The VISES of Garage Journal

[LesserSon]

It’s “Gollum,” my precious.
Further, the use of a finite resource like discontinued USA-made tools depletes the resouce. Hoarding them does not; it only deferrs their consumption to a later time. This is a basic concept in conservation, but public policy splits between short-view “jobs now” results and long-view “jobs for future generations” results.

 

[davethorik]

You guys make decent arguments, however, there is a difference between someone that collects "novelties", (classic cars, comic books, etc) and someone who collects tools. Classic cars are essentily useless, as are comic books. They only serve to bring joy to the owner. However, someone who collects (hoards) things that can still be used, like tools, are doing many people a disservice.

Why should I care that a vise was supposedly saved from the scrap yard when it's sitting in someone's basement, fully prevented from being a useful item. What does that do for me, or someone else who has a use for it? It's just being protected and isolated like Golem's precious.

I have been looking for a decent, usa-made vise for under a king's ransom for over a month now. Unfortunately, every one I've seen on craigslist or ebay has been either a pos, not the right size to be useful to me, or costs a king's ransom. Yes, collectors drive the prices up even on ****** vises. Why? Because there are less on the market due to "Golem's Precious Syndrome".

You have letgo and offer up? A lot of times you will see the same items crossposted, however I've had better luck in a short amount of time with those 2 apps than Craigslist. My latest find was a Reed 404 I posted in this thread maybe a month ago for $25 from offer up, which I gave to my BIL because he broke his 5" Chinese vise. That Reed only appeared on one of the apps listed as a clamp vise. Also Yard sales, estate sales, ask random older gentlemen if they have a vise for sale (Lol this method has worked in the past).

 

[Shiftless]

Few things.

If 38 is old, then I better buy a ton of more vises before I die.

I’ve sold more vises in the last 2 months than I have purchased.

If you are too lazy to go search the local craigslist, etc, then you don’t deserve to find a vise for a “decent” price.

There are a ton on members on here who will sell you a vise.

Lastly, If you don’t what people on this forum do with the vises they own, don’t bother reading or posting on here.

I think bagged has said it well.

I too have sold more vises in the last few months than I have bought.
Not too long ago, I pulled a thoroughly rusted and seized early REED from a nearby dumpster just a few days before the dumpster was gonna get picked up.
To me, that is the clearest example of saving some old iron from the scrapper.
(Yes, I freed it up and it isn’t broken or missing important parts and YES I would sell it)
I have donated good vises to charitable causes. I have sold other vises for under market prices to fellows who didn’t have one and seemed deserving of a good deal.
Bottom line... no whining please.

 

[Outlawmws]

You have been looking one whole month, then posted here to ***** at us and lay blame. I got news for you MOST vise collector do NOT post here. (I suspect many lurk)

Go look on Eprey and see what people are willing to pay for vises and review the >67000 post for how many here are buying vises at those costs. Most of us are too chea... er,, thrifty to pay those prices. as said "THEY ARE OUT THERE. and again a look though these pages show great deals regularly.

Ans: Very Very Few!

Go back a few pages and another guy looking for a vise also posted. Read what he said and note the difference in reactions from the gang here

You owe this group an apology, and if you can't see that then you are probably nothing more than a troll. Trolls are not tolerated on GJ, I can guarantee you that!

 

[AngryBeaver]

You guys make decent arguments, however, there is a difference between someone that collects "novelties", (classic cars, comic books, etc) and someone who collects tools. Classic cars are essentily useless, as are comic books. They only serve to bring joy to the owner. However, someone who collects (hoards) things that can still be used, like tools, are doing many people a disservice.

Why should I care that a vise was supposedly saved from the scrap yard when it's sitting in someone's basement, fully prevented from being a useful item. What does that do for me, or someone else who has a use for it? It's just being protected and isolated like Golem's precious.

I have been looking for a decent, usa-made vise for under a king's ransom for over a month now. Unfortunately, every one I've seen on craigslist or ebay has been either a pos, not the right size to be useful to me, or costs a king's ransom. Yes, collectors drive the prices up even on ****** vises. Why? Because there are less on the market due to "Golem's Precious Syndrome".

awe that's a cute story. A WHOLE month? really. I'm shocked, not really. I looked for my affordable broken wilton for 4 months before finding one I thought I could afford.


the truth of the matter is you're a cheap ***. Either you don't really need a vise that you are craving for, or you simply don't want to spend the money.

a 6" vise for example was worth a months pay back in the 20's-30's-40's.

Normal folk didn't own them. Shops and business's did. we all buy and sell vises here.

I'll stand by this statement. No individual in a home shops needs more than a 4.5" vise. a 4.5" machinist vise is larger by about twice than any foreign made 6" sold in the box stores. I run a fab shop and other than a novelty 6" or two I've picked up searching the last few years, the 4.5" gets the most use.

So with that said, what is your budget and what size are you trying to buy? you will not find a 6" US made vise under 300 bucks, more for combination vises (pipe jaws). if thats what you want, cough up the coin or quitcher bitchin'.

And lastly, its our money. If we want to light it on fire, or buy vises to sit on shelves, that is of no concern to you. There is plenty out there for everyone.

 

[RBarnes]

Makes me realise why it's so difficult to find a decent used vice for a reasonable price. Bunch of old men think they need dozens of un-used ones sitting on a shelf. Maybe one in fifteen in this thread is actually bolted down.

Hey, welcome to the real world. Now a tank of gas costs most of us $50 and if you want something you have to pay the going rate or spend time and money (gas costs etc.) to find a deal. When it is all said and done, usually I have found it is cheaper in the long run to just go ahead and pay the price for something if you really need it. In my world time is money and bargain hunting is usually too expensive.

BTW, I use all of my vises. I actually really appreciate the advice and knowledge I gained off of this site. Helped me find better vises and do minor repairs and maintenance on the ones I use. I do not have that many vises, but it makes me appreciate them more when I use them, and I admit I take better care of them now.

I paid $500 for my Reed 405 , 5 inch wide, adjustable jaw, swivel base vise that I use daily. Crazy by the money standards of most people, but I guarantee you it has already paid for itself, especially considering the piece of junk foreign made vise I tried to use before.

While you are trudging through the snow in Minnesota looking for a deal, I am getting work done in my nice warm shop!

 

[oldldh]

Dan --- My child, you have shot yourself in the foot...

The "old men" around here, and I think I may be the oldest, at 73, are not hoarding these vises...

We are restoring them...

And we are their caretakers...

Classic car collectors, don't own their cars, ask Jay Leno, they are their stewards/caretakers/watchers over/passers on to the next generation...

All these old men and their old vises, are being kept alive for the next generation...Everyone who posts on here, and I'm with "Outlaw", I think there a lot more lurkers, than posters, are sharing what little knowledge we have, with others, so that this hard won knowledge will not be lost...

Go put a band aid on your foot wound...

Apologize for your faux pas...

And learn a little, that may help in your quest...

 

[Redlig]

New to me vise....just trying to ease the tension

 

[Danguitarman]

Alright. Let me explain myself a bit. I've pissed some people off, and I can completely understand why. Sometimes my brain-to-mouth filter fails me, and yes I was in a bit of a grumpy mood this morning.

First off, I agree that I owe the members in this forum an apology. I made a poor choice in the way I commented in my first post of the morning, and I did not specifically log on to the vise forum to make enemies and pass blame over the "vise bubble" in online marketplaces. That being said, I'm sorry. I would edit my post, but that would be dishonest, and if other guys feel the need to chew my ***, I believe they are within their rights to do so. After all, this IS a forum for vise collectors.

However, the cases made by some members are not going to change my mind about the aquisition and blacklisting of useful tools from the overall market. To be clear, this is my opinion of the collection of any kind of functional tool. If you're not going to use it, get it into the hands of someone that will. I am a voracious reader, for example. If I am never going to read a book, I donate it to a library. It defeats the purpose of the book (tool) being produced in the first place to just let it languish so nobody else can enjoy it and fulfill its ultimate purpose.

I'm a thrifty guy, yes, but I'm also a union man and the sole provider for my family, so I prefer to buy the best I can reasonably afford and of US make.

My being pissy his morning was due to calling about an old US vice on Craigslist. It wasn't cheap, and it neede a little tlc, and seemed reasonable. When I called the guy, he said an old man bought it, and had the seller load it into his car so he could "put it into his collection". He couldn't even lift it. Not sure what he could use it for in his physical condition. Evidently he had 80-some vises. Really? To what end? So yeah, I was a little pissed.

To wrap up: Again, I apologize. I hope we can understand eachother, because I realise there are a lot of knowledgeable guys on here from whom I could stand to learn quite a bit, and with whom I would probably get along great over a beer or two. Take care, Dan.

P.S. I ended up buying a Chicom Yost vise on sale just to get it over and done with.

 

[Redlig]

Who cares how people spend their money and why they send it on...

 

[kwoswalt99]

Alright. Let me explain myself a bit. I've pissed some people off, and I can completely understand why. Sometimes my brain-to-mouth filter fails me, and yes I was in a bit of a grumpy mood this morning.

First off, I agree that I owe the members in this forum an apology. I made a poor choice in the way I commented in my first post of the morning, and I did not specifically log on to the vise forum to make enemies and pass blame over the "vise bubble" in online marketplaces. That being said, I'm sorry. I would edit my post, but that would be dishonest, and if other guys feel the need to chew my ***, I believe they are within their rights to do so. After all, this IS a forum for vise collectors.

However, the cases made by some members are not going to change my mind about the aquisition and blacklisting of useful tools from the overall market. To be clear, this is my opinion of the collection of any kind of functional tool. If you're not going to use it, get it into the hands of someone that will. I am a voracious reader, for example. If I am never going to read a book, I donate it to a library. It defeats the purpose of the book (tool) being produced in the first place to just let it languish so nobody else can enjoy it and fulfill its ultimate purpose.

I'm a thrifty guy, yes, but I'm also a union man and the sole provider for my family, so I prefer to buy the best I can reasonably afford and of US make.

My being pissy his morning was due to calling about an old US vice on Craigslist. It wasn't cheap, and it neede a little tlc, and seemed reasonable. When I called the guy, he said an old man bought it, and had the seller load it into his car so he could "put it into his collection". He couldn't even lift it. Not sure what he could use it for in his physical condition. Evidently he had 80-some vises. Really? To what end? So yeah, I was a little pissed.

To wrap up: Again, I apologize. I hope we can understand eachother, because I realise there are a lot of knowledgeable guys on here from whom I could stand to learn quite a bit, and with whom I would probably get along great over a beer or two. Take care, Dan.

P.S. I ended up buying a Chicom Yost vise on sale just to get it over and done with.

Hopefully it was one of the steel ones, they are good vises.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Dan --- My child, you have shot yourself in the foot...

The "old men" around here, and I think I may be the oldest, at 73, are not hoarding these vises...

We are restoring them...

And we are their caretakers...

Classic car collectors, don't own their cars, ask Jay Leno, they are their stewards/caretakers/watchers over/passers on to the next generation...

All these old men and their old vises, are being kept alive for the next generation...Everyone who posts on here, and I'm with "Outlaw", I think there a lot more lurkers, than posters, are sharing what little knowledge we have, with others, so that this hard won knowledge will not be lost...

Go put a band aid on your foot wound...

Apologize for your faux pas...

And learn a little, that may help in your quest...

Very well said!

 

[thin_concrete]

There are deals out there - you just have to be patient. There’s nothing stopping you from continuing to search while using your new found vise. When you find that vise you’ve been looking for, sell the current one and go on with your life.

Everything’s temporary when you’re a mortal.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Since I've jumped in on this (all during respects where they belong), I've been buying, restoring, learning about and selling vises for 10 years. I've met a lot of great folks along the way. Many on this forum. Saving old tools is just as important as saving historical homes, vintage cars, baseball cards, etc. They're a link to our past.

 

[Smitty]

That settles it, I’m going to start collecting buzz boxes.

this is patient zero


Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Outlawmws]

You will also need one of those old High freq Heads for an AC/DC for tig welding!

 

[Shiftless]

Dan:
Good post. Thanks for explaining yourself. I second the idea to keep looking for a classic old vise to restore and enjoy the feeling of pride and accomplishment with a job well done.

Smitty:
Since you’re now collecting welders, you might as well dump all those old vises I see in your picture in order to free up some space. Let us know when we can send a crew by your house and pick them up.

 

[trijeff]

Dan ... where are you located? I bet there is a GJ member in your area who will be happy to help you out, myself included.

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

 

[Smitty]

You will also need one of those old High freq Heads for an AC/DC for tig welding!

It sounds complicated, I might need to start a buzz-box collectors thread to walk me through it.
GJ...Show us your buzz-boxes!

 

[Smitty]

Dan:
Good post. Thanks for explaining yourself. I second the idea to keep looking for a classic old vise to restore and enjoy the feeling of pride and accomplishment with a job well done.

Smitty:
Since you’re now collecting welders, you might as well dump all those old vises I see in your picture in order to free up some space. Let us know when we can send a crew by your house and pick them up.

What old vises?

 

[oldldh]

The main problem, as I see it, with kicking the "Old Vise" habit...

Is...

Wait for it...

It really hurts your toes to kick the habit!!!!

(I know, I know, I've done better, but I'm suffering from too much turkey...)

 

[gman007]

The main problem, as I see it, with kicking the "Old Vise" habit...

Is...

Wait for it...

It really hurts your toes to kick the habit!!!!

(I know, I know, I've done better, but I'm suffering from too much turkey...)

If it is any consolation, anvil addicts have it even worth

 

[Smitty]

Friday afternoon therapy session.

Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Outlawmws]

And Dan, Thanks for the apology and explanation. I can understand being frustrated; while I don't agree with your analogy of tools vs cars, and subscribe to Oldies position, you are entitled to your opinion.

I like working on old cars, and I know that these days most of them are priced to stupid money and that is from the rarity and the collectors. Most of the rarity is the fault of the steel mils, but if there were not so many car collectors there would be more drivers, because cars were meant to be driven and not sit in a museum.

But I don't complain that the collectors are the cause and those collections should be busted up. It is as has been mentioned, their $$ and their cars. Compared to cars, vises are EASY. and tools in general are REAL EASY. It just take effort; visit the GJ "Garage Sale" thread and see.

I have more tools than most professional mechanics. I'm still buying and upgrading and in some cases collecting. No professional mechanic/technician is going to use 70-80 year old wrenches and sockets. The technology and expectations have moved on. I do and will. Do I NEED over 500 pairs of pliers and pliers-like devices? How about 173 ratchets and counting? No; but many are special purpose, and some I've modified for ease of use, (like the 3/8 drive in a 1/4" body...)

I subscribe to the "I'd rather have a tool I don't need, than need a tool I don't have"

I'll work and have worked on anything. Cars, trucks, tractors, trailers, race cars, electronics, guns, fishing reels, camp stoves and lanterns (I "collect" those too; got a problem with that?), furniture, cabinets, framing houses, finishing houses AC, Heating gutters, plumbing, house and shop electrical (up to 220 single phase) appliances, vintage/antique lamps, Victrola's, computers - laptops, to mainframes, the list goes on and on... Heck, I forgot the repair of tools- hand, power, vises, machine tools, name it...

So my tool "collection" is also a using collection, and highly diverse. Are some "Wall hangers"? - You bet! But if it's the right tool for the job, and won't damage it, It gets taken down and used...

The bottom line is griping about how someone used or doesn't use something they paid for and own is useless. Focus on the positive things in life, and get value from the positive things you can gain from this thread.

Saying more than "Dammit A collector beat me to a vise I wanted. - on to the next one..." isn't going to get that missed opportunity back. you lost that hand; move on to the next one with a positive attitude.

 

[Outlawmws]

Smitty, those hammers that close to the vise worry me!

 

[Smitty]

Re: Outlawmws
They only hit the stick of poplar.

 

[va.grouseman]

Friday afternoon therapy session.

Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app

2 lb. sledge, punch, rebar,----POOP,---Pin out.---Nice job Smitty.---Looks like BLO from here.---Am I close?

 

[va.grouseman]

Danguitarman, I know this ain't no consolation to you, but when I'm searching CL or like sites for 8'', 7'', 6'', or 5'' or even the coveted miniature vises, 99 times out of a 100 I get, (This posting has been deleted by its author).---But sooner or latter, even a blind hog finds an acorn.

 

[Smitty]

2 lb. sledge, punch, rebar,----POOP,---Pin out.---Nice job Smitty.---Looks like BLO from here.---Am I close?

Yeah, you nailed it. I didn’t think the pin was going to come out it looked embedded. Once I got the base off I was able to get at the pin from the bottom with the bent rebar. Tapping the moveable jaw with the wood block to free it up took a while.

Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

So I had a little time in the shop and decided to cut out a couple vises from the herd to try and ease the pain my friend who manages a shop in Corvallis might be feeling. I got this American Scale No.524 a while back and it needed a few repairs but turned out ok and is no slouch of a vise with 6" jaws and weighing #160. I also cleaned up a 6-1/2" tradesman a while back and can spare it so it's going along too.

I weighed the big Yost 208 that would be causing any distress my friend may be feeling today also. A bit heavier than I was expecting at #294. Just a bathroom scale but I re-zeroed it, moved the vise around on it, and still got the same weight. A couple pics of the three vises together. I hope this peace offering is enough. The company already bought one of the new Yost 208's for his shop.....not the same. Ed.

 

[gman007]

Yeah, you nailed it. I didn’t think the pin was going to come out it looked embedded. Once I got the base off I was able to get at the pin from the bottom with the bent rebar. Tapping the moveable jaw with the wood block to free it up took a while.

Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app

Smitty
I am not sure if there is some kind of optical illusion in the photo or is there something curious going on at the right hand side of the static base just to the right of the dove tail channel. Any idea what is that?

 

[kenc184]

I have been working on a guy on a "wilton bullet" vise he has for a few weeks. He eventually offered it to me (this is sight unseen but with promises of condition) for $200. I offered him $150 - still sight unseen but I figured I could walk away and he accepted. When I got to his dingey dark hole I had to use braille to assess the vise. Yup, feels like a wilton, couldn't detect any important damage, jaws seemed good BUT it was not a bullet. It's a 1760 Tradesman. Imagine my disappointment....

Still maybe $150 isn't too bad despite it being a semi-bullet?

 

[Smitty]

Re: 007

It looks like the bottom of the lock pin.

 

[gman007]

I have been working on a guy on a "wilton bullet" vise he has for a few weeks. He eventually offered it to me (this is sight unseen but with promises of condition) for $200. I offered him $150 - still sight unseen but I figured I could walk away and he accepted. When I got to his dingey dark hole I had to use braille to assess the vise. Yup, feels like a wilton, couldn't detect any important damage, jaws seemed good BUT it was not a bullet. It's a 1760 Tradesman. Imagine my disappointment....

Still maybe $150 isn't too bad despite it being a semi-bullet?

Ken
While this might not be a you **** deal, it is still pretty good price (assuming there are no issues with it). Few month back I cleaned up one for for a friend who then sold it for $250 so quick that we started wondering if $250 was too low. So I think you did pretty good.

 

[Smitty]

Feel good story of the day:
There’s an 80 year old vise collector out there that’s rockin’ Craigslist to fill holes in his vise collection. The fact that he is beating younger guys to the punch makes the story that much sweeter. Hopefully he’s in my area so I can help him load. PM me if you need a hand.

 

[lafester]

I just got one for about the same deal. I think it is a solid vise and should hold it's value if I find something better.

I have been working on a guy on a "wilton bullet" vise he has for a few weeks. He eventually offered it to me (this is sight unseen but with promises of condition) for $200. I offered him $150 - still sight unseen but I figured I could walk away and he accepted. When I got to his dingey dark hole I had to use braille to assess the vise. Yup, feels like a wilton, couldn't detect any important damage, jaws seemed good BUT it was not a bullet. It's a 1760 Tradesman. Imagine my disappointment....

Still maybe $150 isn't too bad despite it being a semi-bullet?

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

 

[Smitty]

Smitty
I am not sure if there is some kind of optical illusion in the photo or is there something curious going on at the right hand side of the static base just to the right of the dove tail channel. Any idea what is that?

I see what you mean. It looks like a casting issue.

Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Smitty]

This just came up in my area.
What could go wrong?
It has WTF written all over it.
I surprised it hasn’t fallen off of the
Bench and injured somebody SMH

Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[va.grouseman]

Yea Oregon, the new 208s are pretty but about 100 lbs. lighter than the old ones.---If your scales are correct then the Yost is a few lbs. heaver than the Reed 208R.---Their dimensions are practically identical so I estimated the Yost at 291 lbs., same as the Reed.

Some really nice iron by the way.---The Wilton looks like NOS.

 

[kenc184]

Ken
While this might not be a you **** deal, it is still pretty good price (assuming there are no issues with it). Few month back I cleaned up one for for a friend who then sold it for $250 so quick that we started wondering if $250 was too low. So I think you did pretty good.

Good data point, thanks. Just cleaned a bunch of grime off the thing. Boy it spent thirty years having grimy greasy hands wiped all over it. Slide says 10/88 I guess that's it's birth date?
Given that it has pipe jaws maybe I should make this my daily driver? Currently it's a Morgan 145.