The VISES of Garage Journal

[davethorik]

Ok, so I got the 8.5" Parker 600 unloaded and unpacked yesterday. And it is a freaking monster.

Y'all may have to revoke my Man Card, but I think this vise may be too big for me. I'm not really a vise collector, so I was going to clean it up and put it back into service. However, I mainly work on cars, not battleships, so I just don't see the need for something this damn big.

Am I crazy?

Scott

Well, the collectors on here all seem to want an 8" vise so you must be crazy.

I agree though, I wanted a few vises but a 6" (and every size under that) fit my needs better. A plus for you, if you do sell that you can probably name your price hah.

 

[gman007]

Picked up this 5" Wilton multi vise today. Dont know much about these. Made in the USA or outsourced? Pretty good shape just needs cleaning up. Couldn't pass it up for $20. Also grabbed an old Hargrave C clamp.

Rag

I believe the Wilton multi purpose vises are made in China or it could be my severe hang over this morning talking (I am not sure if this is the best way to start a new year but it seems it happens each new year so it must be ok )

Happy New Year everyone!!!!

 

[gman007]

Happy New Years everyone! With the holidays I had a few days free time in the shop to finish up a couple of projects, one of which was cleaning up and mounting a big Yost 208 I picked up this fall. The vise itself turned out to be in pretty good shape but did give me a good scare when I first got a look at the dovetails on the nut. It's a split dovetail on the nut and the vise casting and the gap was full of **** that looked just like broken bits of iron. Quite a relief to just find old grease caked dirt and swarf in there.

I mounted the vise to a 2-1/4" thick plate I got from Drives and set that on a large 5/8" wall box section with a door cut in it. The bottom frame runners are 2" x 4" solid bars. Room for storage under the vise and it rolls on 10" vintage hand truck wheels with double roller Darnell casters under the frame. Jack screws at the corners to help steady it. Total weight of the vise and cart is just over #1000 and a little over #700 of that is stand. It needed a lot of mass to be usable. A few pics of the project. The other vise in the pics is a 616 Athol. Ed.

Ed
This is not just an orindary functional stand but rather it is an absolute work of art. Honestly your master pieces along the works of members such as Royce and Dr Scott belong to museum.

 

[gman007]

Ok, so I got the 8.5" Parker 600 unloaded and unpacked yesterday. And it is a freaking monster.

Y'all may have to revoke my Man Card, but I think this vise may be too big for me. I'm not really a vise collector, so I was going to clean it up and put it back into service. However, I mainly work on cars, not battleships, so I just don't see the need for something this damn big.

Am I crazy?

Scott

Bullet
IMHO it all depends on your purpose of acquiring a vise. For a collector it is an absolute gem, for most users (specially none pros) it is like you said probably too big (well instead of cars may be you should start working on custom semi tractors )

As for revoking your man card, well it is quite the opposite, it takes a big man to admit in front of other men that he does not necessarily need a big tool

I am sure many here would be too happy to help relieving you of your source of dilemma

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

Oregon...

As the man said....

If it ain't gotta solid base --- it's a wobbler...

That wee beastie ain't even gonna wobble...

(But I wouldn't want it to run over my toes...)

I don't usually give these out for bases...

But...

YA DUN GUD, BUBBA!!!!

Wow! a YDGB. Thanks oldldh. It is damn stable but better pushed than pulled to avoid black toe nails.

Happy New Year ORC.

My hat is off to you on the stand for the Big Yost! Exquisite job.

JMc

Thanks cretedog. It really is just a collection of drops and scrap but I like it.

Ed
This is not just an orindary functional stand but rather it is an absolute work of art. Honestly your master pieces along the works of members such as Royce and Dr Scott belong to museum.

Thank you gman for the compliment. I'm not sure it's deserved but appreciated non the less. It is fun to be able to spend time working on projects like this one. Looking forward to retirement and having nothing to do but make things and help educate the grandkids. Ed.

 

[gman007]

Here's my "big jobs" vice. Not sure who makes it. It's mounted to a 3/4" aluminum work bench.

1slow
I believe most (if not all) of the more "modern" multi purpose vises (including yours) are Chinese made copies of old American multi purpose vises such as Sawyer Tool vises.

 

[KMScott]

Ok, so I got the 8.5" Parker 600 unloaded and unpacked yesterday. And it is a freaking monster.

Y'all may have to revoke my Man Card, but I think this vise may be too big for me. I'm not really a vise collector, so I was going to clean it up and put it back into service. However, I mainly work on cars, not battleships, so I just don't see the need for something this damn big.

Am I crazy?

Scott

No not crazy Scott. I understand. 250lb vises have a place and it's not in a home shop. Your vise needs a stand like what Ed and Royce makes and maybe a new set of jaws and brought back to shape for either a Museum or maybe back in a Railroad building shop like it was made for. Surely rail car builders need vise's. I am sure you will get a few PM's. Good luck.

 

[va.grouseman]

Previously posted by Bulletproof.

I think this vise may be too big for me.---I just don't see the need for something this damn big.

NOOOOOOOOOOO.---You must be crazy.---



Just kidding.---Man's got to know his limitations and what is good for him, not what everyone else thinks is good for him.---But anyway.

 

[tool_scrounge]

Ok, so I got the 8.5" Parker 600 unloaded and unpacked yesterday. And it is a freaking monster.

Y'all may have to revoke my Man Card, but I think this vise may be too big for me. I'm not really a vise collector, so I was going to clean it up and put it back into service. However, I mainly work on cars, not battleships, so I just don't see the need for something this damn big.

Am I crazy?

Scott

Nope, not crazy. I went thru the same debate years back when I ran I to a Reed 108 with swivel base for $600.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=78947

I also passed on it. They take up too much valuable space. I find a 4.5 to 5" vise does everything I need. Better yet - two identical vises, one on either end of the work bench for long stuff.

 

[Outlawmws]

ORC, that is an AWSOME Vise stand! No need to ask; "Where's the beef?" there!



Bulletpruf, it's not crazy to think its "too big" until you need one that big!

Honestly I've been using a 4" Parker as my daily driver for decades and rarely have I needed anything bigger. Long before the vises started piling up I had found a 4-1/2" Parker, (still have it) and went to mount it in place of the 4", and decided I didn't want o have to drill more holes in the bench until I needed it, and I'm still on the 4"

I have a 6" American scale out back on a rolling bench for a few years, and I've used it maybe twice; Mostly because it was more convenient.

 

[Outlawmws]

Better yet - two identical vises, one on either end of the work bench for long stuff.

This has been a goal of mine for almost as long as I've been in the house! (> 30 years now)

 

[gman007]

This has been a goal of mine for almost as long as I've been in the house! (> 30 years now)

While two identical vises at each end of work bench are ideal, two none identical but close in size vises can do the job well too.

I have a Parker 974 (10” height) and a Reed 404 1/2 R (10.5” height) mounted at each end of work bench. While there is slight height and some jaw depth differences between the two, the combination still works pretty well.

 

[bubinga]

Happy New Years everyone! With the holidays I had a few days free time in the shop to finish up a couple of projects, one of which was cleaning up and mounting a big Yost 208 I picked up this fall. The vise itself turned out to be in pretty good shape but did give me a good scare when I first got a look at the dovetails on the nut. It's a split dovetail on the nut and the vise casting and the gap was full of **** that looked just like broken bits of iron. Quite a relief to just find old grease caked dirt and swarf in there.

I mounted the vise to a 2-1/4" thick plate I got from Drives and set that on a large 5/8" wall box section with a door cut in it. The bottom frame runners are 2" x 4" solid bars. Room for storage under the vise and it rolls on 10" vintage hand truck wheels with double roller Darnell casters under the frame. Jack screws at the corners to help steady it. Total weight of the vise and cart is just over #1000 and a little over #700 of that is stand. It needed a lot of mass to be usable. A few pics of the project. The other vise in the pics is a 616 Athol. Ed.

Oregon, you got some gems there. both vises and stands.---Excellent job Sir.

Yes, Great job on the stands!!!
Happy New year to everyone!

 

[RagTopTA]

Rag

I believe the Wilton multi purpose vises are made in China or it could be my severe hang over this morning talking (I am not sure if this is the best way to start a new year but it seems it happens each new year so it must be ok )

Happy New Year everyone!!!!

I wondered, if so, itll make it that more easy to not worry about using it hard in the other shop : )

 

[Smitty]

This has been a goal of mine for almost as long as I've been in the house! (> 30 years now)

Watch out for those strained peas.

 

[Outlawmws]

You don't like Peas?

 

[Slednut]

This has been a goal of mine for almost as long as I've been in the house! (> 30 years now)

I've had my new and old broken vise mounted like this for a few days now. Haven't had to use both at once yet but I'm sure I will.

They are a little less that 4 feet from each other.

 

[dayid]

what is the going rate right now on a Colombian 508?

That 508 was $75 in 1926. For 2019 inflation that'd be > $1000 vise.

@ 150lbs, even with the condition it is in I wouldn't be surprised to see it go for $1-2/lb

Of course, the price is whatever someone is willing to pay for it

 

[Smitty]

You don't like Peas?

Actually I had a bag of frozen peas on my head for most of the morning for obvious reasons.

 

[sandman54]

Got an 8 inch jaw vise in from Germany, along with a couple of Anvils... Happy New Year!

 

[honza.vosalik]

Got an 8 inch jaw vise in from Germany, along with a couple of Anvils... Happy New Year!

What maker is the vise?

 

[bulletpruf]

Well, the collectors on here all seem to want an 8" vise so you must be crazy.

I agree though, I wanted a few vises but a 6" (and every size under that) fit my needs better. A plus for you, if you do sell that you can probably name your price hah.

Yeah, I've got a 4.5" Wilton bullet (with some of Dr. Scott's jaws) and a 6" Record bolted to my benches. These suit me just fine.

Bullet
IMHO it all depends on your purpose of acquiring a vise. For a collector it is an absolute gem, for most users (specially none pros) it is like you said probably too big (well instead of cars may be you should start working on custom semi tractors )

As for revoking your man card, well it is quite the opposite, it takes a big man to admit in front of other men that he does not necessarily need a big tool

I am sure many here would be too happy to help relieving you of your source of dilemma

Yeah, I collect too many things already (musclecars, chainsaws, etc), so while I'm a fan of vises, I don't have time/energy/funds/space to start collecting these.

No not crazy Scott. I understand. 250lb vises have a place and it's not in a home shop. Your vise needs a stand like what Ed and Royce makes and maybe a new set of jaws and brought back to shape for either a Museum or maybe back in a Railroad building shop like it was made for. Surely rail car builders need vise's. I am sure you will get a few PM's. Good luck.

Yeah, for a home shop, it's definitely overkill. And I would need to fabricate a hefty stand for it, too. Thanks

Previously posted by Bulletproof.

I think this vise may be too big for me.---I just don't see the need for something this damn big.

NOOOOOOOOOOO.---You must be crazy.---

Just kidding.---Man's got to know his limitations and what is good for him, not what everyone else thinks is good for him.---But anyway.

Crazy? My wife would agree with you on that one.

Nope, not crazy. I went thru the same debate years back when I ran I to a Reed 108 with swivel base for $600.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=78947

I also passed on it. They take up too much valuable space. I find a 4.5 to 5" vise does everything I need. Better yet - two identical vises, one on either end of the work bench for long stuff.

Yeah, it comes down to space for me. The shop that I'm building is limited to 600 sq. ft, and that includes parking for at least one car. A monster vise with a suitable stand would take up a lot of real estate, and I don't think I would use it much at all.

ORC, that is an AWSOME Vise stand! No need to ask; "Where's the beef?" there!

Bulletpruf, it's not crazy to think its "too big" until you need one that big!

Honestly I've been using a 4" Parker as my daily driver for decades and rarely have I needed anything bigger. Long before the vises started piling up I had found a 4-1/2" Parker, (still have it) and went to mount it in place of the 4", and decided I didn't want o have to drill more holes in the bench until I needed it, and I'm still on the 4"

I have a 6" American scale out back on a rolling bench for a few years, and I've used it maybe twice; Mostly because it was more convenient.

I hear you, but I'm the other way around. My 6" Record is attached to my bench and the 4.5" Wilton is attached to the rolling bench. The Record gets a lot more use, but only because I spend the majority of the time at my stationary bench.

 

[bubinga]

I've had my new and old broken vise mounted like this for a few days now. Haven't had to use both at once yet but I'm sure I will.

They are a little less that 4 feet from each other.

What did you do, (for the broken vise repair) bolt a plate in on it or something?

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Happy New Year Vise Friends!
Just finished up my Hollands 12 1/2H machinist vise restoration. It's been a while since I've done a restoration, with too many other irons in the fire. Still a very enjoyable to pass time.

 

[RG Rude]

Nice job Mark

 

[jimgreenock]

My Columbian D46 cleaned up and mounted.

 

[gman007]

Happy New Year Vise Friends!
Just finished up my Hollands 12 1/2H machinist vise restoration. It's been a while since I've done a restoration, with too many other irons in the fire. Still a very enjoyable to pass time.

Mark
It might have been a while since you have done a restoration, but you certainly have NOT lost your touch. Very nicely done, great job

 

[gman007]

My Columbian D46 cleaned up and mounted.

Jim
Welcome to GJ. Nice restoration job. I really like the stand too (is that your handy work ?)

 

[akasrick]

https://vise.miraheze.org/wiki/Category:Manufacturer:

Vise wiki (is finally back up...)

More reading pleasure!


akasrick

 

[boostbaron]

Finally got this thing freed up and mounted. Thanks for the tips everyone! I propped it up and kept spraying kroil where the dynamic jaw enters the body of the vise. It freed up after a few days and i was able to spin it out. I lubed it up and re-assembled it and finally got it mounted to my bench.

 

[gman007]

Finally got this thing freed up and mounted. Thanks for the tips everyone! I propped it up and kept spraying kroil where the dynamic jaw enters the body of the vise. It freed up after a few days and i was able to spin it out. I lubed it up and re-assembled it and finally got it mounted to my bench.

Boost

Congrats and nice job.


Now, as for the mounting, personally (I think few others here might also agree) I like to mount the vise as close to the edge of the work bench as possible (I guess this depends on the how your work bench is made) so that essentially the face of the static jaw is about inline (or even beyond) with the edge of the workbench. This frees up valuable workspace to work on longer/bigger pieces. Looking at the picture of your workbench it is hard to tell if that is possible or not.

 

[may0naise]

Here is my humble vise. I know it is not much as it is a Chinese import, but I rarely see them with the Colombian branding, plus it is my first vise and was a gift from my dad 15 years ago. It also survived the fire that burned down my old shop when little else did. So it is a good vise to me. Though, now that I look at it, it definitely could stand to be cleaned up a bit, but it works perfectly still and it's whats on the inside that counts, or so my mom used to tell me.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

RG Rude, gman: Thanks for the compliments. I'm getting ready to start on the next one.

jimgreenock: Nice Columbian restoration. Was your stand an industrial grinder stand at one time?

 

[Maui]

If anybody is near Albany, this guy has a lot of vises for sale at not unreasonable prices:

https://albany.craigslist.org/tls/d/albany-vise-4-inch-erie-bench-vise/6784784925.html

Be sure to check out his other ads.

Maui

 

[MissileBear]

If anybody is near Albany, this guy has a lot of vises for sale at not unreasonable prices:

https://albany.craigslist.org/tls/d/albany-vise-4-inch-erie-bench-vise/6784784925.html

Be sure to check out his other ads.

Maui

That guy from Saugerties buys a lot of stuff from him and then resells for top dollar. He comes out this way for anvils & blacksmith stuff too.

 

[Josh C]

Good evening all. Thanks to everyone for the continued stories and pictures. I greatly appreciate having a sanctuary such as GJ to come to for the many many things that it offers such as knowledge, sources for vises and parts, guidance, fantastic stories and the pictures that go along with them, this thread is a wealth of information that I imagine is unparalleled and I would like to thank you all collectively for your participation in making it what it is. Many an hour I have spent absorbed in it and I feel kinda like it’s my sanctuary, one of few places I can go and shut out the noise and be immersed in vintage, cared for iron and get to experience through story and picture what otherwise I would not know existed. Give yourselves a pat on the back, it’s well deserved.
On another note I had asked for thoughts about a Columbian 508 and i saw one reply (although if there were more lmk) but at the moment I’m gonna let that sit as another vise has come up that’s for me more desirable and the price is a good bit less so I’m chasing it for the moment. (Reed 107 �&#56833. Enjoy your evenings and hope to post again soon. Josh

 

[mgmlvks]

Here is my humble vise .....but it works perfectly still and it's whats on the inside that counts, or so my mom used to tell me.

25 years of service here - Mail Order fro HF for like $49.99 or something.

I have several better vises now (Thanks GJ - I think), but until it fails - it stays!

 

[Mark in Indiana]

25 years of service here - Mail Order fro HF for like $49.99 or something.

I have several better vises now (Thanks GJ - I think), but until it fails - it stays!

Vises are as good as how well they do the job. Most of my normal work holding is done with vintage American and Polish vises. I use the Asian vises for my welding and mobile (truck) work.

 

[qwik]

I’m doing a quick refurb on this Yost 69 swivel jaw I rescued from a coworker.

 

[va.grouseman]

25 years of service here - Mail Order fro HF for like $49.99 or something.

I have several better vises now (Thanks GJ - I think), but until it fails - it stays!

There's nothing wrong with having a good stout beater that gets less respect than a high value, vintage specimen that could be considered a liquid asset if the need arose.---Unlike the money vise, if the beater gets broke it won't take your heart with it.

That's a nice old beater but looks like it does need a couple of pipe jaws.