My "new" vise

[kenc184]

I've had the same cruddy "made in usa" generic wilton or the like vise for 25 years, it's done me well, but it's little better than a chinese import.
Finally took the plunge, spent the entire evening reading this forum regarding vises, and ended up getting a Hollands 23-1/2H machinists vise off CL for $75. It is a bit smaller than I would've liked, but frankly I am not in the railroad business.

The good: it's in great condition, even appears to have original paint. The jaws still have excellent checkering, everything seems smooth although I will take it apart and clean it up and lube it. Very light scarring on top of the jaws, not bad at all.

The bad: there are a few hammer marks on the back side of the fixed jaw where the "anvil" on a mechanics vise would be. 'll probably fill these with JB weld and paint it one day........one day.

It weighs in at a shade over 41lbs so it is a little guy.

The good news about buying a small vise, is that I can now buy a big vise to compliment it!













Did I do OK?

 

[mitusa]

I'm no expert.....but I think if you needed a great vise in that size, you did better than OK.

If it was mine, I'd just bolt it to the bench and use it. Paint is way over rated and the dings just give it character.....and who knows, you might want to put in a few dings of you own.

 

[kenc184]

There's a lot of the very dark green - almost black - paint left, since it's original I'd like to keep it so as you suggest, I'll probably live with the dings.

Just pulled it apart, and there are no surprises which is nice. I was wondering if anti-sieze would be a good choice for the screw and where the screw shaft enters the casting? Also, the shouldered screw for the rotary base. I guess I should get better acquainted with the correct terminology - LOL.
Also, would way oil (as used on lathe ways) be a good choice for the linear mating surfaces- you know, where the screw housing rides on the errrr...... fixed jaw housing?

 

[GETRIDAONE]

I would clean the vise with a mild degreaser like dawn dish washing liquid or simple green. This should get most of the grease and dirt off without removing the original paint. Boiled linseed oil can be used on the painted and bare metal areas as long as it not put on thick and allowed to dry. It is very sticky if not wiped off afterwards. I use wheel bearing grease on the screw and the bottom of the slide. Put a little on the contact surfaces of the base and center shoulder bolt.The antiseize grease seems to be very messy to me.

 

[thehorse13]

That vise will far outlive you. You grabbed a top quality piece.

I always clean and repaint the vises that I find but mine usually look like they were at the bottom of the Atlantic ocean for the last 50 years. Good advice all the way through this thread. I also second the vote for bearing grease. I use it in vises, ratchets and pretty much everything else around the shop.

 

[kenc184]

Thanks for the lubing/cleaning tips.

Should I be concerned about what I clamp and how hard I clamp it in the cast-in-the-base jaws? I assume they are much softer than hardened replaceable jaws?

Even with only three mounting lugs, the rotary base had to overhang the bench edge for the fixed jaw to align with the edge of the bench - am I missing something? IT doesn't seem like the three lugs are any better than four? Although I suppose with four, the front two are engaging very close to the edge?

 

[akasrick]

Thanks for the lubing/cleaning tips.

Should I be concerned about what I clamp and how hard I clamp it in the cast-in-the-base jaws? I assume they are much softer than hardened replaceable jaws?

I believe those jaws are hardened and welded to the towers. Look to be in good shape! Why not just add protectors to them.

Even with only three mounting lugs, the rotary base had to overhang the bench edge for the fixed jaw to align with the edge of the bench - am I missing something? IT doesn't seem like the three lugs are any better than four? Although I suppose with four, the front two are engaging very close to the edge?

Maybe they didn't overhang and had to dig the end of the bench off to receive the lockdown nut back into place and not to unmount the vise. My guess

akasrick