The VISES of Garage Journal

[drivesitfar]

MD: i'd opt for clean jaws and dynamic slide if it was mine or even if I was going to spiff it up to sell it. one good reason is buyer can see that there isn't any defects on the jaws and slide and another is it just looks nicer.

are you sure you want to sell that BIG REED 106 cause it's a great vise or what is your go to vise?

ALL: I started a busted or broken vise thread you guys would have a good time on with all the vises that have been beat to **** and sold as STILL WORKS OK ADS.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=290716&highlight=broken+vises

here's one that was advertised as CUSTOMIZED and i think asking price was more than a few benjamins.

 

[va.grouseman]

I don't know if a little spray bombing can cover all those sins or not.


That's really more than a multitude.

 

[mdkingsley]

Blasting the dynamic jaw is not a big deal. We have a Blasting shop and a hot rod shop. I think I will take it back apart and blast the dynamic jaw and repaint it leaving the pads and slide bare with just a light oil on them. I have a big Parker I restored and a smaller vise so I don’t really need it. I bought it to sell so as much as I want to keep it I need to get my money back. Thanks for the opinion.

 

[chrisnazzy]

I just finished this Reed 106R I got it In a package deal with two busted vises and a nice arbor press. I blasted it Painted it with oil based primer and paint so it has a tough paint on it. My question to you guys would be would it be more desirable if the slide on the dynamic jaw and the pads were bare metal and the rest painted or should I just leave it black. We are using some glass bead media and walnut shells that would give it a nice bare metal look. So what’s all the experts say ? It will be for sale soon just wondering what what may make it more valuable.

IMHO, if you are only looking to capitalize on potential buyer appeal several parts of your 106R need to be brought back down to bare metal.

First off the spindle and sliding handle should be stripped and either sanded to achieve a brushed look or fully polished.

Im pretty sure your vise has cast in jaws so normally you would determine how much you wanted to tape off. Others have painted all the way up to the edge and just left the jaw face bare. Either way, painted jaw faces would be a no go.

Last is the slide and corresponding surfaces of the static / vise body that it contacts as it moves. This part of the vise has tight tolerances on all four sides and should be bare metal with just a light coat of BLO or machine oil. The "shined up" bare metal look for the slide is best achieved with a wire wheel. It will also contrast nicely with the rest of the vise already painted black.

Oh yeah, for maximum appeal and only since you've already decided to paint it pick a color that really pops to do the lettering.

Good luck on the sale and post some more pics once you finish it.



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[chrisnazzy]

here's one that was advertised as CUSTOMIZED and i think asking price was more than a few benjamins.

That thing is a damn catastrophe. If you look closely the dynamic is actually inserted through the back of the static but the original static jaw tower has been modified somehow to face the other way. I looked at several RI 577 pics to confirm this. The body steps down at the rear and the brand name normally arches away from the dynamic. Oh yeah, then they have added a second dynamic support on the backside. That's all of course on top of the obvious abominations.

One of the guys here, I can't remember who, would probably gladly pay $50 bucks for it because he needs the swivel base for his 577. I would say it is the only salvageable part.

Thanks for posting it though Drives. I saved a pic to laugh at from time to time.

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[drivesitfar]

Chris: here's my blue Rock Island 577 for reference that i should have posted with the CUSTOMIZED (hee hee) one.

you're welcome and it was for sale years ago or i would have gladly offered less to see if i could get JRobb his 577 base. speaking of that i haven't heard if JRobb took the dogsled across lake Michigan?

 

[Coolabah]

Anyone ever seen a Wilton High Strength Engineers vise? Apparently made by a compant out if Australia named Dawn. Only made for a short period of time. Sorry for the bad pics, but this is the best I know how to do when posting screenshots I snag off the net. Seller is asking $1350 for this dang thing.

These Dawn Offset vices have been made for many decades ( at least half a century) in many sizes and either standard Cast Iron or "Super Grade Ductile Iron" . In Australia that would be a very expensive buy but I do not know your local market

Razor: thanks for the Kudos and glad to help if I can. that Wilton was made by Dawn vice company in Australia that i think now has their vices made in China. it's an OFFSET VICE (VISE) and on my wish list cause you can get full grab on vertical pieces if you need that sort of hold.

i hope i don't have to pay that much for one or i'll just use my old woodworking pattern vise and here's my Emmert copy made in Taiwan that is still sold new under a different company now and probably now made in China.

I didn't know they were now being made in China but I guess a lot of stuff is nowadays. The fabricated vices I would believe but the Dawn website does state about the cast offset vices :"This world class vice which is unique to Dawn is simply the best vice a tradesman can own. Buy this vice and in 20 years you will still have the best vice, plus years of reliable service. This is truly a long lasting grand Australian made vice which you can leave for your children and grandchildren." The website still says Australian Owned and Australian Made but what does that mean nowadays !

 

[quadrcr87]

I found this Columbian 143 in the shed at the house I bought in August. Not sure on the history here but I know the house was built in 2005 so I’m surprised they left this mounted to the bench!

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[hitthewall79]

I found this Columbian 143 in the shed at the house I bought in August. Not sure on the history here but I know the house was built in 2005 so I’m surprised they left this mounted to the bench!

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Just refinished one of these myself, when you take off that locking ring on the other side of the lead screw, be careful not to bend it to bad, or it will create slop in the handle. Open it up just enough to slide it down the bar, and not much more.

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[va.grouseman]

Hollands made an offset too.---Posted by Mazak Mark on page 67, post 1327
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https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=85854&d=1290377079


https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=85855&d=1290377079


https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=85856&d=1290377079

 

[royce]

My mostest, favoritest vise ever.

Royce

 

[oldldh]

My mostest, favoritest vise ever.

Royce

I can see why.

It's muchest, more betterer than mostest...

Which makes it most unbad...

 

[RADcustom]

And maybe half a dozen Bugattis like this one?
.
.

Seriously, do any of you guys have one?
.

Best I can say is I have access to one. My FIL has one that he inherited from his dad who bought it from the factory.

 

[gman007]

Best I can say is I have access to one. My FIL has one that he inherited from his dad who bought it from the factory.

RAD Very impressive! Well access to one is a lot more than I think all the rest of us have which most likely have not even seen one in person .

Word of advice (or in this case ad-Vise) be veeeeeeeeeeeery nice to your FIL and one day you might be a Bugatti owner

BTW, How does it compare to other mere mortal vises in operation? Is the hype and price well deserved?

 

[gman007]

Well this 6" Holland (It is hard to tell from the bad photos but it appears to be no 26) is no where in the same league of busted vises that were posted yesterday never the less it has a busted base but with an interesting twist for the fix.

Here is what it says in the listing "it did have a crack on the base, but I had it repaired by a professional welder he added a 3/8 steel plate for more strenght"

It appears the base was welded to the plate!

 

[quadrcr87]

Just refinished one of these myself, when you take off that locking ring on the other side of the lead screw, be careful not to bend it to bad, or it will create slop in the handle. Open it up just enough to slide it down the bar, and not much more.

Can you take a close up picture of the locking ring on your vice? Mine has what looks like a washer that is all deformed. Just some metal burrs holding it in place. The lead screw had quite a bit of back and forth movement because of this. At least the threads are tight.

 

[RADcustom]

Gman I can't say it's is $12000 nice but, it is a very high quality and precision made vise...or would it be vice.

I might have made a hint or two about my interest in owning it.

 

[hitthewall79]

Can you take a close up picture of the locking ring on your vice? Mine has what looks like a washer that is all deformed. Just some metal burrs holding it in place. The lead screw had quite a bit of back and forth movement because of this. At least the threads are tight.

I wish I could, but I sold the vise a couple of weeks ago... So there will be a groove in your rod, if you want to completely replace it if it's all chewed up, take it off, but keep it for size reference, I'm pretty sure you'll be able to find one of these at your local big box place.

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[va.grouseman]

A Bugatti is like Chief Lone Watie's piece of rock candy.---("It's not for eating, it's for looking through.").---A Bugatti is not for using, it's for looking at.

 

[gman007]

Gman I can't say it's is $12000 nice but, it is a very high quality and precision made vise...or would it be vice.

I might have made a hint or two about my interest in owning it.

RAD Thanks for the all great photos. Even from the photos one can tell there is quality there for sure.

BUT if I was to pay $12000 for a vise, the following would be my minimum expectations. I would say hey Bugatti, while I watch TV, you go and work on such and such piece on your own and make sure you take care if it in less than 1 hour. And when you are done fix me a sandwich and serve it to me with a cold beer. On snowy days I also would expect it to shovel my driveway and in summer to mow my lawn. Now that would a vise worth $12000

 

[SAA44-40]

Just picked up this cute little vice. I understand the screws on top of the jaws are for bending material. However- why the threaded hole? And more importantly- where can I purchase whatever goes in it

 

[barnonline]

My mostest, favoritest vise ever.

Royce

Is that a bowling lane it is sitting on?

 

[drivesitfar]

SA: I thought Dunlap was the maker of a vise that had several attachments that you could bend pipe or steel and after a longer search than I had time for i came up with these pictures that some might already have been posted over on the Vise Repair 101 thread where we were talking about it before you bought it.

I do like the little break attachment, but i was sure there was an attachment with wheels on it so you could bend small pipe too.

anyway maybe somebody else here owns one or has better GOOGLEFU or searching skills than I.

gotta run, but here's what i found so far

007: the 14 on your SHOP KING I'm pretty sure is Chicago's old ZIP CODE and not your vise's model #. can you post a picture of a close up of the 14 and the side view of your vise?

 

[jrobb316]

Chris: here's my blue Rock Island 577 for reference that i should have posted with the CUSTOMIZED (hee hee) one.

you're welcome and it was for sale years ago or i would have gladly offered less to see if i could get JRobb his 577 base. speaking of that i haven't heard if JRobb took the dogsled across lake Michigan?

I actually sent the seller a message a week ago, after letting it sit for a while, and got no response. Just sent an email, we will see.

 

[gman007]

007: the 14 on your SHOP KING I'm pretty sure is Chicago's old ZIP CODE and not your vise's model #. can you post a picture of a close up of the 14 and the side view of your vise?

Drives: I am not home right now but have some old photos on iphone that I have posted below.

As Fret might say, by George, I think you are right! In fact it looks like the model number might be 633 1/2 but as seen in the photos this is not stated any where on the vise. Once I get home I will check underneath the base to see if there is any model number there.

I also have attached a photo of the vise before restoration which not only shows the 14 but also on the pipe jaw there is a part number 33-633 I am not sure if 633 in the part number is coincidental or has a relation to the supposed 633 1/2 model number.

 

[royce]

Is that a bowling lane it is sitting on?

Yes, I made 3 of them for the shop, 3', 6' and 12'

Royce

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Yes, I made 3 of them for the shop, 3', 6' and 12'

Royce

Love it! Great job with building that bench Royce!!!

 

[Razorhunter]

Question for all you vise restorers....
When you come across a vise that has a beat up casting, with hammer marks all over it, and you plan on repainting it, are any of you guys using bondo on the casting to clean up this mess where previous idiots pounded their hammer marks into it?
I'm wondering if bondo is the way to go, or is there any other preferred methods you guys use?
Thanks.

 

[drivesitfar]

Razor: if it's minor character marks (let's call them that cause not all were caused by IDIOTS) on your vise a lot of members might tend to keep them and paint having them show. if the marks are not something you'd like to keep and you'd like more of a fresh look I hear Devcon is a good product and JB weld are supposed to be better than BONDO.

good luck and take pics of before and after and post on the vise repair 101 thread in vintage tools if you have time cause we need a few more repairs and fixes over there for various items.

JR: if the guy with the 577 responded was an offer for just the swivel base in your next email or a dogsled ride?

007: food for thought and probably the 633 is a part # and i'll put the research in your hands. even though those little Wiltons are stylish i still don't have grand love for them, but I am still curious about SA's small Dunlap and it's possible attachments so some small vises do have my eye.

 

[hitthewall79]

Question for all you vise restorers....
When you come across a vise that has a beat up casting, with hammer marks all over it, and you plan on repainting it, are any of you guys using bondo on the casting to clean up this mess where previous idiots pounded their hammer marks into it?
I'm wondering if bondo is the way to go, or is there any other preferred methods you guys use?
Thanks.

Honestly, i had a vise that was pitted as all get out, and had a rust hole that ran diagonally through the stationary base. All I can say is that jb weld works magic. I applied rust kill, used a Dremel to get everything as clean as possible, applied jb weld, cured it properly, sanded it down to a smooth surface, painted it, and you can't even tell it was there. I think jb weld would work great for your application too, because it flows like molasses, so it should flow into those marks, and then you can get it nice and smooth.

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[Razorhunter]

Cool thanks guys.

 

[jrobb316]

Razor: if it's minor character marks (let's call them that cause not all were caused by IDIOTS) on your vise a lot of members might tend to keep them and paint having them show. if the marks are not something you'd like to keep and you'd like more of a fresh look I hear Devcon is a good product and JB weld are supposed to be better than BONDO.

good luck and take pics of before and after and post on the vise repair 101 thread in vintage tools if you have time cause we need a few more repairs and fixes over there for various items.

JR: if the guy with the 577 responded was an offer for just the swivel base in your next email or a dogsled ride?

007: food for thought and probably the 633 is a part # and i'll put the research in your hands. even though those little Wiltons are stylish i still don't have grand love for them, but I am still curious about SA's small Dunlap and it's possible attachments so some small vises do have my eye.

I have to call him as I now got a response. Dog sled rides are over for the year, waters open, been "warm" lately. We'll see what he says, I'm not sure how to play it yet and it's like a 10 hour round trip around bottom of the big pond. If there is a member in Western Michigan send me a message!

 

[cretedog]

Hollands made an offset too.---Posted by Mazak Mark on page 67, post 1327
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And here's the left to Mark and Royce's rights. One of my everyday users.

 

[Outlawmws]

Guys.. those are NOT pipe benders on the 3 pin vice. it for three point holding of round/irregular parts. Bend pipe on that, and you will likely have a broken vise...


ALL: What is the "Period correct" color for a '47 Wilton?

 

[KMScott]

Guys.. those are NOT pipe benders on the 3 pin vice. it for three point holding of round/irregular parts. Bend pipe on that, and you will likely have a broken vise...


ALL: What is the "Period correct" color for a '47 Wilton?

More like a tubing roller Outlaw. Should be able to handle aluminum and copper tubing.

https://books.google.com/books?id=3...RBlUQ6AEIKzAA#v=onepage&q=Metl-Former&f=false

Light grey is my guess on the early Wilton Bullet color.

 

[Outlawmws]

OK, Tubing I can get on board with; its night and day from pipe...

 

[drivesitfar]

JR: good luck with your search for that 577 swivel base and PM or email me with a town close to where it is and i'll try to help you find a member since i know a few around there and have no idea where your 577 is.

ALL: obviously a 3 or 3.5 inch vise isn't going to bend something very big, but i think SA's little Dunlap vise has some sort of roller attachments that were made for it and I can't find the picture of that vise that i'm sure is saved on my old computer.

Here's google's definition of Pipe vs. Tubing:

Tubes and pipes are similar almost in every way. The minimal differences are not enough to distinguish between the two, unless you are an engineer working with either of the two items.

Summary

A pipe and a tube are, by definition, both hollow cylinders used to pass liquids through them.
The measurements for pipes are based around standard diameters and thicknesses. Tubes vary in both thickness and diameter.
Using the Nominal Pipe sizing method will give all the dimensions of any given pipe or tube.
Pipes and tubes can be made of plastic, ceramic, aluminum and many other sturdy items.
Each pipe and tube that are used for engineering purposes are certified and checked for stability and any other problems.

 

[drivesitfar]

Outlaw: Balane used to paint his old Wilton vises a satin green if I recall correctly that he seemed to thing was close to original. there have been a few new old stock baby bullets showing up with that same old green so I'm thinking that might be the color.

I bet GRABBER (or SNAPPY) GREEN might sell for more if you are just doing it for resale.

 

[Outlawmws]

Sorry drives, that simplistic definition of the two will get people in trouble. We've had this conversation here at GJ before, and pipe and tubing to an engineer, (or welder) are two different things. I don't CARE what "Google" says. Do they resemble each other? Sort of. But even within each as a class, there are many nuances and differences.

Put steel, or even brass pipe on that vise and you will almost certainly break it. Tubing, of the softer (and smaller) sizes, not a problem.

I'm done arguing the point; but please DON"T claim that vise is for bending PIPE as I WILL correct that claim, as it's a bad way to explain its use.

 

[Outlawmws]

I think the Green may have came later than 47? About what time frames was Wilton doing grey, green or blue? Surely someone knows here?