The VISES of Garage Journal

[econotrk]

And here gentlemen, is the pictures of the Wilton Bullet I scored yesterday...

I also managed to score two Hein Werner 1.5 ton WS model jacks at $30 a piece
So what do you fellas think?

Nice get on the Wilton.

There is a vintage floor jack thread you could put your Hein Werner in. I've got a couple WS models, very nice jacks.

 

[wkndwarrior29]

A three pack my buddy picked up at a flee market for me. I need to educate him on what good condition looks like but despite the broken clamp on one and missing base on another the $20 bill it cost me was ok for the lot.

 

[KMScott]

Interesting, there are a number of those posted on here. Not much concrete is known about them. I have one (in 4") Zoomie has one as well. They are wilton like, but have a few distinct differences. Most notably being the dynamic jaw has a key way and the static jaw/body has a key compared to the reverse of the wilton series. This difference makes them (the clones) quite easier to produce with non specific machines to broach the internal key way.

Show some pic's of your 4" zkling and the key and keyway. Kind of curious on the nut setup and if it is like Wilton's.

 

[02superduty]

Thanks guys it is pretty cool find. In my post photo # 4 shows the bottom of the static with to flat head screws that fit in the keyway. ZKDo you think that ours came from the same place?

 

[zkling]

I posted pics of mine a while back. Let me see if I can find the post. There were a hand full of people that had them, each with their own slight variation.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4603250&postcount=24525

 

[KMScott]

Thanks guys it is pretty cool find. In my post photo # 4 shows the bottom of the static with to flat head screws that fit in the keyway. ZKDo you think that ours came from the same place?

Man that is a down and dirty way to install a keyway. zklings has a insert machined with the key added to the insert. Looks like it was up to the owner to install the key the way they wanted. Thanks zkling for the pictures.

 

[Jarhead0408]

S4Cruiser: Thanks man. Like I said, I don't know much about Wiltons, but once I saw it had a pivoting jaw I figured it must be up there on the rarity chart. Hope you find your own one day as well. I think I've asked you this before, can't remember if you responded, but what does the S4 in your user name refer to? I keep thinking a Series 4 Rx-7. Last time I'll ask I promise!



CRSINMICH: Will do. I read EverGreenTree's posts on the process of un-sticking his. Seemed like a bear. Hopefully this one won't be quite as bad.

econotrk:Thanks! I'll have to do that tomorrow. Maybe I'll put my Blackhawk S4 in there while I'm at it. Those Hein Werners are heavy, but once the castors are unstuck they should be quite manageable.


*Quick update. All I had on hand in the way of penetrate was a couple of cans of yellow topped Liquid-Wrench, but I sprayed it down pretty good at all areas with moving parts.

It took 20 minutes after I removed the bolt that holds the rear jaw in place to be able to pivot the rear jaw. Now she can be moved one handed and is baby smooth. EverGreenTree: Your post with the disassembly of your SJ 60 and the people who offered you advice on removing the tapered pin were invaluable. Thanks a million man!

I was able to loosen up the handle and the main screw enough to get almost a full rotation of the vise handle. I didn't want to take it too far as the handle is completely straight and I don't want to bend it at all.

I noticed a little bit of play in the washer (term?) behind the hub, and that in spite of the handle moving, the dynamic jaw didn't budge a millimeter. So it looks like that is seized fast. I was able to remove the washer and the main handle w/threaded rod (term again) without difficulty though.

Next step is trying to get the dynamic jaw moving again. I'll take my time and do it right. Don't won't to mess this up.

Even though the rear pivoting jaw moves freely now, I think I'll be ordering some roll pin punches to take it completely apart. I want to restore it completely and those will have to come out at some point.

 

[Shiftless]

Jarhead::
Great find!
As I mentioned already, I am one of the GJ vise aholics who have worked on stuck frozen bullets.
Whatever you do, go slowly!
Don't try to use the spindle screw to open a stuck vise. They are engineered to apply tremendous force when closing but not much in opening. The front collar and its 3 little screws will not withstand great force.
It is easy to get frustrated and just reach for a huge hammer and start bashing. If a casting breaks you are up S&!t creek.
The back cone is not usually easy to remove. You have to drive out the two pins first but the cone is usually rusted in tight with no good way to get a grip on it.

Move your questions over to the vise repair thread for more advice.
I've been there and done that.

 

[drivesitfar]

Jar: you posted so many vise pictures yesterday and I was on the road looking on my cell phone I couldn't tell which vise you bought. if the rusty Wilton SJ 60 is yours then you did more than OK. when you get out of college or spiff that vise up and sell it to one of us or at an auction for 6 to 8 benjamins i'd mail a Benjamin to that nice gal that sold it to you. that sir is more than a WELL DONE, but you might know I don't do YS even though you do.

yes it was worth the drive and gas and time.

also don't beat on it and take your time because under that surface rust it two or three GOLDEN MONKEYS. you might want to keep it because they are not easy to come by. the dust cover it a $1 fix and making one round has many options over on the 101 thread. Electrolysis and BLO and ask for help if you need any.

S4: interesting red Wilton bullet look a like. it's even different than the other school made ones that seem to show up with those jaws especially.

looks like it should work ok. yes?

 

[Evergreentree]

Jarhead, no problem at all. All the guys who helped were just awesome, and couldn't do it without them. Good group of vise junkies here!

Crs-don't know if you recall, but I did make up a big ash hammer just for you! it's in the vise repair thread. I'm sure you remember!

Drives-hmm, a tree mounted vise...enabler! Reality is, chainsaw chains rarely dull in trees, unless they hit old hardware like nails and cloth line hooks, but they're usually under 10' up. I have however cut down a sycamore that was full of rebar and concrete near 40' up! That was nightmarish!

 

[CRSINMICH]

Crs-don't know if you recall, but I did make up a big ash hammer just for you! it's in the vise repair thread. I'm sure you remember!

EGT: I do remember and I just had another good chuckle about it. Thanks!

 

[joe.striper]

Recently I sold an Emmert 6a to a friend for $200, It was rough but had good bones. A machinist friend of his fell in love with it and agreed to make him parts that he needed. Here is some of his work.

Jealous? You vet your *** I'm jealous.

 

[CRSINMICH]

Recently I sold an Emmert 6a to a friend for $200, It was rough but had good bones. A machinist friend of his fell in love with it and agreed to make him parts that he needed. Here is some of his work.

Jealous? You vet your *** I'm jealous.

Joe: You did keep the one that you restored didn't you? Now that the weather is reliably warm, I'm continuing the restoration of mine. I can, and will, tell much the same story about a machinist friend making some parts. (Thanks again Jcrapola). The vise itself is repaired, reassembled, and functioning. There is still some restoration work left to do, but mostly it needs a good cleaning and some kind of finish. I have ideas.

Thanks again for the help you have given along the way.

 

[drivesitfar]

EG: you'll have to post up some pictures of the TREE MOUNTED VISE.

BTW i'm not the enabler just the facts man

JOE: sweet. has your wife made you move the Emmert off the kitchen counter or since you are the VICEMAN maybe she knows it's there to stay?

ALL: i drove over 400 miles yesterday and didn't sniff a vise. i'm moving to NEW ENGLAND so i can start finding them laying on the ground again. of course i'll have to find NEW ENGLAND on the map

 

[joe.striper]

Joe: You did keep the one that you restored didn't you? Now that the weather is reliably warm, I'm continuing the restoration of mine. I can, and will, tell much the same story about a machinist friend making some parts. (Thanks again Jcrapola). The vise itself is repaired, reassembled, and functioning. There is still some restoration work left to do, but mostly it needs a good cleaning and some kind of finish. I have ideas.

Thanks again for the help you have given along the way.

Nope, sold it. I've seen 4 this year, bought 2. I want a 4a though so I keep looking.

I'm so damned fickle. The restoration is the thing for me, followed by the finding. owning, not so much. I catalog everything though. I'm thinking of setting up a separate hard drive just for that, its getting kind of big...

 

[meatsis]

Drove 2 hours each way last night for this one. I just couldnt pass it up for the price. Absolutely mint condition reed 106. Looks like it was never used. I think this one will replace my rock island 577 as my main vise. Oh yeah and i only paid $100. I actually felt guilty when i left.

 

[Jarhead0408]

She's gorgeous man! Nice find.

I vote to mount it on the other end so you'll have dueling vises.

 

[CrotalusAtrox]

Meatsis Great looking vise its funny I look at everyone's gear in their pictures and it seems that most of us like quality stuff. I have two Stihl Chainsaws, Snap On tools, lots of vises, Baldor and Dayton grinders Etc Etc. Same theme I see in a lot of the pics.

 

[drivesitfar]

Meatsis: yes it's a great vise and price, but if you put some value on your 4 hours time and the gas costs the seller should be happy he sold it to you because it now has another GOOD HOME. I agree the 577 and Reed 206 are pretty close and hard to chose, but then you have a lot of good choices so get a trailer hitch type mount and swap them out once in a while if you've run out of bench space. take a gander at the vises and grinders stand thread for ideas if you might need a few. WELL DONE and I bet you still smile on the way home like I do after picking up something like a big vise or big cabinet or tool.

cheers

 

[joe.striper]

Drove 2 hours each way last night for this one. I just couldnt pass it up for the price. Absolutely mint condition reed 106. Looks like it was never used. I think this one will replace my rock island 577 as my main vise. Oh yeah and i only paid $100. I actually felt guilty when i left.

I've got...VISE ENVY .... OH AND YOUUUUU SUUUUUUK

 

[CRSINMICH]

Nope, sold it. I've seen 4 this year, bought 2. I want a 4a though so I keep looking.

Joe: The 6a must have been far more common. I've only seen one Emmert Universal Vise in real life - the one I bought. I guess I got lucky the first time because it's a 4a. I know what you mean about finding and restoring though. I wasn't sure if I should buy such a big vise because I knew I would have no real need for it. I decided to go ahead because I wanted to put it back into service just for the challenge of it and so that it wouldn't get sold for scrap.

By the way, I've seen 4 terabyte external hard drives that were inexpensive Even you should be able to catalog all your vises on it- at least through the end of this year.

 

[csaws]

Alright I got my first vise today, I think it's a pretty good looking vise. It for sure won't be my last but I think it's a pretty good first one. What say you?

All I know about it is what it says...
Prentiss
Vise Co.
New York
No. 3









Please excuse the mess of a garage I have going on, lots of new big block parts showing up and trying to purge some old **** at same time.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[autopts]

Anyone ever see one like this?

Joe, you always seem to find the unusual. Very nice!!

 

[Jarhead0408]

Move your questions over to the vise repair thread for more advice.

Shiftless Thanks. I'll be sure to take my time. Point taken on the retaining washer and 3 screws. I think I noticed it before any harm came. The main screw along with the washer/screws are now off the vise to prevent temptation. I guess it is time to move it over to the "101" thread. It's gonna be fun to put it back on this thread once it's completed. Thanks again.

Jar: when you get out of college or spiff that vise up and sell it to one of us or at an auction for 6 to 8 benjamins i'd mail a Benjamin to that nice gal that sold it to you.

two or three GOLDEN MONKEYS.

Drives: Excellent idea. I doubt I'll ever sell it. Call it love at first sight if you will. But if I do, I think giving $100 back would be a great thing to do.
Now the Golden Monkeys? Are you talking about the swivel base, swivel jaw, and that it's pre-patent?

Meatsis ...and it seems that most of us like quality stuff. Same theme I see in a lot of the pics.

Chilang: I'd agree. Maybe "greatness begets greatness" or something along those lines eh? One thing is for sure, if you use quality tools, you'll seldom be disappointed or have to buy twice. Plus, if you raise your kids/grandkids right, they'll appreciate and use them as well.

 

[Jarhead0408]

All I know about it is what it says...
Prentiss
Vise Co.
New York
No. 3

I say you got a nice one. It should clean up nicely. Looks like it has a swivel jaw. I missed a chance for a nearly identical Prentiss a while back. Looked identical with the exception that the rear jaw didn't swivel.

 

[CRSINMICH]

csaws: Yes! That is a good vise. It doesn't seem to have the crack at the tail end of the slide that so many Prentiss vises do. It looks to be in great shape and it should spiff up nicely. I don't know if you know it but that rear jaw swivels. The pin holding it might be stuck. If so, look at the Vise Repair thread for ideas about getting it out. Here is an ad for Prentiss vises from 1904. Your No. 3 would have set your great-grandad back $10.50.

Edit: I just noticed that the picture didn't come out well. The NO.3 is the one on the lower left. Take my word for it $10.50

 

[csaws]

csaws: Yes! That is a good vise. It doesn't seem to have the crack at the tail end of the slide that so many Prentiss vises do. It looks to be in great shape and it should spiff up nicely. I don't know if you know it but that rear jaw swivels. The pin holding it might be stuck. If so, look at the Vise Repair thread for ideas about getting it out. Here is an ad for Prentiss vises from 1904. Your No. 3 would have set your great-grandad back $10.

Edit: I just noticed that the picture didn't come out well. The NO.3 is the one on the lower left. Take my word for it $10

Good to hear it is a good one. What is the point of the jaw swiveling? I can't seem to find the vise repair thread. So what's a good price for one like this?

 

[drivesitfar]

CSAWS: you have an awesome vise and just take your time and ask questions if you need any help restoring it or just getting the swivel jaw usable if it is stuck like most of them are. WELL DONE and welcome to the vise thread. I notice you already know you'll buy more vises so just know there is such a thing as a vice for vises.

you've been officially warned and again if you need to ask if you should buy a vise the answer is YES to any question like that you have.

here's the link for the vise repair 101 thread I started a year or two ago and a lot of members here on GJ posted a lot of good information about vises there in case you need any or if you have questions just ask. swivel jaw vises are for odd shaped pieces because the static jaw swivels to make almost any angle. http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=252830

Jar: yes to all of the those things. once you've restored that 6 inch swivel jaw Wilton bullet if you need to know how much it's worth it might surprise you.

nice comments too.

 

[CRSINMICH]

Good to hear it is a good one. What is the point of the jaw swiveling? I can't seem to find the vise repair thread. So what's a good price for one like this?

csaws: Like Drives said the rear jaw swivels so that you can hold odd shaped pieces. The ad I posted shows the No.3 holding a wedge shaped piece. Too bad it came out so blurry. I'll try again.

Edit: After looking closely at the ad I think that the bolt holding the swivel jaw on yours is not original. The hole may have been altered and threaded instead of being tapered. Probably the original pin got lost and the bolt was a make-do alternative. The pin should have a matching taper. Be careful trying to remove it.

 

[joe.striper]

Joe, you always seem to find the unusual. Very nice!!

well you're no help!!

Guy wants 200 for it. Unless I can get it for $100 it stays put.

 

[joe.striper]

Joe: The 6a must have been far more common. I've only seen one Emmert Universal Vise in real life - the one I bought. I guess I got lucky the first time because it's a 4a. I know what you mean about finding and restoring though. I wasn't sure if I should buy such a big vise because I knew I would have no real need for it. I decided to go ahead because I wanted to put it back into service just for the challenge of it and so that it wouldn't get sold for scrap.

By the way, I've seen 4 terabyte external hard drives that were inexpensive Even you should be able to catalog all your vises on it- at least through the end of this year.

CRSINMICH YOURE GETTING SLEEEPY...SLEEPY.....SLEEPY...THE EMMERT 4a IS BAD MOJO...SELL IT...SELL IT BEFORE IT IS TOOO LAAAATE...SELL IT TO HANDSOME JOE POLASKI...SELL IT....

 

[joe.striper]

alright i got my first vise today, i think it's a pretty good looking vise. It for sure won't be my last but i think it's a pretty good first one. What say you?

All i know about it is what it says...
Prentiss
vise co.
New york
no. 3






please excuse the mess of a garage i have going on, lots of new big block parts showing up and trying to purge some old **** at same time.


Sent from my ipad using tapatalk

very nice. If you take off the jaws be careful and save the screws, they have an odd pitch on their shoulders.

 

[joe.striper]

Thought I'd share some pics of my transitional/early Wilton I'm restoring. Here it is out of the simple green. To remind you it has 4.25" jaws. See the horizontal lines on the jaws? Just like a York. Also the swivel locks, which I'm told are also original, have threaded screws on them. Very interesting.

Now what color original paint??? Any help here. When I got it it was silver, clearly not right.

 

[CRSINMICH]

Huh? What? Who's there? Joe is that you? It was the damndest thing. I thought I was napping and I woke up with the desire to sell something of mine. Oh well, that passed.

 

[zkling]

Man that is a down and dirty way to install a keyway. zklings has a insert machined with the key added to the insert. Looks like it was up to the owner to install the key the way they wanted. Thanks zkling for the pictures.

Here's the original post. Thought I took a picture of the nut.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4201966&postcount=19814

 

[csaws]

So how much was too much to pay for that Prentiss?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[drivesitfar]

CSAWS: Why do you ask? I have to say there haven't been very many Prentiss #3 vises ever posted on this thread and yours looks like it's in great shape. remind me what the jaw width and weight is? of course you are asking most of us that own maybe 20+ vise give or take and some with a lot more so we don't really NEED a vise and we wouldn't necessarily pay market for one.

your vise is RARE, SWIVEL JAW and in good to better than average condition if it doesn't have any cracks or welds so if you paid maybe more than 2 GOLD MONKEYS for it you might have paid too much.

I doubt you paid too much and if you spiff it up and decide you want to sell it just let us know or put on Ebay and see what the market will bear. Prentiss doesn't get it's just rewards like maybe a Wilton Bullet does, but if you can find one not damaged it's easily as good of a vise as tools go.

I saw you posted it up over on the vise repair 101 thread so ask questions if you have any about taking it apart and slow and careful is the key to 100 year old swivel jaw vises.

 

[csaws]

CSAWS: Why do you ask? I have to say there haven't been very many Prentiss #3 vises ever posted on this thread and yours looks like it's in great shape. remind me what the jaw width and weight is? of course you are asking most of us that own maybe 20+ vise give or take and some with a lot more so we don't really NEED a vise and we wouldn't necessarily pay market for one.



your vise is RARE, SWIVEL JAW and in good to better than average condition if it doesn't have any cracks or welds so if you paid maybe more than 2 GOLD MONKEYS for it you might have paid too much.



I doubt you paid too much and if you spiff it up and decide you want to sell it just let us know or put on Ebay and see what the market will bear. Prentiss doesn't get it's just rewards like maybe a Wilton Bullet does, but if you can find one not damaged it's easily as good of a vise as tools go.



I saw you posted it up over on the vise repair 101 thread so ask questions if you have any about taking it apart and slow and careful is the key to 100 year old swivel jaw vises.

4.5" and 54 lbs.

I ask because my buddy gave it to me, just want to make sure I got a good deal [emoji16]

He said he was going to use it but it was froze up. He said I could have it if I wanted, so I picked it up, threw it in a dog food bag and put it in my wife's Grand Cherokee. When I got home I plucked it out of the bag and sat it on the cabinet, spun the handle and it seems to go through the whole screw travel without much issue, the beam is dry and crusty from dirt and junk but the screw is greased. Anyway it is much better off with me than him, I am in the process of saving a 73 Duster from its demise he has owned it at least 10 years and hasn't touched it in 5-7, it is at my house and I have done more work on it in the month it's been here than he did in the 10 years.

 

[CrotalusAtrox]

Anyone know much about this vise this is the only pick I have havent bought it yet.

[/URL][/IMG]

 

[drivesitfar]

Csaws: Yep you paid too much because the favor you will owe your friend now will be way more than the cash you should have handed him for his RUSTY vise. after he sees you shine it up he might even want it back since no cash exchange happened. just kidding (or am I) and nice save

Chilang: it's a Union vise company vise after they bought Parker in 1957 and one of the later ones because the first few years Union was still using Parker's old inventory of jaws and parts. my guess is it's a 4 inch wide jaw and maybe close to 50 pounds and a well built vise. not a big dollar vise, but better than any vise for less than $150 that you can buy new.