The VISES of Garage Journal

[dct55]

Bob,

That's an awesome collection! Is that a BLO finish on most of them ?

 

[Smitty]

Looks great Bob. Apparently your 100lb rule turned out to be more of a guideline.

Old Radar, I can’t wait to see the finished product on that stand.

 

[Smitty]

My therapy really seems to be paying off. I haven’t bought a new vise all year.

 

[Shiftless]

My therapy really seems to be paying off. I haven’t bought a new vise all year.

Good one Smitty
I haven’t either.

Bob:
Your collection looks great! Nice to have shelves isn’t it?

 

[Smitty]

Shift, I must admit, I’m starting to get a bit jittery.

 

[va.grouseman]

Just wait until week 2, and you still haven't had a fix.---You'll need a dozen Snickers bars, cause we won't know you.---You won't be yourself.

 

[Shiftless]

Shift, I must admit, I’m starting to get a bit jittery.

Me too!. (It’s been 15 days)

 

[Productbob]

thanks guys dct55 some are BLO but many are clear enamel finish over bare metal
Smitty- all the big ones come down in at least two pieces to stay under 100 lb
Shift- the shelves keep me in 'collector' status; without them it would be 'hoarder' status.

 

[Old Radar]

Does your neighbor with the welder have a cutting torch by chance?

No. Might as well ask for a 1.21 Gigawatt plasma cutting torch...

Old Radar, I can’t wait to see the finished product on that stand.

Me too, brother!

 

[Smitty]

First score of the new year. It’s a Starrett vise no. 925C, it has 5” jaws and weighs in at 103 lbs.

Snickers bar shown for scale purposes only


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[Shiftless]

Smitty:
Very funny with the Snickers...regular readers will get the joke.

In the spirit of the season here’s a movie reference.
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[Smitty]

Thanks Eddie

 

[Productbob]

Smitty nice grab to start the new year! congrats on getting through 2 complete days before jumping back in

 

[KMScott]

Nice Starrett Smitty. My favorite vise maker and that one is a beauty. It should be heavier then the 103lbs since it has a swivel base. Did you weight it?

 

[zkling]

Nice Starrett Smitty. My favorite vise maker and that one is a beauty. It should be heavier then the 103lbs since it has a swivel base. Did you weight it?

I have a 924.5 and from what I remember this is correct. Sadly the support shelf is hollow.

 

[Smitty]

Thanks Bob, yeah it was touch and go for a while there.

Thanks Kevin, I broke my scale a while back so I’m going by the catalog page. It lists the stationary model as 87 lbs and the swivel model as 103 lbs. I’m really impressed with how well these vises are made ant this one is in great shape. The seller sad he’s had it for ten years and he got it from an Alcoa plant. That would explain the smooth jaws on the vise. They don’t come up very often around here but I’ve got my eye open.

 

[va.grouseman]

Well don Smitty.---I'm like KMS, you just can't beat Starrett for quality and style.---Reed, to me matches the quality, but gets edged out at the finish line by style.

That one aught to keep the monkey off your back for a couple of weeks.

 

[Outlawmws]

It'l buff out...

 

[Smitty]

Thanks VA. Yeah, Starrett really Satisfies. I won’t be jonesing for a while now. Here’s a pic with its next of kin.


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[Vise]

Nice Starrett Smitty. It looks to be in great shape and always a score when you find one with the swivel base.

 

[Heavymetal]

I picked this up at a house my sister was cleaning out for a relative. Thought it was hand made but looks a little too perfect. The big stud screws in the bottom for mounting in a hole, I just have it on a spacer with a bolt. Any ideas on if it has a specific purpose?

 

[ZRX61]

I picked this up at a house my sister was cleaning out for a relative. Thought it was hand made but looks a little too perfect. The big stud screws in the bottom for mounting in a hole, I just have it on a spacer with a bolt. Any ideas on if it has a specific purpose?

Probably made by an apprentice machinist.

 

[Coloradical]

Anyone interested in a Powrarm or two?

I’d like to trade for a nice vice, I’m not looking for anything in specific I just want a quality vice for the garage.

 

[KMScott]

Coloradical, you need to come up to Estes Park and bring one of those Power Arms and pick out a vise you like. I got plenty worth about the same value.

 

[Heavymetal]

I know they’re very good,old vises. My one “hell no,aint selling”is an Athol. Any ideas how old this baby is?

 

[Heavymetal]

My only true eyecandy vise is my Columbian. I cant explain the pretty awful paintjob but I think theres a chance it is an unused,forgotten on a shelf at a factory piece. When I took it apart every part is flawless and had the tacky carmel like grease on it. Gave 79.00 for it on a Goodwill auction site.

 

[Dlavallee22]

I'm hoping that the mounting bolt holes line up to match the attached templet. Any chance you could check and see if all the mounting holes are equal distance apart? It sounds easy, but it's really hard to find a vise that has three mounting holes that are all exactly the same distance apart.

I'm offering a $100 reward to anyone who can find a vise that matches these dimensions and I will pay REALLY good money if you have the actual vise!

I just stumbled across this on FB marketplace, looks to match your drawing exactly but I could be wrong of course. Looks like an unmarked vise and next to no info in the posting but it’s a 4.5” vise

 

[tool_scrounge]

My only true eyecandy vise is my Columbian. I cant explain the pretty awful paintjob but I think theres a chance it is an unused,forgotten on a shelf at a factory piece. When I took it apart every part is flawless and had the tacky carmel like grease on it. Gave 79.00 for it on a Goodwill auction site.

What is the jaw width? The Columbian vises are a bit under appreciated, but the machinist ones are pretty well built and should give you good service, in spite of the "Green Bay" football theme paint job.

 

[Heavymetal]

I agree scrounge, I see quite a few Columbians in my area. I had a monster 2 yrs ago,it was a good one but was kinda hollow built compared to some. It had what I call very tall “jaw reach”. My green one is 4in jaws. Its stamped 504-m2. The jaws are perfect but completely smooth.

 

[kenc184]

Do the Starretts have buttress threads like the Athols they came from or the more common acme?

 

[Thrumcap]

Happy New Year!

Here’s one that got away.

This is the first Record Vices display stand of its type that I’ve seen intact. Mainly the top sign bit can be rarely found, but not the rest of the shelf. It appeared and vanished off Kijiji last month.
A few pictures for the record, pardon the pun







Thrumcap

 

[Coloradical]

Coloradical, you need to come up to Estes Park and bring one of those Power Arms and pick out a vise you like. I got plenty worth about the same value.

Really? Will do then. I’ll make some time to come up there.

 

[Shiftless]

Really? Will do then. I’ll make some time to come up there.

Definitely make the trip. A visit to his shop is worth the trip. I’ve been there and let me assure you that you will not only find a vise worthy of the trade but will remember the experience for a long time. Kevin is a great guy and has invited many of us to his place in Estes Park.

Edit: That was 1200 miles away for me...I bet you’re a LOT closer!
Save some time to drive around in Rocky Mountain National Park.
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[Loydski29]

Well here’s the first two of the new year! Athol no.0 and no.2 they are neat little vises I’m happy to have them!


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[Smitty]

Nice pickups Loydski, your off to a good start.

 

[Loydski29]

Nice pickups Loydski, your off to a good start.

Thanks Smitty my goal is to try and complete the family of these athol’s

 

[lardy1]

Thanks Smitty my goal is to try and complete the family of these athol’s

I sure hope you share them with us when you do it.

 

[Smitty]

Well here’s the first two of the new year! Athol no.0 and no.2 they are neat little vises I’m happy to have them!


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How many are in the set? I’ll keep an eye out.

 

[rusty65]

How many are in the set? I’ll keep an eye out.

Numbers 0-2 for quick release and 3-5 for non quick acting. So the numbers go up to at least 5. There might also be a no 6 with a ratchet handle but could be mistaken.


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[Loydski29]

Smitty I think there’s 5 I’m trying to find an old catalog advertisement to confirm that but no luck so far.