The VISES of Garage Journal

[flatfender53]

I have a question for you all. I would like to replace a couple badly bent vise handles. What type of material would you recommend using?

 

[KMScott]

I have a question for you all. I would like to replace a couple badly bent vise handles. What type of material would you recommend using?

I suggest this material from McMaster Carr. I have had good luck with it, it is easy to machine, fairly cheap and does not bend.

Ultra-Strength Easy-to-Machine 1144 Carbon Steel Rods .

https://www.mcmaster.com/catalog/125/3839

 

[exmaxima1]

I have a question for you all. I would like to replace a couple badly bent vise handles. What type of material would you recommend using?

Depending on how you intend to add the handle ends, 4140 would be incredibly strong and durable.

 

[AndrewH]

Lots of words

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

My apologies, what I meant to say is that generally speaking it’s more likely to be an R model as they are far more common than any of the really old Reed vises. And as far as looking for it in the PDF, the weights are all going to be quite similar regardless of if it’s an A / R / etc. The vise database PDF I have solely lists a 406, no letter designation so I’m not entirely sure where he was looking for the information.

And you are correct, when it was listed it was listed as an R or someone said it was and I didn’t even think to look but it is actually an A, no big deal for me either way as it’s still an awesome vise and my first large swivel jaw. Now the hunt for a 408 begins!

 

[flatfender53]

Depending on how you intend to add the handle ends, 4140 would be incredibly strong and durable.

To be honest, I haven't figured that out yet. I don't have access to a welder, nor the skills to use one. I have considered salvaging the old handle ends, and drilling and tapping them and the new handle and using all-thread and some red loctite to screw the old ends onto the new handle.

Thanks for the input!

 

[redragoon]

Finally got my little Columbian 143 bolted down. It's ready to help fix my combat robot now.



I also found a woodworkers Columbian vise to mount at the other end of the bench.

 

[AndrewH]

I have a question for you all. I would like to replace a couple badly bent vise handles. What type of material would you recommend using?

Personally I’m using stainless on the vise handles that I’ve had to replace. 4140 would be really strong and I imagine even 1018 would work fine too. As Kevin said McMaster Carr has everything you could possibly need!

 

[davethorik]

I think that vises with factory omitted cast letters was already discussed, but here's a humorous "Ed Mfg Co" combo vise I found while looking at non-local Craigslist.

Whomever Ed is, sure looks like he made a heavy duty vise

 

[LNKMK8]

Picked up this nice Columbian made Craftsman 5197 today... believe to be from the late 1970's. Nice clean original condition...

 

[Ww7573]

I have tracked down​ a Reed 4c.

It's not in perfect condition (looks like neglect vs wear), and one of the feet on the swivel base broke off and was welded back on. What's a fair price to offer. The asking price is 1050 which feels a bit high. But I have not actually seen one for sale before. So I don't​know going rates for that vise.

 

[wramos1091]

Hello I am in need of some help my father bought this craftsman vise model 5164 unfortunately it was missing the jaw plates I have been trying to find some replacement plates but no luck. would anyone know where or how I can find something that will work.

 

[AndrewH]

To be honest, I haven't figured that out yet. I don't have access to a welder, nor the skills to use one. I have considered salvaging the old handle ends, and drilling and tapping them and the new handle and using all-thread and some red loctite to screw the old ends onto the new handle.

Thanks for the input!

Just an FYI, you can buy solid steel balls, here’s a link to some, they even have a predrilled version. Polish those bad boys up and turn down the ends of the appropriate diameter round stock and press them in. Could even thread them if you wanted.

https://customironworks.com/balls-steelaluminumstainless-c-1/

 

[RBarnes]

Now the hunt for a 408 begins!

Why not a 407? Good luck finding the 408, I have told several privately that I bet I would be willing to pay more than anyone for a nice early original Reed 408 with the ball front, and that I will come out and get it anywhere in the continental US. However people just do not take me seriously. I say if someone has one, put it on ebay and lets find out!

OR if you do not want to give up 15% ebay and pay pal fees, send me a private email and let's make it happen.

 

[RG Rude]

I have tracked down​ a Reed 4c.

It's not in perfect condition (looks like neglect vs wear), and one of the feet on the swivel base broke off and was welded back on. What's a fair price to offer. The asking price is 1050 which feels a bit high. But I have not actually seen one for sale before. So I don't​know going rates for that vise.

Ww7573, I am going to have to sell my near Mint Reed 4C because I'm preparing to move to Florida and SWMBO has told me that I can't take 5,000 lbs. of iron and steel with me. I think $1050 is nuts but I know less than most in this thread.

 

[AndrewH]

Why not a 407? Good luck finding the 408, I have told several privately that I bet I would be willing to pay more than anyone for a nice early original Reed 408 with the ball front, and that I will come out and get it anywhere in the continental US. However people just do not take me seriously. I say if someone has one, put it on ebay and lets find out!

I’d take a 407 as well, but I want to break the 300 lb mark and the 408 hits 300 on the dot. Preferably I’d like a 408R, though I would take a 408/408A just as well.

How much I am willing to pay would completely depend on how many vises I’ve acquired recently and the condition of the vise. Though I do hope to find one at a semi reasonable price, it’s not my holy grail of vises but it’s prettt close to the top.

I’d really like to find a Parker 978 but no luck so far in my area.

 

[Ww7573]

Ww7573, I am going to have to sell my near Mint Reed 4C because I'm preparing to move to Florida and SWMBO has told me that I can't take 5,000 lbs. of iron and steel with me. I think $1050 is nuts but I know less than most in this thread.

I'd gladly take you up on that offer to buy it from you.

 

[RBarnes]

I’d take a 407 as well, but I want to break the 300 lb mark and the 408 hits 300 on the dot. Preferably I’d like a 408R, though I would take a 408/408A just as well.

How much I am willing to pay would completely depend on how many vises I’ve acquired recently and the condition of the vise. Though I do hope to find one at a semi reasonable price, it’s not my holy grail of vises but it’s prettt close to the top.

I’d really like to find a Parker 978 but no luck so far in my area.

An early Reed 408, with the ball front, is my holy grail so to speak. That is why someone on here needs to sell me theirs before I come to my senses. Not the rarest or the best, that is just the one I want above all others. I cannot imagine a Parker 978, that has to be a monster. Those Chas Parker vises tend to look bigger than the other brands (at least to me).

 

[AndrewH]

An early Reed 408, with the ball front, is my holy grail so to speak. That is why someone on here needs to sell me theirs before I come to my senses. Not the rarest or the best, that is just the one I want above all others. I cannot imagine a Parker 978, that has to be a monster. Those Chas Parker vises tend to look bigger than the other brands (at least to me).

I feel your pain man, the very first vise that I bought all those years ago, that I still have was a Parker 973 and ever since I’ve been looking for a 978 and a 958. Or even a Eclipse series 8”. Everyone is always like “oh I just sold 4 of those a few weeks ago!” Or “oh I just passed up a mint condition one for $100” blah blah blah but no one has been able to produce one to sell to me and I’m not a cheapskate! I’m willing to pay a fair price for a good condition one, no luck so far.

Someday..

 

[Shiftless]

Speaking of big vises, I’d like to again thank Smitty for a very pleasant couple of hours where he shared his collection of vises big and small along with his monster anvils. He even fired up his forge for a demo. I beat on a red hot railroad spike for a while, reheated it, clamped it into a Reed 4C and twisted it into a nice spiral for one of our souvenirs.

THANKS SMITTY!

 

[KMScott]

To be honest, I haven't figured that out yet. I don't have access to a welder, nor the skills to use one. I have considered salvaging the old handle ends, and drilling and tapping them and the new handle and using all-thread and some red loctite to screw the old ends onto the new handle.

Thanks for the input!

Here you go flatfender, what size ball you need, this is my second tub of handle ends I am filling, the first tub went to our town welder that will make some kind of art. Let me know what size ball you want and I'll mail you a couple. PM me if interested, just pay for shipping.

Building 3 handles today, the pic:s are knobs for a 978, 2" balls he wanted. I do not own a metal lathe but I know I can make them faster the way I am doing it now. Start with a round bar, drill a hole to mount to a post and grind the balls round. The big handles are to big for most garage lathes so I grind the smaller diameter so I can peen the balls for a permanent install.

There is many ways to install knobs. I am not a fan of threading on knobs, for one they come loose and two you have to have a perpendicular flat cut to the threads or you will have a gap. Just experience talking here. Good luck and let us know how it comes out.

 

[Loydski29]

Speaking of big vises, I’d like to again thank Smitty for a very pleasant couple of hours where he shared his collection of vises big and small along with his monster anvils. He even fired up his forge for a demo. I beat on a red hot railroad spike for a while, reheated it, clamped it into a Reed 4C and twisted it into a nice spiral for one of our souvenirs.

THANKS SMITTY!

Dang wish I could have met you down there that would have been fun!

 

[Smitty]

Speaking of big vises, I’d like to again thank Smitty for a very pleasant couple of hours where he shared his collection of vises big and small along with his monster anvils. He even fired up his forge for a demo. I beat on a red hot railroad spike for a while, reheated it, clamped it into a Reed 4C and twisted it into a nice spiral for one of our souvenirs.

THANKS SMITTY!

Shiftless
Thanks so much for coming by the forge today, it was truly a pleasure meeting you and your guests. Showing off my collection to such an experienced collector was a treat indeed. I must admit you handled that 3lb hammer like a seasoned professional.

 

[G-ManBart]

I don't really post of forums any more...just not enough time, but I did pick up an interesting vise today. Parker 436 in really nice shape. Someone else restored it, but did a decent job and the jaws and slide show very little use. It's a tight little 180lb vise. Look at that dynamic support!

I already have a 6" combo vise I'm keeping, so this will need to find a new home soon.

 

[Smitty]

Dang wish I could have met you down there that would have been fun!

Loydski
You’re always welcome, i usually hit on saturdays.

 

[davethorik]

I’d take a 407 as well, but I want to break the 300 lb mark and the 408 hits 300 on the dot. Preferably I’d like a 408R, though I would take a 408/408A just as well.

How much I am willing to pay would completely depend on how many vises I’ve acquired recently and the condition of the vise. Though I do hope to find one at a semi reasonable price, it’s not my holy grail of vises but it’s prettt close to the top.

I’d really like to find a Parker 978 but no luck so far in my area.

There was an 8.5" Parker posted not long ago by member bulletpruf, I believe he sold it though.

Ever since demoman was nice enough to share a catalog scan of the swivel jaw vise page in a Hollands catalog, all my waking moments are haunted by visions of the #48. Edit: 330 lbs. Based on a direct comparison of a Hollands 44 and a Reed 404 i had, the Hollands is physically larger, heavier, and opens wider than a Reed of the same size.

I'm also not very familiar with Athol 8"ers, but they are possibly one of the best made and are always tanks.

 

[AndrewH]

I don't really post of forums any more...just not enough time, but I did pick up an interesting vise today. Parker 436 in really nice shape. Someone else restored it, but did a decent job and the jaws and slide show very little use. It's a tight little 180lb vise. Look at that dynamic support!

I already have a 6" combo vise I'm keeping, so this will need to find a new home soon.

Nice purchase, I bought one over by your area a few years back that was all original, including the paint. Looks as though it has never been used. Yours should roughly 187 pounds, whoever did the restoration seems to have done a pretty good job!

 

[RBarnes]

There was an 8.5" Parker posted not long ago by member bulletpruf, I believe he sold it though.

Ever since demoman was nice enough to share a catalog scan of the swivel jaw vise page in a Hollands catalog, all my waking moments are haunted by visions of the #48. Edit: 330 lbs. Based on a direct comparison of a Hollands 44 and a Reed 404 i had, the Hollands is than a Reed of the same size.

Yes, the Holland #48 seems like it would be physically larger, heavier, and open wider . I just want a Reed 408 since I use a 405 almost everyday and am in love with it. Does not make any sense, but most people think I am crazy for having more than one bench vise anyway! Crazy is fun, normal is boring.

 

[RBarnes]

I don't really post of forums any more...just not enough time, but I did pick up an interesting vise today. Parker 436 in really nice shape. Someone else restored it, but did a decent job and the jaws and slide show very little use. It's a tight little 180lb vise. Look at that dynamic support!

I already have a 6" combo vise I'm keeping, so this will need to find a new home soon.

Would appreciate knowing what size/number is the Chas Parker adjustment wrench on your 936? Possibly my second favorite type of vise, I cannot be the only one curious. How much per pound are you asking for this Parker 436?

 

[454ragtop]

Parker 436 uses a #3 wrench, 7/8" I think. I can check mine tomorrow, wrench was missing, fabbed one up out of a double box wrench.

 

[RBarnes]

Parker 436 uses a #3 wrench, 7/8" I think. I can check mine tomorrow, wrench was missing, fabbed one up out of a double box wrench.

It would be pretty great if one of the more experienced collectors would make a chart with the Parker Vise number, the number of the wrench used for that model number and the actual size of that wrench (7/8" etc.).

 

[G-ManBart]

Would appreciate knowing what size/number is the Chas Parker adjustment wrench on your 936? Possibly my second favorite type of vise, I cannot be the only one curious. How much per pound are you asking for this Parker 436?

I'm 99% certain the wrench is a No. 4 but I'd have to double check to be 100% certain.

I haven't really thought much about the price, but I figure it's got to be worth about as much as a more common Wilton C-3 and I've gotten $700-850 for the last five or six of those that I've had recently.

 

[454ragtop]

By going back thru some earlier posts of mine in this thread, I can report the Parker 436 uses a #4 wrench , 1-1/16" hex.

 

[va.grouseman]

G-Man, I bet you just sold that one.---Someone did a pretty nice restore on it, and those crisp pipe grips are a big selling point.---I'm already poised to buy stock in Smitty's Co. when he goes public, so give me a heads-up when you are about to IPO.---While you fellows are eating the lean I'll be content to trim a little fat off the edges.

 

[RBarnes]

There is a nice Millers Falls clamp on vise on ebay for $3499.00 buy it now. Figure that is a typo but it made me smile this morning. Mine is not as nice so I will let it go for $25.

 

[meatsis]

I had to shuffle some vises around last night to make room for another Parker 436 I bought a few weeks ago. Figured I snap a few pics. Here’s the biggest and smallest (as far as I know) of the Athol 620 series. The 300 pound 628 and it’s baby brother the 622 1/4.

 

[meatsis]

 

[Smitty]

There is a nice Millers Falls clamp on vise on ebay for $3499.00 buy it now. Figure that is a typo but it made me smile this morning. Mine is not as nice so I will let it go for $25.

He did put up the $146 for 24 months option so the seller isn’t completely heartless.

 

[Smitty]

I had to shuffle some vises around last night to make room for another Parker 436 I bought a few weeks ago. Figured I snap a few pics. Here’s the biggest and smallest (as far as I know) of the Athol 620 series. The 300 pound 628 and it’s baby brother the 622 1/4.

Heavy artillery pics are always appreciated.

 

[454ragtop]

Fisher chain driven leg vise on CL https://boston.craigslist.org/sob/atq/d/bryantville-41-tall-rare-chain-driven/6868579471.html

 

[Outlawmws]

It would be pretty great if one of the more experienced collectors would make a chart with the Parker Vise number, the number of the wrench used for that model number and the actual size of that wrench (7/8" etc.).

That would be a great added tab for the Vise Spreadsheet...