The VISES of Garage Journal

[RHJO51]

I picked up a nice Parker 974 for a few bucks and am taking it apart for cleaning. It must have been in a damp place for a while because when I got the swivel base off one of the shoes was rusted in place. I got it loose but neither of the shoes will come off. I see from other posts that the pin for the shoes appears to have a lip on it. Is this lip on the shoe side and why the shoes wont come off? I have to punch the pin out from the top of the vise? I don't want bust anything. Thanks

 

[royce]

Hi DannyR,
Yes - I made the bench and yes, that’s a patternmaker’s vice on one end. On the other end are 2 wagon vices but you can’t see them in the first photo.
Must tidy the workshop.
Mark

Mark,
What a fantastic bench.
Plumb beautiful

Royce

 

[wrenchguy]

Mark,
What a fantastic bench.
Plumb beautiful

Royce

And SQUARE on the LEVEL, excellent contrast effect with mahogany and maple.
What about the flooring?

 

[Mpmckenzie]

Finish was Danish oil from memory. Bench gets used a lot! Easy to re-finish if it gets too bad.
Mark

 

[Mpmckenzie]

Thanks Royce and Wrenchguy.
Flooring is reclaimed mahogany parquet - worked out about £30/sq.m after I'd laid it/sanded it and applied finish. I wanted a floor that would not generate dust and was kind to tools if I dropped them. Used to be standard flooring in toolrooms of old in UK.
Floor was a labour of love but I was off work at the time with stress/burnout and had plenty of free time.
It's funny talking about the bench - it ended up maple/mahogany because my friend who runs a reclamation yard didn't have enough maple for me to make it just out of that - he did have some mahogany flooring from an old brewery so I took that. Only just had enough.

 

[Productbob]

RHJ the lip on the pin faces down or to the swivel base. pin should slide right out of the static and the shoes so it just may need some penetrating oil and a gentle tap to knock it out towards the bottom

 

[Smitty]

Got this little Bull Dog today for a song. It’s a Prentiss no. 50 with three inch jaws. I think there’s a clean vise hiding under 80+ years of gunk and overspray.


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[ifirefight]

[QUOTE
Flooring is reclaimed mahogany parquet .[/QUOTE]


WOW! Fantastic! That flooring is nicer than what’s in my house! Just when you think you have a nice work shop, someone raises the bar. Very nicely done Sir.



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[KMScott]

Smitty nice Starrett and shucks is the 50 Prentiss your second one? I like it. Starrett added to the spreadsheet. What you getting tomorrow.

 

[DFB]

I found this little Starrett no. 923C it has 3” jaws and weighs in at 33 lbs. This vise is in great condition but it has enough paint issues to make me want to take it down to a natural finish.


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Ya be curious if you paint over what you choose.

I also have a Starrett 923 sans the swivel base it was $50 at the flea mkt

 

[kenc184]

Sitting in front of my disassembled recently acquired $22 Columbian combo vise is something I'm very excited to have. It's a Heinrich drill press float vise, just about the best drill press vise money can buy.

I've wanted one for ages to replace my Chinesium p.o.s. on my drill press but they are usually beat to death both jaws, and rods covered in drill holes. Other than shelf wear this thing is MINT, not a mark on the jaws or rods. Just have to make the mounting "bracket" which is missing. Probably an hour or sos casual
work on the mill.
Boy oh boy......

 

[Smitty]

KMS
I got a pretty good deal on that little Starrett and I must say it’s built like a tank.i can see why you like these vises. I think this is around the fourth little Prentiss no 50 that I have. I really like the little Prentiss vises and work at finding them. This has been a great vise hunting week for me with five on the bench so far. I have a Reed 103S coming that’s been lost in the mail for three weeks, I hope I get it soon. As for tomorrow I’m going to post pics of a extremely rare Athol that I just got and it’s going to open up a can of worms on the spread sheet.

DFB
You got a 923 for fifty bucks? I’m so jealous. The little Starrett has been painted a couple of times by the previous owner and it has quite a bit of missing paint in the wear areas. I think I’ll just strip it and go with a BLO finish.

 

[RHJO51]

RHJ the lip on the pin faces down or to the swivel base. pin should slide right out of the static and the shoes so it just may need some penetrating oil and a gentle tap to knock it out towards the bottom

Thanks Productbob!

 

[Outlawmws]

Smitty ***** as usual...

Ken, that's a cool find!

 

[va.grouseman]

Well the quadruplets did fairly well.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rock-Islan...=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557View attachment 982056

 

[Productbob]

Smitty nice little pickups, both are great additions!

Ken glad you found what you were looking for in that Columbian, congrats

 

[Old Radar]

Well the quadruplets did fairly well.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rock-Islan...=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557View attachment 982056

Nice understatement...

 

[sgtgeo]

Any info about this Wilton.

Says it’s a 6” with pipe jaws and 150lbs

 

[kenc184]

Any info about this Wilton.

Says it’s a 6” with pipe jaws and 150lbs

Wilton C3, it's a monster. I beleive Smitty has one

 

[Smitty]

It’s a Wilton C3 and yes it has 6” jaws. The weight is also correct and the vise looks to be from the late 70’s. The swivel base and one pipe jaw is missing but those are easy fixes. If the price is good and the vise checks out I would buy it.


Thanks Outlaw and Bob.

Ken, I do have one of these and it’s a great vise. The thing is so top heavy it practically falls forward on its own if it’s not bolted down.

 

[sgtgeo]

Wilton C3, it's a monster. I beleive Smitty has one

Any idea how old that one is?

Value?

 

[sgtgeo]

Smitty,

Can it be used without the swivel base? Seller mentioned the missing pipe jaw.

 

[davethorik]

Wiltons are modular. A swivel base is just an add-on. So, yes you can use it like that.

 

[Smitty]

Sgtgeo, I’d buy it in a heartbeat but I would inspect it carefully before I handed the cash over. Dave is right, it will work fine without the base.

 

[sgtgeo]

Thanks for the advise!

I tried to buy a 4.5” jaw Wilton earlier today but missed it by a few.

I’m sure this one will be gone as well.

Painting a Morgan Chicago 140 this weekend just looking for the next project

 

[kenc184]

I use my C1 without the base, it keeps the height down. And as Smitty has pointed out, that vise is seriously top heavy. It really is a massive vise, and crazy tall, the only ones I've seen for sale in this area have been asking $1000, a price I am unwilling to pay. If I could get one for $400 I'd jump on it.

 

[kenc184]

Smitty,

You've bought every Prentiss and Wilton in Socal, now the Socal world of Starrett holds it's breath in fear...............

Those Starretts do look damn fine vises. Athols on steroids.
Which reminds me I have a FREE Athol 4" coming next week from a friend.

 

[Smitty]

Lol, thanks Ken. I must say I’m really sold on Starrett vises.you can really see the quality when you take one apart. They go for crazy high prices on eBay so local boards are my only option. Post some pics of your new athol when you get it, free is the best price of all.

 

[sgtgeo]

Sgtgeo, I’d buy it in a heartbeat but I would inspect it carefully before I handed the cash over. Dave is right, it will work fine without the base.

Going to look at the C3 this afternoon.

Other than the obvious what do I need to be in the lookout for?

Any Wilton specific things to check?

Thanks

 

[Smitty]

Sgtgeo
I would give it a close inspection looking for cracks, breaks or welds. I would also make sure the shelves that support the jaws are intact. Combo vises typically get used very hard. Usually the handle condition is a good indicator of any abuse on a vise. The vise looked pretty clean so hopefully it comes your way. Good luck.

 

[Shiftless]

Smitty gave you good advice.
I would add the idea to crank it all the way open and closed to check for smoothness of operation. Damaged slides are not unheard of. If it’s just dry, squirt on some WD40 as temporary lube.

If you crank it all the way open and extract the dynamic, you can more easily load it into your truck once the vise is in 2 pieces.

 

[kenc184]

How much are they asking for the C3?

 

[bastel]

What do you guys believe hold old is this columbian?
Has a nice price attached to it.
Worth it?

 

[Productbob]

Don't collect Wiltons but came across this one today in need of a new home so figured 'what the heck'. Wilton Chicago, 4.5" jaws is all I know so far

 

[Fierljeppen]

bastel...The triangle "C" Columbian vises were advertised from about (1915-1919). The round meatball spindle would indicate it's an early version.

I'd pay premium for that Columbian no. 505 vise, based on it's age, condition and rarity. Grab it, if you can! The catalog scan below is from 1918.

 

[Smitty]

Finally, after almost four weeks on the road, two additional repackaging efforts and at least 50 ft of tape it’s here. I must admit, it’s cute as a bug in a rug.


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[Loydski29]

Smitty that little reed is in great condition nice find!

 

[Smitty]

Thanks loydski I never though it would get here. The vise is super clean with the original paint and no hammer marks. I’m going to lightly clean it up with a brass wire brush and let it shine.

 

[Tennessee Cattleman]

That is a very nice Reed you have Smitty.

 

[Smitty]

Thanks TC, I can’t wait to clean it up.