jaws is out. Perhaps the FPU should have the nut a bit farther back so it runs off the screw before such a position is reached? I bet Bison is aware of it though.

 

[joe.striper]

gotta love minions. got this very clean 9350 today for 135. so nice. might do a radical color on this one...... Nick, I only post these to drive you crazy!!!

 

[Fordriver6]

With all the talk of Bison FPU vises lately, here is one near Roanoke VA, for sale on Craigslist. Figured I would share it.

http://roanoke.craigslist.org/tls/5498754596.html








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[exmaxima1]

With all the talk of Bison FPU vises lately, here is one near Roanoke VA, for sale on Craigslist. Figured I would share it.

$400 is just insane......

 

[Fordriver6]

$400 is just insane......

Kinda what I thought...

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[va.grouseman]

Ford, you just had to do that, didn't you.---That's the size I want and no broken corners.---But that $400.00 is deal breaker.---It's also in driving distance to.---Ain't it always the way?

 

[GETRIDAONE]

Mine must have been not as "Rare" I paid $50.00 for it

 

[Fordriver6]

Ford, you just had to do that, didn't you.---That's the size I want and no broken corners.---But that $400.00 is deal breaker.---It's also in driving distance to.---Ain't it always the way?

That thing has been on Craigslist for at least 3 months and hasn't dropped the price at all. I think the same person has a 4" Columbian asking $100, same deal. Might be worth a call and asking if he will negotiate...

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[va.grouseman]

Joe, you scored big on that 9350.

 

[bagged89s10]

I just saw a coworkers new truck today. It has a vise mounted on it, inside the back, for tool repair. I'm assuming my new truck I'll be getting later this year will have the same setup.

It's a real ****** vise, so I'm going to have to restore a nice vise in red and black and swap it out. I think a Parker 974 will be perfect!

 

[Evergreentree]

Is there a Parker 975? To me that'd be the perfect user...the ?'big bear'? Series with the anvil horn....

After doin a search I guess there is! Hunt is on!

 

[CrotalusAtrox]

Found a Morgan 88 Chicago today its dirty but in great shape and it has both of its pipe jaws. May use BLO on this one ,very few nicks handle is perfect jaws are decent.

 

[itsDROCK]

Hey guys, looking to buy my first vise. Came across this one on CL. It is from Erie Tool Works. Looks like it says 204 1/2?

What do you guys think? I don't hear this company mentioned as often as others. Asking price is $105.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

itsDROCK,
It looks good for 105$. Erie is a top shelf brand. When you look at it, be sure to check it over VERY carefully for cracks & breaks. Have a flashlight handy. Remove the dynamic jaw to check the nut. From my own experience, it's easy to get overly excited when buying a vise.

Good luck.