The VISES of Garage Journal

[chrisnazzy]

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.

Pretty sweet. Those 2 are both in my top 5!

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[chrisnazzy]

I brought my first Morgan vise home last week. After disassembly and a few days in a Simple Green bath, I was able to get it stripped, cleaned up and reassembled yesterday. I am really impressed with the quality of it. I might end up painting it but for now it got a good coat of boiled linseed oil.

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[KMScott]

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

Outlaw, I did add the wrenches but did not add what vises they fit. I should be taking notes. Can anyone let me know what they know already and I will add the vises they fit.

 

[Loydski29]

I brought my first Morgan vise home last week. After disassembly and a few days in a Simple Green bath, I was able to get it stripped, cleaned up and reassembled yesterday. I am really impressed with the quality of it. I might end up painting it but for now it got a good coat of boiled linseed oil.

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Looks great Chris

 

[chrisnazzy]

Thank you Loydski!

While I was at it I finally finished this Reed 103 1/2 too. I stripped it down shortly after picking it up last June and have been dragging my feet on fixing it's bent handle and getting it all back together. Here's the before and after pics.

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[Smitty]

I brought my first Morgan vise home last week. After disassembly and a few days in a Simple Green bath, I was able to get it stripped, cleaned up and reassembled yesterday. I am really impressed with the quality of it. I might end up painting it but for now it got a good coat of boiled linseed oil.

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Nice job, the vise looks like it’s in great condition.

 

[KMScott]

Nice job Chris on both vises, I sure like looking at the Reed.

 

[BlueBomber]

Spotted this Yost 32C (?) amongst more modern cheap vises on workbenches in an auto garage facility in Dayton, OH.

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[RBarnes]

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

EXACTLY

 

[va.grouseman]

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.

I hope it's not a misprint.---I was thinking real serious about the Millers clamp-on, but if I'm not getting my $34.99 eBay bucks, that's a deal-breaker for me.

 

[Outlawmws]

Outlaw, I did add the wrenches but did not add what vises they fit. I should be taking notes. Can anyone let me know what they know already and I will add the vises they fit.

No. 2 fits the 974 & 974-1/2
The "Hex nut" is 3/4" but the box wrench fits VERY sloppy...

 

[RBarnes]

I did add the wrenches but did not add what vises they fit. I should be taking notes. Can anyone let me know what they know already and I will add the vises they fit.

My Chas Parker vises are as follows.

973 actual nut size 9/16 wrench marked No 1

434 1/2 actual nut size 3/4 wrench marked No 2, but 2 a little hard to read

436A actual nut size 15/16, but I do not have the wrench

 

[jrobb316]

973 1/2 #2 wrench
974 1/2 #2 wrench
436 #4 wrench

 

[Fordriver6]

Picked up a Columbian 506 the other day. Pretty good shape overall, was frozen about a third of the way open when I got it. Got it freed up and it works great.

Gotta have the obligatory beer can for reference. 6" jaws and opens 10".

 

[chrisnazzy]

Nice job, the vise looks like it’s in great condition.

Nice job Chris on both vises, I sure like looking at the Reed.

Thanks fellas!

It's been awhile since I've been able to get out there and put some work in so it feels good to finish a couple. I've got a couple more that are in the final paint stages so should be able to share them soon too!

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[bagged89s10]

973 1/2 #2 wrench
974 1/2 #2 wrench
436 #4 wrench

Here are some of the Parker’s I own that I know the wrench sizes off the top of my head.

270 has a #1 wrench
204, 384-1/2, 433-1/2, 823-1/2, 974, 995 have a #2 wrench
975 has a #3 wrench

I bought a parker 493 missing the original bolt and wrench but I believe a #1 size lock bolt and wrench is what it’s supposed to have.

 

[KMScott]

Thanks guys, I'll be watching and update the Spreadsheet for the wrench model's and what fits what for the Parker swivel bases.

 

[zkling]

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

Love it when people use asking prices on ebay for evaluation.

 

[Thrumcap]

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..

Well, there’s a Parker Superior 60X on eBay at the moment..... wants $1250 for it, it needs a new handle and garter and the jaws are a bit worn. Wonder if the price will come down....

Thrumcap

 

[Fierljeppen]

Parker-978 uses the No.4 wrench.

 

[davethorik]

I know wood working vises do not get the love here that bench vises do. I already posted my Oliver no. 153 wood working vise here and didn't hear much. However I joined owwm and a very kind member there had already researched this very topic.

Based on his research, my 153 first appeared in the 1910 Oliver catalog, was still in the 1915 catalog, but was no longer in the 1916 cat. So minimum 104 years old!!! That's pretty awesome!

 

[AndrewH]

Well, there’s a Parker Superior 60X on eBay at the moment..... wants $1250 for it, it needs a new handle and garter and the jaws are a bit worn. Wonder if the price will come down....

Thrumcap

It’s been on there awhile and is in rough shape. I’d give maybe $200 for it due to the amount of work and machining that I would need to do to make it whole again. I’m confident if I talk about it enough, someone will produce a 978 to sell me, my PayPal is always ready to go!

On that note, I added two new vises to “must find” list and that’s a Starrett 326 and Simplex 81S (missed one in Florida by a couple days!) anyone wanna sell one of those? ��

 

[va.grouseman]

Andrew, that's a on the 81S.---Been looking for one of those for years.---That's one that just rarely pop's up.

 

[KMScott]

Andrew, that's a on the 81S.---Been looking for one of those for years.---That's one that just rarely pop's up.

That is a rare one since I have never been asked to build a set of their jaws.

 

[Craftfab]

Picked up this 4” Wilton recently and looked it all over prior to purchase and other than some grinder gouges on sides and top, it was square, handle about straight as arrow, and a one finger operation. I used a die grinder with blue scotchbrite last night to get it ready for paint and found this crack in the jaw support. It travels down from what shows in photo, and about 1/2” under the support itself. I don’t plan on hammering on the vise, just using it as a third hand. Should I leave it as is or should I try a repair to lessen chance of it spreading? Thanks

 

[Benryanuk]

Here’s a couple of before and after pics of my most recent purchase... a Wilton 400. I paid a small fortune but have been looking for a while and this one ticked all the boxes. I didn’t want to do a full repaint so have de-greased, wire wheeled, cleaned threads and waxed etc - I like the look of worn paint. It’s stamped 277 on the key so I think that’s 1977.
















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[ptgarcia]

Here’s a couple of before and after pics of my most recent purchase... a Wilton 400. I paid a small fortune but have been looking for a while and this one ticked all the boxes. I didn’t want to do a full repaint so have de-greased, wire wheeled, cleaned threads and waxed etc - I like the look of worn paint. It’s stamped 277 on the key so I think that’s 1977.
















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Very nice. I have that exact same vice, stamped 4/77 if I remember right. Mine came attached to a heavy duty work bench and I paid $150 for it all.

Edit: mine is actually a 400S.

 

[Benryanuk]

Very nice. I have that exact same vice, stamped 4/77 if I remember right. Mine came attached to a heavy duty work bench and I paid $150 for it all.

You got a good deal...


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[RBarnes]

Here’s a couple of before and after pics of my most recent purchase... a Wilton 400. I paid a small fortune but have been looking for a while and this one ticked all the boxes. I didn’t want to do a full repaint so have de-greased, wire wheeled, cleaned threads and waxed etc - I like the look of worn paint. It’s stamped 277 on the key so I think that’s 1977.



l

I myself especially like this worn paint surface look

I also appreciate a lack of heavy over paint when buying a vise so I can see what I am getting into.

I doubt you paid too much for this Wilton in that condition. Even if you paid more than they generally bring currently in the market, the way prices are going up, just wait a while!

I have heard several times that a 4 inch Wilton is the perfect size all around bench vise.

 

[honza.vosalik]

I got this in the mail this morning. It will need some good cleaning!

The left side picture looks like it has a weld, but it's just some junk on top of the paint.

 

[davethorik]

Kind of an oddball here. Took me a second to realize what it was. For $3, a no-brainer.

I believe it is a Henry Boker hand vise paired with a homemade, but pretty nicely done, table clamp.
1.25" jaws.

 

[Ww7573]

I found this toddler for a very fair price today. It's cast with 101009 and 101008 instead of 825 and 925 as it is a later shiller park casting.

The key is stamped 5 96
The seller told me someone else had come to look at it and said it was too small and didn't purchase it. Which I guess is likely part of the reason why Wilton stopped making the 2in and 2.5in vises. I think it's pretty cool, and will work great on my small electronics workbench.

Does anyone know when they stopped making these?

 

[Outlawmws]

Ww, you need to take the "s" off the "https" for imgur to work.

 

[Outlawmws]

Picked up this 4” Wilton recently and looked it all over prior to purchase and other than some grinder gouges on sides and top, it was square, handle about straight as arrow, and a one finger operation. I used a die grinder with blue scotchbrite last night to get it ready for paint and found this crack in the jaw support. It travels down from what shows in photo, and about 1/2” under the support itself. I don’t plan on hammering on the vise, just using it as a third hand. Should I leave it as is or should I try a repair to lessen chance of it spreading? Thanks

With what you describe and the intended use, I'd leave it alone.

If you decide to repair, I would stop drill the crack first, then V grind that outer face prior to welding/brazing out there. Then weld/braze the stop hole.

 

[Ww7573]

Ww, you need to take the "s" off the "https" for imgur to work.

Thanks for the tip!
(Can you see the pictures now?)

 

[va.grouseman]

Nice Honza.---I love those fat little buggers.---They're tough little vises.---Well the 100s, 125s, and 150s aren't so little.

 

[va.grouseman]

Previously posted by Ww7573.

Does anyone know when they stopped making these?
----------------------------------------------------------------


Ww7573, Autopts could probably tell you.---There are several Wilton gurus on this thread.

 

[jrork]

Congratulations on your new vise. Looks to be a very early Morgan Chicago. I'd be afraid to use that one! Welcome to the Morgan club (Morgan 150 is my regular user).

Thanks very much. I have already used it a couple times but was gentle. I have a plain jane vise for the dirty work. ;-)

 

[Outlawmws]

Thanks for the tip!
(Can you see the pictures now?)

Yep! Nice score I'm surprised at the late date on that.

 

[AndrewH]

Well, there’s a Parker Superior 60X on eBay at the moment..... wants $1250 for it, it needs a new handle and garter and the jaws are a bit worn. Wonder if the price will come down....

Thrumcap

So funny story..I decided to contact the owner and see if he was open to offers. He was, I just paid for it.

Now I’ve gotta figure out how to get it from NJ to either Fastenal for shipping or find someone on uShip to bring it to me. Is there any upstanding members here that are in NJ that would be willing to get it to a Fastenal for me? Don’t have to do it for free, I’d be willing to come up with compensation.