I’m moving my bench which is up against a wall where I used to store half of my vises. I’m going to build a shelving unit out of 2x10s I already have. I’m thinking only 4 foot wide. I have thought of a simple design but I would like to see what everybody else has built.
Can you guys post pictures of your vise shelves made from wood?

Current project: Bonney Farmer Vise #300 ?
Weight without the base + parts 13 lbs.
WIP; with non original parts 16 lbs.
3" jaws, hand cut striations.
At opening 4" the screw starts to disappear into the body.
Needs some more work, painted then mounted.
Only visible number is "S 3" on one of the badges,
anything on the other badge long hammered out.
akasrick
Hey VA, you watching this one? https://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Vi...414956?hash=item25eea2782c:g:nrcAAOSwfdFakdeV
Am now.---Thanks.---I'm going into HOBO mode.
akasrick: That's a fairly rare vise. Most Bonneys were clamp ons. The ad you attached evens tells you that it was painted a "bright maroon". It should look good when you're finished. Here's some information about Bonney Tools.
Nice, found complete with a wingnut, Theres one on eBay with a square nut for the handle. no handle.Akasrick, I have one of those, posted a pic here in this thread https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=6468480&highlight=Bonney#post6468480
Bagged, here is my shelf solution. I was going for simplicity to make, inexpensive and quite strong. I did not put a backing as it wasn't for fancy display, and the open back allows space for longer vises.
Lower rows with bigger vises have 2x10's, upper rows with smaller vises I used 2x8's. Very utilitarian but it is strong, took maybe 15 minutes to put together. Pics aren't great but I think you get the jest of it.
The backside is connected to my shed wall so it won tip over and I used "L" or "T" bracket to make sure the supports won't move. Simple deck screws hold everything together as the weight is supported by the wood.
This isn't anything brilliant; I hope it helps![]()
Nice, found complete with a wingnut, Theres one on eBay with a square nut for the handle. no handle.
This one tightens good with a wrench.
akasrick
Is there some kind of mark on the vise?
akasrick
Akasrick Are you concerned if it is some kind of serious damage or repair? It seems that there is something there but again it could be just rust or surface blemish as well.
While sometimes even in a photo the issues are fairly obvious, there is nothing like carefully inspecting it in person.
That Prentiss looks like it was well cared for and not abused in any way. I would have been proud to have my grandpa’s vise. You’re lucky to find it. IIWY, I would clean and lubricate followed by a thin coat of Boiled Linseed Oil to keep the rust demons away.
CRSINMICH
I type as well as I paint that should read Laquer not enamel.
akasrick
You probably did that because the ad says "bright maroon enamel". I don't know how old you are but those kinds of transpositions get more common later on. You get used to it.
I knew I bought that primer for some reason.I picked this Prentiss #52 up today. Used the company car while working to save money. Guy said it was his Grandfathers and had been in his basement for the last 30 years waiting for me. Jaws have dirt and rust but look good.
Millers Falls No. 3 hand vise, essentially new old stock. My first hand vise, this should make bench grinding small parts more enjoyable and productive.
TJ Very nice and in the original box too![]()

Awesome! Thanks for the page. Would I be correct to assume a 5181 with the long "C" underlined Craftsman logo would be older than the version with the riveted on badge?chris: Here's a page from a 1947 Craftsman catalog. The 45 pounds given for the 5181 is shipping weight but the paragraph above it says that actual weight is the same as shipping weight.
va:
That IS a rare Monarch, but did you see the pitting on the back of the slide? Looks like maybe it was buried in mud for a few decades before it hit eBay.
Seller says “light pitting in a place or two”
va:
That IS a rare Monarch, but did you see the pitting on the back of the slide? Looks like maybe it was buried in mud for a few decades before it hit eBay.
Seller says “light pitting in a place or two”
BeardedOne I believe a lot of the lower end Craftsman mechanics vises were made by Columbian (based on their D series). So the similarity and common parts might not too surprising.When I brought them home, I discovered the 33 1/2 had the same base as my Sears vise I restored last November. The beams are different dimensions though and the 33 1/2 jaws are much thicker and more aggressively textured.
