The VISES of Garage Journal

[va.grouseman]

Doily, that's a righteous combination there.---Congrats.

 

[zkling]

Seems like forever since I have had time to fool with any vises or stands.
Just took delivery of this fine starrett 924-1/2 from Colorado.
Kevin dolled it up proper, new jaws and handle.
I'm really digging the profile of the handle ends.
This is the first starrett I have owned and are really looking forward to making a stand for it.

Royce

Nice, but get some handle bumpers on that pronto. The tapered ends on those and the craftsman are neat to look at but destroy the spindle eye in a hurry.

 

[royce]

Nice Starrett, Royce. Especially like the handle and jaw work. I’ve become fond of the Starrett and have now accumulated a few. What kind of stand are you thinking?

Thanks Vise,
I'm going to start with a salvaged light pole and attempt to make a column with this cross section.
I'll post when I get started.

Royce

 

[royce]

Nice, but get some handle bumpers on that pronto. The tapered ends on those and the craftsman are neat to look at but destroy the spindle eye in a hurry.

Thanks Zkling

Royce

 

[doily_grunge]

Very nice vice and table. If you do not mind me asking, what does a vice and table like that sell for in Australia? Thanks

I picked the combo up for $150 aud ($100 usd). The table is worth at least that. The vice you can still buy and new it cost around $800 so I’d say this one is worth at least $300

 

[AngryBeaver]

I picked the combo up for $150 aud ($100 usd). The table is worth at least that. The vice you can still buy and new it cost around $800 so I’d say this one is worth at least $300

dirt cheap... Used benches don't bring squat here, but some vises do. I know there are quite a few people here that have paid north of 500 for that vise.....

 

[rusty65]

This vise cane from Rochester NY which is where the Kodak camera factory was and this vise was owned by a engineer who worked in the factory for many years and graduated from a famous engineering school also located in New York. I believe it’s possible this vise May have been used in the factory to work on and or help assemble certain parts for the cameras.



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[Smitty]

Rare Kodak vise found...film at eleven!!!

Nice find rusty.

 

[thin_concrete]

That’s really cool, rusty! Congrats on a nice find!

 

[va.grouseman]

You scored big on that one Rusty.---That one is a first for me.---Just when you think, surely by now we've seen at least one example of every vise out there.---Then BOOM

 

[KMScott]

That one Rusty has looks hand built. Has all the clamps we use in my trade. Real nice job if hand made. Nice vise Rusty.

 

[dkroth]

This vise cane from Rochester NY which is where the Kodak camera factory was and this vise was owned by a engineer who worked in the factory for many years and graduated from a famous engineering school also located in New York. I believe it’s possible this vise May have been used in the factory to work on and or help assemble certain parts for the cameras.



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More likely used in an engineering department, product development area or the research labs.

Doesn't look like anything I've seen before.

I've scored two vises from ex-Kodakers. Both were Wiltons and they worked in maintenance.







.

 

[XCMTB83]

Today I finally made some chips out of the 143B I last mentioned on page 3838. Yesterday I completed the fixture to hold the vise and today I was able to use it.

In one of the close-up pictures you can see the thin darker circle inside of the hole. This is the crack that I am closing up and hopefully keep from spreading. Just below this darker colored ring is the next diameter change where the threads for the 1/2-13 SHCS will start.

Everything went well I just need to get the swivel base retrofitted on it now. Progress!

 

[XCMTB83]

Since I forgot to include the only picture I make mention of...

 

[Old Radar]

XCMTB83--

Professional looking work! If we were closer, I'd ask you to take a look at my damaged Columbian 505. I requested repair advice from the herd back on post #76678 but got no response.

 

[zkling]

That one Rusty has looks hand built. Has all the clamps we use in my trade. Real nice job if hand made. Nice vise Rusty.

Exactly what I thought as well...indicator holder inspired. If so, I really appreicate that the builder took the time to machine the sphere on the screw eye instead of a standard cylinder, like those cheap wiltons.

XCMTB83--

Professional looking work! If we were closer, I'd ask you to take a look at my damaged Columbian 505. I requested repair advice from the herd back on post #76678 but got no response.

]

Do you have a mill? I would consider cutting the jaw towers all the way back beyond the crack, put in a small shelf then drill and tap for bolt on jaws. That would fix your current issue as well as get improved jaw options.

 

[tool_scrounge]

I picked the combo up for $150 aud ($100 usd). The table is worth at least that. The vice you can still buy and new it cost around $800 so I’d say this one is worth at least $300

That is a great deal!

 

[KMScott]

Today I finally made some chips out of the 143B I last mentioned on page 3838. Yesterday I completed the fixture to hold the vise and today I was able to use it.

In one of the close-up pictures you can see the thin darker circle inside of the hole. This is the crack that I am closing up and hopefully keep from spreading. Just below this darker colored ring is the next diameter change where the threads for the 1/2-13 SHCS will start.

Everything went well I just need to get the swivel base retrofitted on it now. Progress!

Nice fixture XCM, are you going to weld or braze too finish up the repair or depend on the 1/2" bolts.

XCMTB83--

Professional looking work! If we were closer, I'd ask you to take a look at my damaged Columbian 505. I requested repair advice from the herd back on post #76678 but got no response.

Old Radar, looks like the upper part of the vise is broke and missing. No telling what was used to fill in the missing pieces. The T-style jaws pretty much take up most of the space. I have repaired many vises and do not have a answer for yours.

 

[XCMTB83]

Nice fixture XCM, are you going to weld or braze too finish up the repair or depend on the 1/2" bolts.

Thanks, KMS.

I haven't ruled out silver solder or braze I just need to do some more research and or practice on some scrap pieces. I haven't ever done any brazing or silver soldering on cast. I may have to ask you some questions about the topic later on.

 

[jarhead]

Found this at a flea market in Fort Collins a few days before Christmas.

It's missing one Jaw :-( bought it anyway

 

[Shiftless]

jarhead:

I wonder if that’s a made in England model or one made after Irwin bought the name and moved production to a different continent. What does the other side look like? I believe the earlier and better made ones said “made in England”. Looks like original paint.

Either way, you got a big heavy vise that should do fine for anything you throw at it. Just fabricate some new jaws and have a great user.
You might find jaws with that exact bolt spacing somewhere or failing that, find some 6 inch jaws with holes suitable for use with your vise and drill and tap new mounting holes.

 

[Smitty]

I just cleaned up the little Prentiss vise no 18 that I got last week. It has 2 5/8” jaws and weight in at 17 lbs. I was able to save quite a bit of the patina on this 100+ year old vise. I found something that I’ve never seen before on a vise and it has me wondering. If you look closely at the deck it has 4 slot head screw impressions in the cast iron.


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[va.grouseman]

Nice Smitty, hard to find, You see more 1 1/2'' + 2''ers than the #18.---Nice job on it too.

 

[Smitty]

Thanks VA. Somebody really took care of this vise over the years, there isn’t a hammer mark on it.

 

[dutchgray]

Found this at a flea market in Fort Collins a few days before Christmas.

It's missing one Jaw :-( bought it anyway

Nice, a fairly modern vice, Record still supply jaw plates but they are not that cheap.

 

[Outlawmws]

I've seen screw heads and other indications of the assembly of the wood patterns before. Odd location for those - I wonder if those held on something that was used in the final machining operations, that was subsequently milled off?

 

[Smitty]

The first thing I did when I saw them was to remove the base and check the other side. They’re just imprints in the cast iron. My first thought was maybe the mold was on its last leg and they were trying to get a few more castings out of it.

 

[jarhead]

jarhead:

I wonder if that’s a made in England model or one made after Irwin bought the name and moved production to a different continent. What does the other side look like? I believe the earlier and better made ones said “made in England”. Looks like original paint.

Either way, you got a big heavy vise that should do fine for anything you throw at it. Just fabricate some new jaws and have a great user.
You might find jaws with that exact bolt spacing somewhere or failing that, find some 6 inch jaws with holes suitable for use with your vise and drill and tap new mounting holes.

Nice, a fairly modern vice, Record still supply jaw plates but they are not that cheap.

Thanks,
I do believe it is original paint, not sure on when made.
It has some codes on it...
I only paid $52 so I was happy.

 

[AngryBeaver]

Thanks,
I do believe it is original paint, not sure on when made.
It has some codes on it...
I only paid $52 so I was happy.

you did very well. those are casting codes. some people say they are week and year... some say they are month/year. either way that was made in 09

 

[AngryBeaver]

I've seen screw heads and other indications of the assembly of the wood patterns before. Odd location for those - I wonder if those held on something that was used in the final machining operations, that was subsequently milled off?

in the cast iron skillet world, screw head marks are very common, especially in late 50's wagners and griswolds (when wagner bought them out). Most people say they are molders marks to identify what shift, or what worker made that batch. this is the first vise Ive seen with them, though

 

[Adderall]

Finished this one up. One thing I noticed that the base, the static jaw body, and the center pinhole are not all concentric, thus when I spin the vise it sits off center. If I remove the center pin, the vise spins centered in the swivel base but seems more loose. Should I leave it in or is there. I harm in removing it?

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[Z3K3Y]

I personally believe the earlier Record vises have a full casting around the bolt down holes, I think Irwins first shot at making them cheaper was to put the 'slot' style bolt down holes. Im not positive on this. But ive had a few dozen different records myself and that was my observation. Still a hefty a vise! Ive seen 2,3,4,5,6VS and 3,4,5,6SQ (or maybe is was QS) the later models have a quick release with a half turn of the handle, they have the slotted bolt holes and were sold in the late 90's.

 

[royce]

I have a few things that really need done, but I could not walk by this vise any longer.
Got it stripped, parting lines dressed, high spots knocked down, flattened the tops of the letters and primed it with epoxy.
Also, radiused the back of the base to match the stand it will be mounted to.
There is one area with some porosity and a few pecker tracks that I'll mix some cabosil and epoxy to fill.
In the end, I'm thinking that some fancy paint is in order and I'll need to be a little fussier on the prep work, than usual.

Royce

 

[royce]

One more pic,
This has some nice clean lettering.

Royce

 

[Old Radar]

Do you have a mill? I would consider cutting the jaw towers all the way back beyond the crack, put in a small shelf then drill and tap for bolt on jaws. That would fix your current issue as well as get improved jaw options.

Old Radar, looks like the upper part of the vise is broke and missing. No telling what was used to fill in the missing pieces. The T-style jaws pretty much take up most of the space. I have repaired many vises and do not have a answer for yours.

No mill and no mill skill. So the question is: Is it really worth it for me to pay a master machinist to have it repaired? I don't know what a Columbian 505 in good condition generally goes for, but I suspect it would be less than the repair. Then add in the cost of new jaw inserts.

Because I like to care for my stuff from the outset, I generally don't go for things other people have abused. Why I did here, I can only say I was predisposed to acquire a larger vise and got caught up in the deal--how bad could it be for $25? Well, now I know.

So, with neither the skills/equipment to make the repair myself nor any machinist friends to aid me, I believe the best course of action is to admit defeat.

Since the thing is too damn heavy to make bookends out of, maybe I can part out the handle and screw since they are still good.

 

[XCMTB83]

XCMTB83--

Professional looking work! If we were closer, I'd ask you to take a look at my damaged Columbian 505. I requested repair advice from the herd back on post #76678 but got no response.

Thank you.

I see the handy-work now that I look closer. That would require a mill and a machinist to repair which has already been stated. Is there anything wrong with it that is keeping it from being used?

 

[XCMTB83]

So I came across an American Scale 66 today at an antique/2nd hand store. Out of curiosity what is the typical going rate for large vises like the 6" swiveling American Scale? As a general rule of thumb is there a certain dollar amount per pound?

 

[trijeff]

I personally believe the earlier Record vises have a full casting around the bolt down holes, I think Irwins first shot at making them cheaper was to put the 'slot' style bolt down holes. Im not positive on this. But ive had a few dozen different records myself and that was my observation. Still a hefty a vise! Ive seen 2,3,4,5,6VS and 3,4,5,6SQ (or maybe is was QS) the later models have a quick release with a half turn of the handle, they have the slotted bolt holes and were sold in the late 90's.

I found a catalog from 2000 that shows Record vises were still produced in Sheffield at the time and some of the models have the open bolt/swivel lock variant. I think all Irwin production happened in China.
https://archive.org/details/AmericanToolCompaniesFullLineCatalog2000

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[dannyr]

I found a catalog from 2000 that shows Record vises were still produced in Sheffield at the time and some of the models have the open bolt/swivel lock variant. I think all Irwin production happened in China.


The end of Record in Sheffield was complex, at least including that they were bought by Bahco (the big Swedish tool maker) and then maybe a finance company before being sold to Irwin.
The big change was when they sold their patterns, tooling, large semi-automated Diesamatic casting line and machine shop to China/elsewhere and the Sheffield Parkway factory closed.
The part not sold to Irwin remained in the Sheffield region in name as Record Power, just selling some of their power tools etc but now outsourced (some from UK, much from the east).

 

[Old Radar]

Thank you.

I see the handy-work now that I look closer. That would require a mill and a machinist to repair which has already been stated. Is there anything wrong with it that is keeping it from being used?

Beyond the fact that the front jaw brazing repair has failed and is being loosely held in place by two wobbly bolts through the holes where the jaw pins normally should go, it was still being used/abused by the folks at the industrial site where I picked it up. Since I have a couple of other vises and as much as I would like to employ a vise of this size, I don't feel the need to set it up for use in its current condition. But, technically, it is usable.