The VISES of Garage Journal

[va.grouseman]

Fellows, I'm going to test the little man out on both of those cartoons and see which he likes best.---I forgot about those.---He's 18 months so maybe a little young yet for JQ but he's got to like the RR.---He's just got to, or I'm going to be very .

 

[kenc184]

Anyone recognize the vise at 3:03 of this video of the Holland and Holland factory?

edit: Aha, I think it's a post vise.

 

[Smitty]

I found a pretty clean Wilton 500, the vise has 5” jaws and weighs in at 86 lbs. The surface rust will clean up pretty easily and a new base will lift it up. The date stamp is 1/90


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[va.grouseman]

Smitty, it's nice when the diamonds are still diamonds.

 

[kenc184]

That's a monster Smitty, good price?

 

[Smitty]

Smitty, it's nice when the diamonds are still diamonds.

Agreed, it’s seen light duty for a 30 year old vise.

 

[Smitty]

That's a monster Smitty, good price?

Two bills.

 

[gman007]

I found a pretty clean Wilton 500, the vise has 5” jaws and weighs in at 86 lbs. The surface rust will clean up pretty easily and a new base will lift it up. The date stamp is 1/90

Smitty
Nice score as usual . After Prentiss Magnet has attracted every Prentiss in greater LA area, he has now turned on the Wilton tractor beam to full force

 

[kenc184]

Two bills.

Wow, for that good of a condition? Nice score.

 

[Smitty]

Thanks Gman and Kenc
Wilton’s are going through the roof around here so deals are rare. I think a big part of it is that they’re still manufactured. People just google Wilton vise and see $$$. They think they’re doing you a favor by asking 50% of what a brand new vise costs.

 

[Shiftless]

Smitty scores again.
If you find 2 of those bases at a good price let me know. I too have a 500 with no base.

 

[gman007]

Thanks Gman and Kenc
Wilton’s are going through the roof around here so deals are rare. I think a big part of it is that they’re still manufactured. People just google Wilton vise and see $$$. They think they’re doing you a favor by asking 50% of what a brand new vise costs.

Smitty
If it is any consolation, I believe this might be the case pretty much anywhere (that is definitely the case in my neck of the wood and if you check eBay Wilton bullets sell faster and at a premium price). It seems Wilton bullet in the vise world is like the USD in the currency world, always in demand and accepted everywhere.

Now some might argue that there are other higher quality brands out there (for the record as my moniker attests, personally I am a big Wilton Bullet fan). But may be because of its unique and neat bullet shape and design (that is what initially attracted me) and like you said the fact that it is still manufactured combined with high quality, it seems it has a lot bigger name recognition and has a bigger audience (among pros, collectors and average home owners, etc).

 

[gman007]

Smitty scores again.
If you find 2 of those bases at a good price let me know. I too have a 500 with no base.

Shift
It might be time to call Bullet 911 rescue line (AKA Nick)

 

[kenc184]

I saw an wilton 800 for the first time a couple months ago, it's a staggering size, well at least to someone who's never seen a bigger vise than a RI 577. Almost cartoonish, 'cos it looks like a little Wilton 3 incher but blown up by 500%. Amazing, wouldn't mind one but not willing to pay the price, same for a C3.

edit: Just curious, anyone know the year that the C series bullets got bigger and heavier?

 

[Smitty]

Kenc, here’s a 3” and 8” Wilton.


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[Mslund1]

Finished up my restore on the 4” Wilton I picked up a few weeks ago. Still need to make some new swivel lock handles but that can be done later

No date stamp on this one, and the screw nut is stamped 7400

So I believe this to be a 4” 7400 HD wilton. Sill marked Chicago so must be one of the earlier ones










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[aps gunstock]

Hi, I am from indonesia...
just got both of them about 2 or 3 months ago, a paramo no.6 and dolex 86T...
I was very lucky as only pay about 140 usd for both of them... with a relatively good condition, no any obvious damage or a wear on them, just some cleaning and repaint and they are looks no diferent with the new vises...
now both of them is the most tool I always proudly shows of to my friends as almost all my friends workshops mostly use a chinese vises and it is something rare to find an american or european vises in my country...
I am really curious about production year of the paramo one, as i am sure its a very very old made vise as the design is looks simpler compared to many paramo vise pictures on the net...
if anyone here can help me with an info about the manufacturer or anything about this vises that would be great,
thanks...

 

[gman007]

Finished up my restore on the 4” Wilton I picked up a few weeks ago. Still need to make some new swivel lock handles but that can be done later

No date stamp on this one, and the screw nut is stamped 7400

So I believe this to be a 4” 7400 HD wilton. Sill marked Chicago so must be one of the earlier ones


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Mslund1

Nice restoration job.

Your bullet is rather interesting and puzzling at least to me since I am not a bullet expert! It does have the straight line jaw insert serration of the earliest bullets (eg same as patent pending 4" No 4) and like the earliest Bullets has no date stamp. But does not have the acorn swivel nuts but rather a proper swivel arm. I think the 4" bullet models chronologically are something like Pat Pending No 4, No 4, 940, 9400/101028, 400 etc. So is it a No 4 or may be 940? .

I am sure one of the Wilton experts can shed light on this.

 

[Smitty]

Smitty
If it is any consolation, I believe this might be the case pretty much anywhere (that is definitely the case in my neck of the wood and if you check eBay Wilton bullets sell faster and at a premium price). It seems Wilton bullet in the vise world is like the USD in the currency world, always in demand and accepted everywhere.

Now some might argue that there are other higher quality brands out there (for the record as my moniker attests, personally I am a big Wilton Bullet fan). But may be because of its unique and neat bullet shape and design (that is what initially attracted me) and like you said the fact that it is still manufactured combined with high quality, it seems it has a lot bigger name recognition and has a bigger audience (among pros, collectors and average home owners, etc).

Wilton’s are definitely the top dogs in my area and I don’t see the prices coming down anytime soon. Bullet vises have grown on me as well and the fact that they are so readily available makes collecting a little easier.

 

[Mslund1]

Mslund1

Nice restoration job.

Your bullet is rather interesting and puzzling at least to me since I am not a bullet expert! It does have the straight line jaw insert serration of the earliest bullets (eg same as patent pending 4" No 4) and like the earliest Bullets has no date stamp. But does not have the acorn swivel nuts but rather a proper swivel arm. I think the 4" bullet models chronologically are something like Pat Pending No 4, No 4, 940, 9400/101028, 400 etc. So is it a No 4 or may be 940? .

I am sure one of the Wilton experts can shed light on this.

I too found it to be a bit puzzling.

I can’t quite narrow down which one it actually is,

I’ve seen the 8400/9400 models but never a “7400”

No other markings thank Chicago and HD


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[freudianfloyd]

So vise restorers, what is your preferred method for painting the raised letters of your vises? I know many of you use brushes, but I don't have that skill and usually hate the results. Last vise I did, I took a rubber pad as wide as the raised letter area and put paint on it, and then stamped it on the raised portion. It worked pretty well, but not perfect.

I have a vise drying right now, and I am trying to come up with some way of painting the letters easily. I may try making a rubber roller this time and see how that works.

Anybody have a fool proof method they want to share?

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

I use a paint pen. It's much easier for me than a brush. Some of my earlier brush work needs to be redone. It looks pretty shabby compared to the paint pen.

 

[trijeff]

Either paint pens, which come in various colors and tips shapes/sizes, or one of the methods you mention BUT going back afterwards and cleaning up the edges of the letters with the base color you painted the vise.

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[chrisnazzy]

When I've done it I've used paint pens. I haven't done it in a long time since I put this ******* the payroll.

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[kenc184]

Kenc, here’s a 3” and 8” Wilton.


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Thanks Smitty, that's crazy!
I reckon my 500% guess was pretty close. Those 8" Bullets just seem like they are from "Land of the Giants" (might be before your time!)

 

[gman007]

When I've done it I've used paint pens. I haven't done it in a long time since I put this ******* the payroll.

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Chris
you are a lucky man to have such a talented daughter who is also interested in her Dad's hobby

And of course as usual your restoration is immaculate and first class

 

[Mslund1]

Came home to this little guy sitting on the doorstep

Picked this one off the bay. Was really hoping for a 604 but I couldn’t pass up the price on this Colombian 603 in excellent shape.

Appears some light hammer marks and a small chip on the collar above the screw is all the damage to it.








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[davethorik]

I can't get over how much different this American Scale 23A looks "bare." There were 4 colors of paint on it, this very tenacious dark blue still visible in the pic, followed by seafoam green, black, and beige/tan. It isn't immaculate but it is in good shape.

 

[doubletroubledan]

Has anyone seen a vise like this .
what brand and model could it be?
Thanks in advance.
DTD

 

[454ragtop]

Looks like a quick acting drill press vise that was modified for a special production job.

 

[Outlawmws]

I saw an wilton 800 for the first time a couple months ago, it's a staggering size, well at least to someone who's never seen a bigger vise than a RI 577. Almost cartoonish, 'cos it looks like a little Wilton 3 incher but blown up by 500%. Amazing, wouldn't mind one but not willing to pay the price, same for a C3.

edit: Just curious, anyone know the year that the C series bullets got bigger and heavier?

Kenc, here’s a 3” and 8” Wilton.


Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app

Hmmm, I have a 3" Wilton - Should I machine the jaw bolt cavities in the outside comers of the jaws?

 

[Smitty]

That would look badass now that you mention it.

 

[va.grouseman]

That would be an 800 Mini-Me.

 

[va.grouseman]

Has anyone seen a vise like this .
what brand and model could it be?
Thanks in advance.
DTD

I have one similar but not exactly the same.---Yours has a horizontal cam action, and mine uses vertical action.

 

[Indexmill]

Hmmm, I have a 3" Wilton - Should I machine the jaw bolt cavities in the outside comers of the jaws?

NO! Never.

 

[oldldh]

Smitty----Voted for "Johnny Quest" as the cartoon to rule them all...

Outlaw favors the "Roadrunner"...

Well you are Oh so....

WRONG!!!

I give you "Calvin and Hobbes"....

And...

A Hammer....

 

[Outlawmws]

Unfortunately, they never animated C&H...

 

[oldldh]

You had to bring up a minor technicality...

Sheesh...

 

[Outlawmws]

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE C&H, I wish Watterson hadn't stopped...

 

[Shiftless]

My favorite C & H cartoon...