The VISES of Garage Journal

[tool_scrounge]

This Yost 34C was my main motivation to make a handle. The stock handle was a short stubby crimped mess. I couldn’t wait to cut it off. I’m going to strip this vise and give it a blackened natural finish. I’m also going to beef up the swivel locks because the original ones are low quality.

From my research and observations, Yost made combo vises for the US government with some modifications i presume to reduce cost, such as:

No masking for painting (painted slides for example)
Short non-chromed handle with crimped ends instead of balls
Non-chromed leadscrew
Sometimes different styles of swivel locks
Sometimes different paint color

Not that this makes them a bad vise, just the more basic version of the regular commercial vise.

Below is another example.

 

[Smitty]

Tool scrounge. Thanks for the info, I appreciate it. This is going to be a good project vise.

 

[Shiftless]

Here is a pic of the apparently never used 34C I have listed on the GJ classifieds.
It has a short handle but the ends have balls instead of the crimps. And the slide, since it wasn’t painted, has a nice patina of surface rust.

 

[Smitty]

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[Vise]

Smitty - That's a very nice find. But no wonder you always score these great vises, you're calendar is wide open!

 

[Shiftless]

Another score for Smitty!

 

[Smitty]

Vise, it’s filling up fast.



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[va.grouseman]

Smitty, I also have to take 2 ALEVE when lifting one that heavy.---It's h--- to get old.

 

[Smitty]

The little Prentiss is not new, I was just pressing it back into service to cure a Super Bowl sized hangover. They actually sit on a corner of my desk at work.


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[Smitty]

VA, The heaviest part of those little vises is the price tag.

 

[Vise]

Vise, it’s filling up fast.



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[Rileysan]

Vise, it’s filling up fast.



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Lists can have so many meanings!

 

[Smitty]

Riley
My therapist made me get rid of that list. Vise made my Christmas card list.

 

[M635_Guy]

My Yost 750 Di finally came today. Hoping to set it up soon!

 

[Vise]

Riley
My therapist made me get rid of that list. Vise made my Christmas card list.

See, it SOUNDS nice, but it's really just an obligation to reciprocate the gesture.

 

[Smitty]

Vise



Eleven months early.


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[freudianfloyd]

My first Wilton vise and got a killer deal. I dont think the guy knew what it was worth.
View media item 100693And here it is next to my Reed 204 1/5.
View media item 100694

 

[Outlawmws]

that looks a lot smaller than 4"

 

[freudianfloyd]

that looks a lot smaller than 4"

Well it's a 4 1/2". I think I have some strange filter on my phone or something. The vise is huge but looks little in the pictures.
View media item 100696View media item 100695View media item 100698

 

[freudianfloyd]

Look big damnit!!! Its big I swear.
View media item 100699

 

[Shiftless]

f.f.: Congrats!
Your C1 is a great vise. I have dozens of vises in that general size range and there is only one of them on my workbench... a Wilton C1

Here is what yours would look like if you painted it with Rustoleum Verde Green.

 

[freudianfloyd]

f.f.: Congrats!
Your C1 is a great vise. I have dozens of vises in that general size range and there is only one of them on my workbench... a Wilton C1

Here is what yours would look like if you painted it with Rustoleum Verde Green.

Yeah, that's going to be the tough decision. I cant decide on a color. Yours looks great.

 

[Shiftless]

Yeah, that's going to be the tough decision. I cant decide on a color. Yours looks great.

Thanks
For your consideration, here is one I painted light blue.
(Pipe jaws were not installed when I took this pic)

In case you didn’t know, Wilton will probably send you a sticker to put on the front jaw in that recess. They sent me one free.


.

 

[arms1970]

Look big damnit!!! Its big I swear.
View media item 100699

Is that what you tell the ladies??

 

[freudianfloyd]

Is that what you tell the ladies??

My vise is a grower, not a show-er.

 

[freudianfloyd]

Thanks
For your consideration, here is one I painted light blue.
(Pipe jaws were not installed when I took this pic)

In case you didn’t know, Wilton will probably send you a sticker to put on the front jaw in that recess. They sent me one free.


.

Awesome, I didn't know they even had a sticker there.

 

[Shiftless]

Awesome, I didn't know they even had a sticker there.

Here is the one on my user C1

 

[RG Rude]

Thanks
For your consideration, here is one I painted light blue.
(Pipe jaws were not installed when I took this pic)

In case you didn’t know, Wilton will probably send you a sticker to put on the front jaw in that recess. They sent me one free.


.

Good tip.That's a beautiful vise.

 

[freudianfloyd]

Well my $30 C1 is being stubborn. The slide works great and turns with 1 finger, but the swivel base is seized solid and the two lock nuts (the carriage bolts) are stripped. And the three screws heads holding the front ring on are all stripped. So now I'm debating. Do I use it as is, fix it and spend more money on it, or sell it and make a profit as is. It's the age old Garage Journal dilemma, I dont need it but I like it.

 

[kenc184]

Well my $30 C1 is being stubborn. The slide works great and turns with 1 finger, but the swivel base is seized solid and the two lock nuts (the carriage bolts) are stripped. And the three screws heads holding the front ring on are all stripped. So now I'm debating. Do I use it as is, fix it and spend more money on it, or sell it and make a profit as is. It's the age old Garage Journal dilemma, I dont need it but I like it.

I'll give you $40 plus shipping. A quick tenner profit, can't beat that.

 

[CrotalusAtrox]

Well my $30 C1 is being stubborn. The slide works great and turns with 1 finger, but the swivel base is seized solid and the two lock nuts (the carriage bolts) are stripped. And the three screws heads holding the front ring on are all stripped. So now I'm debating. Do I use it as is, fix it and spend more money on it, or sell it and make a profit as is. It's the age old Garage Journal dilemma, I dont need it but I like it.

Fixing it would be less then $50 and would bring the value up more then the $50 you spend. If you need help on fixing just ask lots of good guys on here that can walk you through it.

 

[va.grouseman]

Well my $30 C1 is being stubborn. The slide works great and turns with 1 finger, but the swivel base is seized solid and the two lock nuts (the carriage bolts) are stripped. And the three screws heads holding the front ring on are all stripped. So now I'm debating. Do I use it as is, fix it and spend more money on it, or sell it and make a profit as is. It's the age old Garage Journal dilemma, I dont need it but I like it.

I might venture an offer on your C1, but first I would have to know what the shipping would be form Nowhere to South Central Va.---I can't figure out how to quantify it.

 

[Shiftless]

I’d be in too, but google maps can’t compute the distance from Nowhere to my house.

Long ago I paid double that for a Wilton 400S that was seized up. The seller told me that his phone blew up with buyers. Lucky for me I was first in line.

 

[nutjob]

I am closer to Nowhere than everyone else so I am in for an offer!

Kevin

 

[freudianfloyd]

Sorry to disappoint you guys, but I decided to keep the vise for now and fix it up. I just placed an order for a few parts I know it will need. Hopefully tonight when I get home I can get to tearing it down and then I will take it to work to sandblast/polish and paint it while waiting on the parts to come in.

 

[Outlawmws]

I might venture an offer on your C1, but first I would have to know what the shipping would be form Nowhere to South Central Va.---I can't figure out how to quantify it.

I’d be in too, but google maps can’t compute the distance from Nowhere to my house.

Long ago I paid double that for a Wilton 400S that was seized up. The seller told me that his phone blew up with buyers. Lucky for me I was first in line.

I am closer to Nowhere than everyone else so I am in for an offer!

Kevin

There is a Nowhere in OK!

But its a moot point now...

Sorry to disappoint you guys, but I decided to keep the vise for now and fix it up. I just placed an order for a few parts I know it will need. Hopefully tonight when I get home I can get to tearing it down and then I will take it to work to sandblast/polish and paint it while waiting on the parts to come in.

 

[va.grouseman]

Kevin, according to Outlaw, you're no closer to Nowhere than I am.---I'm glad he decided to keep it, shipping would be a bear.

 

[dkroth]

There is a Nowhere in OK!

But its a moot point now...

Thank you for using the correct word.







.

 

[Shiftless]

Sorry to disappoint you guys, but I decided to keep the vise for now and fix it up. I just placed an order for a few parts I know it will need. Hopefully tonight when I get home I can get to tearing it down and then I will take it to work to sandblast/polish and paint it while waiting on the parts to come in.

It’s quite handy to have a job in a shop where you can bring in personal projects. I envy you guys.

f.f.:
Blasting is a fast and thorough way to remove rust and old paint.
You probably already know this, but it’s a good place to remind guys who have access to a blast cabinet. DON’T media blast machined surfaces like the round slide on a Wilton bullet vise. Mask off the inside of the main vise body and the slide.
Are there other cautions that I missed?

(I have never media blasted a vise, partially because I don’t have access to a blast cabinet but also because blasting forever destroys the old cast iron patina.)

 

[Mslund1]

Seeking the wisdom of the vise gods here.

I’m set to pick up this cast iron stand this weekend




Top plate is 18”x12”x1/2”
Bottom plate is 22”x10”x1/2” with 3/4” “feet”
Overall 28.5” tall.
Weighs ~110lbs

I plan to mount my Chas. Parker 955 to it.



My question is, the vise is ~10” to the top of the jaws, mounted on the stand it would be ~38” tall. Being 6’ 4” that’s a little low for my taste.

Preferably I’d like the top of the jaws to be in the 45” neighborhood.

I had a thought to fab a “riser” out of square tube and mount to the bottom. But again, maybe this isn’t the stand for me.

Any suggestions/recommendations would be lovely




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