The VISES of Garage Journal

[RagTopTA]

I got this little Penny Pincher for $5 today! cleaned it up. someone had spray painted it copper colored... back to red now. Neat little vise.

 

[rmalkow2]

Love that Penny Pincher Ragtop. Nice job cleaning it up. It may not be a heavy duty vise but I appreciate the attempt at different styling. Hoping to find one myself someday.

 

[AngryBeaver]

Got my badly abused 1971 400s buttoned up other than polishing the handles. It should work great on my roll around welding cart. I'm cheap and this one fit in my budget. Made a set of smooth aluminum jaws for the delicate aluminum work I'll be doing with it.

So I wasn't happy how the green turned out because the clear took the hammered effect out when I sprayed the clear while the verde was still tacky.

Since I had to strip it down, I decided to "fix" the anvil surface. Damn near matches my cobra now.

I think I'll call this the humpback of Wilton Dame. Polished up Kevin's jaws, from Nick, and cleaned up the handles. Made my own dust cap from a freeze plug. some neon green for the letters.

 

[bobernet]

How about a vise with a vice?

 

[RagTopTA]

Love that Penny Pincher Ragtop. Nice job cleaning it up. It may not be a heavy duty vise but I appreciate the attempt at different styling. Hoping to find one myself someday.

Thanks! I really like to try and get themdownto whats left of the original finnish and just keep em that way. I made a wrong turn and found it on a table in a weird little shot at the big flea. Was supper happy to see it. almost made a deal on a PowrKraft vise as well.. but he wouldnt budge.

 

[CrotalusAtrox]

Cleaning up a couple baby bullets and a couple power arms for my buddy Sandman should have these back together today.

 

[Iconoclast]

I guess this is the go to place when you get a cool vise

 

[G-ManBart]

Hi all learning a lot reading all these posts about to start restoration on my Wilton 450sj

Just my opinion, but I wouldn't restore a 450SJ in that good of condition. They are exceedingly hard to find in any condition, much less as nice as that one. For one thing, you'll have a nearly impossible time getting the color correct. I'd put new jaws on it, polish the handles and just clean the rest of it. If it was all beat up I'd strip and paint it, but yours isn't.

 

[Shiftless]

Just my opinion, but I wouldn't restore a 450SJ in that good of condition. They are exceedingly hard to find in any condition, much less as nice as that one. For one thing, you'll have a nearly impossible time getting the color correct. I'd put new jaws on it, polish the handles and just clean the rest of it. If it was all beat up I'd strip and paint it, but yours isn't.

I second your opinion Gman
Those Sj's don't just fall out of the trees. It's only original once. If you want a nice Wilton to restore you can have my 5 inch machinist bullet in trade. I have a swivel jaw Hollands I can throw in if you like swivel jaws.

 

[Bcom]

Hi all learning a lot reading all these posts about to start restoration on my Wilton 450sj

A Wilton swivel jaw! Gimme gimme gimme gimme! I wouldn't restore that. Leave it like it is!

 

[Bcom]

New arrival today - can't win if you don't play - garage sale of general household cr*p - asked the owner if he had any vises - said yes! $25

4-1/2" jaws. Seized up. Reworking will be a LOT easier and less stressful on this one due to learning curve kicking in from the first one.

--------- UPDATE 9-10-2017 ----------------
All apart except removing pins and nut. Slide dated 11-83. Very little abuse. Odd thing is that sliding handle bar is absolutely frozen in the center part. More PBB and some patience!

Excellent find for $25! I would love to work on that. Now that I have my degreaser tubs and derusting tubs, a nice long soak would be awesome for that vise. I bet it turns out great under all that rust

 

[Bcom]

Can anyone point me in the right direction of the thread that talked about proper packaging and shipping of a vise? Can't remember if it's a full thread or just a few comments. Can't find it anywhere

 

[Bcom]

So I wasn't happy how the green turned out because the clear took the hammered effect out when I sprayed the clear while the verde was still tacky.

Since I had to strip it down, I decided to "fix" the anvil surface. Damn near matches my cobra now.

I think I'll call this the humpback of Wilton Dame. Polished up Kevin's jaws, from Nick, and cleaned up the handles. Made my own dust cap from a freeze plug. some neon green for the letters.

I'm very impressed with this build.

 

[Bcom]

Does anyone know who made this style of vises for Craftsman or is it still a mystery?

 

[mgmlvks]

Excellent find for $25! I would love to work on that. Now that I have my degreaser tubs and derusting tubs, a nice long soak would be awesome for that vise. I bet it turns out great under all that rust

Thanks! Had the morning to myself and procrastinated on the yard work and disassembled it all. The small pieces not shown are in the vinegar. Jaw inserts appear in great shape. Only odd part (besides the rusted handle) is it appears the pins have come out at least once before and some alignment issues were adjusted with a bigger hammer. Should not impact operational safety as all they do is hold things together, the clamping forces are between the nut and the casting.

 

[CrotalusAtrox]

Finished up the baby bullets and power arms. The two in the back are mine did the other two for ole Sandman

 

[va.grouseman]

Very nice work Crot.---Nice little family.

 

[G-ManBart]

Thanks! Had the morning to myself and procrastinated on the yard work and disassembled it all. The small pieces not shown are in the vinegar. Jaw inserts appear in great shape. Only odd part (besides the rusted handle) is it appears the pins have come out at least once before and some alignment issues were adjusted with a bigger hammer. Should not impact operational safety as all they do is hold things together, the clamping forces are between the nut and the casting.

That is usually the result of the vise being dropped on the spindle or someone missing with a hammer and hitting the dynamic.

It won't cause a problem closing, but the little remnants can easily break off when opening if you've clamped down on something pretty hard. There is a fix, but it requires TIG welding or brazing a support over the broken parts after grinding down to the level of the pin holes. Ideally, after that you assemble the tail cap and nut into the body, clamp everything together and drill the pin holes one size larger so everything is snug again. Done properly nobody will know, and it will be stronger than it was originally.

 

[Bcom]

Finished up the baby bullets and power arms. The two in the back are mine did the other two for ole Sandman

Excellent work croat! I very jealous. My polishing experience is in the novice section right now but I hope to get it to your level one of these days.

 

[mike_paxton]

Asked at a garage sale on Saturday, if he had any old bench vises he wished to sell.

Out he brought a 4" jaw vise from the barn with one broken/brazed jaw, a section of the wing nut broken off that secures the vise via a center post which runs underneath a work table and missing the pair of insert-able pipe jaws.

Ended up buying it anyway, as it was marked COMB No. 2 and a logo with a round circle with a T inside.

Cleaned it up and weighed it, finding it was 60 pounds with max opening at 6 inches.

Couldn't find info on COMB or the logo, so hoping someone might have some info to share.

Mike

 

[Bcom]

Asked at a garage sale on Saturday, if he had any old bench vises he wished to sell.

Out he brought a 4" jaw vise from the barn with one broken/brazed jaw, a section of the wing nut broken off that secures the vise via a center post which runs underneath a work table and missing the pair of insert-able pipe jaws.

Ended up buying it anyway, as it was marked COMB No. 2 and a logo with a round circle with a T inside.

Cleaned it up and weighed it, finding it was 60 pounds with max opening at 6 inches.

Couldn't find info on COMB or the logo, so hoping someone might have some info to share.

Mike

COMB probably stands for "combination" since it is a combination vise. Just missing the jaws. There's that Wyandot Tractor yard stick again!

 

[GETRIDAONE]

Asked at a garage sale on Saturday, if he had any old bench vises he wished to sell.

Ended up buying it anyway, as it was marked COMB No. 2 and a logo with a round circle with a T inside.

Cleaned it up and weighed it, finding it was 60 pounds with max opening at 6 inches.

Couldn't find info on COMB or the logo, so hoping someone might have some info to share.

Mike

Oswego Tool Company

 

[Bcom]

Asked at a garage sale on Saturday, if he had any old bench vises he wished to sell.

Out he brought a 4" jaw vise from the barn with one broken/brazed jaw, a section of the wing nut broken off that secures the vise via a center post which runs underneath a work table and missing the pair of insert-able pipe jaws.

Ended up buying it anyway, as it was marked COMB No. 2 and a logo with a round circle with a T inside.

Cleaned it up and weighed it, finding it was 60 pounds with max opening at 6 inches.

Couldn't find info on COMB or the logo, so hoping someone might have some info to share.

Mike

Looks similar to Sawyer 65

 

[jakemac]

Does anyone know who made this style of vises for Craftsman or is it still a mystery?

AFAIK, It's still being argued.

 

[ganymede]

AFAIK, It's still being argued.

Speaking of which , anyone know where drivesitfar has been ?

 

[Iconoclast]

Just my opinion, but I wouldn't restore a 450SJ in that good of condition. They are exceedingly hard to find in any condition, much less as nice as that one. For one thing, you'll have a nearly impossible time getting the color correct. I'd put new jaws on it, polish the handles and just clean the rest of it. If it was all beat up I'd strip and paint it, but yours isn't.

Thank you for the advice
I guess I will rethink restoring it for now . What do you think is the approximate value of the sj450 ?
I used the paint to refresh my 3 ton arbor press

 

[Bcom]

AFAIK, It's still being argued.

Is there a general consensus of who made the vise in the arguement? Had to be American made. Anybody think Starrett? Jake,who do you personally think made it? Any opinions? I'd like to here what everyone thinks.

 

[oldldh]

The manufacturer of the 519X series Craftsman vises is a deep, dark secret...

Rock Island, gets my vote, but I have absolutely no proof...

All guesses are welcome...

Here is a copy of the Craftsman catalog page...

 

[Mark in Indiana]

All:
Picked up a HUGE Parker vise at an auction. It has 6-1/4" jaws, opens >8", 4" jaw depth, weighs 155# and has a patented date of Jan 2, 1906. I can't find the model number. I did see a similar vise on E-Bay that was called a "No. 5X". Is this correct? Can any of you guys & gals give me some information about it? Thanks in advance.

 

[Outlawmws]

Is there a general consensus of who made the vise in the arguement? Had to be American made. Anybody think Starrett? Jake,who do you personally think made it? Any opinions? I'd like to here what everyone thinks.

Drives has proposed that Starrett made them based on some 80-90 year old machinist he bought something off of told him that. Nothing about the vise screams Starrett however.

There are elements of several different companies vises, in the design, but overall its unique.

I would rate that vise right along side of a Starrett/Athol for quality, size for size. (you can get larger Starretts however...)

 

[Outlawmws]

Just my opinion, but I wouldn't restore a 450SJ in that good of condition. They are exceedingly hard to find in any condition, much less as nice as that one. For one thing, you'll have a nearly impossible time getting the color correct. I'd put new jaws on it, polish the handles and just clean the rest of it. If it was all beat up I'd strip and paint it, but yours isn't.

 

[mike_paxton]

Thanks for info on Comb being for combination and steering me to Oswego Tool Company, as found another No. 2 but which had more detail cast on it than mine.

Will attach some pics of that vise, so it will be on this thread.

Mike

 

[KMScott]

Drives has proposed that Starrett made them based on some 80-90 year old machinist he bought something off of told him that. Nothing about the vise screams Starrett however.

There are elements of several different companies vises, in the design, but overall its unique.

I would rate that vise right along side of a Starrett/Athol for quality, size for size. (you can get larger Starretts however...)

I think drives could be right and either Starrett or Reed built these in my opinion. The quality of this vise is top notch. Maybe one of these two company's used the Rock Islands jaws since neither did not build the C-Style jaws and that would explain why these jaws fit. I picked up a 5190 and looked pretty close to the quality and fits, .003 on the slide, that is .0015 per side, that is tight, The square broached hole for the dynamic slide used three locators, I added a pic showing this, the outside cast surface feels like a Starrett and a little like a Reed. This is my bet. Some day we will find out.

 

[Bobioz1]

Thank you for the advice
I guess I will rethink restoring it for now . What do you think is the approximate value of the sj450 ?
I used the paint to refresh my 3 ton arbor press

On your 450sj there is paint on the non factory jaws, the spindle and the lock downs. I'd say it's not "original" already. If it was mine I'd strip, paint and polish what ever color I wanted. Have you looked at the slide key for a date stamp?

 

[LesserSon]

Drives has proposed that Starrett made them based on some 80-90 year old machinist he bought something off of told him that. Nothing about the vise screams Starrett however.

There are elements of several different companies vises, in the design, but overall its unique.

I would rate that vise right along side of a Starrett/Athol for quality, size for size. (you can get larger Starretts however...)

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=351100

I think Drives' most recent discussion leans toward Rock Island, based on a number of physical factors. Somewhere there's a point made about the "drop shipped from" location supporting Rock island, too. But no direct statement from Sears, like "made for us by..."

 

[joe.striper]

Restored a few vises this weekend. 1st is this Reed 3" #203 swivel base.

Its an early model. Dark blue Hammerite paint, BLO'd the slide. Really excellent jaws.

 

[joe.striper]

Here is my Prentiss 18. 3" jaws. Really good original condition. I finished it in Satin black enamel. I had to file the swivel jaw as it was so tight. Nice jaws.

 

[joe.striper]

I know I posted this a couple of days ago but on Saturday I cleaned it, BLOd it and rebuilt it. I love the patina I get from this process.

here is my little vise collection. More are coming, a 2" Reed and a 2" Prentiss.

 

[gman007]

Restored a few vises this weekend. 1st is this Reed 3" #203 swivel base.

Its an early model. Dark blue Hammerite paint, BLO'd the slide. Really excellent jaws.

Joe
Wow! That is one amazing restore. Very Very nice.

Just as luck would have it, yesterday I got my first ever Reed (204 the slightly bigger brother to your 203). And amazingly enough (at least to me) I only paid $15 for it! (I have never found any vise for this kind of price, let alone a Reed 204).

The arm is slightly bend and the swivel handle is also bend but these are easy fixes. Otherwise the vise is in pretty good shape, no damages/breaks/cracks/ cuts, tight tolerances, nice jaw alignment and nice jaw serration, etc.

I am always complaining about living in a vise desert but last week I also managed to get a super nice Prentiss 524 for $50. So it must be true that even in desert it rains every once in awhile
Regards
007

 

[gman007]

I know I posted this a couple of days ago but on Saturday I cleaned it, BLOd it and rebuilt it. I love the patina I get from this process.

here is my little vise collection. More are coming, a 2" Reed and a 2" Prentiss.

Joe
These are not vises, these are museum quality art pieces, I am very envious
007