The VISES of Garage Journal

[royce]

Nice job on the Yost Smitty.

Being retired since Christmas let me restore several vises. I had to snap some quick pictures since they go quickly out here in Colorado. I list them on CL and then they are gone.

Like Smitty used I did the Reeds in the Black Oil from Sculpt Nouveau. The Reeds are a 404-1/2 Swivel Jaw. 4-1/2" jaws and built in 4-1919.

Reed 103-1/2 and a Reed 103 with 3-1/2" and 3" Custom made jaws. I replaced all 3 Reed's cast in jaws with custom made set's. I don't have pic:s up here of these two flat nose Reeds. they are in my shop computer.

Left the C2 bare and the new owner want's to use the Black Oil so I sent some home with him.

Always such treat seeing your work Kevin.

Royce

 

[lynn225]

Almost finished with my Fulton 1825. I had to add a jaw and a spacer. Still want to clean up the faces a bit. I think it turned out good for the sad condition it was in. I appreciate the guidance offered here


IMG_4217 by Lynn, on Flickr
IMG_4366 by Lynn, on Flickr IMG_4359 by Lynn, on Flickr IMG_4362 by Lynn, on Flickr IMG_4368 by Lynn, on Flickr IMG_4363 by Lynn, on Flickr

 

[Shiftless]

Whoever thought this would be a good idea?

(Vise offered for sale near me)

 

[Smitty]

Shift
I looks like something Harbor Freight would sell.

 

[Maui]

JKB, I wasn’t even sure how to perform a patent search on this vise, and I believe that you found the right patent. Nice work! I wasn’t aware that the base was missing. I’m not enthusiastic about machining a new base assembly for it, but I’ll keep it for now and decide what to do with it down the road. It certainly is an unusual design.

Maui

Maui

Nice find. What do you think?

Full patent here:
https://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?PageN...1=1423774.PN.%26OS=pn/1423774%26RS=PN/1423774


Looks like some pieces/parts are missing, still outstanding specimen.

Keep in mind I am only betting my left testicle on this.

JKB

Maui

 

[Maui]

This piece is used under the vise Outlaw. Limited movement but enough for Pattern Making. Maybe 20 degrees. Pretty interesting vise Maui. and great work PghJKB for digging up the Patent. Maybe 4" jaw width?

Thanks Kevin. The base would probably have to machined and then welded together. The jaws measure about 3 3/4” across. Are you going to include it in your spreadsheet?

Maui

 

[Maui]

PghJKB...You nailed it! I'd bet your right testicle on it. I scoured my database and the internet with no success, thanks for the information.

Maui...That's a really interesting vise, even with a few missing base pieces. I'm amazed that we continue to see vises never seen before.

Fierljeppen, thanks. I agree. It is amazing that we continue to stumble across vises that nobody around here has seen.

Maui

 

[KMScott]

Thanks Kevin. The base would probably have to machined and then welded together. The jaws measure about 3 3/4” across. Are you going to include it in your spreadsheet?

Maui

Yes I already added it to the spreadsheet. Thanks for the jaw dimension. To bad the base setup wasn't with that vise.

 

[RTM]

Close to HF
https://www.kentool.com/product/professional-reversible-mechanic-s-vises/

 

[Shiftless]

Close to HF
https://www.kentool.com/product/professional-reversible-mechanic-s-vises/

That’s what I thought too at first.
The WTF for me is the fact that the jaw faces interlock which would not clamp an item vertically and would in fact bend something clamped into those zig zag jaws.
Maybe that vise is merely missing some parts, like a jaw face?

Am I missing something?

 

[RTM]

That’s what I thought too at first.
The WTF for me is the fact that the jaw faces interlock which would not clamp an item vertically and would in fact bend something clamped into those zig zag jaws.
Maybe that vise is merely missing some parts, like a jaw face?

Am I missing something?

In the link, if you remove the RH jaw insert, the shape should match, and collide.

 

[harley jim]

I went to an estate sale today and picked up this vise base. It may never fit anything again but it's on the shelf if anyone needs one. Only mark on it is a T inside a circle.

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[davethorik]

I went to an estate sale today and picked up this vise base. It may never fit anything again but it's on the shelf if anyone needs one.

With the slotted feet, I bet it's for a drill press or milling vise.

 

[nutjob]

I went to an estate sale today and picked up this vise base. It may never fit anything again but it's on the shelf if anyone needs one. Only mark on it is a T inside a circle.

I think this is from a milling machine vise.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Machinist-Mill-Milling-Vise-Swivel-Base-3-4-Center-Post-Indexed-to-1-Degree/183880742532?hash=item2ad0257684%3Ag%3AehkAAOSwY7hdFWtz&LH_ItemCondition=4

Kevin

 

[harley jim]

That's cool, I got to the sale late I'll bet the vise left with the drill press. A large 1960s craftsman table saw was goining out as I went in 75.00. The base will be on the shelf.

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[va.grouseman]

JKB, I wasn’t even sure how to perform a patent search on this vise, and I believe that you found the right patent. Nice work! I wasn’t aware that the base was missing. I’m not enthusiastic about machining a new base assembly for it, but I’ll keep it for now and decide what to do with it down the road. It certainly is an unusual design.

Maui





Maui

Well Maui I was wrong about the set-up for mounting that thing, and it's a pity that the base wasn't kept with it cause that would be one unbelievable find if it had.---But until such time as when you decide which direction you want to proceed with it, it can still be mounted to a PIPE.

 

[Mslund1]

Was able to get the Parker mounted to the stand today.

Surprisingly the top seems to have some “spring/flex” with the vise mounted, I would have thought it would be pretty rigid.

More than fine for my needs though.

I’ve reconsidered the idea of raising it, and have decided just to mount it to the floor in the garage.

Weighs in at 190lbs even




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[Outlawmws]

I went to an estate sale today and picked up this vise base. It may never fit anything again but it's on the shelf if anyone needs one. Only mark on it is a T inside a circle.

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With the slotted feet, I bet it's for a drill press or milling vise.

I think this is from a milling machine vise.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Machinist-Mill-Milling-Vise-Swivel-Base-3-4-Center-Post-Indexed-to-1-Degree/183880742532?hash=item2ad0257684%3Ag%3AehkAAOSwY7hdFWtz&LH_ItemCondition=4

Kevin

I agree Mill vise base. I have several from Kurt mil vise's - one is earmarked for my American Scale, Red seal #66 that is missing its base. - near perfect fit.

That’s what I thought too at first.
The WTF for me is the fact that the jaw faces interlock which would not clamp an item vertically and would in fact bend something clamped into those zig zag jaws.
Maybe that vise is merely missing some parts, like a jaw face?

Am I missing something?

I think it was modified to do just that. How much clearance for metal thickness? It would make dandy "Z" clips...)

MSL1, that looks great!

 

[Smitty]

Mslund
The stand looks great. When you first posted photos of it it looked like somebody fabbed it up but upon closer inspection it appears to be cast iron. Is there any markings on the stand?

 

[Firstram]

I built a stand for the Reed 406A I picked up recently, 6" angle iron and 3/4' plate. Mslund1, it's not as **** as yours but it is Heavy.

The Reed has had a rough life and the jaws are pretty beat. The base was warped from a previous repair, I faced it in the lathe to avoid breaking an ear off while bolting it down. Of course the taper pin was replaced with a bolt so I'll need to make one. I plan to grind off all of the welding boogers make a bronze thrust washer to take up the .150" slop in the screw and use it like a vise!
Anyone know an approximate date of manufacture?

 

[va.grouseman]

More stand art.---All you fellows never cease to amaze me.---That looks plenty hefty First.---A 406 is no slouch, but I'm pretty sure that bottom plate will hold her steady.

 

[royce]

I built a stand for the Reed 406A I picked up recently, 6" angle iron and 3/4' plate. Mslund1, it's not as **** as yours but it is Heavy.

The Reed has had a rough life and the jaws are pretty beat. The base was warped from a previous repair, I faced it in the lathe to avoid breaking an ear off while bolting it down. Of course the taper pin was replaced with a bolt so I'll need to make one. I plan to grind off all of the welding boogers make a bronze thrust washer to take up the .150" slop in the screw and use it like a vise!
Anyone know an approximate date of manufacture?

Firstram,
What a cool way to make a column.
Looks great

Royce

 

[Mslund1]

Mslund
The stand looks great. When you first posted photos of it it looked like somebody fabbed it up but upon closer inspection it appears to be cast iron. Is there any markings on the stand?

It is indeed cast, no clue what it was originally used for. There are no markings that I have found on it.


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[Maui]

Yes I already added it to the spreadsheet. Thanks for the jaw dimension. To bad the base setup wasn't with that vise.

I know. It may be somewhere at the estate sale where I bought this vise, but I doubt it. It was not with the vise when I found it. And as I looked around the property I didn’t see anything that resembled the base.

Maui

 

[PghJKB]

I know. It may be somewhere at the estate sale where I bought this vise, but I doubt it. It was not with the vise when I found it. And as I looked around the property I didn’t see anything that resembled the base.

Maui

Maui
You may be able to contact the liquidator and get permission to get a walk through of the house basement/garage to see if yo can find it.

A long shot: Most likely the clean up crew will look at the base as scrap - find out where they sell their scrap and see if the scrap yard will let you pick through the pile.

I know where the liquidators here sell their scrap and regularly look through the yard for stuff I wanted but not at the selling price. Have been successful a couple of times. The life of an urban scavenger....

JKB

 

[autopts]

All beauties Kevin

 

[chrisnazzy]

That’s what I thought too at first.
The WTF for me is the fact that the jaw faces interlock which would not clamp an item vertically and would in fact bend something clamped into those zig zag jaws.
Maybe that vise is merely missing some parts, like a jaw face?

Am I missing something?

Shift

The vise would have come with three removable jaws. In the pic you provided only the one on the dynamic jaw is present. That's what is causing the "interlock".

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[Shiftless]

Thanks Chris! That explains it.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

I am going to have to step up this father's day for sure. My dad picked this Columbian 204 1/2 for me. He paid $10! It's a little rough but all there minus the pipe jaws and swivel lock. It has a hand stamp USN and PIPE SHOP on the side. I'll be better able to read it once I get it cleaned up. If anyone knows where to get pipe jaws I need them for this and I need one for my 205 M-2!

 

[kenc184]

I built a stand for the Reed 406A I picked up recently, 6" angle iron and 3/4' plate. Mslund1, it's not as **** as yours but it is Heavy.

The Reed has had a rough life and the jaws are pretty beat. The base was warped from a previous repair, I faced it in the lathe to avoid breaking an ear off while bolting it down. Of course the taper pin was replaced with a bolt so I'll need to make one. I plan to grind off all of the welding boogers make a bronze thrust washer to take up the .150" slop in the screw and use it like a vise!
Anyone know an approximate date of manufacture?

It looks fantastic, but surely a vertical "post" is more effective since it's in line with the forces?

 

[Old Radar]

It looks fantastic, but surely a vertical "post" is more effective since it's in line with the forces?

I guess it depends on what you mean by "effective".

If you mean simpler, easier to design and build, less expensive, then yes a vertical post is probably more effective.

If you mean stronger or more stable, not necessarily--think of a cantilever bridge.

If you mean eloquent, definitely not!

 

[Outlawmws]

For me the canted stand is a plus as you aren't kicking the post when using it or working on something big. this would be an even bigger plus on a rotating head or Dawn offset type of vise.

 

[sqznby]

Random question.
Do all Wilton bullet vises have "Wilton" cast in the bodies?
Did they ever make them with only serial numbers cast in the bodies?

 

[Shiftless]

The Tradesman models had stick on labels that said “Wilton” or “SnapOn”.

 

[sqznby]

Do you know how long have the tradesman models been around?

Thanks

 

[Smitty]

I just got home with a beautiful little Bull Dog that I found today. The vise still has most of the original Japan lacquer and is in great condition.


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[Productbob]

MS & Lund great looking stands, adding some flair to the workshop

Smitty nice addition to your Prentiss collection!

 

[va.grouseman]

MR. Prentiss strikes again.---You can find the Crème de la crème of the Prentiss brand Smitty.---Good to know that at least some vises had a relatively good life for the last 100.

 

[Smitty]

Bob
Thanks, these little guys are really fun to collect.
VA
Thanks, it is gratifying to find vises that we’re well taken care of over the years. The original owner really took care not to get any tool marks on it.

Tomorrow is going to be a milestone day for me. I’m picking up a vise that will put me over the 5 ton mark. The best part is that it’s not in the spreadsheet.

 

[Firstram]

What a cool way to make a column.
Looks great

Royce

Coming from you I really appreciate the the complement, I've seen your work. I'm a huge fan of your stands and it was difficult to do something you haven't already done. I really want to copy your helix someday but, I just don't have the time.
Thank you!