The VISES of Garage Journal

[WickedJP]

Wicked, that 835 is in great condition. The jaw towers look super clean, nice find.

Thanks! I’ve been looking for one for awhile now. I was really pleased when this one popped up.

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Picked up my first Wilton bullet today with some considerable long distance help from Drivesitfar. Once I was able to see it in person it was a lot rougher than the 2 really bad pics that barely showed the vise in the background. I paid $40 for it thinking I want to learn about these bullet vises. If I am really really lucky maybe I could find replacement parts and get this working but worse case I'll treat it as a parts vise. Once I got the vise home my fears were confirmed that the vise nut and vise nut housing were missing. Here is the list of issues I see:
1) Missing parts: Vise nut, vise nut housing and end cap
2) Damaged parts: Vise nut retaining pins and swivel base plate

I realize that a significant list of issues but to my inexperienced Wilton bullet vise eye, the remaining parts see to be in pretty good shape. As the jaws are frozen together I can't see the faces but externally they don't appear to have been beat up much. This is the first bullet vise I've seen in this area that didn't have a pretty high asking price. Is it worth fixing IF I can find replacement parts? How difficult are these parts to find?

What type of bullet vise is this? Model #? Thoughts on getting the parts free and moving again? Should I be posting these questions in the vise repair thread instead of here?

Thanks guys!

 

[Vise]

Smitty - that 926 looks flawless. Very jealous.

 

[Smitty]

Thanks Vise. I spent four hours stripping, wire wheeling and detail work to bring it up to speed. I liked it so much I actually bolted it to my main bench.


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[Shiftless]

Smitty:
That Starrett cleaned up really nice! Good job.

JP:
You found an amazingly original bullet there. It was worth the wait. Good plan to just clean it up and use it. Things like that are only original once.

Tex:
You are indeed missing some critical parts. Don’t part it out quite yet. You might be able to find another bullet with damaged jaw towers to be a donor to get the back nose cone and nut. I have seen such vises in the past but didn’t buy them even though they were in the $50 range. Even though it’s stuck, the vise looks to be in good shape.
There are several good tutorials on the repair thread about freeing up stuck vises and bullets in particular. I wrote one on freeing up a 4 inch bullet.
.
.

 

[Smitty]

Thanks Shift.

 

[XCMTB83]

Well I purchased my first Athol today, 614 model. It is a bit of a derelict but being a machinist that is just the way I like them. Not to mention the uglier they are to begin with, the more striking the "after" photo is. For only $5 at an auction it should keep me entertained and out of trouble for awhile.

As you can see the handle is farm-grade but that is sure to get an upgrade. While admiring how nice the buttress threads still are on the spindle I realized the garter has been welded in place in two locations. Certainly this is not original is it??

On a side note, I thought that Athols used some sort of a ring-spring-ring setup? Is this correct? Any links to what this looks like? Thanks!

 

[Shiftless]

XCMTB:

I just happened to have an Athol 614 in my collection. Here is a close up of that area on mine.

The second pic is before I cleaned it up.

 

[txlonghorn1989]

...

Tex:
You are indeed missing some critical parts. Don’t part it out quite yet. You might be able to find another bullet with damaged jaw towers to be a donor to get the back nose cone and nut. I have seen such vises in the past but didn’t buy them even though they were in the $50 range. Even though it’s stuck, the vise looks to be in good shape.
There are several good tutorials on the repair thread about freeing up stuck vises and bullets in particular. I wrote one on freeing up a 4 inch bullet.
.
.

Thanks Shiftless. What search would you recommend I use in the repair thread?

 

[Shiftless]

Thanks Shiftless. What search would you recommend I use in the repair thread?

You’re welcome. I doubt that you can find it with the less than robust search function on GJ.

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Just for anyone else wanting to know a search for "bullet frozen jaws" turned up one comment and it was yours that you mentioned above. It's nice to get lucky!

 

[bagged89s10]

Thanks.

If you would, though, please inspect the top of your swivel jaw carefully. Is there a dimple dead center (and dead center to the center of the swivel boss underneath)? Is there any material in a perfectly round shape around that center mark on the top of the swivel jaw? And finally, would you (or anyone else) please care to comment on my question/conjecture about the possibility of the swivel jaw being bored or cast with a bore and the swivel boss piece being integrated after the swivel jaw was cast? Again, I would've assumed the swivel boss was cast with the jaw when the jaw was cast. But that dead center mark being perfectly dead center with the swivel boss, and the round area around the center mark at the top, has me wondering.


Sound reasoning and advice, Vise, but my desire to put this little baby back into its original condition got the best of me. I did have one small issue, but here are the results.

that’s an amazing vise!

 

[nutjob]

Thanks - posting the pic again just to make sure:

I'm not sure it requires new jaws, just wanted to know if there's any standard part available. I mainly just need one (occasionally) for general garage stuff. I have a carpenter's vise on my bench, but it obviously has limitations.

Any condition things jump out from the pic (obv. not lots to look at, but...)

Hard to tell for sure but the dynamic jaw looks like it is bent. The jaw does not meet up flush at the top with the back jaw. Could be just the angle of the pic but it does not look right.



Kevin

 

[XCMTB83]

XCMTB:

I just happened to have an Athol 614 in my collection. Here is a close up of that area on mine.

The second pic is before I cleaned it up.

Thanks, Shiftless. That makes more sense. I assume the groove in the spindle is hidden under the make-shift garter/retainer.

 

[Shiftless]

Hard to tell for sure but the dynamic jaw looks like it is bent. The jaw does not meet up flush at the top with the back jaw. Could be just the angle of the pic but it does not look right.


Kevin

I agree.
I used to have a Columbian made Craftsman with that same 2 piece slide that was slightly bent. The problem was that as the jaws opened and closed, the alignment with the screw and nut became a bigger angle resulting in binding. That vise of mine wouldn’t close all the way. Maybe if I had access to a big hydraulic press I could have straightened it up, but when a guy came along and offered me $20 for the vise, as is, I took the money. It was otherwise like new.

 

[M635_Guy]

Hard to tell for sure but the dynamic jaw looks like it is bent. The jaw does not meet up flush at the top with the back jaw. Could be just the angle of the pic but it does not look right.



Kevin

I thought it looked a little bent too. I've had something pop up that's preventing me from going to take a look today/tomorrow, and I think I'm just going to keep an eye out for a while, or buy a Wilton 550p or Yost 750 DI. Both are probably overkill for me, but like the head rotation, etc. The floating pipe jaws of the Yost seems like a good feature....

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Got a text this morning from the guy I bought the Wilton bullet vise from yesterday. His son found this in the garage...

PS How does one determine the model number on these Wilton bullet vises? Also, stamped on the outside of the vise nut is "7-50". If this is a date what does it represent?

 

[dannyr]

I'm not allowed to post images yet (newish member), but an easy search on UK ebay will show an Emmert 101 - nothing like their well-known pattern maker's vice - this is certainly unusual in the UK - is it well-known in USA?
What trades used this?

 

[Shiftless]

Got a text this morning from the guy I bought the Wilton bullet vise from yesterday. His son found this in the garage...

PS How does one determine the model number on these Wilton bullet vises? Also, stamped on the outside of the vise nut is "7-50". If this is a date what does it represent?

You lucked out (assuming the guy doesn’t want more money now)
With those parts, I’d say you got a GREAT deal on that bullet even thought it’s currently stuck. You will overcome that problem...I have confidence in you!

Date codes are on the bottom of the key that runs in the slot. You’ll see that once the dynamic is out of the vise body.

 

[Vise]

Got a text this morning from the guy I bought the Wilton bullet vise from yesterday. His son found this in the garage...

PS How does one determine the model number on these Wilton bullet vises? Also, stamped on the outside of the vise nut is "7-50". If this is a date what does it represent?

Love stories like this. Happy for you.

 

[22george]

So what I have previously done and had success with is applying 3-4 liberal coats of BLO allowing some drying time in between. Then I fired up the charcoal BBQ, I get it nice and hot and leave it in until I get the desired effect.. The hotter the part gets the darker the BLO will turn.

Sent from my SM-Gl will do that to next summer.965U using The Garage Journal mobile app

Thanks for the info. I have 2 vises l will do that to next summer

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Thanks Shiftless, Vise! Yeah, I know I got lucky, real lucky. He didn't want more money. After the estate sale they were starting to clear things out as in going to the dump. Lucky as all get out that the son didn't just toss that part away. I probably should have bought a lottery ticket on my way home after picking it up but I'm happy just having those parts!

 

[KMScott]

First day in the shop after a vacation and retiring last year. Had to make something so I cut a couple swivel bases for three 2" Wilton's I own. These bases are hard to find so just decided to make them. Been waiting a long time to make something for me. I am liking retirement.

 

[Dlavallee22]

First day in the shop after a vacation and retiring last year. Had to make something so I cut a couple swivel bases for three 2" Wilton's I own. These bases are hard to find so just decided to make them. Been waiting a long time to make something for me. I am liking retirement.

Wow that’s some amazing work right there! Must feel good to actually be making stuff for yourself these days!

 

[chrisnazzy]

First day in the shop after a vacation and retiring last year. Had to make something so I cut a couple swivel bases for three 2" Wilton's I own. These bases are hard to find so just decided to make them. Been waiting a long time to make something for me. I am liking retirement.

Kevin,

Obviously your talents as a machinist and tool maker are incredible, but your first post of working in your shop since retirement makes me feel like there is a real possibility that we haven't even begun to comprehend what you're truly capable of.

I for one can't wait to witness it. You may be the only person in the world who could just go out in their shop and decide to whittle out a few baby bullet swivel bases just because they're bored.

I'm pretty sure I haven't yet so let me join the others in offering you congratulations on your retirement. Glad you're still going to be a regular contributor here and over on the FB group!

Chris

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[chrisnazzy]

Thanks Vise. I spent four hours stripping, wire wheeling and detail work to bring it up to speed. I liked it so much I actually bolted it to my main bench.


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It's a sad day when the Prentiss man unbolts the P22 and replaces it with a Starrett 926. I was sure the only vises that could have ever accomplished that in your shop would have been a P23 or a P58/98.



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[Mslund1]

First day in the shop after a vacation and retiring last year. Had to make something so I cut a couple swivel bases for three 2" Wilton's I own. These bases are hard to find so just decided to make them. Been waiting a long time to make something for me. I am liking retirement.

Awesome! Love seeing your work.

On a side note, I was able to get the Oswego 23 1/2 I picked up cleaned up today.

Currently trying to talk myself out of pulling the Monarch off the basement bench and mounting the Oswego in its place.






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[jg4660]

Thats an awesome vise...I'd mount it on my bench.

 

[Productbob]

Smitty the Starrett looks great cleaned up and mounted on your bench!

 

[Productbob]

Ms Oswego came out beautiful; mount it to a stand and keep the monarch on the bench?

Kevin Oh yea, you're gonna love working for you

txlong nice stroke of good fortune!

 

[Smitty]

KMS, beautiful job on those swivel bases. Have you ever considered making jaws in your spare time?

Bob, thanks, I had to through bolt the beast.

Chris, Yeah my 22’s are currently frowning on the welding bench.


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[Shiftless]

KMS, beautiful job on those swivel bases. Have you ever considered making jaws in your spare time?

New readers should realize that Smitty is joking.

KMS:
Each of your postings surpasses the last. You make those baby bullet bases seem to appear out of nowhere as if by magic.
.
.

 

[KMScott]

Thanks guys, if anyone want the geometry for the baby bases then I am happy to share. Even have the 825/925 bases designed too. I use Autocad. Old fashion 2-d drawings. Vise jaws are in my past and hope I can find someone to take over. Not ready to let the machines go yet, still have many vises to put back together and even carve a few more bases for the small Athol and Stanley clamp-ons. Those come out so sweet.

Back to the Baby Wilton's, two came to me with broken endcap supports, after looking at them closely I seen they were pretty simple to make. I used a Athol 624 Donner vise to keep the material in cast.

 

[Vise]

Thanks guys, if anyone want the geometry for the baby bases then I am happy to share. Even have the 825/925 bases designed too. I use Autocad. Old fashion 2-d drawings. Vise jaws are in my past and hope I can find someone to take over. Not ready to let the machines go yet, still have many vises to put back together and even carve a few more bases for the small Athol and Stanley clamp-ons. Those come out so sweet.

Back to the Baby Wilton's, two came to me with broken endcap supports, after looking at them closely I seen they were pretty simple to make. I used a Athol 624 Donner vise to keep the material in cast.

Looking great Kevin!

 

[EchoBravoSierra]

Ok, I'll play. I searched the thread, and only saw two of these mentioned so far. I picked it up at an estate sale a couple years ago for $10. I had to go look for a name on it- I'd never paid attention before. It's a Hecsharp No. 435 from Japan.

 

[Shiftless]

EBS:
Welcome to the group. That is indeed a rare vise. Is it stamped BF on the underside of the base? You even have the often missing pipe jaws!

And I’m drooling over your Chevy truck avatar. Is that a 1948?

 

[EchoBravoSierra]

EBS:
Welcome to the group. That is indeed a rare vise. Is it stamped BF on the underside of the base? You even have the often missing pipe jaws!

And I’m drooling over your Chevy truck avatar. Is that a 1948?

Shiftless, thanks for the welcome. What is the significance of the BF? I'll check for it before I bolt it down.

The truck is a '50 (Same basic body style as '47-'53). More pics of it are here: https://public.fotki.com/chevelle350/cars/50chevy/

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Update on my first Wilton bullet. Turns out the number on the side of the static jaw is 9350 not 3350. Searching on that versus 3350 is providing more informative results. Also, I thought we had measured the jaws at the estate sale but apparently not. The jaws are 3.5" not 4" as I stated previously. I mentioned this but no one commented on it - the vise nut is stamped "7-40". Any thoughts on what that might be?

Edit: Perusing the results of my search for info I see another 9350 posted with the same "7-40" on the vise nut so I'm guessing that's likely a part number not a date.

 

[GETRIDAONE]

That is a part number. The manufacture date as suggested in another thread is on the bottom of the keyway. From the looks of the bent pins, the new rear piece you got has to have the holes broken out ?

 

[Shiftless]

Shiftless, thanks for the welcome. What is the significance of the BF? I'll check for it before I bolt it down.

The truck is a '50 (Same basic body style as '47-'53). More pics of it are here: https://public.fotki.com/chevelle350/cars/50chevy/

The BF is an identifying mark for one particular foundry in Japan. I can’t remember the name of the foundry but the BF marks appear on the high quality Craftsman homeowner grade vises that Sears sold in the 1970’s and maybe other times. I don’t know the whole history of those but I used to have one as a user and it was just as good as many USA made vises of similar design.