The VISES of Garage Journal

[pelletman]

Simplex 6" 61P. Someone might want to link this post, I didn't see a picture of one in the spreadsheet

 

[Gerard]

Simplex 6" 61P. Someone might want to link this post, I didn't see a picture of one in the spreadsheet

What is the max jaw opening on that? Looks like a nice long slide.

 

[trijeff]

Nice 2C Franco! Appears to be in fantastic shape and has the replaceable jaws ... jealous! Wondering if my two 1Cs combined become a 2C squared? Sounds like fuzzy math.

 

[gman007]

When I check for ads for vises, there are plenty of Records vises, made in China vises, and Mastercraft (CDN Tire house brand) vises; vises made in USA are few and far between in my area.

I saw this Reed 2C, looked in good condition on the photo, went to see it and now a happy owner of a Reed 2C. The pipe jaws and the swivel base are in excellent shape.

FMC Congrats! It indeed looks to be in excellent shape and the jaw inserts look great too. But the big question is how much did you pay for it?

 

[Unruh]

Finished a bit of a restore on this Mac Tools (I think Wilton-made) vise tonight. I received it as a gift from a good friend of mine; it was bought new when they had some motorcycle shops many decades ago. Once they were shutdown it obviously fell on hard times and spent many a season out in the weather.



And tonight my replacement main screw came in...ordered the part for a Wilton 655 - perfect replacement. Ole gal is back in action!

Great job! I need some friends like that.

 

[chrisnazzy]

Mayer, nice job, but I think that vise is Columbian sourced rather than Wilton.

Nice job on the Mac tools vise rehab Mayer. Gotta agree on the Columbian thing though. Check out the similarities with my first vise resto, a Columbian D45.



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[Razorhunter]

FMC, great score on the 2C. Indeed, the 2C is one of the best all around vises ever made, in my humble opinion anyhow. Its probably #2 or #3 on my list. I just recently scored a vise that is #1 on my list of all time favorites and I will be posting it soon. Stay tuned guys. Its gonna be sweet. Condition is everything lol

 

[Razorhunter]

FMC, great score on the 2C. Indeed, the 2C is one of the best all around vises ever made, in my humble opinion anyway. Every vise guy has his list, and the 2C is probably #2 or #3 on my list of most useable vises ever made. I just recently scored a vise that is #1 on my list of all time favorites and I will be posting it soon. Stay tuned guys. Its gonna be sweet. Condition is everything lol

 

[Razorhunter]

Question for all of you Reed guys, and other brand vise owners as well I suppose. Now I know the vise lube topic has probably been beat to death before, but quickly, do you guys oil or grease your main threaded spindle screws? I ask, because I've always greased mine, and just recently greased a couple up, but I'm sitting here thinking its almost sacrilegious to not make use of the Reed oil hole in the slide! What say you all? Did I just commit a cardinal sin against my Reeds? I feel I have and must soon rectify this situation.

 

[Outlawmws]

I use Mobil 1 synthetic grease on the screw except for the one on the smaller exposed screw vise that is my main "ground clamp" for my welder. (Which also gets a lot of mini grinder use)

 

[va.grouseman]

I like that red grease like Autopts uses.---It squeezes out a little here and there and shows that you are actually trying to take care of a fine old tool.---On top of that it's really good grease.---I put it in the swivel base, main screw, swivel jaw if it has one, and about any moving part.---But I can not remember the brand for the life of me.---I could go out to the shop and look but it's raining, hard.

 

[Outlawmws]

VA, I think that is Mobil 1... Its red...

 

[MayerMR]

Mayer, nice job, but I think that vise is Columbian sourced rather than Wilton.

Great job! I need some friends like that.

Nice job on the Mac tools vise rehab Mayer. Gotta agree on the Columbian thing though. Check out the similarities with my first vise resto, a Columbian D45.



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Thanks guys!

Yeah, perhaps it is a Columbian-sourced vise. If so though, I got quite lucky with the main screw being a perfect fit!

Is it possible that Wilton sources/sourced their 645 vises from the Columbian brand as their lower end model entry? This is why I thought the vise was of Wilton-origin:

But yeah, now after seeing that Columbian vise it is definitely a re-branded Columbian.

 

[FMC1959]

Very nice. I'd love to find a 2C or even a 1C. As amazing as the 3C and beastly 4C look, I feel like a 2C would probably be one of the best all-around general use vises a person could have.

Nice 2C Franco! Appears to be in fantastic shape and has the replaceable jaws ... jealous! Wondering if my two 1Cs combined become a 2C squared? Sounds like fuzzy math.

FMC Congrats! It indeed looks to be in excellent shape and the jaw inserts look great too. But the big question is how much did you pay for it?:dunno:

FMC, great score on the 2C. Indeed, the 2C is one of the best all around vises ever made, in my humble opinion anyhow. Its probably #2 or #3 on my list. I just recently scored a vise that is #1 on my list of all time favorites and I will be posting it soon. Stay tuned guys. Its gonna be sweet. Condition is everything lol

Thanks for all the comments guys. The guy was asking $100, I offered $80, but he said "no", he was confident he would get his $100 price. Because it was a Reed "C" vise, I gave him $100 and ran grinning and happy as heck.

No where even close to a "you ****" price, and normally wouldn't consider much more than $50-$60 for a 4 1/2" vise, but like Razor, this was on my top 5 have to get vises.

 

[Tennessee Cattleman]

Thanks for all the comments guys. The guy was asking $100, I offered $80, but he said "no", he was confident he would get his $100 price. Because it was a Reed "C" vise, I gave him $100 and ran grinning and happy as heck.

No where even close to a "you ****" price, and normally wouldn't consider much more than $50-$60 for a 4 1/2" vise, but like Razor, this was on my top 5 have to get vises.

That Reed 2C looks great. If it works as slick as it looks, it is a steal at $100.

 

[gman007]

Thanks for all the comments guys. The guy was asking $100, I offered $80, but he said "no", he was confident he would get his $100 price. Because it was a Reed "C" vise, I gave him $100 and ran grinning and happy as heck.

No where even close to a "you ****" price, and normally wouldn't consider much more than $50-$60 for a 4 1/2" vise, but like Razor, this was on my top 5 have to get vises.

FMC I would still consider $100 for a very nice 2C a bargain and buy it at at that price in a heart beat (and grin ear to ear like you did)

Honestly with value of vises cat generally out of the bag now I believe that the “old” “you ****” prices are now getting harder and harder to find. One might have to revise upward the "you ****" price levels accordingly. So IMO you did very well

 

[exmaxima1]

VA, I think that is Mobil 1... Its red...

You're probably right, but it might also be Mystic grease. Same red color, very tacky, and I thought I read about it on GJ a few years ago when I bought it.

 

[pelletman]

What is the max jaw opening on that? Looks like a nice long slide.

I'll try to remember to figure that out this week

 

[Outlawmws]

Just close it and measure the slide that is sticking out the back. Done.

 

[Razorhunter]

Whom amongst you owns a Reed 3C or 4C. Would anyone eith either vise in their possession be kind enough to help me with a couple questions via PM or text?

 

[RubiconJK]

Found this little guy today at an estate sale. Marked "Special Machine and Engineering Detroit, Mich". Its about 4" long, 3" wide and 3" tall and operates really smoothly. Can anyone tell me anything about the company and vise? Thanks.

After disassembly and paint removal in preparation of new paint, I have decided (at least temporarily) to just leave as is. I kind of like the semi polished aluminum look to it. Here is the before and after. What do you think...paint or leave as is?

 

[Outlawmws]

Before you make that decision, I would have a go at it with mothers aluminum polish. that might look really cool with a full polish.

 

[RubiconJK]

Before you make that decision, I would have a go at it with mothers aluminum polish. that might look really cool with a full polish.

Good idea. I'm definitely leaning toward leaving bare. Thanks.

 

[pelletman]

Prentiss Model 93

 

[pelletman]

Chas Parker 975 1/2

Check out the repair from about 40 years ago. I love this vice, many years of faithful service. I think my dad got it broken from Norton Company in the 60's

 

[pelletman]

Reed 204R. I love this little vice too. Such quality and workmanship. I am thinking Reeds are my favorite

 

[va.grouseman]

Really nice Reed, Pellet.---My favorite to.---Darn shame about that Charlie Parker. Everything looks crisp and sharp but the break.---Don't see C.P. 5 1/2s very often.---That's a pretty rare number.---Still a lot of life in it though.

 

[Shiftless]

Rubicon:
I vote for leaving it bare. Like Outlaw said, try Mothers polish or Simichrome is good too.

FMC:
Nice score on that Reed. Anytime you’re short on cash, I’d be happy to buy it from you for $100

 

[KMScott]

FMC, congrats's on the Reed 2C you picked up. It looks to be in great shape. Did you pick that up in Canada? If so a very lucky find.

On another note, I feel for the family, friends and community of the 15 Saskatchewan Bronco's Junior Hockey team killed last night in that terrible bus crash.

 

[RubiconJK]

Rubicon:
I vote for leaving it bare. Like Outlaw said, try Mothers polish or Simichrome is good too.

Thanks. I'll try to remember and post a new pic after hitting it with the polish.

 

[Razorhunter]

Behold the massive Starrett...

 

[chrisnazzy]

Behold the massive Starrett...

Razor, let me be the first to say the 646 looks fantastic. I'm not sure I ever got to reply but I saw your posts showing the swivel repair you performed and it looked expertly done as well. The only part of the vise that even seems to show any wear are the jaws and if you ever wanted to I'm sure Dr. Scott could provide the finishing touch on that big Starrett. Either way though, a successful transformation for sure! Well done.

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[Outlawmws]

Nice RH!

 

[FMC1959]

Rubicon:
I vote for leaving it bare. Like Outlaw said, try Mothers polish or Simichrome is good too.

FMC:
Nice score on that Reed. Anytime you’re short on cash, I’d be happy to buy it from you for $100

Thanks....and not for sale

FMC, congrats's on the Reed 2C you picked up. It looks to be in great shape. Did you pick that up in Canada? If so a very lucky find.

On another note, I feel for the family, friends and community of the 15 Saskatchewan Bronco's Junior Hockey team killed last night in that terrible bus crash.

Yes sir, both lucky and shocked to find it locally.

Kevin, I echo your sentiments about the hockey team tragedy. I can't find the words to express the loss of so many in their youth.

Behold the massive Starrett...

Nice find Razor, so that is your number 1? I am not sure what my number 1 would be, as it changes all the time, but a Starrett 900 or 600 series would definitely be in the running for top honors

 

[GETRIDAONE]

After disassembly and paint removal in preparation of new paint, I have decided (at least temporarily) to just leave as is. I kind of like the semi polished aluminum look to it. Here is the before and after. What do you think...paint or leave as is?

The label on my vise is differrent from yours. As you can see it is a black wrinkle finish.
I never found any info on the company either?

 

[Razorhunter]

Thanks chrisnazzy!


FMC,
Oh no man, sorry, I did not mean that big 646 is my number 1. I will be posting #1 this week.

 

[RubiconJK]

The label on my vise is differrent from yours. As you can see it is a black wrinkle finish.
I never found any info on the company either?

Thanks for posting the pic of your vise. Before stripping mine there was signs of black paint in places, so perhaps that is how mine started life also. It is helpful to see the SME, Inc marking on your's as it opens up additional search parameters for me.

 

[Groucho21]

There's mine.. Can anyone fill me in on the model..
I've had a good look around and can't see any other marks.
Cheers drive.

 

[trijeff]

Says Rock Island but sure looks like a Record or Parkinson rebrand to me

 

[RG Rude]

Question for all of you Reed guys, and other brand vise owners as well I suppose. Now I know the vise lube topic has probably been beat to death before, but quickly, do you guys oil or grease your main threaded spindle screws?

Super Lube Synthetic Greasw with Syncolon (PTFE).