The VISES of Garage Journal

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

John takes them off of the workbench every Saturday and washes them off and gives each and every one a new coat of wax... If the paint has some swirls, he breaks out the PC polisher and Menzerna and gets to work until it is flawless again.

The first Saturday of the month is reserved for a full disassembly and repaint..

Actually he took those photos after he had cleaned and painted each one and before they went on the bench to be used.

The Yost had been used quite a bit, but the others had just been painted. I have repainted the Yost since that picture was taken...is a new paintjob every ten years too often?!

The Taskmaster has been mounted. I haven't found a place to mount the Sears vise yet, though I have an idea. But first I need to find a spot to mount the Wilton I got last fall.

 

[Jack Olsen]

The 3-1/2" Columbia fits pretty easily in the 10" jaws of my newer Chinese vise. It claims to be forged steel (well, maybe it is), but it opens over 13".

 

[MrMark]

John takes them off of the workbench every Saturday and washes them off and gives each and every one a new coat of wax... If the paint has some swirls, he breaks out the PC polisher and Menzerna and gets to work until it is flawless again.

The first Saturday of the month is reserved for a full disassembly and repaint..





Actually he took those photos after he had cleaned and painted each one and before they went on the bench to be used.

haha Menzerna. Not many people know about that. That is some serious stuff.

 

[BanjoSavesTheDay]

The 3-1/2" Columbia fits pretty easily in the 10" jaws of my newer Chinese vise. It claims to be forged steel (well, maybe it is), but it opens over 13".

We could be on to something here. "My vise is better than yours because I can put OTHER vises in it!"

 

[ZRX61]

This is rather bizarre.... When I picked up the Paramo it had aluminum jaws which I appear to have misplaced.. well, I know they are here *somewhere*..... however, last night I was in the garage messing about with the bike & sitting on a shelf next to it was a steel vise jaw... for a Paramo & I have no idea where the hell it came from...
I'm off out this AM to pick up some steel, aluminum & maybe even some brass 1 x 1/2 bar to make some new jaws.

 

[bsakal]

Here is a Columbian 3-1/2" vise that belonged to my other grandfather. I almost chucked it, but it is the only item I have that belonged to him, he died when I was 5. I wish I took a pic of what it looked like 2 weeks ago when I started it, it was a real POS. One jaw was missing, and a machine screw was used to hold in a piece of angle iron to replace it. I dunked the vise overnight in EvapoRust. A friend and I milled the jaws to install replacement Wilton inserts, and I glass-beaded the vise. I then used Rustoleum Hi-Performance Stainless Steel paint to paint the beam and handle...

 

[BanjoSavesTheDay]

Sweet vise, bsakal! Good call not throwing it away. That was a very clever idea with the jaws. Now you'll always be able to replace them easily with new ones. Also, there are several different places online where you can buy jaws for Wiltons made out of different materials.

Here is one: http://cgi.ebay.com/WILTON-VISE-JAW...QQptZBI_Tool_Work_Holding?hash=item5d26c5c3d7

Did your vise originally have T-shaped jaws?

 

[bsakal]

Thanks Banjo! The vise originally had jaws similar to the Wilton jaws, only alot smaller, and the holes were in different places. I have the old jaw insert somewhere, I'll have to get a pic of it. I did the same thing to an old Reed vise that didn't have a removable jaw insert, and sold it to a co-worker. I wish I had pics of it, it came out sweet.

 

[66RICH]

I picked up this old Columbian from work years ago for free. (someone
had got to close with a torch!) I finally got around to repairing it last
year. Milled up a new set of jaws, and welded up most of the cuts
in the vise head. I also made up a set of soft jaws from some 3003
alum for it. I see many more years of use for it.
Rich

 

[mjozefow]

I picked up this old Columbian from work years ago for free. (someone
had got to close with a torch!) I finally got around to repairing it last
year. Milled up a new set of jaws, and welded up most of the cuts
in the vise head. I also made up a set of soft jaws from some 3003
alum for it. I see many more years of use for it.
Rich

Good on you for fixing it up!

And I'm on post 500 woohoo!

 

[BanjoSavesTheDay]

Rich, picture number 4 reminds me of a medieval jousting horse with armor for some reason. LOL

 

[66RICH]

Kole: That's only for the 'Steeds', I'm working on a
Chastity Belt for the 'Mares' ! LOL

Rich

 

[jeepnut24]

Im hoping to pick one up one of these days....

 

[Mickey O]

Several not mounted vices, some are going, some are staying.

 

[Kevin54]

Hey Micky....whats with everything laying out on the floor? Are you getting ready to sell most of whats showing or just doing some Spring organizing?

Whats up with the handles on the pipe wrenches just to the left of the vises? It looks like the handles may have Plasti-Dip on them. Also can you show a closer pic of the pipe wrench with the round blue handle next to the blue vise?

 

[06wt]

whats next to the ridgid pipe vise? parker? if your sellin id like to know more about it, since i took mine to the shop i want one for home

 

[bmwpower]

Several not mounted vices, some are going, some are staying.

Brake line wrenches and ball peins please.... if you're selling.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Hey Micky....whats with everything laying out on the floor? Are you getting ready to sell most of whats showing or just doing some Spring organizing?

IIRC, he mentioned in another thread that he was getting his stuff organized.

 

[harvero]

I bought this vise about 20 years ago.

 

[Mickey O]

Hey Micky....whats with everything laying out on the floor? Are you getting ready to sell most of whats showing or just doing some Spring organizing?

It's my 30 year clean up, I don't think there will be another one.

Whats up with the handles on the pipe wrenches just to the left of the vises? It looks like the handles may have Plasti-Dip on them. Also can you show a closer pic of the pipe wrench with the round blue handle next to the blue vise?

On the Stillson style pipe wrenches it's paint. Here's the one with the round blue handle, it's actually black:

 

[Mickey O]

whats next to the ridgid pipe vise? parker? if your sellin id like to know more about it, since i took mine to the shop i want one for home

The large black one? That's a Morgan, Chicago vise, not sure if what I'm going to do with it yet.

 

[Mickey O]

Brake line wrenches and ball peins please.... if you're selling.

The oly stuff in that picture I'll be getting rid of (at this point) are the Craftsman and Wilton vises and the stillson style pipe wrenches (only the red ones).

 

[rwhite692]

Wow, this is a great thread, many great vises, and so much history...Vises (the good ones) are one of those tools (like Anvils) that just almost never "just go away", we just look after them, for the next generation....I think there is a watch company that uses a slogan like that.

This thread needs to be a sticky!

Anyway...This is my 4" Wilton "bullet" style vise, Model 9400-A, from (I think) 1959 or earlier.

I picked it up at the same time I was buying some car parts from someone on craigslist, I saw it just sitting on the floor of the guy’s garage, and I think (when factored in with the other stuff I bought from him), I paid around 60 bucks for it.

It is now waiting patiently for me to spend some quality time with it to clean it up, which I will do as soon as I get my benches set up in my new shop.

Aside from a small chip-out at the top edge, the jaws are in really great shape. It appears to have spent the last 50 years having a very pampered life… there is not a single hammer mark on the little "anvil" pad, nor on the handle.

It looks as though the original paint color may have been a solid, bright medium blue, close to what I'd call "Miller welding equipment blue".

Interesting is the “GUAR EXP” stamped above the 12-31-59 date stamp…Anyone know what that means?

I'm guessing that it is the warranty expiration date, ie, "GUARantee EXPires on 12-31-59?

-Rob

 

[strnge]

 

[bent valves]

First post from a long time tool junkie. I thought adding my old school Wilton machinist vice to this thread would be a good start. The vice is a model 600 with swivel base. It weighs in at about 150 pounds with 6 inch jaws.

This version of the Wilton has the jaws attached from the back using hex cap screws. The newer Wiltons seem to attach the jaws using screws from the inside.

Here are some photos of the vice showing modifications I did to replace the old (and bent) handle.

Vice cleaned up and painted.

The original jaws were in good shape. I bought some copper and poly soft jaws.

Here is the original shorter handle and my longer tool steel replacement. The end caps were lathe turned and threaded to attach to the new bar.

On another forum I found the idea of drilling and tapping the end of the vice screw, so a small ball bearing, spring and set screw can be added. This mod allows the handle to stay in position and can be moved easily with a push. Spinning the handle is now easy because it will stay centered.

Another view showing the handle held up. There was a small grove turned in the center of the handle so the balance point is easy to locate.

I have been lurking for about a year and look forward to feeding my habit.
Hope the pictures work.

 

[mjozefow]

First post from a long time tool junkie. I thought adding my old school Wilton machinist vice to this thread would be a good start. The vice is a model 600 with swivel base. It weighs in at about 150 pounds with 6 inch jaws.

This version of the Wilton has the jaws attached from the back using hex cap screws. The newer Wiltons seem to attach the jaws using screws from the inside.

Here are some photos of the vice showing modifications I did to replace the old (and bent) handle.

Vice cleaned up and painted.

The original jaws were in good shape. I bought some copper and poly soft jaws.

Here is the original shorter handle and my longer tool steel replacement. The end caps were lathe turned and threaded to attach to the new bar.

On another forum I found the idea of drilling and tapping the end of the vice screw, so a small ball bearing, spring and set screw can be added. This mod allows the handle to stay in position and can be moved easily with a push. Spinning the handle is now easy because it will stay centered.

Another view showing the handle held up. There was a small grove turned in the center of the handle so the balance point is easy to locate.

I have been lurking for about a year and look forward to feeding my habit.
Hope the pictures work.

NICE WORK! That vise looks FANTASTIC! Good on you for getting it fixed up so nice.

 

[rwhite692]

Dave, Great Job!

Adding the new handle with detent groove / spring / ball bearing, is a GREAT idea!

 

[jeepnut24]

Here is my "new" columbian. Not sure about its pedegree, but it will work for now. Its all torn apart waiting for Evaporust. Not exactly made to the highest tolerances either, but it was cheap.

 

[ZRX61]

Bought home the *new to me* Dunlap yesterday:

& a minor haul of aluminium & phenolic chunks...

 

[ZRX61]

Dunlap update:

 

[mjozefow]

Looking good ZRX61!

 

[bmwpower]

First post from a long time tool junkie. I thought adding my old school Wilton machinist vice to this thread would be a good start. The vice is a model 600 with swivel base. It weighs in at about 150 pounds with 6 inch jaws.

This version of the Wilton has the jaws attached from the back using hex cap screws. The newer Wiltons seem to attach the jaws using screws from the inside. ...

Nice Wilton man.

BTW, I think all the new big Wiltons come with those style jaws, so it's not something that only came on the old ones.

 

[waltmcq]

I bought this vise about 20 years ago.

I have one of these. Seems to work fine for the last 20 years

 

[ZRX61]

Anyone else thing this thread needs to be a *sticky*?

 

[BanjoSavesTheDay]

Anyone else thing this thread needs to be a *sticky*?

I would if the stickies didn't already take up half the page.

 

[ZRX61]

I would if the stickies didn't already take up half the page.

Maybe we need a "stickies forum"?

 

[VegasBruce]

Maybe we need a "stickies forum"?

A "Best of" sub-forum.

 

[bent valves]

Here is another vice (vise) I use. It is a Kurt D60, 6". The Kurt is one of the better USA made tools for accurately clamping metal for machining. These angle lock vices will pull the movable jaw downward as it is tightened and keep the metal to be machined down on the base. All dimensions of the vice are specified to be flat and parallel to tenths of a mil.

Unfortunately, I have read that Kurt is now building their product in Asia. Another US company that got its start around the time of WWII making a product with no equal, and now feeling the effects of the global market.

 

[slip knot]

Here is a pic of my Chas Parker vice. As you can tell its not a show piece but a daily user. It's mounted on 1/2 in wall 4" pipe and has 13 , 80lb bags of concrete as a base. Wouldn't want to be without it.

 

[mjozefow]

Here is a pic of my Chas Parker vice. As you can tell its not a show piece but a daily user. It's mounted on 1/2 in wall 4" pipe and has 13 , 80lb bags of concrete as a base. Wouldn't want to be without it.

Really nice ole Charles Parker you got there! I'm pretty partial to those I must admit.