The VISES of Garage Journal

[GETRIDAONE]

VA and Dave, That AS is a 62C 3 1/2" I recognized it as it is one of my everyday users.

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Thanks, RBarnes. I think the hammered colors look better when brushed on rather than sprayed. It's easier to get the hammered, textured look.

Yeah, I forgot who my audience is here Here's a pic of the old vise on my bench. It may look small to most here, but I thought it was overkill for my uses. I'm more of a wood guy than a metal guy.

Tom,
Good looking shop and workbench (is that a small Emmert's?). I really like the toolbox you've got on the wall. Did you build that? Also, I wanted to ask what kind of brush you used to apply the hammered paint and how many coats? Did you apply something after to give it the shine? I've used the spray hammered gray on one of my Craftsman gray & red toolboxes but it was on the interior of a cabinet. You and smitty posted pics of repainted vises yesterday that were both outstanding.

By the way, it's always fun to see folks from other websites. You just sent me that Saturn knob over on OWWM.

 

[Tom99]

I understand and appreciate the Emmert woodworking vise. Emmerts are my favorite brand of vise. I think they were probably a little expensive and too advanced for the average buyer even when new, but as you know they will do about anything you need. The Emmert metal working machinist vise is really over kill as it is just as advanced beyond a typical metal working bench vise as the Emmert woodworking vise is beyond a normal woodworking vise. I like the Emmert 4A, not too big for me. Like most advanced vises, you do not use the features that often, but when you need them they are nice to have.

What type of wood is the top of the workbench made of? Looks to be a butcher block style with a series of boards fastened together? What finish is on the wood?

That's a neat ad for the Emmert vise. I didn't know they made a universal machinist vise.

The bench top is walnut. I found a bunch of low quality walnut lumber many years ago and used some of it for the bench. It's glued up from 1" thick pieces, random lengths, end butted. It has stayed flat for 20 years. The finish is boiled linseed oil.

 

[Tom99]

Tom,
Good looking shop and workbench (is that a small Emmert's?). I really like the toolbox you've got on the wall. Did you build that? Also, I wanted to ask what kind of brush you used to apply the hammered paint and how many coats? Did you apply something after to give it the shine? I've used the spray hammered gray on one of my Craftsman gray & red toolboxes but it was on the interior of a cabinet. You and smitty posted pics of repainted vises yesterday that were both outstanding.

By the way, it's always fun to see folks from other websites. You just sent me that Saturn knob over on OWWM.

Hi, Mike

Thanks. That's the larger Emmert. I have to rotate it to open my top drawer.

Yeah, I made the tool chest. Walnut and mahogany.

I use those cheap disposable harbor freight chip brushes. Two coats, laid on pretty thick. If you put it on too thin it doesn't pucker up and it doesn't look hammered. No topcoat. It shines by itself.

 

[Smitty]

It was quite a drive but for $175 it was worth it.


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[chrisnazzy]

It was quite a drive but for $175 it was worth it.


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That's a very early Wilton you've got there Smitty. What are the dimensions of a no. 60?

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[Smitty]

6” jaws
About 24” long
125 lbs +/-
Still driving

 

[MayerMR]

6” jaws
About 24” long
125 lbs +/-
Still driving

Gul dern ya Smitty! First you post a gorgeous vise, then ya find a beauty! Nice job!!

 

[DFB]

Just saw this yesterday at an antique shop. He's looking for $150 I think. Central Massachusetts, Worcester Area

Something to consider...get it down a little more probably be well worth the money

 

[Batcountry]

As long as the screw on that C3 is indeed the correct thread pitch for the original Wilton nut, it's length shouldn't be an issue. I replaced my Wilton 600's screw with a brand new one just for cosmetic reasons and it turned out the new 600's are a bit longer. I had to shorten it.

I would also be looking at a new set of jaws as those look hammered AF. Probably looking at around $100 either from autopts or kmscott. As mgm noted though, that looks like a nasty chunk missing at the front of the static. Depending how that occurred and how it affects the integrity of how the slide travels into the body, it could be a futile repair.

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Thanks for the input!
Soo I am the one that got this massive Wilton C3 for $50 and I couldn’t resist even though it’s in rough shape. Apparently it was used, like REALLY used, for years at Alaskan copper in Seattle. Leadscrew appears to be a modern Wilton replacement that is too long, but thread pitch is correct.
The dynamic support on the static jaw is basically cracked off.
It does function, but gets stickier the further out you extend it. Looks to have been used this way for years based off of the markings on the tube. Date stamp either missing or worn off. Side of static jaw has “101066” stamped into the side of it.

I’m searching for the static jaw for a C3, if anyone has any leads- I would appreciate the help!

 

[Smitty]

Gul dern ya Smitty! First you post a gorgeous vise, then ya find a beauty! Nice job!!

Thanks, this seemed like one of those too good to be true ads. The fact that the only photos of Wilton no.60 vise that that I could find had the swivel jaw and the seller was practically in Arizona made for a real nervous ride. I did manage to find one photo of a Wilton no. 60 that is on eBay currently.

 

[kenc184]

I went to pick up an ebay purchase CMAN "block" bench grinder today, before I left I said "Got any large vises?". The guy said, "I got one". I ended up paying too much for it, but I thought there can't be many in this good a basic condition? The swivel handle is missing and a few small weld globules on the top of the jaws and towers is all I can find other than some shallow dings and hacksaw marks. Very minor. Jaws look nice, screw looks nice albeit dry.
The thing weighs 155lbs, maybe a pound more once I've made up a swivel handle?

I think this will become my new user, might have to reinforce my bench though.

 

[Smitty]

Here’s a few photos of the Wilton no.60 it has six inch jaws and weighs in at 108 lbs. I would classify this vise in A- condition.


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[davethorik]

Here’s a few photos of the Wilton no.60 it has six inch jaws and weighs in at 108 lbs.

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Dang she is purdy!

 

[Smitty]

Re: Kenc184

Wow, what a beast. And it’s in beautiful condition.

 

[Smitty]

Dang she is purdy!

Thanks. Yeah, she’s gonna get some stare time over the holidays

 

[chrisnazzy]

Here’s a few photos of the Wilton no.60 it has six inch jaws and weighs in at 108 lbs. I would classify this vise in A- condition.


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So where did you have to go to pick that up Smitty?

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[kenc184]

Smitty,

Thanks, I think it was a GJ member who sold it to me. Should have asked him at the time, I might have gotten a bigger discount! Or sent you in to negotiate!

I envy that big Wilton of yours, I would like to own a big Wilton one of these days but the big RI is gonna be my new user taking over from my puny Morgan 145.

 

[Smitty]

So where did you have to go to pick that up Smitty?

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El Centro, about 5 1/2 hours round trip. I almost went to Yuma to get that post vise but I thought that would be pushing it. I was about 70 miles from Ariz.

 

[kenc184]

There's no way you'd see that price for a bullet vise in Norcal.

 

[KMScott]

Nice #60 Wilton Smitty, takes the Tradesman jaws, Wilton made the 6 x 1 jaws with 4" center to center only for this vise until they built the 1760 and 746 vises.
I have driven to Casper WY several times for vises, just part of collecting them. If you do not drive then you do not get the nice ones. Collectors in Kansas and Texas collect vises from Europe and all over the US.

 

[Smitty]

Smitty,

Thanks, I think it was a GJ member who sold it to me. Should have asked him at the time, I might have gotten a bigger discount! Or sent you in to negotiate!

I envy that big Wilton of yours, I would like to own a big Wilton one of these days but the big RI is gonna be my new user taking over from my puny Morgan 145.

I was looking at a Rock island similar to yours. The swivel base was missing and had a steel rod with bolts on the ends for a handle.The vise had been beat to death and he wanted $400 bucks. Your vise is in great condition.

 

[Smitty]

Nice #60 Wilton Smitty, takes the Tradesman jaws, Wilton made the 6 x 1 jaws with 4" center to center only for this vise until they built the 1760 and 746 vises.
I have driven to Casper WY several times for vises, just part of collecting them. If you do not drive then you do not get the nice ones. Collectors in Kansas and Texas collect vises from Europe and all over the US.

Thanks, I feel lucky to have it. The guy said he had lots of calls but people weren’t willing to drive that far.

 

[kenc184]

I was looking at a Rock island similar to yours. The swivel base was missing and had a steel rod with bolts on the ends for a handle.The vise had been beat to death and he wanted $400 bucks. Your vise is in great condition.

So many people are absolute dreamers over what their stuff is worth. I see the same **** advertised on C.L. for ridiculous prices month after month.

Like I mentioned, I think the seller is a GJ member so he knew what the vise was worth but was willing to negotiate a little bit knowing it was going to someone who would use it and appreciate it. I paid $230 for it which is by far the most I've spent on a vise Previously $80 was my high.

 

[Smitty]

So many people are absolute dreamers over what their stuff is worth. I see the same **** advertised on C.L. for ridiculous prices month after month.

Like I mentioned, I think the seller is a GJ member so he knew what the vise was worth but was willing to negotiate a little bit knowing it was going to someone who would use it and appreciate it. I paid $230 for it which is by far the most I've spent on a vise Previously $80 was my high.

Vises are going for crazy prices these days. The guy that sold you that vise was a straight shooter. You scored big time.

 

[Smitty]

We’re gonna need a bigger boat
Left to right all Wiltons
C2 5”
800 8”
No.60 6”
600 6”



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[kenc184]

Smitty,

I'd like to see your entire collection. How about it?

 

[kenc184]

I see there's a vise spreadsheet on google docs. The weight of the Rock Island 577 is incorrect. Should be 155.
Mine weighed in at 154.8lbs without a swivel adjust handle.

 

[Smitty]

Smitty,

I'd like to see your entire collection. How about it?

Shhh...my wife knows about this site.

 

[Smitty]

Nice #60 Wilton Smitty, takes the Tradesman jaws, Wilton made the 6 x 1 jaws with 4" center to center only for this vise until they built the 1760 and 746 vises.
I have driven to Casper WY several times for vises, just part of collecting them. If you do not drive then you do not get the nice ones. Collectors in Kansas and Texas collect vises from Europe and all over the US.

So now I’m curious, was the trip to Wyoming worth the drive?

 

[KMScott]

I see there's a vise spreadsheet on google docs. The weight of the Rock Island 577 is incorrect. Should be 155.
Mine weighed in at 154.8lbs without a swivel adjust handle.

OK fixed, any other mistakes you see be sure to let me know. Most of the spec:s come from catalog pages and I have seen discrepancies . How about adding the max opening on your 577, I can update that too.

So now I’m curious, was the trip to Wyoming worth the drive?

Oh yes. I have bought several vises from Wyoming. Seems most were from Casper, 5 hr drive. One trip I picked up a Wilton 600 and a Hollands 27H. I found them on e-bay and drove the 10 hrs round trip to pick them up. Ranchers in WY like the post vises. These came from a oil company, can't remember what I bought them for but not very much.

Wilton 600

Hollands 27H

 

[Smitty]

OK fixed, any other mistakes you see be sure to let me know. Most of the spec:s come from catalog pages and I have seen discrepancies . How about adding the max opening on your 577, I can update that too.



Oh yes. I have bought several vises from Wyoming. Seems most were from Casper, 5 hr drive. One trip I picked up a Wilton 600 and a Hollands 27H. I found them on e-bay and drove the 10 hrs round trip to pick them up. Ranchers in WY like the post vises. These came from a oil company, can't remember what I bought them for but not very much.

Wilton 600

Hollands 27H

Definitely worth the drive and a beautiful job on the restorations. I Figured you found something interesting that’s why I asked. That holland on the swivel base looks like a big vise.

 

[Delder]

I inherited this vise when my father passed. It has no engravings or cast identification markings at all. It's extremely heavy. 98lbs 4.7oz

It has some strange features such as the static jaw being on the handle side and no mounting holes. Just a long t shaped slot that runs most of its length. I've stripped it down as it was roughly painted and I was hoping to see some makers marks. Alas nothing. I did however uncover that the original paint color was almost a Stanley thermos green.

It's pretty roughly cast, but nicely machined in the tracks and there's some fine detail texturing on the faces of the jaws. Also features a pretty bootleg looking anvil surface. I remember my dad saying it came from a steel mill. Anyone have any info or seen anything like it?

I didn't have a soda can for the pics... I appreciate any info anyone may have!

 

[Delder]

Looks like I need to have 5 posts to be able to post images. I'll fix ASAP

 

[rusty65]

Looks like I need to have 5 posts to be able to post images. I'll fix ASAP

I believe your vise was made by millers falls. Probably from around 1900. I’m not sure why they kept the t slot design to up till that point but the original idea was that you could use that vise on a bench and then also on a machine.



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[Delder]

I believe your vise was made by millers falls. Probably from around 1900. I’m not sure why they kept the t slot design to up till that point but the original idea was that you could use that vise on a bench and then also on a machine.



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Wow! Thank you so much. I've been looking for info and trying to match it to an image search for a long time. Great info! Thank you!

 

[honza.vosalik]

How do you make the decision if to replace the jaws if you plan on a full restoration?

 

[honza.vosalik]

Kevin, here's opening of a Rock Island 597.

 

[MayerMR]

How do you make the decision if to replace the jaws if you plan on a full restoration?

Honza,

Generally, for me, the state of the jaws makes the decision for me, that or the level of restoration I'm going for. For me, if that were my vise, I'd prob leave those ones and save the $$ for the next vise that I'll be tripping over for weeks.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[jrobb316]

So many people are absolute dreamers over what their stuff is worth. I see the same **** advertised on C.L. for ridiculous prices month after month.

Like I mentioned, I think the seller is a GJ member so he knew what the vise was worth but was willing to negotiate a little bit knowing it was going to someone who would use it and appreciate it. I paid $230 for it which is by far the most I've spent on a vise Previously $80 was my high.

You did well, thats more than fair and thats in real nice shape. Date is stamped on the top of the slide just rear of the body with the jaws fully closed. May need a slight wire brushing to see it. Ill put my flame suit on, Rock Island > Wilton any day, you got a real keeper there.