The VISES of Garage Journal

[drivesitfar]

Lump: early to late 1940's cause i'm pretty sure that is a PAT PEND cast in that big wilton. There is a Wilton date stamp thread I started over in Vintage tools that you are welcome to look at if you have any time and here's the link so you don't have to search.

i think the 6 inch wide jaw was the biggest one that Wilton made with that design too so although it's been rode pretty hard it's not a common vise. it looks to be ok as far as the bones cause i don't see any cracks under it's jaws which is fairly common for a Wilton used that hard. it's missing both swivel pins which isn't a big deal cause some of those older Wilton actually came with acorn nuts.

as is the value is probably in the 2 benjamin range and cleaned up maybe double that is my guess if that helps you.

CA: all those Gerts boxes yours? very nice!!

Asphalt: we don't see that Record model very often or at all. i'm guessing you are from across the pond so you might put in your general location in your profile and while you are in there maybe click on Avatar and put in your favorite picture that will show up under your name sort of like an identifier. welcome to the group and nice find!!

 

[Asphalt70]

Lump: early to late 1940's cause i'm pretty sure that is a PAT PEND cast in that big wilton. There is a Wilton date stamp thread I started over in Vintage tools that you are welcome to look at if you have any time and here's the link so you don't have to search.

i think the 6 inch wide jaw was the biggest one that Wilton made with that design too so although it's been rode pretty hard it's not a common vise. it looks to be ok as far as the bones cause i don't see any cracks under it's jaws which is fairly common for a Wilton used that hard. it's missing both swivel pins which isn't a big deal cause some of those older Wilton actually came with acorn nuts.

as is the value is probably in the 2 benjamin range and cleaned up maybe double that is my guess if that helps you.

CA: all those Gerts boxes yours? very nice!!

Asphalt: we don't see that Record model very often or at all. i'm guessing you are from across the pond so you might put in your general location in your profile and while you are in there maybe click on Avatar and put in your favorite picture that will show up under your name sort of like an identifier. welcome to the group and nice find!!

Thanks, I will [emoji4]
Please check my intro post.

 

[tomsatx]

Did someone say Gerstner

Nice boxes. I've always liked the charm of them but when they do come up here they are asking hundreds for them and would be great for my finer or delicate tools. Do these get picked up relatively cheap? I find Kennedy machinists boxes in decent shape for $50 or so every so often but most are more beat than I'd like.

Passed on a machinist box (regret it every time I see a busted up and rusted units for double or more) for $60 full of tools but scored on snap on swivel sockets for $0.50 a piece in new cond and a pile of machinists tools for $3 at an estate sale a couple years ago.

Speaking of Kennedy, there is a rolling box for $225 here in SA on FB for those interested. Tapped out of tool funds for the moment.

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

 

[KMScott]

Did someone say Gerstner

Those are nice ones, older and bigger then mine. I got mine for graduating the Tool and Model Maker course in 1982. 6,000 hours of schooling and working under old Toolmakers. Wish I had a apprentice working for me, I would do the same. Gonna have a visitor this weekend (BMR24) and will look over his shoulder while he repairs a couple vises. No one needs Toolmakers anymore, just CNC setup and operators. I am a dying breed. Crotalus, you have a machine shop? Wanna take over the Columbian line of jaws and parts, you could keep busy. Expecting a 7" Reed today from Kansas, I'll post my repairs on this one, gonna be fun.

 

[Hiatt1991]

Very nice, those are good little vises - USA or japanese made? You can tell by the prefix on other side. 391.xxxx is Japan 506.xxxx is USA made by Columbia. A white paint pen will make the letters pop and give good contrast

It has a prefix of 506 and stamped "Made in USA". I already got the white paint for the lettering. Just need to run out and grab a fine paint brush.

 

[CrotalusAtrox]

Those are nice ones, older and bigger then mine. I got mine for graduating the Tool and Model Maker course in 1982. 6,000 hours of schooling and working under old Toolmakers. Wish I had a apprentice working for me, I would do the same. Gonna have a visitor this weekend (BMR24) and will look over his shoulder while he repairs a couple vises. No one needs Toolmakers anymore, just CNC setup and operators. I am a dying breed. Crotalus, you have a machine shop? Wanna take over the Columbian line of jaws and parts, you could keep busy. Expecting a 7" Reed today from Kansas, I'll post my repairs on this one, gonna be fun.

KMNot a machinist and never played one on TV either. Just love these old boxes and I stumble upon them when I am hunting up other vintage stuff cant seem to pass them up, I have issues.

DrivesI have three left I gave one to a machinist/ gunsmith friend of mine he loves it and he has helped me out on a few items so figure I would return the favor he was thrilled.

 

[gman007]

Those are nice ones, older and bigger then mine. I got mine for graduating the Tool and Model Maker course in 1982. 6,000 hours of schooling and working under old Toolmakers. Wish I had a apprentice working for me, I would do the same. Gonna have a visitor this weekend (BMR24) and will look over his shoulder while he repairs a couple vises. No one needs Toolmakers anymore, just CNC setup and operators. I am a dying breed. Crotalus, you have a machine shop? Wanna take over the Columbian line of jaws and parts, you could keep busy. Expecting a 7" Reed today from Kansas, I'll post my repairs on this one, gonna be fun.

Master Scott
At standard full time rate of 2000 hrs/year, 6000 hrs is three years, that is an amazing amount of hands on training!

As for dying breed, times like this remind me of the movie "The Last of the Mohicans" and as much as I loved the movie to be honest I can not watch its reruns as it is sad to see greatness disappear. And that includes not only the great men of talent and character but also decline and disappearance of industrial might of the USA and West in general.
007

 

[gman007]

I use this brush when I paint my letters. Maybe I am blessed with steady hands, or because I am not a drinking man, I am over 60 so the shakes has not caught up to me yet. Having steady hands sure helped me in doing fine welding with my TIG welder since I have a good reputation in welding Plastic Injection Molds back when mold building was popular here in Colorado. Putting a dot on a corner of a mold insert takes a steady hand. I like to get real comfortable, adjust your chair and position the vise laying on it's side and again get comfortable. The brush has just a couple of bristles that holds enough paint for one letter, keep a cotton swap handy in case of accidents or adding to much paint. I did these letters in 15 minutes. This is how I do mine.

Master Scott and BMR
Challenge was accepted and for better or worst here it is but to be honest I am not sure if I improved the looks or made it worst

Shift
Dude, grab that black pen! It is your turn with your Regal Red Reed 204 and you are in luck, I still have half can of Regal Red left which I will send your way should need arises
007

 

[KMScott]

Thanks Gman, before getting into the Tool and Model make course I had to get a 2 year associates degree in machining. Ended up getting a degree in welding too. All this training makes working on vises pretty easy and FUN. Just got a Reed 207 from Kansas, it's a mess. Gonna fix that one along with my Prentiss 7" swivel. The Prentiss needs a base made and just designed one today from a 1-1/4 x 12 x 14 steel plate I have. It will be simple but work well. This will keep me busy for a while.

 

[KMScott]

Master Scott and BMR
Challenge was accepted and for better or worst here it is but to be honest I am not sure if I improved the looks or made it worst
007

Nice looking lettering, was not that hard right. I sit back and read some posts where guy's are struggling with something like taking a vise apart, getting the rust off and removing stuck screws. Just give it a try, and try different methods and do not be afraid to fail, everything is fixable. There is no book on vise repair, painting or restoring, this comes from experience and screwing up, we all mess up, shucks I screw up every day, just threw away a set of 4 x 1-1/2 jaws in the trash that I messed up.

 

[BrettJ74]

I'm feeling like I need to change my name to Morgan as the Morgan Chicago Vises seem to be taking over my garage. I have a very nice original Morgan 150 that is a daily user.


Then a few months ago I picked up this basket case Morgan 160 that I plan on doing my best to fix up this winter.


A friend of mine then said he was looking for a older vise that I could restore for him a couple weeks ago, and I came across this Morgan 145 which is in pretty good shape and is about 80% restored now. It will make a nice vise for him.


Then on Monday I noticed a Morgan 140 that had been on Offer Up for months. I threw the guy an offer figuring it was sold, and he messaged back saying that he would take it and had basically forgot he had it posted. So I ended up getting that to complete my family of Morgan Brothers.
The 140 was missing a center pivot bolt, but it was the same as the 145. So at work today I whipped up a quick replacement, which works great.






Here is the 150, 145, and 140





And here is the 145 with the 160


I'll get them all together at some point for a family photo. But lifting the 160 to the bench is not desirable, and unbolting the 150 will happen in due time.

On a side note the guy I bought the 140 from recently, said he sold a near perfect 5" or 6" Rock Island a couple years ago to a real nice guy from near Seattle who actually paid more for the vise than he was asking. The buyer said it was so nice and big it was worth more than the $50 he was asking. Was this you by chance DRIVES?

 

[CrotalusAtrox]

I'm feeling like I need to change my name to Morgan as the Morgan Chicago Vises seem to be taking over my garage. I have a very nice original Morgan 150 that is a daily user.


Then a few months ago I picked up this basket case Morgan 160 that I plan on doing my best to fix up this winter.


A friend of mine then said he was looking for a older vise that I could restore for him a couple weeks ago, and I came across this Morgan 145 which is in pretty good shape and is about 80% restored now. It will make a nice vise for him.


Then on Monday I noticed a Morgan 140 that had been on Offer Up for months. I threw the guy an offer figuring it was sold, and he messaged back saying that he would take it and had basically forgot he had it posted. So I ended up getting that to complete my family of Morgan Brothers.
The 140 was missing a center pivot bolt, but it was the same as the 145. So at work today I whipped up a quick replacement, which works great.






Here is the 150, 145, and 140





And here is the 145 with the 160


I'll get them all together at some point for a family photo. But lifting the 160 to the bench is not desirable, and unbolting the 150 will happen in due time.

On a side note the guy I bought the 140 from recently, said he sold a near perfect 5" or 6" Rock Island a couple years ago to a real nice guy from near Seattle who actually paid more for the vise than he was asking. The buyer said it was so nice and big it was worth more than the $50 he was asking. Was this you by chance DRIVES?

Those are great vises sweet collection you have started. KM makes some nice jaws for them if needed.

 

[BrettJ74]

Those are great vises sweet collection you have started. KM makes some nice jaws for them if needed.

Thank you. For the most part the smaller ones are good. My 5" are like new and the 6" jaws are hammered but I have a plan to replace those.

I do plan on having Kevin Make me some jaws for really cool 6" Simplex that has a neat history but needs some love. That will be later this winter as well

 

[Hiatt1991]

Here's the before and after of my 3.5" Craftsman vise I got last weekend at a garage sale for $15. It was my first restoration and I think it came out pretty well. I couldn't have done it without the help on this forum. I used a wire wheel to strip it down to bare metal. Then I masked everything off and gave it 4 coats of rustoleum enamel paint.

<a href='http://i.imgur.com/UaTTNFK' title=''><img src='http://i.imgur.com/UaTTNFK.jpg' alt='' title='Hosted by imgur.com' /></a>

<a href='http://i.imgur.com/zSOWSnq' title=''><img src='http://i.imgur.com/zSOWSnq.jpg' alt='' title='Hosted by imgur.com' /></a>

Here's the vise with some white accent. I don't have a real steady hand but I don't think it came out too bad.

<a href='http://i.imgur.com/PVoux7l' title=''><img src='http://i.imgur.com/PVoux7l.jpg' alt='' title='Hosted by imgur.com' /></a>

<a href='http://i.imgur.com/uUndogc' title=''><img src='http://i.imgur.com/uUndogc.jpg' alt='' title='Hosted by imgur.com' /></a>

 

[zoomieport]

Hello All!

I thought I owe you all an update on the St. Baldrick's Charity Vise.

As you might remember, Wrenchguy (Mike) donated a Wilton 800N to me to sell for The ST. Baldrick's Foundation, which is a charity I take donations to shave my head to help cure childhood cancer. VISEs (Andrew) bought new jaws from KMScott (Kevin) and KMScott made an end cap and new handle, which he, KMScott (Kevin) donated as well.

Well, a local business man, Todd Harroun, Owner of B.L. Harroun Fire Protection, offered me $2,000 for it if I finished it for him. I checked with the guys that donated the vise (Mike, Andrew and Kevin) and they were all happy with the offer, so Todd and I agreed.

I will have it done this week and have the money in the ST. Baldrick's fund asap.

I will post a screen shot of the donation, not that I think I need to prove it, just to show you how generous these GENTLEMEN are, I will stop typing now, as for some reason my screen is hard to see through the tears welling up...

Thank you all, this website kicks ***!

Mike Dillon. AKA Zoomieport

PS: If anyone is interested is checking it out, or donating, here is my page, take care!

https://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/mypage/935955/2018

 

[Lump]

Lump: early to late 1940's cause i'm pretty sure that is a PAT PEND cast in that big wilton. There is a Wilton date stamp thread I started over in Vintage tools that you are welcome to look at if you have any time and here's the link so you don't have to search.

i think the 6 inch wide jaw was the biggest one that Wilton made with that design too so although it's been rode pretty hard it's not a common vise. it looks to be ok as far as the bones cause i don't see any cracks under it's jaws which is fairly common for a Wilton used that hard. it's missing both swivel pins which isn't a big deal cause some of those older Wilton actually came with acorn nuts.

as is the value is probably in the 2 benjamin range and cleaned up maybe double that is my guess if that helps you.

Thanks so much, Drivesitfar. That was exactly the kind of insight I was seeking.

 

[trijeff]

Zoom, you did that Wilton right! That it's for a great cause and going to a local shop just makes it that much sweeter. Good on both you and all the guys here that made it possible, bravo to you all.

 

[Rileysan]

Hello All!

I thought I owe you all an update on the St. Baldrick's Charity Vise.

As you might remember, Wrenchguy (Mike) donated a Wilton 800N to me to sell for The ST. Baldrick's Foundation, which is a charity I take donations to shave my head to help cure childhood cancer. VISEs (Andrew) bought new jaws from KMScott (Kevin) and KMScott made an end cap and new handle, which he, KMScott (Kevin) donated as well.

Well, a local business man, Todd Harroun, Owner of B.L. Harroun Fire Protection, offered me $2,000 for it if I finished it for him. I checked with the guys that donated the vise (Mike, Andrew and Kevin) and they were all happy with the offer, so Todd and I agreed.

I will have it done this week and have the money in the ST. Baldrick's fund asap.

I will post a screen shot of the donation, not that I think I need to prove it, just to show you how generous these GENTLEMEN are, I will stop typing now, as for some reason my screen is hard to see through the tears welling up...

Thank you all, this website kicks ***!

Mike Dillon. AKA Zoomieport

PS: If anyone is interested is checking it out, or donating, here is my page, take care!

https://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/mypage/935955/2018

Fantastic! I love hearing stories like this. Props to all who contributed!

Brian

 

[drivesitfar]

Lump: you are very welcome and i hope you get it cause i think you'll like the quality if you keep it or a buyer will if you want to sell it so you can buy more car parts or tools or a nice dinner.

good luck

Hiatt: nice job on the lettering. only thing i would do if i was you would be to straighten the pin for the swivel nut that you might even be able to do in this vise and if you have a buffer or some good sandpaper or emery cloth to shine up the handles and it's ready to use and look great in the meantime.

Brett: not sure i bought a vise from your seller without more details, but I used to buy 3 or more vises a month in Oregon for years until some of you down there got the vise bug. i don't recall ever paying only $50 for a 5 or 6 inch Rock Island even though it wasn't very well known so it could have been me cause i like to leave a deal with both people smiling. or there might be a few other GOOD GUYS out there that have the same manners in their blood.

i can maybe fill in a few gaps with your Morgan collection if you want to trade me for some rock islands and reed vises. you might have to change your UNICORN in your Sig line to a swivel jaw morgan which if i recall correctly is pretty stout and maybe made by American Scale. or i might have the Unicorn sitting in my little 500 pound cabinet. is this it?

cheers

 

[Rileysan]

I picked up this "The Bicket Mach. & MFG. Co." machining vise this past weekend from an estate sale for $15.

This thing has seen very little use but it sat in a leaky shop full of rusty tools for many years and I think I saved it just in time. I put a wire wheel to it just for a few minutes to see how it would clean up and it looks good!

Brian

 

[mgmlvks]

Working with Kevin for the purposes of inclusion in "The Spreadsheet" here is my American Scale No. 40. Bits and pieces have been posted before - but these are mo-betta pics and info. I ended up with two of these - jaw inserts slightly different, and the other one has the same green paint over red paint. Also made some replacement screws for attaching the inserts

Going to make a wood base and take to my office as an example of interesting manufacturing from Kansas City's Industrial Past.

4" Jaw Width
5" Opening Width
20lb 12oz with pipe jaws

 

[royce]

Nice looking lettering, was not that hard right. I sit back and read some posts where guy's are struggling with something like taking a vise apart, getting the rust off and removing stuck screws. Just give it a try, and try different methods and do not be afraid to fail, everything is fixable. There is no book on vise repair, painting or restoring, this comes from experience and screwing up, we all mess up, shucks I screw up every day, just threw away a set of 4 x 1-1/2 jaws in the trash that I messed up.

Excellent advise,
Learning does not come from reading, but from doing.
Doing it right comes from doing it wrong.
Having made thousands of mistakes in my career, It is clear to me, that it is part of the process of learning.

Royce

 

[KMScott]

Thanks mgmlvks for your help and awesome pictures.

Guys if you need screws for your 30 degree countersunk jaws then check these out on e-bay. https://www.ebay.com/itm/292290478133

Thanks Royce, I thought maybe I am the only guy that screws up on here. I remember building my first Injection Mold and I made it backwards. that was a three week mistake but I sure learned what not to do next time.

Great news Zoomie on the sale of that 8" vise.

 

[tombell572]

Brian--would you mind sharing which sale you found that at? A couple looked promising but I was in the middle of a bathroom renovation last weekend and didn't get out to anything. Also, if you're thinking of parting with it I would be interested.

Tom B.

 

[Rileysan]

Brian--would you mind sharing which sale you found that at? A couple looked promising but I was in the middle of a bathroom renovation last weekend and didn't get out to anything. Also, if you're thinking of parting with it I would be interested.

Tom B.

It was an estate sale in rural Oregon City, south of Carver on Clackamas River Drive. The pictures on CL were worthless but the listing recommended you bring a flashlight and a bucket so I knew it was my kind of sale!

I will keep you in mind if I decide to get rid of it.

Brian

 

[Smokeshow69]

Brian--would you mind sharing which sale you found that at? A couple looked promising but I was in the middle of a bathroom renovation last weekend and didn't get out to anything. Also, if you're thinking of parting with it I would be interested.

Tom B.

You where not the only one who was in the middle of some bathroom repairs when RileySan called me[emoji1] he told me about this sale in Oregon city that I needed to get to! I wasn't able to get there until Sunday and only for scraps but they were good scraps which made me wonder what goodness I missed! If you check the garage sale thread you can see some of Brian's haul for suckage prices! I am still cleaning mine up and will post pictures this weekend ! It was the kind of sale where you fill a 5 gallon bucket based off weight and then they charge you by the bucket, not the brands inside!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[zoomieport]

A Desmond Stephens / Simplex 41P, I am working on, made for The Ridge Tool Co., that we all know and love as RIDGID...

The swivel base is in the hospital in Colorado, thanks Kevin!

Take care!
ZOOM

 

[sandman54]

Morning Master Scott, i too have a really mint 107 reed a great vise. Have fun with the Prentiss its a rare one!

 

[gman007]

A Desmond Stephens / Simplex 41P, I am working on, made for The Ridge Tool Co., that we all know and love as RIDGID...

The swivel base is in the hospital in Colorado, thanks Kevin!

Take care!
ZOOM

Zoom
That is one handsome vise and great job on the restoration! Now that is a real lettering handy work. Once the swivel base gets back from its open heart surgery performed by Dr. Scott, please post photos of the complete vise
007

 

[zoomieport]

Zoom
That is one handsome vise and great job on the restoration! Now that is a real lettering handy work. Once the swivel base gets back from its open heart surgery performed by Dr. Scott, please post photos of the complete vise
007

Will do, thank you!

Mike

 

[gman007]

Drives
I have send you a PM, can you please kindly check it.
Much appreciated
007

 

[BrettJ74]

DRIVES: I can't tell exactly but I don't think the picture you posted is the R.I. I'm looking for. The one I want has more of a barrel body and has a patent date of Oct. 5 1901 on the side, which happens to be my birthday 70 some years later. If your is that vise and your not to attached let me know.

I believe VA. GROUSEMAN posted some pics of one he has back in Dec. 2016 post 50385 but they don't show up anymore.

If anyone has one and is interested in selling let me know.
- Brett

 

[FMC1959]

I use this brush when I paint my letters. Maybe I am blessed with steady hands, or because I am not a drinking man, I am over 60 so the shakes has not caught up to me yet. Having steady hands sure helped me in doing fine welding with my TIG welder since I have a good reputation in welding Plastic Injection Molds back when mold building was popular here in Colorado. Putting a dot on a corner of a mold insert takes a steady hand. I like to get real comfortable, adjust your chair and position the vise laying on it's side and again get comfortable. The brush has just a couple of bristles that holds enough paint for one letter, keep a cotton swap handy in case of accidents or adding to much paint. I did these letters in 15 minutes. This is how I do mine.

Kevin, I just wanted to add that a while back you had mentioned a procedure you used, which I thought was great. You had mention that before painting the lettering, you had taken a large file over the top of the letters. This would get rid of all the uneven edges left from the casting process.

I thought this was a great tip to use whether you use a paint brush, Sharpie, bunched up paper towel, or whatever other method used for highlighting the lettering

 

[KMScott]

Kevin, I just wanted to add that a while back you had mentioned a procedure you used, which I thought was great. You had mention that before painting the lettering, you had taken a large file over the top of the letters. This would get rid of all the uneven edges left from the casting process.

I thought this was a great tip to use whether you use a paint brush, Sharpie, bunched up paper towel, or whatever other method used for highlighting the lettering

Oh, I did forget to mention that, I now use my 4-1/2 angle grinder with a hook and loop Scotch Brite pad now, much quicker then using a file. Thanks for remembering that FMC. When I do lettering it is a very quick process and I sneak it in during a program run on my CNC.

 

[va.grouseman]

DRIVES: I can't tell exactly but I don't think the picture you posted is the R.I. I'm looking for. The one I want has more of a barrel body and has a patent date of Oct. 5 1901 on the side, which happens to be my birthday 70 some years later. If your is that vise and your not to attached let me know.

I believe VA. GROUSEMAN posted some pics of one he has back in Dec. 2016 post 50385 but they don't show up anymore.

If anyone has one and is interested in selling let me know.
- Brett

Yea Brett, Photobucket has done a number on a bunch of us and blocked our photos.---But you can find a lot of what you want if you just Google ("pictures of Rock Island vise") and just click on any one of the pics that come up and you will get a whole page of vises to your liking.---Same goes for ("pictures of Charles Parker Vise"), Columbian, American Scale, or any of them.---Try it.

Here is a pic of the one you might be looking for.---Check the link.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/600x315/b8/dc/4d/b8dc4d667a352a06f99cfb0c3484dcf2.jpg

 

[Rileysan]

You might ask yourself: "Isn't he done with that yet?!?".

Latest update on the Craftsman 5180 3.5" vise made by Reed.

The handle was bent and covered in peen marks and the nose was pretty scuffed up too. After straightening the handle, I spent 3-4 hours sanding and polishing, before reassembling the dynamic jaw this morning. One frustrating thing I discovered was that the machined collar on the screw where the split nut fits had excessive wear due to a lack of lubrication and the collection of grit in that area. I used 600 grit emery cloth to smooth those surfaces, but there's quite a bit vertical play because of it. I didn't gap it, but I would guess .020"-.030"

I was going to complete the assembly today, but I noticed a couple spots I wanted to touch-up with paint, so the main body is now drying.

You might notice the Craftsman badge is missing a little paint. What I discovered when I started cleaning it was that it had been previously scuffed up and painted over (twice) so the best I could do was clean it up and try to at least preserve the original paint on the lettering - which I was somewhat successful. I'm going to remove it and polish the aluminum before final assembly.

Brian

 

[Rileysan]

Speaking of Craftsman vises, I previously mentioned I was giving away my Craftsman 506-51830 to good friend who has been putting up with me for more than 20 years.

He had an awful open-screw mechanic's vise that he inherited from his dad back in high school that I couldn't stand to look at. He has so much going on (new dad) that he was actually using this vise without having secured it to the table, so I took the time to bolt it down. And yes, that horrible white paint smear is from my attempt at painting the lettering a second time. He told me to leave it, lol!

Brian

 

[drivesitfar]

Riley: we don't care if you take a year to get your Reed finished and i do like that color. did you pull that craftsman badge off of another tool or machine to screw on it and did you tap holes?

that old Craftsman vise should work well in your friend's shop. WELL DONE!!

Brett: yep i don't have your Unicorn and looks like VA has one that i'm sure he'll trade you for maybe his whichever that might be, but i'm guessing a Reed 109 or 209 might be up near the top.

 

[Rileysan]

Riley: we don't care if you take a year to get your Reed finished and i do like that color. did you pull that craftsman badge off of another tool or machine to screw on it and did you tap holes?

that old Craftsman vise should work well in your friend's shop. WELL DONE!!

Thank you, Drives!

The badge is the original badge from this vise. I took measurements off a couple hand carry boxes I own to see if they would fit, but to no avail - I had to use the original.

The holes are drilled and tapped, which was the easy part. To remove the badge, I had to bend a small flat file and gently file the rivets holding the badge flat. Once the rivets were flat, I was able to center punch the rivets and drill them out. I don't like the screw heads but they worked in a pinch and are easily replaced once I find something I like.

Brian

 

[va.grouseman]

Here's a National Sewing Machine Co., by Vindex Tools.---I think it was supposed to be a Combination vise that had inserts like some latter Wiltons do.---Mark in Indiana has a clamp-on Vindex on page 600, post 11997.