The VISES of Garage Journal

[gman007]

RE: Ridge 80 SN vise.

i've been able to salvage some photos of this vise when i first got it and its redo. thanks for looking.

Wrench It is not often that I am lost for words but this is one of those occasions where adjectives like amazing, impressive etc simply do not do justice to this majestic beast!

And it was in amazing shape even before restore, and even more super fantastic after the great restore. Love the handsome stand too and specially after it was refinished and which in itself is an amazing work of art. WOW WOW WOW!

PS
Equally impressive is the proud owner who was able to lift 1350 lb with one arm

 

[Razorhunter]

Hey wrenchguy, so the smaller nut marked 60D on the left is for the Ridgid? Surprising how much bigger the other Morgan nut is.
Can you tell us more about the paint and paint process you used? Looks like you sprayed it then possibly clear coated as well? I'm not even sure what color it is? Some type of dark blue? It looks great. Love that color.

 

[Outlawmws]

Great job Wrencher! I love the "Mr BiG" tag!

I also like how you can use a forklift/pallet jack to move it in and out! that's a great idea!

Haha! I just realized that is a tray you made and added under the vise itself! Another good idea! A quick glance and I thought it was a huge thick plate!

 

[Shop Dad]

Hell of a vise and set-up Wrench. On seeing the Old Style I thought “this guy must be from Chicagoland!” I grew up in the area and it’s the beer I was weened on. ;-)

 

[Razorhunter]

Anyone here needing any Parker 974 1/2 parts? The base is apparently broken, but everything else looks good. I'm just considering picking this one up that has been offered to me, if it would help someone out that is.

 

[wrenchguy]

thanks for the comments. i'll try to answer;

*Razorhunter: Hey wrenchguy, so the smaller nut marked 60D on the left is for the Ridgid? Surprising how much bigger the other Morgan nut is.
Can you tell us more about the paint and paint process you used? Looks like you sprayed it then possibly clear coated as well? I'm not even sure what color it is? Some type of dark blue? It looks great. Love that color.

*i missed typed about the nut... ridgid is on the right. fixed. i don't remember color, but its some kind of rustoluem hammered, maybe gunmetal? no clear coat and waxed with toilet ring wax. dark blue? thanks.

*Outlawmws, Great job Wrencher! I love the "Mr BiG" tag!

I also like how you can use a forklift/pallet jack to move it in and out! that's a great idea!

Haha! I just realized that is a tray you made and added under the vise itself! Another good idea! A quick glance and I thought it was a huge thick plate!

*i can move it with f-trk or i can move it on the h-d casters under there. it moves ok by hand and can do it by myself. yes the tool tray is a must for this station. thanks.

*Shop Dad, Hell of a vise and set-up Wrench. On seeing the Old Style I thought “this guy must be from Chicagoland!” I grew up in the area and it’s the beer I was weened on. ;-)

"old style" official beer of wrigley field, home of the go cubs go! thanks.

*this vise w/stand was the result of eocjason getting on here years ago stating this was a unbelievable deal on ebay with a buy it now @ $200. i pulled the trigger and went on a trip to ny to pick it up... 15 miles from a good friend living in the area. had a great laborday weekend and picked up the monster.

*gman007, thanks. i'm not lifting it!

 

[FMC1959]

Hey Wrench, nice to see you back on the vise thread again.

That vise is a real beauty, and I saw the link in your sig for your YT videos, cool stuff you have. Looks like you have a good size property for all the cool toys.

Whatever happened to the Yost 108 you got a few years ago? Did you keep it as a user or did you sell it? And do I remember correctly, you had (or still have) a Prentiss 58 at some point?

Nice stuff

 

[va.grouseman]

Just a little over an hour to think about the NOS Wilton with the bent handle fellows.---Looks like the box has a hole in it, that's probably where it got bent.---USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL, Etc., just don't appreciate a good vise like we do IMO.



https://www.ebay.com/itm/1946-Wilto...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649

 

[Razorhunter]

Ok guys so upon final cleanup of the Reed 406R, I actually found all three cast pieces of the vise were marked with 1072. I suppose this was done so the factory could keep all three pieces matched up after machining the finished surfaces. Blue tape marks the location of each stamped number. All read 1072.
The little Wilton 450S is basically complete, just waiting on new swivel locks and jaw inserts.


One more thing, have any of you guys ever noticed the rearmost oil hole in the slide as being mis-drilled before? I feel like mine is. Take a look at my last pic in which my jaws are fully closed, with only about 1/4th of the oil hole showing/being accessible. Most, if not all other Reeds I've ever seen, have the hole drilled much further back, away from the main vise casting.

 

[trijeff]

Just a little over an hour to think about the NOS Wilton with the bent handle fellows.---Looks like the box has a hole in it, that's probably where it got bent.---USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL, Etc., just don't appreciate a good vise like we do IMO.



https://www.ebay.com/itm/1946-Wilto...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649

I can't believe you don't have enough respect to not post this eBay auction item prior to its close. Sheesh. Some people. It's not like this thread is for showing unique vises ... I mean, honestly??

 

[Razorhunter]

How much you guys thinking it will bring? Isay $650 and thats WAY too much IMO.

 

[va.grouseman]

I can't believe you don't have enough respect to not post this eBay auction item prior to its close. Sheesh. Some people. It's not like this thread is for showing unique vises ... I mean, honestly??

Easer to apologize than ask permission.

 

[chrisnazzy]

Ok guys so upon final cleanup of the Reed 406R, I actually found all three cast pieces of the vise were marked with 1072. I suppose this was done so the factory could keep all three pieces matched up after machining the finished surfaces. Blue tape marks the location of each stamped number. All read 1072.
The little Wilton 450S is basically complete, just waiting on new swivel locks and jaw inserts.


One more thing, have any of you guys ever noticed the rearmost oil hole in the slide as being mis-drilled before? I feel like mine is. Take a look at my last pic in which my jaws are fully closed, with only about 1/4th of the oil hole showing/being accessible. Most, if not all other Reeds I've ever seen, have the hole drilled much further back, away from the main vise casting.

My guess as far as your oil hole is it looks like at some point in the life of your 406R the jaw towers may have been machined to have jaw support shelves and replaceable jaws added. Obviously a guess but I think that alot of "R" series Reed vises still had cast in jaws. If you were to remove your jaw inserts and close your vise I'd bet the oil hole would be exactly where it should be.

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

 

[wrenchguy]

Hey Wrench, nice to see you back on the vise thread again.

That vise is a real beauty, and I saw the link in your sig for your YT videos, cool stuff you have. Looks like you have a good size property for all the cool toys.

Whatever happened to the Yost 108 you got a few years ago? Did you keep it as a user or did you sell it? And do I remember correctly, you had (or still have) a Prentiss 58 at some point?

Nice stuff

thanks, all that stuff is still around... future projects.

 

[Outlawmws]

No snipes. finished at $470...

 

[va.grouseman]

What a let down.---You mean I popped corn for that.

 

[oldldh]

But it's only a damn old, little Wilton!!!!

For that kind of money...

You could have bought...

A good vise!!!

Sheesh!!!

 

[va.grouseman]

Old, I don't care what it was.---I waited a week and popped a big bowl of corn and I expected to see snipers on the Grassy Knoll and the Gravely Road.---I got zip.

 

[Outlawmws]

So VA, how close did you get to getting stu.. I mean, winning the vise?

 

[gman007]

Old, I don't care what it was.---I waited a week and popped a big bowl of corn and I expected to see snipers on the Grassy Knoll and the Gravely Road.---I got zip.

VA On the upside you did not take a long ride on this train, otherwise you might have been gotten stuck with it as there was no big fight over it

 

[drivesitfar]

ALL: since i had my scale close and my Reed 4c needed to be moved I finally weighed it. I've always thought it was between 170-190 and it came it at 178 with a new pair of smooth KMScott jaws on it.

my Prentiss #5 surprised me that it weighed 145 pounds for a non swiveling swivel jaw vise.

ORC: i'm a fan of American Scale vises that is for certain and especially one that weighs over 150 pounds. on the vise repair 101 thread I thought there was a fairly good list of American Scale's vises and yours isn't there as you can see.

American Scale vises

No2: open screw, anvil horn, round knob, opens about 2 3/4 inches, swivel base
No3: open screw, anvil horn, round knob
No4: 4" jaw, open screw, anvil horn, round knob, swivel base

N010: 3 3/4" jaw, 5" opening, 31lbs, fixed base, round knob
No15: covered screw, round knob, might have a swivel base
No30: small vise, small anvil, horn, cylinder knob, open screw
No40: small vise w/pipe jaws, anvil, horn , open screw
No45: similar to No4
No50: open screw, swivel base, anvil/horn, 5” jaw, 40lbs
No50C (or 500): same as No50
No55: no info

No20: weird anvil vise wi/drilling hole through dyn jaw 43lbs
No5: 4" jaw, opens 5", same style as no20 34.2lbs

No?: 8” jaw with 14” opening fixed base (looks kinda like mine above without the swivel parts)

No53N: American Scale/Red Seal, fixed base (need size info)
No54: American Scale/Red Seal, 4.5" jaw, 9 3/4" opening, 9" height, fixed base
No56: American Scale/Red Seal, 6" jaw, 12" opening, fixed base
No61C: American Scale/Red Seal, 3" jaw, 35lbs, swivel base
No62C: American Scale/Red Seal, 3 1/2" jaw, 6 1/2" opening, swivel base
No64: American Scale/Red Seal, 4" jaw, 8" opening, swivel base, 11" height, , handle length 13 1/2", 79 lbs
No64: American Scale/Red Seal, 4.5" jaw, 10.25" high, 3.5" from top of jaw to screw cover, 13" length of screw cover from jaw face to end, swivel base, 75 lbs
No66: American Scale/Red Star, 6” jaw, 14” opening
No?: American Scale/Red Seal, 4” jaw,
No75H: American Scale/Red Seal, 4.5" swivel jaw, 7" opening, 3.5" depth, swivel base, 60 lbs
Red Seal 110 66: American Scale/Red Seal, 6" jaw, 24" length, 13 1/2" height, swivel base (looks like vise in post 13, but no swivel jaw)

No79: Swivel base, swivel jaw, 190lbs, 6” jaw, 11” opening (pic in post 13)
No78: same as No79, 5" jaw, opens 11", 11 5/8 H, 26" length, 120lbs
No?: fixed base, 8 1/4 jaw, 36" length, see pics here
No88(?): AM Scale / Red Seal, 8 3/8" jaw, 350lbs, 34" overall length, 16" high, handle 25 1/2" [ebay listing said it had Coaly & Co.,KC Mo on one side, but the pic shows AM SCALE CO]

No22: 3 1/2" jaw, pipe jaws, 17" length, 10" height
No23A: see above, 4.5" jaw, pipe jaws, swivel base
No25: 6" jaw, pipe jaws, 26" length, 15 1/2" height, ~200lb

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

Nice 4c Drives. A good problem to have when it's hard to see the scale dial because the vise base nearly covers it. I checked for info on this American Scale 524 also and there isn't much out there....except I think the vise Dr. Scott may have one also but lacking the base. Ed.

 

[va.grouseman]

Outlaw, my bids were $435,00, $445.00, and $465.00.---So close, I got the shivers when it ended.---Wasn't no need to worry when I knew it was going to $750.00.---I've got to rethink how I'm getting my adrenaline fix.


Gman, you are exactly right Sir.---It was a short ride, but it was way too close to the overpass.---Hoboing is getting a little risky.---You can't trust people to bid crazy stupid anymore.

 

[Outlawmws]

Wow, missed it by a Lincoln!

 

[Shiftless]

Just for the record, you guys should know that my measly $400 bid was topped long before the tunnel.
Somebody who makes decals or stickers should make some of those seen on that vise. Lots of us have great condition 3 inch bullets and the decals would really add to the visual appeal of our vises. But then again, unscrupulous people might try to pass them off as NOS.

Did that $470 vise have smooth jaws or horizontal serrations?

Edit:
I went back to look at pics and it had the later model jaw serrations!
.
.

 

[va.grouseman]

Wow, missed it by a Lincoln!

Yea, anorexic.---The crazy stupid bidder is in the mirror.

 

[gman007]

Outlaw, my bids were $435,00, $445.00, and $465.00.---So close, I got the shivers when it ended.---Wasn't no need to worry when I knew it was going to $750.00.---I've got to rethink how I'm getting my adrenaline fix.


Gman, you are exactly right Sir.---It was a short ride, but it was way too close to the overpass.---Hoboing is getting a little risky.---You can't trust people to bid crazy stupid anymore.

Va So there was a third benefit to the ride too, the tunnel did not chop off your head but you did get a FREE extra short crew hair cut! . That must have provided a triple shot of adrenaline rush. So you have met your maximum quota for next few month and are advised to stay off the train surfing for a while!

 

[ROCKNMUD]

DRIVESITFAR, Thanks for the ID on the American Scale #79.
A good friend picked it up, but not in one piece! At 190 pounds it towers over my Columbian 205M. As the pictures show it was very clean and worth the $300 paid.

 

[va.grouseman]

Va So there was a third benefit to the ride too, the tunnel did not chop off your head but you did get a FREE extra short crew hair cut! . That must have provided a triple shot of adrenaline rush. So you have met your maximum quota for next few month and are advised to stay off the train surfing for a while!

So noted and heeded.

 

[va.grouseman]

Rock, that is one clean #79.---I'd buy a truck-load of 79s in that condition for $300.00 per.

 

[dutchgray]

First new one for a while, only been looking out for rare ones,
Picked this up from eBay for £215 ($300) which is quite expensive for a vice here.
View media item 81965View media item 81966Parker 429 i think it says, the small one of these at 3 and a bit inch jaws.
Condition is good, bit crusty and has many layers of paint, jaws pretty much completely smooth.

 

[FrogPrince]

A Craftsman 5196 was just posted on TheeBay about an hour ago. Would love to bolt it down, but not for $450:

 

[gman007]

First new one for a while, only been looking out for rare ones,
Picked this up from eBay for £215 ($300) which is quite expensive for a vice here.

Parker 429 i think it says, the small one of these at 3 and a bit inch jaws.
Condition is good, bit crusty and has many layers of paint, jaws pretty much completely smooth.

Dutch Congrats on the arrival of the new baby!

I am assuming the eBay listing was from U.K. and if so I find it amazing that a CP 429 would have made it across the pond! I am guessing with the exception of the few, most of the American vise companies did not have overseas sales channels but I could be wrong!

 

[dutchgray]

Gman
Listing was from the UK, I have the bigger version also but the condition is very bad and the shelf is broke off and the collar is gone.
Whilst USA vises are rare here, Parkers seem to be the most common, I have even seen a couple in the wild here still in use, I think I have 3 now, also a Reed, Morgan, Columbian, Fulton, American Scale.
I think most of the USA vices came over during WW2 and never left, along with alot of other USA military stuff, lots of our own pre WW2 vices went in the scrap drives and are now pretty much as rare as the American ones.

 

[gman007]

Gman
Listing was from the UK, I have the bigger version also but the condition is very bad and the shelf is broke off and the collar is gone.
Whilst USA vises are rare here, Parkers seem to be the most common, I have even seen a couple in the wild here still in use, I think I have 3 now, also a Reed, Morgan, Columbian, Fulton, American Scale.
I think most of the USA vices came over during WW2 and never left, along with alot of other USA military stuff, lots of our own pre WW2 vices went in the scrap drives and are now pretty much as rare as the American ones.

Dutch I think your theory regarding WW2 connection sounds like the most plausible explanation. And if true it makes the provenance of these vices so much more interesting and intriguing. Personally I would consider vices with such background more valuable than and equivalent ones over here.

 

[Shiftless]

re: serrations on bullet vises

That $470 bullet discussed earlier had what looks to me like modern style serrations. Were those serrations on some of the early Wiltons or did that particular vise have replacement jaws?

This 3 inch bullet of mine has a date code of 9-45
Here is a close up of the serrations.
It is my understanding that all of the early bullets had either smooth jaws or this horizontal pattern of serrations.

Am I mistaken?
.
.
.

 

[gman007]

re: serrations on bullet vises

That $470 bullet discussed earlier had what looks to me like modern style serrations. Were those serrations on some of the early Wiltons or did that particular vise have replacement jaws?

This 3 inch bullet of mine has a date code of 9-45
Here is a close up of the serrations.
It is my understanding that all of the early bullets had either smooth jaws or this horizontal pattern of serrations.

Am I mistaken?
.
.
.

Shift As usual you are correct sir, here is a photo of my no 3 patent pending! If true then something smells fishy here!

 

[Shiftless]

007
I agree about the fishiness.

BTW, the one I pictured is a model 3HD. Rather unusual model. Too bad it has no base.
Do you suppose the original color of bullets back then was gray?

 

[ROCKNMUD]

Rock, that is one clean #79.---I'd buy a truck-load of 79s in that condition for $300.00 per.

This is how the inside looked!

 

[gman007]

007
I agree about the fishiness.

BTW, the one I pictured is a model 3HD. Rather unusual model. Too bad it has no base.
Do you suppose the original color of bullets back then was gray?

Shift Gray was my original guess and that is why I had this no 3 powder coated in gray. To be honest when I saw the so call NOS NIB which was gray I was pretty happy with my choice but if there is something fishy about it , how can we say with certainty that gray is the original color?