The VISES of Garage Journal

[RagTopTA]

just noticed the vise thread hit 3000 and the G sale thread hit 300 at the same time : )

 

[Outlawmws]

just noticed the vise thread hit 3000 and the G sale thread hit 300 at the same time : )

The GS thread usually is just below 1 page a day by the end of the year. I don't think its going to make it that close this year as we hit the "slow season"...

 

[drivesitfar]

Outlaw: I'm guessing your meant to say 1 page a day instead of just one post per day for those here reading the vise thread that haven't seen the annual garage sale threads that start new every year.

when you guys are saying PAGES have you changed your GJ settings to 100 posts per page yet or are you still at 10, 20 or 40?

ALL: for some of you that want to learn more about old tools rusty or rare the garage sale thread might be the best thread to learn.

 

[gman007]

JP: some of the Wilton C2's are a bit stubby looking, but you have the piece with the pins that holds the vise nut so maybe just an end cap will give it a better look. nice looking vise, but not as nice as the older double pins in their pipe jaws design. some members have used a galvanized chain link fence type dust cover that you'll need to trim a bit to make it work and not sure they come big enough for a C2, but it would make it rounder and not so stubby.

Shift: yep i can't recall MJoze even posting when i starting posting on this thread when it was only 5000 posts about 4 years ago. we've seen several members disappear since then for maybe one reason or another and BigCaddy comes to mind.

i can't recall anybody passing on to the GOLDEN VISE (VICE) HEAVEN in the last 4 years that were regular posters, but i know several members that are not posting so hope they are still alive and above dirt so to speak.

ALL: for those of you that like to take a break from reading this or any thread on GJ for a while and then read in a block of posts when you have time there is a new setting in your GJ profile where you can view 100 posts per page that I use which might help you. even with 100 posts per page this thread really does have a lot of posts and even more views as we approach 10 million views.

WELL DONE EVERYBODY!!

Drives
As a newer member , many times I google for some info (even before I joined) on vises and 99% of times I end up on some thread on GJ and yet I do not recognize the absolute majority of the names on those threads. One that Immediately comes to mind and which I found facilitating was the thread on history and connection between York and Wilton vises where the group did a wonderful investigation on the subject.

Yet since I joined, I have not seen a single post from these fine gents at least on this thread which is the obvious place that one expects to see posts from a vise enthusiast. I often wonder what happened to them, did they lose interest or something else! I suppose the curiousity might be due feeling of connection to people who are kindred spirits, despite that fact one has never met them in person or even exchanged posts on a forum.
007

 

[drivesitfar]

007: do you have the link for that thread or the time to list the member's names and I (we) might shed some light on a few of the guys.

i'm sure at a certain point just changing to a new operating system on your computer like say WINDOWS 10 would send a bunch of the guys packing it up.

 

[Outlawmws]

Outlaw: I'm guessing your meant to say 1 page a day instead of just one post per day for those here reading the vise thread that haven't seen the annual garage sale threads that start new every year.

when you guys are saying PAGES have you changed your GJ settings to 100 posts per page yet or are you still at 10, 20 or 40?

Yep,; Fixed - and the standard default page length setting.

 

[autopts]

I have an C Parker # 229 vise I acquired a few yeas ago, I took it all apart & wire-wheeled it to clean everything up. I'm trying to figure out what the original color was so I can repaint it. It looked like the original finish was black, But it could have been a dark grey?

I tried doing a search for a Parker 229 & didn't come up with anything?

Also is there a way to figure out it's approximate age buy the patent dates & fhe model # ?

Doug

Wow, I don't comment much, but that's the nicest Parker I've seen in a while.

 

[dkroth]

Pages is immaterial.

Post count is ... very close to 60,000.

Not a thread one is going to binge on!




.

 

[gman007]

007: do you have the link for that thread or the time to list the member's names and I (we) might shed some light on a few of the guys.

i'm sure at a certain point just changing to a new operating system on your computer like say WINDOWS 10 would send a bunch of the guys packing it up.

Drives
Here is the link
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=111502


It just dawned on me, one can always go to each members profile and then list their posting history and see if they are still posting on other GJ threads etc or at least check their Last Activity Date on their profile page.

I actually just checked on Bull (the guy who started the above thread) and he is definitively active, some others not so. These guy went as far as contacting York vise company in Czech Republic to get to the bottom of what was the deal with York and Wilton. Very nice work.

Here is another one that is on the original colors of vises and you are the only one I recognize

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=263479

And then there is this one
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=62716
which is one of the first links that I found (before joining) and which has great information on types of vises etc.

It was started by mjozefow and that is the one that got me hooked on vises. I guess despite the great info on that thread I was a lousy student, as among other things I missed the bullet part of the Wilton and just picked up on the Wilton part of the name. So when I bought a Wilton ShopKing in flee market for $20, I thought I have hit the vise jackpot (well the feeling was worth at least $1000 and that is what counts), what is even worst is that I am pretty sure, I am still a lousy vise student

007

 

[RagTopTA]

I started Garage saling heavy again a couple years ago, wanting to fill my shop with good told and such. I was finding good stuff and googling for info when I found GJ threads answered almost everything. I joined officially, and when I found the Garage Sale thread it was all over.... HOOKED. I primarily changed over to Estate sales, and flea markets to find more tools. My garage... is over flowing with good stuff now.

 

[gman007]

Hmm, His website is also MIA; Sounds un-good...

Well, this is interesting, just above this post, I posted another thread which was started by mjozefow, so after that post I did a check on his profile. Now even though it says he last posted on 11-05-2014, his last activity is 07-22-2017 11:54 AM. So may be he is visiting GJ but not posting!

Also his profile says he joined in 2009 and was a "Purdue Engineering Student", so he is most likely a young fellow and hopefully doing fine.

I tried to PM him but his quote has been reached.
007

 

[Mark in Indiana]

All:
I just picked up a Shop King vise yesterday. I had been looking for one for years and was really pleased to get the pipe jaws. I would like to make a hardie tool for it(like the one in the last picture). Can anyone give me all of the dimensions for one?

 

[gman007]

All:
I just picked up a Shop King vise yesterday. I had been looking for one for years and was really pleased to get the pipe jaws. I would like to make a hardie tool for it(like the one in the last picture). Can anyone give me all of the dimensions for one?

Mark
Mine has the original hardie tool, once I get home I will post the dimensions for you
007

 

[gman007]

All:
I just picked up a Shop King vise yesterday. I had been looking for one for years and was really pleased to get the pipe jaws. I would like to make a hardie tool for it(like the one in the last picture). Can anyone give me all of the dimensions for one?

Mark
Here you go! Keep in mind mine is a 3 1/2" jaw and I am not sure what is the size of your shopking (3",3.5", or 4").

I have included some additional photos to give you an idea of the relation between hardie tool and vise size (I suppose you could also use the diameter of the hole for the hardie on your vise as a metric to scale the dimensions as compared to 3 1/2" dimensions). The angle of the slope is 45 Deg.

I hope this helps
007

 

[A E Numan]

gman007: That Shop King is beautiful ! Would you please tell how you finished the jaw's and the slide? Thank's

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Gman007:
Thanks a million for the detailed measurements. BTW: awesome looking Shop King that you have.

 

[_vin_]

Way too go mom, great job!

It is hard to tell from the photo, is that a prentiss?

007

Prentiss No.51

 

[gman007]

gman007: That Shop King is beautiful ! Would you please tell how you finished the jaw's and the slide? Thank's

AE
They were nickel plated.
007

 

[Mark in Indiana]

gman007:
Your Shop King is an over top restoration, especially with nickel plating the jaws. Was it a family heirloom?

 

[drivesitfar]

007: well when you grabbed your first Wilton and it ended up JUST being a SHOP KING which isn't as valuable as a bullet or C series vise you surely made up for it with that restoration cause i bet that's the nicest Wilton Shop King i've ever seen and better than new.

Mark: you've got your work cut out for you to spiff yours up close to 007's don't you? good to see you found another vise that needed a good home.

 

[lis2323]

007 that Shop King is BEAUTIFUL.

 

[Shiftless]

007:
Stunning!
You have upped the bar on vise restoration techniques.
Do you have a home electroplating apparatus or do you have access to a specialty shop? I assume you first grind and polish the smooth surfaces, then copper plate and then nickel plate. Or are there short cuts?
Those are brand new jaws, right?

 

[KMScott]

Gman, just a awesome restore.

 

[gman007]

Gman, just a awesome restore.

Mark, Drives, Lis, Shift and Master Scott
First of all thank you all for your kind comments unfortunately they are not deserved at all as I can take no credit for actual restoration.

Drives was right on the money as to why (ie my complete ignorance of vises) Shop King got restored the way it did and embarrassingly enough nickel plating is not even half it! One of the pipe jaws was missing so the pipe jaws were replaced (if memory serves me right CNC machined from something like 90000 psi steel or something crazy like that) and the vise after nickel plating got powdered coated (on only of parts of the vise that needed painting) and then baked.

I guess to redeem myself with regards to the Shop King stupidity, I had to have a Bullet done the same way and well yes one Parker too. I already have posted some of these photos in the past but not sure which ones, so here are some photos of the bullet. The bullet was restored the same way as Shop King and again no credit goes to me.

In my defense I have ever since wised/vised up just a bit (thanks to becoming a member here) and the rest of vises in my very small collection (which I have posted here in the past) were all restored by an amature (yours truly) !
007

 

[KMScott]

Just seeing how a vise that is restored properly should inspire you. Thanks for sharing both vises Gman. To really do a complete restore it is always easier by having a machine shop available. Yes you can hand make many parts without machines and every one you do adds experience. Check out what I am playing with. I have several clamp-ons and decided to add swivel bases to them. Coping the Parker design since they work so well and give you 360 degrees of swivel. Yea, I ruined a few vises but I think they will make a jeweler happy since you do not need a overhanging bench to clamp them. Hang in there Zoomie, I'll get to your spindle when I can get access to a lathe.

 

[Gert]

That is sooo cool!

Just seeing how a vise that is restored properly should inspire you. Thanks for sharing both vises Gman. To really do a complete restore it is always easier by having a machine shop available. Yes you can hand make many parts without machines and every one you do adds experience. Check out what I am playing with. I have several clamp-ons and decided to add swivel bases to them. Coping the Parker design since they work so well and give you 360 degrees of swivel. Yea, I ruined a few vises but I think they will make a jeweler happy since you do not need a overhanging bench to clamp them. Hang in there Zoomie, I'll get to your spindle when I can get access to a lathe.

 

[gman007]

Just seeing how a vise that is restored properly should inspire you. Thanks for sharing both vises Gman. To really do a complete restore it is always easier by having a machine shop available. Yes you can hand make many parts without machines and every one you do adds experience. Check out what I am playing with. I have several clamp-ons and decided to add swivel bases to them. Coping the Parker design since they work so well and give you 360 degrees of swivel. Yea, I ruined a few vises but I think they will make a jeweler happy since you do not need a overhanging bench to clamp them. Hang in there Zoomie, I'll get to your spindle when I can get access to a lathe.

Master Scott,
Wow, what a pleasure to see a master craftsman and artist sculpting an art piece, those swivel bases are truly works of art (as per usual)
007

 

[royce]

I found a 6" morgan swivel jaw, swivel base vise yesterday.
It has V-threads on the spindle.
Has anyone seen a morgan with V-threads on the spindle?
I would like to know if this is stock or not.
Thanks

Royce

 

[lis2323]

Master Scott,

Wow, what a pleasure to see a master craftsman and artist sculpting an art piece, those swivel bases are truly works of art (as per usual)

007

Absolutely agree. For instance while I am fortunate to always have access to the "tiny machine shop" in the corner of my shop, you'll never see works of art like that comin' out whilst I'M at the wheel. [emoji3]

 

[drivesitfar]

007: you might not have the skills (yet) to restore another AMAZING Wilton Shop King like the one you own now, but having the skills to find the guy(s) that has the skills and the cash to pay him is not easy so I still say WELL DONE!

ALL: I can't say i've seen a patternmaker's vise like this yet and the guy is pretty optimistic on his asking price in my opinion for the old bench and this cool vise. that said is it an Emmert or does anybody else own one? how do you like the steering wheel to open and close it?

cheers all and hope you are enjoying your day!!

 

[Boatman53]

Drives, if that is the price hanging off the vise he is optimistic. I've not seen an original with a wheel but it might be nice. It looks like an older 'turtleback' model. I've seen them sell between $300 and $600 of so depending on condition.
I still have some misc Emmert parts for sale.
Jim

 

[drivesitfar]

Boat: yep the wood bench is included.

have you moved yet? got any family vise pictures to share before you move them or sell or give them away?

 

[BrettJ74]

Drives: I don't know anything about the maker, but that is a beautiful piece of art. If I had an extra 3'gs laying around that would be inside my house somewhere, maybe even remodel the kitchen around it. But definitely not in the vise budget as of now.

 

[KMScott]

That is sooo cool!

Thanks Gert, I still remember your orange Wilton you did a couple years ago, wow it is fine work.

Master Scott,
Wow, what a pleasure to see a master craftsman and artist sculpting an art piece, those swivel bases are truly works of art (as per usual)
007

Sometimes when I get caught up I get to play and really have a great time doing it. Thanks gman

Absolutely agree. For instance while I am fortunate to always have access to the "tiny machine shop" in the corner of my shop, you'll never see works of art like that comin' out whilst I'M at the wheel. [emoji3]

lis, everything is one cut at a time, when you get the cuts done it is a good feeling. Being able to make angle cutters is a plus. Thanks for the kind words. Working on the brake pads tonight.

 

[lis2323]

I spotted this little vise while visiting a friend today.





It has the rear sliding jaw. I recalled seeing one for the first time on here a couple of days ago. Made in Poland for Bison?

Yes, of course I TRIED but he was unwilling to part with it. So short of a "home invasion"* it won't be sitting in MY shop.

*just not me (plus I'd be the first one he'd suspect). [emoji23]

 

[wrenchr]

I spotted this little vise while visiting a friend today.





It has the rear sliding jaw. I recalled seeing one for the first time on here a couple of days ago. Made in Poland for Bison?

Yes, of course I TRIED but he was unwilling to part with it. So short of a "home invasion"* it won't be sitting in MY shop.

*just not me (plus I'd be the first one he'd suspect). [emoji23]

That's a cool little ****** I'm a full on vise addict now!!

 

[drivesitfar]

Lis: that vice i think is a BOLEY and not a FPU Bison polish made vice like i bought and posted a few days ago.

it's definitely a cool little vice and i wish i owned a few.

 

[lis2323]

Lis: that vice i think is a BOLEY and not a FPU Bison polish made vice like i bought and posted a few days ago.



it's definitely a cool little vice and i wish i owned a few.

Thank you drives. I guess I didn't want to appear as excited or interested as I was to inspect closer for markings.



I guess you might say I HAD MY NUTS IN A VISE

 

[NC Rick]

I am new to this forum, I like it a lot. This thread really hit a chord for me. While I don’t feel worthy of the awesomeness I see here, I will submit my own humble vices...
The first is this older Colombian which I received some 35 years ago or so. It has seen it’s day yet keeps on keeping on. I use it daily as a grippy vice and as a welding vice. It is a really good vice 3.5 inch I think. I didn’t think much of it until using it. It is flawless.

Second on my list is this new Yost vice, which I think equals the old guys in quality, it is that good.
https://joycetannenbaum.smugmug.com/Learning-to-weld/i-TKBwkZN


I put some effort into this baby, I made smooth jaws (which are the deal for me) and inset a steel plate into the hardwood bench using grade 8 fasteners with spherical washers to mount it. All the love because vices are cool and I can get away with the cast iron kind.

Here is a newer Wilton bullet vice that gets used all day long down in the shop. The mounting system is great even though this thing isn’t hammered on much. It stays oily.

Last but certainly not last is this older Wilton which I have personally used for near 50 years. It is still mounted on the same work bench I met it on. The date code is from the mid 40s but I first saw it at 13 years old, when my father, an electrical engineer, began moonlighting at a friends hardware store in Illinois whis an out building which was a lawn mower repair shop. We worked there together on weekends and when I think about it, the experience inspired my life. When the operation stopped, we ended up with the vice and the work bench and I continue to use it to this day. This may be my most valuable possession and one that keeps gaining experience.

I apologize, I can’t figure out how to post photos here.

 

[Boatman53]

Here you go DRIVES, this is most of my clamp on vises just before I boxed them up. They are now waiting for me in Maine.

The little green one on the upper left was a clamp on the was broken and my dad trimmed the stub end and drilled a couple holes for screw mounting.

Jim