The VISES of Garage Journal

[Shiftless]

I will have to give this a try on some scrap metal and see how proficient I am with the pattern. It will bother me if they aren't all parallel.....

I think I will leave the Red Arrow as is for now. My 3yo doesn't need any extra holding power yet

Shiftless - any idea on age of the Red Arrow line of vises?

I’d guess our model red arrows are from the 1950’s
Does anybody else have a more educated guess?
Here is a catalog page I found online. The markings on this one are different and I assume older.

 

[TonyCH]

Here are couple of my newcomers. The Record No. 74 and No. 00.

The 74: 4" jaws and 28lbs.
The 00 is small: 2 1/4" jaws and 5.5lbs.

 

[Dan8906]

I found this on the Reed 203 I’m cleaning up “74” does that mean it was made in 1974? The pat # says 1938.

 

[davethorik]

Looks like 7-49(?), there is another digit

 

[Dan8906]

Looks like 7-49(?), there is another digit

I didn’t even notice that. Looking closer it could be a 2 , 3 or maybe a 9. It’s only partially there

 

[Shiftless]

I didn’t even notice that. Looking closer it could be a 2 , 3 or maybe a 9. It’s only partially there

That’s very common with those stamped numbers.

 

[Mark Garrett]

Just thought I would upload a couple of photos of a vice/vise that I had posted elsewhere (on a workbench) as it may be of interest to someone.
It is Ex-MOD - UK Ministry of Defence (army)
Made in England

I have been using this to clean up/wire wheel parts outside to keep the garage cleaner!

Paramo Vice by K Garrett, on Flickr

See military markings below (the 'crow's foot') and date 3/84 - I think - March 1984

Paramo Vice by K Garrett, on Flickr

 

[Pet Rock]

Figured I’d post one of my vises. I could use some Ad-vise (terrible, I know).


Gifted to me by my SO’s grandfather . In the process of cleaning it up, I discovered a crack. It’s actually preventing it from being disassembled. I’m thinking I might try to tack it with my baby stick welder. Once apart, maybe braze it or stick and file. Thoughts?



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Pet Rock]

Here’s a picture of the crack


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[KMScott]

Here’s a picture of the crack[/IMG]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Rock, this is how I fixed the ones I have. If you have a drill press and a welder then it is not to hard to do. Good luck, Nice vise and worth fixing.

https://wiltonviseparts.wordpress.com/2019/05/07/fixing-tail-cracks-in-vises/

Kevin

 

[Pet Rock]

Thanks! We’ll see how far my welder will take me. Here’s another vise. Ive never heard of this brand. Also from grandpa. I’m not gonna bother posting my modern Columbian 504.

Anyone have thoughts on the quality? I like that it’s a bit smaller and I just might make some soft jaws from aluminum stock.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Outlawmws]

Shiftless - any idea on age of the Red Arrow line of vises?

I’d guess our model red arrows are from the 1950’s
Does anybody else have a more educated guess?
Here is a catalog page I found online. The markings on this one are different and I assume older.

From my notes:

The Columbian Red Arrow vises are listed in 1938, 1941 and 1956 catalogs, but not in a 1932 catalog,

So they were made for a long time...

 

[Shiftless]

Thanks Outlaw!

Here is a pic of what the seller claimed was a 1930’s model. Note the 2 tone effect with the gray body and the black swivel base.

 

[DFB]

Thanks! We’ll see how far my welder will take me. Here’s another vise. Ive never heard of this brand. Also from grandpa. I’m not gonna bother posting my modern Columbian 504.

Anyone have thoughts on the quality? I like that it’s a bit smaller and I just might make some soft jaws from aluminum stock.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Interesting name

 

[S4cruiser]

Finished another vise...Reed 103.

...and another one well on its way. Paint letters - yay or nay?

 

[Shiftless]

The lettering on yours looks pretty smooth. If you decide to highlight the “graffiti” lettering it should come out a lot better than it did on my #52

 

[Smitty]

Shift. I think the quality of the casting and use dictates how the lettering comes out. Your restorations are always solid.
Cruiser, the Reeds look great and the Prentiss looks just right as it sits. JMO

 

[Pet Rock]

might the B in DFB be related to your interest? hahaha. Well it does say its a USA casting at least.

 

[Dan8906]

Finished another vise...Reed 103.

...and another one well on its way. Paint letters - yay or nay?

What kind of paint do you use for lettering?

 

[Shiftless]

Smitty:
Thanks for the kind words.

Everybody:
I’m still learning techniques from the masters who display their works on these pages. We can pick up tips from reading GJ but I believe that experience and trial and error is the best teacher. We all make mistakes or try things that don’t turn out as well as we had hoped... just learn from your mistakes.

Dan:
I use Rustoleum satin black or Rustoleum aluminum paint or the Testors artist paints that come in tiny little bottles.

 

[TonyCH]

I today received some Rustoleum Hard Hat RAL# -colored blue paint for my Records. I will try if it works with Eastwoods Rust encapsulator as (red) primer. If its too dark another option is self etching primer which I have in light gray.

I also received my latest small vise and I think my first Paramo. So, my small collection of British vises now includes Records, Parkinsons and a Paramo.

 

[Smitty]

I just got this great little piece of American history in the mail today. It’s a bill of lading from the Prentiss Vise Company from 10/28/15. The vises were shipped to the RH Norris Hdw co in Childress Texas.


Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Loydski29]

Well I finally got myself a prentiss jewelers vise I’ve wanted one for a long time the nickle plated ones are my favorite!


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[Smitty]

Congratulations Loydski, that’s a real beauty.

 

[Loydski29]

Congratulations Loydski, that’s a real beauty.

Thank you! That prentiss paper work you got is a great piece of history congrats!

 

[S4cruiser]

Painted letters! Casting irregularities make this a ‘not simple’ task. Used a paint pin and a steady hand!

 

[Shiftless]

S4:
That came out great!
How many coats did you apply to the lettering?

Loydski:
Congrats on finally finding a nickel plated jewelers vise!

 

[S4cruiser]

Shift: thanks! Just one coat...this gold paint pen works really well.

 

[chrisnazzy]

I just got this great little piece of American history in the mail today. It’s a bill of lading from the Prentiss Vise Company from 10/28/15.
Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app

Well Smitty, as the most accomplished Prentiss collector I know, I'm very glad that went to you and now I'm okay with my decision to not bid on it. I had it in my watch page the whole time and even watched the last 30 seconds tick down. I was really surprised there wasn't some action in the final seconds.


Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

[Smitty]

Thanks Chris. As a Prentiss collector it was something I just had to have. I too was shocked that there were no other bidders but I wasn’t letting it get away.

 

[bl00]

Thanks Chris. As a Prentiss collector it was something I just had to have. I too was shocked that there were no other bidders but I wasn’t letting it get away.

Not sure if this has been posted already, but here's an article about broaching vise bodies. The photos look like they're working on Prentiss heavy chipping vises.

https://tinyurl.com/wbaw76s

 

[Outlawmws]

Well, I was about to ask Smitty how he was holding up... You know; shakes, pacing, eye twitches...

But I guess he's doing the on line picking!

Nice find on that bill of lading! I like the "Notice" sticker!

 

[Smitty]

B100. Thanks I’ll check it out, I’m always interested in Prentiss related vise history.

Outlaw. I must admit I’m in kind of in a holding pattern spending wise. With that being said I’ve got my eyes open for deals right now. The sticker is a great part of the Bill, it eludes to the fact that the carrier is probably a railroad. I must admit that it’s a great feeling to hold on to a piece of paper that was hand typed 105 years ago. It went from the order desk, to accounting and finally the wharehouse with everybody making their mark on it.

 

[va.grouseman]

Good stuff Fred.---Very interesting.

 

[Svt_ivan]

Recently picked up this vise and although it’s broken it is a restoration I am really looking forward to. It will definitely be a challenge but I’m up for it. Besides, I have been looking for this kind of vise for quite some time and broken was the only way I was going to afford it! Haha

Anyway, the online info on this vise is very very limited. Would anyone have any details on it? I was hoping to find some documentation on it like all the original ads in vintage machinery. No luck yet though.

Chas. Parker 439

 

[Shiftless]

ivan:
Nice score! It will be interesting to follow along with your repair and restoration of that rare Parker. Exactly how is it “broken”?

What’s going on in the area I circled in red?

 

[davethorik]

That's why i hope to never find one of those rotating Parkers, it would be a money pit, but i would "have" to buy it if the price was right. That one needs not 1 but 2 wrenches. And it looks like the d-jaw was broken off? Good luck, those are cool vises, good for you to rescue it. Seems they are broken more often than your standard Parker vise, if its any consolation.

 

[Smitty]

Loydski. Here’s a few pics of the pin I made with just power tools. I cut the pin from the end of a drill bit and then hand tapered it on a belt sander. I chucked it up in a drill press and used a hacksaw blade to cut the groove while it was spinning. I then chucked it up in a power drill to do the finish sanding. Once it was sanded I heated it with a torch to red hot and when it cooled it had a used metallic finish. A little scotch brite and it was ready to go.
.


Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Loydski29]

Smitty nice work on that pin it looks great! Thanks for the info I’ll give it a try when I get a chance.

 

[Shiftless]

Nice work Smitty,
An electric drill clamped into a bench vise could be considered a poor man’s lathe.