The VISES of Garage Journal

[vintage nut]

Very nice! A power hammer is definitely on my wish list....

As for vise cracks, my big Morgan has a small one in nearly the same place as that. I ended up drilling and tapping holes though it and using cap screws to pin it in place. Not as strong as welding/brazing, or silver solder, but it's held up to over a year of fairly heavy use without any issue. I don't expect trouble from it. And if it ever does break, I'll braze it back together

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[trijeff]

As far as the larger 300 lb. vises, can anyone that has access to one comment as to whether there are any shrink cavities or other recessed areas?

No hollows or recesses on my P98, 8-1/4" 322 lbs.

 

[Vne]

My new Flexivise Triple-swivel designed by Fred C Moran. Built in Los Angeles,California. Has a 4" jaw.

 

[Vne]

My freshly restored Craftsman 5161 made by Rock Island. Has a 4" jaw.

 

[vintage nut]

That triple swivel looks like the most useful vise I've ever seen!

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[vintage nut]

And I love the rock island! Definitely have a soft spot for those.... I have a 3.5" swivel jaw that is one of my two most used vises.

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[SignalZero]

My freshly restored Craftsman 5161 made by Rock Island. Has a 4" jaw.

That looks great!
I like the color. What vintage is that model?

 

[Vne]

That looks great!
I like the color. What vintage is that model?

Best I can find is that they were produced from approximately 1937-1942. That color is the rustoleum hammered green. You oughta see it in person. Looks really nice!

 

[bluebolt]

Don't make us water board you!

Careful I am armed!

 

[va.grouseman]

Top, you did great on your Indian Chiefs.---I paid $145.00 for a 5 1/2'', and glad to get it.
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Sandman, thanks for that.---That's a beautiful chunk of iron.
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Trijef, the P98 is a real prize.---You really scored big on that one.
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Vne, that triple swivel Flexivise is a real treasure.
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[IHmachinery]

I got this one from my grandfather. It dates from WW2 and works like new!

That is very nice. And great that it is still in the family.


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[drivesitfar]

BB: check it out and i think i know which one you are looking at so i'll keep quite until i know you own it. hopefully it's in great shape because any damage to vises that size costs more than a few benjamins to fix. MORE GOOD LUCK

PETER: did your grand dad grab that out of one of Hitler's workshops because isn't it a German Leinen? how wide are the jaws? i wish i still had my 150 cause it was/is a sweet vise and i know the new owner uses it daily at his fabrication shop. any history to share about the vise other than it was Gramps?

Sandman: always like to see your big iron. moving my LITTLE IRON around i wish i owned just one of your 2 fork lifts. I watched this early 1900's punch go to the scrapper last year and it was a sad day so hoping the scrapper had a guy that was planning on restoring it. they poured the factory's cement floor around it and they moved it there in 1945.

VNE: nice vises you've collected pretty quickly.

 

[airshow]

Record 3VS....

 

[Peter H]

PETER: did your grand dad grab that out of one of Hitler's workshops because isn't it a German Leinen? how wide are the jaws? i wish i still had my 150 cause it was/is a sweet vise and i know the new owner uses it daily at his fabrication shop. any history to share about the vise other than it was Gramps?

@ Drivesitfar : Jaws are 5" and yes, there is a story behind it. My grandfather had connections with the resistance during the war and the story goes the vise and some other tools were stolen from a German shop. I also have a wooden crate that was used to transport a tripod from a German .50 cal. I use it to organize my BBQ stuff in it...

 

[SignalZero]

Best I can find is that they were produced from approximately 1937-1942. That color is the rustoleum hammered green. You oughta see it in person. Looks really nice!

My wife likes greens like that and saw me looking at your pics and told me I should paint my 5180 that color. Lol

 

[wrenchguy]

No hollows or recesses on my P98, 8-1/4" 322 lbs.

umhumm! i,ll never forget that biggen! i thought u redid it?

 

[trijeff]

umhumm! i,ll never forget that biggen! i thought u redid it?

I have been redoing it ... very slowly! We'll be moving soon and I will set it up permanently there on a nice stand I have. There will be many pics [emoji6]

 

[schor]

Cleaning up the late father in laws tool/junk hoard, 4 days in and finally got to under one of the work benches. Totally seized but I will try to revive it.

 

[drivesitfar]

Schor: did FIL have a bucket of diesel sitting around that old barn or garage? if he did you might drop the Wilton in it and leave it there for a couple weeks and it might be ready to pull apart. a bucket of vinegar works too and if you use vinegar you'll need to wash completely off and dry so the vinegar doesn't eat the cast iron.

nice find

TJ: are you moving to the PNW so i can see that big Prentiss 98 in person? also so you can teach me how to paint a bright green vise or tool and i'll teach you how to hit a golf ball 50 yards farther. that big 98 looks awesome and almost too small in the picture for what it really is in person.

Airshow: welcome to the forum and specifically the vise thread. we still are not sure if your vise was made in England or more likely made in the factory in China and assembled in England. in any case it's a good vise and i've had a couple of them and no complaints from me to mention.

 

[schor]

Schor: did FIL have a bucket of diesel sitting around that old barn or garage? if he did you might drop the Wilton in it and leave it there for a couple weeks and it might be ready to pull apart. a bucket of vinegar works too and if you use vinegar you'll need to wash completely off and dry so the vinegar doesn't eat the cast iron.

nice find

tsc has evaporust on sale for $18/gal, I grabbed some 3mil poly, put that in the bottom of a large pan, dropped the vice in, filled with 1 gallon of evaporust and wrapped the plastic as best I could to get the evaporust around as much of the vist as possible. will check on it in the morning.

 

[vintage nut]

Hopefully going to get my big post vise finished tomorrow.... Just the small parts left

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[Filson]

OUTLAW & MEATSIS & ALL: VA filled the hollow towers with lead of his 8 inch Columbian that he uses on his workbench that isn't part of the chain gang. i think he said it weighed about 180 pounds and was an 8 inch wide jaw and most of his Reed, Athol, Rock Island and such weigh about 100 pounds more for their 8 inch versions.

Sounds about right, my Reed is 278 lbs.

 

[oldldh]

Sounds about right, my Reed is 278 lbs.

Where have you been hiding???

With Big Caddy, probably...

 

[va.grouseman]

Filson's been flying just under radar.

 

[topop101]

Careful I am armed!

Well it's Saturday so give it up!

 

[topop101]

Top, you did great on your Indian Chiefs.---I paid $145.00 for a 5 1/2'', and glad to get it.
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I see post vise's at about every farm auction . Normally they go for around 20 bucks or less. But not usually this nice or big. Back yard blacksmithing has been getting popular and prices are going up. It may be time to start turning a few! I think I have about a half dozen or so now???

 

[va.grouseman]

Top, there ain't no farm sales in my area and if one does find a post vise around here, it sure ain't no $20.00.---I finally wound up with 3 that I had to get off EBay before they started coming in favor.---Can't buy them no more, their out of reason.---At the price range you say you are exposed to, maybe you should be stock-piling.---Look at Demo, and the Sandman, and his friend, their setting on a goldmine.

 

[G-ManBart]

I see post vise's at about every farm auction . Normally they go for around 20 bucks or less. But not usually this nice or big. Back yard blacksmithing has been getting popular and prices are going up. It may be time to start turning a few! I think I have about a half dozen or so now???

I wish that was the case around here....even junky looking ones are $100+

 

[vintage nut]

Speaking of post vises, I found this marking on my big one while wire wheeling rust off. Can't read much in the picture, and it took coating it with dykem, sanding off the high spots, and using a magnifier to read what was left in person. I believe it says "Wright's patent solidiron" (solidiron being one word, no space) it's on the nut (can't remember the proper name for that part on a post vise) so I'm guessing this might be the first one piece one? Any insight on what I might have? Beautiful old hand forged iron vise, might have the restoration finished today

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[vintage nut]

Just noticed a P stamped in front of the marking, looks like it's a peter wright

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[CrotalusAtrox]

Found this C0 today needs a base and some pipe jaws but for $60 couldn't pass on it. date code is 2/77

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[Bcom]

Do you need an end cap for that c0? I have a couple. Pm me if you need one.

 

[vintage nut]

Almost done this big heavy sucker! Just the handle left to make....


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[CrotalusAtrox]

That looks great

 

[drivesitfar]

CA: you've got a great eye and nose for finding those great deals so keep it up as you have time.

VN: i bet your arms are getting very tired moving that old beast around. are you sure it's a PETER WRIGHT or was that just a guess after all the clues you've been finding? great looking vise and didn't you say it weighs about 200 pounds? is this restoration harder than doing the one to the 142 pound Morgan 160?

that vise will look AWESOME when you get R done and guessing it will have a spot to sit just outside your shop to use it when you need to bang on something. WELL DONE!!

 

[vintage nut]

Thanks guys!
Drives, I'm not 100 certain it's a peter wright, but it does have P Wright stamped on it, so I can't imagine what else it would be.
It's been a different restoration than the Morgan, more rough work than painting. Fair bit of welding and grinding.
I recall it being about 175#, but I'll have to weigh it once I get it all finished.

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[Outlawmws]

VN, I like that your Blacksmith's vise has longer arms that you commonly see. you should get more pressure all things considered.

Nice job, Looks great!

 

[topop101]

Almost done this big heavy sucker! Just the handle left to make....


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The nut and jaw shape sure looks like a PW. Very Nice!!!

 

[vintage nut]

Thanks guys! Looking forward to having it in use. Making a 21" long handle for it as we speak.
With 7.25" jaws, this is by far my biggest vise

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[anndel]

Lots of awesome vises here, thanks for sharing!