FMC1959
Well-known member
A little lunch break vise purchase.
Columbian 404 and a 2.5" Wilton bullet. $90 for both
Nice baby, the Columbian is a 404 or 604?
The VISES of Garage Journal
- Thread starter mjozefow
- Start date
Nice baby, the Columbian is a 404 or 604?
Stopped by a car guy's garage today and of course I had to check out the vises. He has a Morgan Aurora Star 4 1/2" fixed base vise bolted to the bench. Good shape but I forgot to take a picture.
Then he mentions he just got a big vise from an old Harley Davidson shop FOR FREE. Of course I had to go see that one!
Wow, turned out to be a pretty nice Parker 956 fixed base 6" wide jaw vise in pretty nice shape! No welds, cracks or big hammer marks I saw. Looks like some of the original black paint is there. Jaws teeth are NICE for a vise this old, very important for a Parker.
Then he mentions he just got a big vise from an old Harley Davidson shop FOR FREE. Of course I had to go see that one!
Wow, turned out to be a pretty nice Parker 956 fixed base 6" wide jaw vise in pretty nice shape! No welds, cracks or big hammer marks I saw. Looks like some of the original black paint is there. Jaws teeth are NICE for a vise this old, very important for a Parker.
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bagged89s10
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bagged89s10
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vintage nut
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vintage nut
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Outlawmws
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I discovered a perfect cover for vises on stands living outside
$10 at any hardware store, regular cover for a Weber kettle grill
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Got to remember that one!
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vintage nut
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I was looking for something to cover the stand up until the rain stopped. Looked over at my BBQ and got the idea. Couldn't have fit better if it was made for it
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Shiftless
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bagged:
That looks to me like original paint and maybe even pristine jaws!
If Joe says you got a you **** fantastic deal it REALLY must be true. Congrats!
That looks to me like original paint and maybe even pristine jaws!
If Joe says you got a you **** fantastic deal it REALLY must be true. Congrats!
dutchgray
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I discovered a perfect cover for vises on stands living outside
$10 at any hardware store, regular cover for a Weber kettle grill
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Nice, we use those blue plastic chemical drums with an end cut off for similar covering duties, they wouldn't fit all vices though. We wouldn't have an outside vice here though, its just to wet most of the time and it would likely be stolen.
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bagged89s10
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I can't tell if it's the original paint or not because I just took some acetone and removed the paint off the jaw towers and top of the jaws.
I think I'll keep this guy.
Are the 2.5 inch baby bullets as sought after as the 2 inch?
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vintage nut
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I can see the San Juan islands from where I am in Canada, definitely wet here too. I've found things are alright outside, as long as they have a good heavy coat of wax or oil on everything.
I mostly want a vise outside to keep torch cutting and angle grinder work away from the lathe and mill. Figured something hard to hurt would be good for that.
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vintage nut
Well-known member
Finally finished! Going to play around with the finish on the vise some more yet, not quite happy with how it looks.
My favorite 8# persuader on the base for a size comparison
Gravity has sunk it a couple inches into the gravel, I have a feeling it won't be moving around on me!
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My favorite 8# persuader on the base for a size comparison
Gravity has sunk it a couple inches into the gravel, I have a feeling it won't be moving around on me!
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Kayakranger76
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- May 8, 2016
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Thanks for the feedback and info
vintage nut
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Has anyone ever tried smoking something with acetylene soot between coats of Blo or beeswax?
Thought I'd give it a try on the post vise, really like it to be more of a black, but I don't want to paint it..
Could always get the stuff to make boiler polish...
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Thought I'd give it a try on the post vise, really like it to be more of a black, but I don't want to paint it..
Could always get the stuff to make boiler polish...
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jakemac
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Burning BLO will give a good coating if you don't burn it off.
More of a brownish black than true black.
The fumes can be noxious and burn your eyes. Set up a fan to blow it away from you.
More of a brownish black than true black.
The fumes can be noxious and burn your eyes. Set up a fan to blow it away from you.
vintage nut
Well-known member
What's currently on it is my pine tar/Blo/beeswax mix. Gives that sort of brownish color. I was thinking the acetylene soot might give more of the dark black like old steam tractor boilers. The finish on those is graphite powder or lamp black mixed with turpentine, and sometimes a bit of Blo.
I'll give it's try. Worst cast is the vise gets a bath in kerosene and start over
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I'll give it's try. Worst cast is the vise gets a bath in kerosene and start over
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flushcut
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LOL, my sister gave me similar project vise for my birthday a few weeks ago. I felt bad that she actually paid for a POS vise, so I made an effort to make something from it. I milled the jaws to accept a pair of simple aluminum inserts, and I can tell her that it is at least functional. I have no idea who the maker was, and no idea how it was supposed to open---there was no circlip or collar to open it. I added a collar and had to bore a recess for it so the jaws could close. Very wierd......
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ganymede
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topop101
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I can't tell if it's the original paint or not because I just took some acetone and removed the paint off the jaw towers and top of the jaws.
I think I'll keep this guy.
Are the 2.5 inch baby bullets as sought after as the 2 inch?
I think the 2-1/2 are even harder to find!!! VERY NICE GRAB!
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topop101
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Being limited physically so I decides to mess with a lil guy today. After all the lil'ones need love too...This was one I picked up this winter or late last fall. It had never been bolted down . It was just throw under the bench instead of on the bench. It still had some partial decal on it and bits and pieces of original green paint . I got close to original on both I think. I made the decal a bit larger because I have at least 3 bigger AS to do up yet. Here's a before and after shot or two. I usually never remember to take before shots But I did this time for some reason...
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Mark in Indiana
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Top:
Beautiful restoration!
Polishing out the anvil horn is a great touch.
Beautiful restoration!
Polishing out the anvil horn is a great touch.
topop101
Well-known member
Thanks man! Several guys looked around on line and found enough images that my local sign company was able to put one together for me. Wasn't cheap but now I have it!
topop101
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Top:
Beautiful restoration!
Polishing out the anvil horn is a great touch.
Hey Thanks Mark! I wanted to stay real close to NOS but just couldn't resist the polish...
KMScott
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Really nice job Tops, I too am curious on the label. I need several decals and labels made.
topop101
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I use a local sign company. The lady there that does the work is very talented. If you have a local sign or graphics company they should be able to produce any thing you bring them. Be warned though it can get $$ . I think every time I go back she raises the price. Maybe hoping I stop coming lol... Her old man and my brother use to ride bikes together and I've known them for 30 years or more so it's probably just the time consuming part of it that cost. filling in missing details and things like that. Adjusting faded colors and size can't be easy.
Agreed. They do good work.
topop101
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bagged89s10
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topop101
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If you like that just wait till you see what I do to that 2-1/2 Wilton when you send it to me....
KMScott
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If I can help out in any way just let me know. I'd be more than glad to help you !!!
Thanks Tops, I was thinking of getting these made into decals where they could be transferred to a finished Wilton vise. Thanks for the help but maybe I will try our local sign graphic shop and see what she says.
<a href="https://visejaws.smugmug.com/Jaw-Cutting/i-fkKdGKH/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Jaw-Cutting/i-fkKdGKH/0/L/Screenshot2012-11-16at1.24.35AM-L.png" alt=""></a>
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Top, that one came out VERY nice! I agree, the polished anvil horn and face makes it!
damnesia
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I posted the first vise in a separate thread ( sorry for the double posting ) and had a few requests to include it here. I was reluctant to buy it at first and passed on it for a couple weeks. The finally broke down and bought it. Columbian 124-1/2. I was going to try to trade it but have grown to like it so will probably end up keeping it. Other than the jaw inserts, it's in great shape for it's age. I can't find jaw inserts for it but I've decided to try my hand at making some out of aluminum. I was going to go for brass but I don't want to spend that much money on materials for my first attempt at making them. 4-1/2" wide jaws and it opens right over 12". I've been using it for lighter duty jobs and saving the messy, and welding, jobs for my Prentiss Bulldog.
The second vise is a Prentiss Bulldog No. 53. It has had a rough life but has been repaired ( not by me ) well enough to be usable. I really like the Prentiss. Unfortunately they seem to be difficult to find, at least around here.
I've got a few others, they are nothing special. Couple of Little Giants, newer and smaller Columbians, etc. that I won't bother to post pictures of.
The second vise is a Prentiss Bulldog No. 53. It has had a rough life but has been repaired ( not by me ) well enough to be usable. I really like the Prentiss. Unfortunately they seem to be difficult to find, at least around here.
I've got a few others, they are nothing special. Couple of Little Giants, newer and smaller Columbians, etc. that I won't bother to post pictures of.
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PghJKB
Well-known member
Kevin
Since you already have the images, you can buy decal paper on-line. Do a Google on decal paper and check what is available.
Waterslide paper, tattoo paper, glue back, whatever you need. For both Laser and ink jet printers. These folks seem to have it all: https://www.decalpaper.com/
You should be able to scale your images from your print program/driver.
JKB
topop101
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Thanks outlaw I couldn't resist the bling. The paint is one coat epoxy primer, 2 coats color , 2 coats clear. This process is really coming out smooth for me .
topop101
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Do they do vinyl ? or just paper?
That came out beautiful, great color choice
Of all the people to ask....I mean if anything, I would have expected anyone else asking you if you have one! I am sure that now that you know these are out there, the hunt begins! Good luck, I hope you find a Record and Woden....great bookends
Ha! Well you are correct I must own one now. So the hunt begins. This is one
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