The VISES of Garage Journal

[RBarnes]

RB, that's almost how I feel about the sweet Reed 1C Mayer posted above ... the vise pangs be particularly strong at times me finds

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Yes, I realize it is not for everyone, but I really like that old worn paint look.

 

[Krang]

Finished the Yost that came with an old workbench I picked up a few days ago, ended up needing to clean the handles down to bare metal straighten them out, polish, and oil them. Should be all set.




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[gman007]

Finished the Yost that came with an old workbench I picked up a few days ago, ended up needing to clean the handles down to bare metal straighten them out, polish, and oil them. Should be all set.

Krang
Nice job

 

[MissileBear]

Yes, it was on ebay. I have been looking for this type Chas Parker for quite a while so I sold 3 vises too cheap to get the $$$ to buy it. Probably paid too much ( Please do not even ask the cost - I do not want the barrage of everyone telling me I am crazy), but that is what I do when I want something. Even traveled from Texas to Pennsylvania to pick it up, so it was even more expensive when you figure that in. I just could not pass up the vintage old look it had.

I don't think there is any shame in that. You couldn't buy a new vise of that size and quality for what you paid. The fact of the matter is, a lot of the guys here that post their deals got lucky, and a lot of them spend a lot of time locating and retrieving those vises.

The 436 is one of my bucket list vises...the only reason I saw that vise on Ebay is because I was looking for one myself

I would also place it into the monster vise category.

 

[gman007]

Another sad vise day! What appears to be a Prenstiss 97 is for sale locally but even 7" 235lb of American iron goodness could not withstand stupidity!

The ad is kind of interesting too, it reads (also love the grammar)


"This is a giant old vise jaws have lots of stories I'm guessing been repaired! Works but needs attention been a decoration in front of the barn for awhile but with snow coming it needs a new home great man cave piece you know they say about a guy with the biggest vise."

Seriously, why would you think it has "been repaired"?

The ad also should have been rated R as it is talking about "you know they say about a guy with the biggest vise"

I like the stand though.

 

[MissileBear]

Another sad vise day! What appears to be a Prenstiss 97 is for sale locally but even a 7" 235lb of American iron goodness could not withstand stupidity!

Is the price right? That stand is very sweet.

I bought an old grinder for the stand once....grinder went to scrap, kept the stand.

 

[GETRIDAONE]

I really appreciate the old paint and at some point will probably do something with the bright shiny screws that hold the pipe jaws to keep with the vintage look.

MayerMR Looks great. If those screws/bolts are zinc-plated, just drop them in a container of vinegar overnight. It'll take the zinc plating off. Then you can leave them out without rinsing the vinegar and they'll flash rust. I then apply vinegar and let it dry, rotate and repeat, until I get the desired "patina" to match the piece I'm using them on, and then wipe them down with some paste wax to seal them from further rust before putting them to use. "That way they don't stick out too badly"

I used the best parts from both of these vises to rehabilitate the one. I was missing a handle so I made one to try and match the patina of the left overs parts. The balls are not completely round but is a close match to the old handle. A little more aging and no one will notice it is not original

 

[MayerMR]

I used the best parts from both of these vises to rehabilitate the one. I was missing a handle so I made one to try and match the patina of the left overs parts. The balls are not completely round but is a close match to the old handle. A little more aging and no one will notice it is not original

If it makes you feel any better, had you not mentioned the slightly out of round ball ends on the one handle, I wouldn't have noticed. Both vises look like they were comprised of pretty decent parts to begin with and both look great!

 

[GETRIDAONE]

The left one has the spindle and dynamic base brazed back together, you just can't see in the picture. It is rough but all there.

 

[Maui]

Did anyone here buy this Rock Island 67 vise on Ebay for $1,500 last month? According to the description, it weighs 286 lbs.

Vintage Rock Island No.67 Vise Huge Rare Antique 8'' Jaws - item #192672491728

Maui

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

I don't think there is any shame in that. You couldn't buy a new vise of that size and quality for what you paid. The fact of the matter is, a lot of the guys here that post their deals got lucky, and a lot of them spend a lot of time locating and retrieving those vises.

The 436 is one of my bucket list vises...the only reason I saw that vise on Ebay is because I was looking for one myself

I would also place it into the monster vise category.

for me on this one. I would be scared of what I'd pay for a parker like that if I ever came across one!! Very nice!!!

 

[RBarnes]

Looks great. If those screws/bolts are zinc-plated, just drop them in a container of vinegar overnight. It'll take the zinc plating off. Then you can leave them out without rinsing the vinegar and they'll flash rust. I then apply vinegar and let it dry, rotate and repeat, until I get the desired "patina" to match the piece I'm using them on, and then wipe them down with some paste wax to seal them from further rust before putting them to use. That way they don't stick out too badly.

Thank you sharing the tip on adding patina to the screws. That is mainly why I enjoy reading the vises thread, to learn more about how to do different things to fix or restore them and of course learning about the history on them. I cannot thank EVERYONE enough that has taken the time to share things.

 

[davethorik]

Spotted this guy today at work. I don't think I've ever seen a Williams USA vise before...obviously a rebranded Columbian 604. Still a little out of the ordinary.

Williams no. SBV-400, 4" jaws.

 

[MayerMR]

Thank you sharing the tip on adding patina to the screws. That is mainly why I enjoy reading the vises thread, to learn more about how to do different things to fix or restore them and of course learning about the history on them. I cannot thank EVERYONE enough that has taken the time to share things.

Any time! I forget how I even discovered that trick out, pretty sure it was back when I used vinegar as a deruster before I knew it etched the metal. Prob left a newer bolt in place due to laziness and noticed the effects then.

 

[tool_scrounge]

I believe you are absolutely correct! I dropped you some old catalog scans and some other member photos of their Morgan 138 vises with different castings. The 1963 scan is the first listing of the no-38 stationary model, everything before was only offered as a no-138 swivel model.

Very nice vise and probably getting added to my bucket list.

Thanks for the great info. It is interesting that the weight went from 64 lbs in 1953 to 82 lbs in 1963 for the 138 swivel version. The few vises of this style I have seen in the wild usually had hammer damage so it makes me wonder if Milwaukee beefed them up accordingly.


My 138 is from the 1970's per the original owner and is only marked 38. I presume they just had one casting model number for cost saving reasons.

 

[Fierljeppen]

Thanks for the great info. It is interesting that the weight went from 64 lbs in 1953 to 82 lbs in 1963 for the 138 swivel version. The few vises of this style I have seen in the wild usually had hammer damage so it makes me wonder if Milwaukee beefed them up accordingly.


My 138 is from the 1970's per the original owner and is only marked 38. I presume they just had one casting model number for cost saving reasons.

As far as printed vise data goes, use it as a guide not a rule. Actual vise weights and measurements should always supersede the printed data.

The weight should have gone up some just from the vise base redesign to a universal model. Although the universal model added weight to the swivel arrangement, it was a compromise and substantially less beefy than the stationary only models. That said, I don't recall seeing any failures in any universal vise bases.

Why go to a universal vise base? You're right again, pure economics. The 1922 ad below shows Yost with their -2- castings vs. Columbian's -1- casting. As far as I know, Columbian was the Pioneer with the universal base, with everyone else eventually changing as well.

In 1976, Starrett became the last vise co. to change to the universal base. The catalog scan below shows a good example of how your vise model would change based on the swivel or not.

I may have missed the boat on getting a nice vintage sheet-metal vise on the cheap.

 

[Redlig]

So I just got this vice anyone have any into on it

 

[rusty65]

So I just got this vice anyone have any into on it

Yeah I believe that’s a Odin vise made in Chicago very very rare you sir have a crown jewel on your hands.


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[Redlig]

Yeah I believe that’s a Odin vise made in Chicago very very rare you sir have a crown jewel on your hands.


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Well in that case here are some much better pictures messed up part is I wanted a wilton but ended up with this

 

[Outlawmws]

Ill trade you a Wilton for that...

 

[IdahoMan]

Any time! I forget how I even discovered that trick out, pretty sure it was back when I used vinegar as a deruster before I knew it etched the metal. Prob left a newer bolt in place due to laziness and noticed the effects then.

Well in that case here are some much better pictures messed up part is I wanted a wilton but ended up with this

I think that is a sweet looking vice. So "square" and cut looking.

Finding a vise around here is very difficult. Almost want to take raw steel from the local supplier and and angle-grinder and just make my own. lol. I guess heat-treating the large pieces of metal would be the hard part.. and maybe tapping the "spindle nut"(?). I don't do welding.

 

[Redlig]

Ill trade you a Wilton for that...

Haha I still want one of the bullet vises however this one was a gift from a friends wife has some history so I'm not parting with it

 

[IdahoMan]

BTW, anyone have any good resources on the design of a vise, including some of the math?

 

[Outlawmws]

IM - Google "home built vise" and variants, and you should get lots of examples, especially in pics.

 

[MayerMR]

So I picked up what has to be a heckuva rare vise, maybe not in E. Europe, but stateside for sure. Looks to be completely unused, to boot!

Story is that the PO lived in Belgium for a couple of years many years ago and when he returned he sent a fair number of items back, this being one of them, and it sat unused since its arrival.

I know a lot of folks say the Soviets never made anything worth a damn, but this is a stout little fella and opens and closes very smoothly with what looks to be quite nice build quality. Regardless, I'm pretty chuffed to have it in my collection.

 

[RBarnes]

Any time! I forget how I even discovered that trick out, pretty sure it was back when I used vinegar as a deruster before I knew it etched the metal. Prob left a newer bolt in place due to laziness and noticed the effects then.

Great idea on the vinegar for metal to get an aged look. I do a lot with wood also and wondered if you have any knowledge on making wood look older? Not the gray weathered look, but the rich darker dirty brown patina an antique workbench or wooden parts used in some antique machinery get. I realize this is primarily a vise related to metal working forum, but hoped it would not hurt to ask just in case someone also has knowledge in this area.

 

[tool_scrounge]

As far as printed vise data goes, use it as a guide not a rule. Actual vise weights and measurements should always supersede the printed data.

The weight should have gone up some just from the vise base redesign to a universal model. Although the universal model added weight to the swivel arrangement, it was a compromise and substantially less beefy than the stationary only models. That said, I don't recall seeing any failures in any universal vise bases.

Why go to a universal vise base? You're right again, pure economics. The 1922 ad below shows Yost with their -2- castings vs. Columbian's -1- casting. As far as I know, Columbian was the Pioneer with the universal base, with everyone else eventually changing as well.

In 1976, Starrett became the last vise co. to change to the universal base. The catalog scan below shows a good example of how your vise model would change based on the swivel or not.

I may have missed the boat on getting a nice vintage sheet-metal vise on the cheap.

They are out there. I do not think they are all that sought after so while not that common, demand seems lower than big vises.

For example, the Morgan 138 shown below was listed forsale for 10 days on Craigslist before I spotted it. No one had snatched it up. At the firm asking price of $0.73 per pound with a bit of rust but no abuse, I thought it was a good deal.

 

[gman007]

BTW, anyone have any good resources on the design of a vise, including some of the math?

If memory serves me right there are a number of videos on YouTube that I have seen but the level of skill and equipment needed in some of these techniques might be a limiting factor depending one’s capabilities.

 

[GETRIDAONE]

Here is an example of what you can do when you have the skills and imagination like GJ member Royce, with some help from KMScott

 

[PureLeaf]

Picked up this Wilton 8400 HD. Date Stamp is 3-53. 4 Inch vise. Tore it down, wire wheeled it, put each part individually through electrolysis, replaced the jaws, and painted it with verde green. Unfortunately the swivel base is long gone. I considered replacing the handle but at ~100 bucks to buy a handle. This handle is straight, and just has some marks where someone beat on it with a hammer. So it stayed.

Also included is a picture of it beside another vise I recently purchased brand new, a Gedore rebrand of an Italian made FZA forged steel vise, 150mm (6 inch jaw width). All of my other current vises are Ridgid Peddinghaus vises, so it was nice to give a Wilton a try.

 

[justin.d.richards.9]

My little $40 score today. All in all it's in pretty good shape.. I'll check to see what the jaws look like here in a little while.. Everything moves nice and free though.




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[justin.d.richards.9]

Got it torn down and there isn't any other stampings anywhere other than the side of the body.. Any idea of a rough date of this little guy?








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[exmaxima1]

Picked up this Wilton 8400 HD. Date Stamp is 3-53, suggesting it was made in March 1948.

Does the date stamp include the words "Guar Exp"? If not, the consensus is that you have a 1953 vise.

 

[gman007]

So I picked up what has to be a heckuva rare vise, maybe not in E. Europe, but stateside for sure. Looks to be completely unused, to boot!

Story is that the PO lived in Belgium for a couple of years many years ago and when he returned he sent a fair number of items back, this being one of them, and it sat unused since its arrival.

I know a lot of folks say the Soviets never made anything worth a damn, but this is a stout little fella and opens and closes very smoothly with what looks to be quite nice build quality. Regardless, I'm pretty chuffed to have it in my collection.

Mayer
That is a nice find and definitely different (well not so much the design but rather the COO).

 

[kwoswalt99]

Got it torn down and there isn't any other stampings anywhere other than the side of the body.. Any idea of a rough date of this little guy?








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Before 1926.

 

[MayerMR]

Mayer
That is a nice find and definitely different (well not so much the design but rather the COO).

Thanks! I like having rare-birds in my collection and when I saw this I had to jump on it. I have to guess finding one that is unused is pretty uncommon as well - it's not like the Soviets had an abundance of tooling to work with. Though this was likely an export vise, which explains it being found in Belgium.

 

[PureLeaf]

Does the date stamp include the words "Guar Exp"? If not, the consensus is that you have a 1953 vise.

It does not. Just "3-53". Nothing else is stamped. Thanks for the info

 

[1NRO]

Thanks! I like having rare-birds in my collection and when I saw this I had to jump on it. I have to guess finding one that is unused is pretty uncommon as well - it's not like the Soviets had an abundance of tooling to work with. Though this was likely an export vise, which explains it being found in Belgium.

I've a similar one, it's the one that sat in Dad's garage through my youth. I'm not sure how he came by it but it's branded USSR and I'm in the UK. I've seen the same on UK ebay a couple of times I like the very stout handle.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

I finished up the 5196 for a friend. I really wish this one was mine. Once I got everything clean it moves like its on bearings! He chose verde green with the white accents. He also opted for a wonderful set of new jaws from Mr. Scott. Now i have to get going on my own 5197!!!

 

[MissileBear]

This pipe vise had been on my local CL for a few weeks....there was only a small grainy pic with no reference to the size. It finally jumped and met up with the owner....figured it'd be worth the $15 asking price.

Turned out to be a Hollands 406 - stands 21" tall, is 18" wide, takes up to a 7" OD pipe, and probably weighs about 60 pounds.

Not the biggest pipe vise I've ever seen, but pretty huge. Campbells soup can for size reference.