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The VISES of Garage Journal

Smitty

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Joined
Sep 4, 2018
Messages
2,409
Location
USA
Bagged89s10
You have great taste in vises and stands. I did a double take when I saw your C3 as I have one just like it. Your stand looks to be in great condition and as sturdy as they get. Nice pairing.
 
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KMScott

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Joined
Feb 14, 2012
Messages
4,642
Location
Daufuskie Island, South Carolina
The good news: I talked the seller down to $140 for this C2 today
The bad news: it clearly has a front jaw Issue
The good news: hopefully I can get KMS to walk me through it.
]

You bet, happy to help where I can. I do not have time for custom work but always happy in other way's.
Been real busy lately and just seen your paint job on the Wilton. Hammered paint takes a scary knack on paint thickness, looks like you have it figured out. Give me a call one day and we can chat about your new Wilton. Did you empty California of all the Prentiss's. Just kidding. Here is my Google Voice number. (970) 235-1153
 

Vise

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Joined
Apr 16, 2019
Messages
575
Location
NE
Appreciate the feedback on the stand guys. Its coming along.

Shift - I know nothing about the Versas, but they seem like cool little vises. Following along if you find out more info on them.

Gman - Much thanks!

VA - thanks for the info. I’ll check out eBay for parts. And I wish a 408 was going in the stand! Maybe someday.
 

Smitty

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Sep 4, 2018
Messages
2,409
Location
USA
KMS
Thanks, I’ll take you up on that, I need some advise on how to best handle a jaw situation. Yeah, ever since the Prentiss vise market dried up around here (cough) I’ve been looking for Wilton’s. I must admit they are fun to work on.
 

kenc184

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 25, 2012
Messages
718
Location
Nor Cal
Recently picked up this Columbian 204-1/2 combination vise. It even had all three pipe jaws. My first Columbian, usual epoxy primer + rustoleum.
I like combo vises.

IMG-2359.jpg
 

KHatfull

Member
Joined
Jul 26, 2019
Messages
12
Location
Woodbury, MN
Ok, so it's a cheap Taiwan vise I got for $10. But, it will be my first bench vise and it will certainly work until I luck into something else better.

As bought:

Vise1.jpg


After oxalic acid bath and wire wheel (ran out of OA, need some more for the swivel locks):

Vise2.jpg


Cleaned up some flash from the castings, smoothed the slides and the contact area on the base. It works reasonably well now. Left it au natural and gave it a coat of Johnson paste wax.

Will certainly be serviceable for the price, eh?
 

va.grouseman

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Joined
Mar 26, 2011
Messages
4,965
Location
Southern-Central VA.
Previously posted by 454ragtop.

I don't understand the appeal of these vises either, have one, not really impressed (might be time to throw it on the 'Bay though).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Throw it on there 454, I'll start the bidding at $300.00, but I'll drop off at $500.00.---The Boss might start drawing up papers if she found out I had dropped 2K on a vise.

About that private listing, we were discussing that earlier.---Something just seems a little off there.:question:
 

va.grouseman

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Mar 26, 2011
Messages
4,965
Location
Southern-Central VA.
Kenc184, ditto on the combos.



KHatfull, that Rockford will work just fine for just about everything a homeowner needs a vise for.---And for that price, if per chance it did break, you can get through the grieving process much faster than if it was a valued collectable or heirloom.---It looks hardly used and you did a good cleanup job on it.:thumbup:
 

LNKMK8

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Joined
Feb 6, 2013
Messages
1,191
Location
Overland Park, KS
KMS
Thanks, I’ll take you up on that, I need some advise on how to best handle a jaw situation. Yeah, ever since the Prentiss vise market dried up around here (cough) I’ve been looking for Wilton’s. I must admit they are fun to work on.

Is that the Verde Green color, or are you using something else? Looks more blue to me.
 

Shiftless

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Joined
Mar 9, 2014
Messages
14,553
Location
East Bay SFO
Does anybody have background info as to why some of the Versa Vises are painted red and others are orange? Based on the ones I see offered on eBay, the orange ones are less common.

Inquiring minds want to know. :)
.
.
 

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MayerMR

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Joined
Feb 13, 2018
Messages
831
Location
Dallas, Texas
Had a pretty good pick up about a week ago here in Dallas. I was somehow the first responder to the ad, even though a buddy (and fellow GJ member/vise addict) had to text to it me since my CL app notifications are woefully delayed...

Anyway, we arranged a time and met. He told me he was inundated with emails about it and eventually just pulled the ad.

Fairly rare, but well-used Reed 405 double swiveler. Looks to be in pretty good shape, overall, however it does sadly have a small crack at the end of the ram. Also, curiously, one of the handle balls is welded on, while the other is actually loose and just dangling around like an oversized bell - obviously not original, but an odd "solution".

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She's old!
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Next to my Holland's 43 1/2 - significantly larger:

IMG-20190726-195054.jpg
 

GETRIDAONE

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Joined
May 21, 2013
Messages
1,549
Location
Auburn, GA
Here are the top three contenders for Wiltons.
Verde Green is on the right. Light Blue on the left.
IMHO Hammerite is just a bit darker and the closest match with the best hammered effect.
The paint comparison hasn't come up in a while but seems to always come back around.
 

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Smitty

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Sep 4, 2018
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Location
USA
Here are the top three contenders for Wiltons.

Verde Green is on the right. Light Blue on the left.

IMHO Hammerite is just a bit darker and the closest match with the best hammered effect.

The paint comparison hasn't come up in a while but seems to always come back around.



I agree, the Hammerite is good match for the 70’s-90’s Wilton’s.e9db578b4b0e8790820b70a42c36266e.jpg


Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app
 

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Mr. Wonderful

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Joined
Jan 15, 2018
Messages
1,774
Location
Pacific Northwest
Recently picked up this Columbian 204-1/2 combination vise. It even had all three pipe jaws. My first Columbian, usual epoxy primer + rustoleum.
I like combo vises.

IMG-2359.jpg

Well thanks a lot Ken! I was being patient with my new Columbian 205. Now that I see yours done and not to mention in the color I had chosen, I am feeling pressure to dive into it. It is my first real combination vise. I am hooked! Great job!
 
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ptgarcia

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Joined
Nov 15, 2016
Messages
1,202
Location
Alta Loma, CA
Here are the top three contenders for Wiltons.
Verde Green is on the right. Light Blue on the left.
IMHO Hammerite is just a bit darker and the closest match with the best hammered effect.
The paint comparison hasn't come up in a while but seems to always come back around.

What's the color or part number on the Kilz?
 

Productbob

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 10, 2018
Messages
414
Location
ny
Ken- nice looking 204 1/2!

went looking at two 'broken' vises yesterday. One was Reed 105 1/2 that someone had welded a heavy nut to the handle end decades ago. dropping the nut onto to the ball over the years chipped out large portions of the ball so I passed on that one.

Second one turned out to be a 1c, dirty and unused for some time. once i loosened the swivel lock the vise swung right off the swivel base (yep the shoulder bolt was MIA) :wtf:. explaining this issue to the owner got a nice price adjustment and i got another 1c for $45. Vise looks very solid and hopefully can get a good cleaning tomorrow to confirm this. now to find a build date and shoulder bolt.
 

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kenc184

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Feb 25, 2012
Messages
718
Location
Nor Cal
Ken- nice looking 204 1/2!

went looking at two 'broken' vises yesterday. One was Reed 105 1/2 that someone had welded a heavy nut to the handle end decades ago. dropping the nut onto to the ball over the years chipped out large portions of the ball so I passed on that one.

Second one turned out to be a 1c, dirty and unused for some time. once i loosened the swivel lock the vise swung right off the swivel base (yep the shoulder bolt was MIA) :wtf:. explaining this issue to the owner got a nice price adjustment and i got another 1c for $45. Vise looks very solid and hopefully can get a good cleaning tomorrow to confirm this. now to find a build date and shoulder bolt.




Wow, Bob what a deal! a Reed 1C for $45? You are becoming the new low price King! Making one of those shoulder bolts would be easy if you have a metal lathe with single point threading capability.
 

kenc184

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Joined
Feb 25, 2012
Messages
718
Location
Nor Cal
Well thanks a lot Ken! I was being patient with my new Columbian 205. Now that I see yours done and not to mention in the color I had chosen, I am feeling pressure to dive into it. It is my first real combination vise. I am hooked! Great job!

Ha Ha, thanks Mr W. Glad to have motivated you.
I quite like this little 204-1/2, very similar to a Ridge of the same size that I own but haven't refurbed yet.

This one had at least 5 coats of paint on it, the lowest one was either a grey like this or it was grey primer - not sure. I mixed up a concoction of Rustoleum semi gloss black and bright white to the tint I wanted. Looks pretty decent IMO.

Your 205 will be a nicer vise - anything over the 4-1/2 range just seems so much more substantial.
 

chrisnazzy

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Joined
Apr 20, 2013
Messages
1,671
Location
Arizona
Despite the 110° it climbed to in my garage today, I got some work in on my newest vise acquisition, a Craftsman 5195.

A couple days in the Simple Green (I don't need a Crock Pot to heat mine) and an hour or so wire wheelin gets me here.

I feel like this vise needs to be painted and of course I'm indecisive on what color. 8f4a05ae6a2ae3c0d371bb1f1bbb0ceb.jpg

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
 

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tiailds

New member
Joined
Aug 7, 2019
Messages
1
Location
Home
Found an Eire Tool Works Empire 25 vise among my grandfather's vast collection of rusted tools he never found a use for. I'm trying to refurbish it enough for basic use till I can get one in better condition. My biggest problem is I don't know how to take it apart. I tried unscrewing it several times, but it just binds at the end. What should I do?
 
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PghJKB

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Joined
Oct 13, 2012
Messages
489
Location
Industrial Heartland
Found an Eire Tool Works Empire 25 vise among my grandfather's vast collection of rusted tools he never found a use for. I'm trying to refurbish it enough for basic use till I can get one in better condition. My biggest problem is I don't know how to take it apart. I tried unscrewing it several times, but it just binds at the end. What should I do?

The Vise Repair thread (https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=252830) may be a better place for this question. That said,

Do you have any pictures?

I have disassembled several Erie's have not run into any problems.

Have you checked the end of the screw for damage?

JKB
 

va.grouseman

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Joined
Mar 26, 2011
Messages
4,965
Location
Southern-Central VA.
What JKB said.---It's either abnormalities with the screw or the slide itself.---There is the possibility that dried grease and dirt and rust and filth buildup will bind the slide once it is extended to the max and the slides own weight/leverage causes drag.---If so, it needs a good cleaning/soaking first.
 

Shiftless

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Mar 9, 2014
Messages
14,553
Location
East Bay SFO
tiailds:
I’ll add another tip.
After you clean the end of the slide, inspect for hammer marks on the upper corners. Hammer blows tend to deform the corners making it impossible to draw the slide completely out. Take a long file and pass it over all 3 sides of the slide until the corner dings are smoothed over.
It doesn’t sound like much, but that technique has solved the problem for me more than once.
Once you get the slide corners smooth apply lots of oil and try again to slide the dynamic jaw completely out.
Another trick is to do all of the above, then completely remove the screw, bolt down the vise to a fixed work bench or a stump or ???, pull the slide out until it binds and then grab your soft faced hammer and give the end of the slide a few whacks. Or put a block of wood next to the end of the slide and use your BFH.
Get a helper to support the dynamic jaw while you’re doing that so that the slide won’t bind as it comes out. Or even worse, fall to the floor and break! :(
 
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honza.vosalik

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Joined
Feb 27, 2016
Messages
882
Location
Missouri

Smitty

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Sep 4, 2018
Messages
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Location
USA
Well it’s official, my mailman hates me. These two 25 lb Prentiss vises just arrived on the same day. The little Bull Dog no. 90 is pretty clean.4ed09b6683137263030c7c465af04ff5.jpgba030004e73490c57fcad2af2c0fe9b8.jpgefdaf0607123685968f739ebb08e6f73.jpg
I’m finally getting even for all of those bills he’s brought me over the years.

Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app
 

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honza.vosalik

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Joined
Feb 27, 2016
Messages
882
Location
Missouri
Here's pictures of a York 60 I got recently. The PO fixed the threads for one of the jaws. I'll be putting it up for sale soon.
 

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jmhinkle

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Feb 6, 2019
Messages
452
Location
Portland, OR
Columbian D43 1/2 Vise I got on Ebay. Smaller than I expected, but that's what I was looking for in general.

I1wAO93.jpg



Cute next to the Reed 204.
bmRI6WH.jpg
 

jmhinkle

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Joined
Feb 6, 2019
Messages
452
Location
Portland, OR
Can anyone ID this vise? Corner of an estate sale picture. Looks like a huge Wilton maybe, but I don't recognize the lettering on the swivel base.

cUkAO8V.jpg
 
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