The VISES of Garage Journal

[va.grouseman]

Qwik, are you going to leave the swivel pin flush like that or are you going to attach some kind of finger gripper?

 

[454ragtop]

Lewis double swiveler on CL https://worcester.craigslist.org/tls/d/shrewsbury-lewis-vise/6785549295.html

 

[qwik]

Qwik, are you going to leave the swivel pin flush like that or are you going to attach some kind of finger gripper?

Honestly I haven’t decided, maybe a small eye hook welded to the pin.

 

[KMScott]

qwik, what is the draft angle on your pin? Looks like you recut the taper in the vise and made a new pin.

 

[mgmlvks]

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

Thanks for the kind words - as for pipe jaws - One bounced under the workbench a few years ago - have not dug it out yet, the other is in a workbench drawer, but buried. grrrr.

 

[qwik]

qwik, what is the draft angle on your pin? Looks like you recut the taper in the vise and made a new pin.

It’s just as I received it, it looks original.

 

[gman007]

It’s just as I received it, it looks original.

If you are referring to the pin as being original, at least to me it does not look original, specially with no finger grip.

In fact personally I have never seen any American Made vise brand with swivel jaw that has a pin that has no finger grip, as it makes no sense to do so

Here are a few examples of Yost vises with swivel jaw and their swivel jaw pin all of which have finger grip. BTW, I could not find any reference (including in the vise spread sheet) to a Yost Model 69. Can you attach a photo showing the model number? Also what are the specs (jaw width, weight etc)?

If this was my vise, I would tap the current pin and screw in something like a Knurled Thumb Screw to act as a finger grip.

 

[qwik]

If you are referring to the pin as being original, at least to me it does not look original, specially with no finger grip.

In fact personally I have never seen any American Made vise brand with swivel jaw that has a pin that has no finger grip, as it makes no sense to do so

Here are a few examples of Yost vises with swivel jaw and their swivel jaw pin all of which have finger grip. BTW, I could not find any reference (including in the vise spread sheet) to a Yost Model 69. Can you attach a photo showing the model number? Also what are the specs (jaw width, weight etc)?

If this was my vise, I would tap the current pin and screw in something like a Knurled Thumb Screw to act as a finger grip.

Agreed, this one was mushroomed horribly. I ground it with intentions adding a pull.

 

[qwik]

If you are referring to the pin as being original, at least to me it does not look original, specially with no finger grip.

In fact personally I have never seen any American Made vise brand with swivel jaw that has a pin that has no finger grip, as it makes no sense to do so

Here are a few examples of Yost vises with swivel jaw and their swivel jaw pin all of which have finger grip. BTW, I could not find any reference (including in the vise spread sheet) to a Yost Model 69. Can you attach a photo showing the model number? Also what are the specs (jaw width, weight etc)?

If this was my vise, I would tap the current pin and screw in something like a Knurled Thumb Screw to act as a finger grip.

It’s a 4.5” jaw, here’s the same model (2nd one)
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=395511&highlight=Yost
I’ll get the other details together over the weekend.

 

[Slednut]

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

Here's a better picture of it. With my SIL's help we also welded it. The brackets on the top sit on a ledge of the vise so it holds it really well.

 

[bubinga]

Cool, Looks like some nice welds.

 

[KatanaKid]

Here is a Columbian I had out in the shed . You boys made me do it !

The blue one is not mine but worthy of a post

 

[MayerMR]

Here is a Columbian I had out in the shed . You boys made me do it !

The blue one is not mine but worthy of a post

That's a nice start KatanaKid. Welcome to the sickness...

 

[KatanaKid]

Im already in the game . I Found a nice FPU a few pages back

 

[Smitty]

A Prentiss no. 18 just popped up on eBay for a crazy high dollar amount.

 

[Psychwarfare]

I've been scoping out old Columbians etc on ebay and fell for this guy...got delivered today...should fit right in with all my CM stuff

 

[RBarnes]

A Prentiss no. 18 just popped up on eBay for a crazy high dollar amount.

Bound to be rarer than the Wilton baby bullets everyone now seems to want that kind of money for, too bad they bent the handle so badly.

 

[va.grouseman]

A Prentiss no. 18 just popped up on eBay for a crazy high dollar amount.

One of the fellows on here needed an 18 and a 23 to round out his collection.---Ain't been but a few pages ago but I can't remember who it was.---Shows you how good my memory is.


The seller did say "make offer".

 

[Smitty]

Re: RBarnes

You really have to go the extra mile to bend a Prentiss handle. It always makes me nervous when I see that.

 

[Smitty]

One of the fellows on here needed an 18 and a 23 to round out his collection.---Ain't been but a few pages ago but I can't remember who it was.---Shows you how good my memory is.


The seller did say "make offer".

He’s way high on the price.The vise looks pretty clean minus the chip on the back end of the swivel jaw. I’d like to fill the 18 spot but I’ll have to wait for a more affordable price.

 

[Smitty]

A closer inspection revealed what appears to be an issue at the back of the slide.

 

[RBarnes]

A closer inspection revealed what appears to be an issue at the back of the slide.

I see what you mean. At that price, I did not scan it too closely. I guess if they abused the handle, could have also abused other areas. Do you think that potential crack was caused by someone using that area to hammer on like an anvil?

 

[Smitty]

I see what you mean. At that price, I did not scan it too closely. I guess if they abused the handle, could have also abused other areas. Do you think that potential crack was caused by someone using that area to hammer on like an anvil?

I would say so. A bent handle is always a red flag for me to closely inspect for damage.

 

[va.grouseman]

Re: RBarnes

You really have to go the extra mile to bend a Prentiss handle. It always makes me nervous when I see that.

I think the serpentine look is in vogue now.---I see so many with snake like handles, it must be.

 

[gman007]

I think the serpentine look is in vogue now.---I see so many with snake like handles, it mist be.

VA
Actually serpentine shaped handle bar is not just for looks, it is also functional! It prevents the bar sliding too fast and the ends smashing ones fingers. In fact I am planning on bending the handle on all fo my vises this way but first I have to master the art of bending the handle into S shape which is not an easy thing to do

 

[Nfenimore]

I've got my first Vise - a fully restored Columbian on the way - will show it off soon..

 

[Smitty]

I think the serpentine look is in vogue now.---I see so many with snake like handles, it mist be.

There’s a photo on Pinterest of a Prentiss 18 that is in mint condition with a super straight handle. The guy is holding it in his hand over a geometrically shaped 2x4 table top in his back yard. I know it’s a big country but I somehow need to find this person and talk him into selling.

 

[trijeff]

You already found him ... va.grouseman

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

 

[turbowoodworker]

During Hurricane Florence, I helped a neighbor lady with her generator and noticed a large Wilton on her deceased husband's bench. I offered to buy it should she ever decide to get rid of it.

Being in the middle of a huge rain event, I did not take the time to walk across the open shed to even look at it. I figured it was a bullet.

Well this showed up in a wrapped box in the back of my Mother in law's car:

Not a bullet but with some research here I figure it is a Wilton Tradesman 1750. No markings except part numbers, and the 1750, and a date stamp of 2 73. With no name markings or COO, does that mean t is not USA made?

 

[turbowoodworker]

With a little Evaporust for the small parts and the wire wheel on the casting, voila:

 

[turbowoodworker]

So all the parts were there except the dust cover. I've read that a properly sized freeze plug will work in place of the overpriced Wilton replacement. Thoughts?

I replaced all the hardware with stainless Allen head stuff I had around. Overall, it is in good shape and will be used in my shop alot.

Any ideas if this is a true Snap-On? Any way to tell? If so, is there a place to get replacement decals or placards for either Snap-On or Wilton? the one source for the Wilton decals did not look that great but I'm open. In reality, this nice vise does not really need a label.

 

[MissileBear]

I believe the consensus is that in 1973, it would not have been an import vise. The 1750's were made in China for some time before production was brought back.

Are the pipe jaws cast into the body or separate, held by pins?

I don't believe that is a Snap-On unit.

 

[turbowoodworker]

Pipe jaws are machined and held in with a single 10-32 screw.

 

[turbowoodworker]

Bear, does that mean I painted it red for nothing?

 

[MissileBear]

Bear, does that mean I painted it red for nothing?

I think the red looks sharp....if you put a Snap-On sticker on the side, I don't think anyone would know the difference ^_^

I think Snap-On starting throwing their name on the Tradesmans in the early 80's. I've read that the machined, removable jaws are indicative of US manufacture even if the vise is not marked as such in the castings. The date stamp would lead me to this conclusion as well...I don't think we imported much from China until the 80's.

Either way it's a good vise, and the price was right

 

[turbowoodworker]

Thanks

 

[dayid]

During Hurricane Florence, I helped a neighbor lady with her generator and noticed a large Wilton on her deceased husband's bench. I offered to buy it should she ever decide to get rid of it.

Being in the middle of a huge rain event, I did not take the time to walk across the open shed to even look at it. I figured it was a bullet.

Well this showed up in a wrapped box in the back of my Mother in law's car:

Not a bullet but with some research here I figure it is a Wilton Tradesman 1750. No markings except part numbers, and the 1750, and a date stamp of 2 73. With no name markings or COO, does that mean t is not USA made?

Matches this one - especially after you painted it: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=875071&postcount=429 - though that one does specifically state "Made in USA"

 

[va.grouseman]

Good to hear from you Dayid.---You must have been off sailing the seven seas.:

 

[Smitty]

I found another Prentiss vise no. 182 1/2, it has 5” jaws and weighs in at 120lbs. It’s in decent condition and the fact that I got it for a buck a pound makes it look even better. These will look great on my bookshelf.


Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[gman007]

I found another Prentiss vise no. 182 1/2, it has 5” jaws and weighs in at 120lbs. It’s in decent condition and the fact that I got it for a buck a pound makes it look even better. These will look great on my bookshelf.

Smitty
Once again, nice score !

As for looking good on your bookshelf, it might be the other way around as they are big enough that between them they can hold the bookshelf
PS

Perfect vises for opposite ends of a workbench