The VISES of Garage Journal

[Outlawmws]

ps cwazy wabbit and dutch gray are both rabbits - how come?

Hoping to meet up with Jessica Rabbit?

 

[Smitty]

I found a really clean Prentiss Coachmakers no.99 yesterday, the vise has 4 1/4” jaws and weight in at 58 lbs. Somebody really took care of this vise back in the day and it shows. The vise has a beautiful 100 year old time worn patina and the slide edges are really crisp for its age. This one checks all of the boxes for a vintage Prentiss.


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[alcorelli]

Like Outlaw mentioned I made a fixture and used a 90 included angle cutter to cut the serrations. Late Summer I showed Mary the new jaw building Machinist how to make the baby jaws at Wiltonviseparts.net , we made 10 pairs and they was gobbled up in 2 weeks. I hope she is making more soon. The pitch between serration cuts are .050 and around .012-.018 deep if I remember right. The angle of the jaws on the fixture plate is 30 degrees. Good luck.

Thank you.
I'm going to give that a shot when I get back from vacation

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[Outlawmws]

Smitty, that Prentiss is an awesome find!

 

[va.grouseman]

I'll be looking for that #99 on eBay Smitty, don't keep me waiting.

 

[Shiftless]

Smitty scores again. That big and wide Prentiss net is evidently still snagging the best ones.

 

[BlueBomber]

I picked this rusty Columbian 505 this weekend for $20. The moving jaw is rusted in place and the spindle nut is missing. I know what to do about the former, but does anyone know a source for the latter?

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[Smitty]

Outlaw - Thanks, I was really happy once I saw it.

VA - This one is in for some serious stare time, it won’t be resurfacing
Any time soon.

Shift -Thanks. I actually put that pic that you made as my avatar
Here but it won’t show up. If you click on my home page it comes
Up but not on the pages.

 

[Old Radar]

I picked this rusty Columbian 505 this weekend for $20. The moving jaw is rusted in place and the spindle nut is missing. I know what to do about the former, but does anyone know a source for the latter?

I do. Garage dog not included.

 

[BlueBomber]

I do. Garage dog not included.

PM sent!

 

[Z3K3Y]

anything too watch outfor? pros, cons also haRD TO READ MODel No.

should be here next week

 

[davethorik]

anything too watch outfor? pros, cons also haRD TO READ MODel No.

should be here next week

Morgan 145. Looks like it is missing a jaw.

 

[tulowd]

I have about 6 vices floating around my garage and basement, incl one small made in England version, the rest all the typical offshore junk.

The big red (no idea of brand but will now look) has been my main piece for 20 years; have rubber plastic and alum jaws for protecting delicate things like alum anodized hose fittings, plastic and wood parts etc. This vice weighs maybe 30 lbs, is on a 25 lb steel stand and has a 50 lb (or more) truck drum brake as well as a bunch of weightlifting plates inside it to stabilize it; not great but it works.....for now. I welded up a truck hitch adaptor, making one small portable vice that extends beyond the tailgate for mobile work.

Have never thought about getting something nice, altho now I have, after reading this thread lol.....Have a 3D milling vice for the drill press, as well as a flat faced wood working vice on the end of the primary toolbox/workbench in the interest of space utilization. Dozens of clamps and vice grips for woodworking and metal work etc.

 

[jtball]

That's a lot of toolboxes tulowd! Jealous.

 

[Sevenhills1952]

At the home place farm is a shop built in 1942. This Craftsman vice Grandad got shortly after, I'm thinking 1945. I brought it here last week, over the years really abused but still works great. It took lots of cleaning. I had spray paint left over from Dad's 1950 Craftsman push mower so I painted it, seems like about the same color.

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[Smitty]

I found this little Prentiss jewelers vise for parts. The dynamic has been brazed but there are still working parts to be had.


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[Smitty]

At the home place farm is a shop built in 1942. This Craftsman vice Grandad got shortly after, I'm thinking 1945. I brought it here last week, over the years really abused but still works great. It took lots of cleaning. I had spray paint left over from Dad's 1950 Craftsman push mower so I painted it, seems like about the same color.

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Nice job on that old Craftsman it looks great. It looks like it was made by Reed.

 

[AngryBeaver]

At the home place farm is a shop built in 1942. This Craftsman vice Grandad got shortly after, I'm thinking 1945. I brought it here last week, over the years really abused but still works great. It took lots of cleaning. I had spray paint left over from Dad's 1950 Craftsman push mower so I painted it, seems like about the same color.

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that style was grey originally (heritage badge reedsman) and made in 1947 or 1948. It will be stamped month//year on both jaws opposite side of the logo. read the links in my thread for details and add yours to the reedsman thread. The reed thread will have all the specifics as far as what happened when. yours can't be 1945 due to the hockey puck, and can't be 1945 due to the heritage badge. IIRC, late 43 was the first made reedsman. nice looking vise, glad to see it rejuvenated for another century of use.

 

[Charles Waugh]

Smitty,
That tiny Prentiss is, er, uh . . . CUTE!
Way better'n a Baby Wilton IMHO.

A swiveling jaw on a baby - huh!

 

[davethorik]

Smitty,
That tiny Prentiss is, er, uh . . . CUTE!
Way better'n a Baby Wilton IMHO.

A swiveling jaw on a baby - huh!

Jeweler's vise. But they both go for big money.

 

[Charles Waugh]

8 million years ago, during a particularly lean period in my life, I passed up a Starrett jeweler's vise with pivoting jaw - it was $15.

I still get weepy over that bad decision . . .

 

[Sevenhills1952]

that style was grey originally (heritage badge reedsman) and made in 1947 or 1948. It will be stamped month//year on both jaws opposite side of the logo. read the links in my thread for details and add yours to the reedsman thread. The reed thread will have all the specifics as far as what happened when. yours can't be 1945 due to the hockey puck, and can't be 1945 due to the heritage badge. IIRC, late 43 was the first made reedsman. nice looking vise, glad to see it rejuvenated for another century of use.

What I can't figure out is I removed metal label (not easy)...it was held in place by two brass "tacks", about 1/2" long. I'm 100% sure it had never been removed. Underneath was original paint, and on vice itself. It was sort of a pale greenish-gray. I assume bolts maybe original (?) they also had that color.
Now...that vice had every chemical on it, sprays, grease, etc. Could that turn the gray a greenish color?
Thanks.
I know dark green I sprayed on it wasn't close.

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[Sevenhills1952]

At homeplace are lots of other small jewelry and watchmaker vices. Lots of watch repair tools.

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[Hoorn]

Finally got around to finishing my 5183. I went with Rust-oleum midnight blue (suggested by Angry Beaver) which I felt was closest to the original blue from the Reed Craftsman's. This one is dated May 1944. I think the Reed method of securing the main nut with a larger pin with screw is significantly better than just a pin (which is what the patent cast on the side covers). The only possible better method I've seen could be the 519x series of Craftsman vises that immediately followed the Reeds.
Anyway, this will most likely be mounted in place of the Athol 614 I currently have.

 

[drivesitfar]

Hoorn: great looking old REEDSMAN you've got there and i agree the 519x's is maybe the only better method of holding the vise nuts in place.

ALL: Happy new year to all of my friends here and let's have a great 2021 and not let this WOE AND WORRY world keep us from getting out and enjoying the stuff we like to do like find more old vises for one.

 

[SP3]

Picked up as part of a lot of items. Wasn't looking for another vise just worked out that way. Not sure I'll keep it. If I do, I'm equally unsure if it's left as is (with a little wipe down and lube) or make it nicey-nice again.

 

[Thru-hika]

Forgive me if this question has already been asked and answered before but my dad was asking me why many non-swivel vises don’t **** up flush with the front of a bench, instead it seems you must notch the bench to accommodate an angled chin. Hopefully I am asking the question clearly. Thank you for any insight you may provide.

 

[Hoorn]

Hoorn: great looking old REEDSMAN you've got there and i agree the 519x's is maybe the only better method of holding the vise nuts in place.

Thanks Drives. Yes the 519x method may be superior, but the split main nut was definitely not. I see the idea behind it, but it seems it was prone to breaking.

I need another vise like I need a hole in the head, but this 5191 is near me and the price is falling. Despite the atrocious paint job, the jaws are in great condition. I'm like an addict as I keep looking at it and rationalizing how I could use it somehow.

 

[Outlawmws]

TH - It's a gusset for the shelf for the slide. Start hammering on something and the shelf could bust out. (some did anyway)

 

[Hoorn]

Forgive me if this question has already been asked and answered before but my dad was asking me why many non-swivel vises don’t **** up flush with the front of a bench, instead it seems you must notch the bench to accommodate an angled chin. Hopefully I am asking the question clearly. Thank you for any insight you may provide.

No notch necessary. That lower portion merely butts up to the side of the bench top.

 

[CHRIII]

Forgive me if this question has already been asked and answered before but my dad was asking me why many non-swivel vises don’t **** up flush with the front of a bench, instead it seems you must notch the bench to accommodate an angled chin. Hopefully I am asking the question clearly. Thank you for any insight you may provide.

I think the purpose is so a long item could be held vertically in the vise and the bench wouldn't interfere with it. See the image in the above post.

 

[rusty65]

Wooden work benches were more the standard many years ago. My opinion is that notching the vise into a thick wooden bench would help absorb some of the shock forces that comes from hammering and working with heavy parts.


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[wrenchguy]

Yes and not being so far back that the vertical plane of the rear insert still clears the bench edge.

 

[Filly]

Got two new vises today that I’m very excited about.

1.) A 1.5” Clamp-On JL Ware Steel Yoke Vise. I have a 5”/105lb model missing the base and leg which I hope to either find someday or have fabricated. I know a lot about the larger JL Wares having now owned two of them and regrettably selling one. These vises are made of Cast-Steel. But I’m not super familiar with the small clamp-on ones as there’s not a ton of info out there. Anyone here know anything about them? Are they too cast steel like their big brothers?

2.) In honor of my Czechoslovakian heritage, I finally got my first York (bonus patent model) This York 100 has a great patina to it. I know a little about these vises based on what I could turn up online including a forum here. I learned the casting on the side that reads “ZAKONEM CHRANENO” is apparently “Protected by Law” in Czech. But I still don’t know anything about the stamps on top of the jaw towers. Anyone here knowledgeable on York’s and able to tell me more about the numbers on top? Are any of those numbers dates?

Thanks all!

 

[va.grouseman]

Filly, I've got a small Wares Yoke Vise, but that clamp-on is a rare treasure indeed.---Wished mine was a clamp-on.---Excellent hunting.---Also that York is a great find too.---They're built like a tank.---Our mechanic has had one for 30 years and he don't show it any mercey but it's still doing the job.

 

[Filly]

Filly, I've got a small Wares Yoke Vise, but that clamp-on is a rare treasure indeed.---Wished mine was a clamp-on.---Excellent hunting.---Also that York is a great find too.---They're built like a tank.---Our mechanic has had one for 30 years and he don't show it any mercey but it's still doing the job.

Yes, I love the Ware vises, ever since I stumbled upon on a year ago (4”/70lb) and regrettably sold it, never thought I’d find one again then a month ago the 5”/105lb one popped up and I hoped on it. Now to get this small clamp on is just the gravy on top!

I’m very excited about the York, sure seems like a solid vise. And I’m thinking I may make it my main user on my bench and replace my polish bison-bial. I’m just excited to have one finally.

 

[bagged89s10]

I had to buy a vise in the first week of the new year even if it’s been repaired. Has anyone ever seen a Parker double swivel vise broken in another place? I would love to eventually find an unbroken rotating jaw. Everyone I’ve ever seen broken has been broken and repaired in the same place.

 

[slap29]

Hi guys, i’m from west of France. I allready have York, FPU and Gressel vises. I was looking every days for a Wilton vise since 3 years but can’t found it in France when i saw this one!
For something like 50$ so i called instantly and gave 120$ for it. I take my car for a 12 hour round trip with my dog
It hasn’t been used so much!!! And has been made in July 1953
I’ll blast it and need to find the good color. Any ideas or exemple? Something like a green or blue i think

I think i’m lucky!
Thank you

 

[Old Radar]

I think your bargaining technique could use some help, but even so, it's a great find and well worth the price. Twelve hour road trips can be fun, too--as long as you didn't have to go through Paris!

 

[slap29]

I think your bargaining technique could use some help, but even so, it's a great find and well worth the price. Twelve hour road trips can be fun, too--as long as you didn't have to go through Paris!

Yes it was a nice trip along the atlantic coast, far away from Paris!