The VISES of Garage Journal

[Shiftless]

Another thank you for posting that link. I watched the whole video and was of course impressed with his level of skill in recreating parts he needed. Needless to say, it’s nice to have a lathe and mill and the skill to operate them.

 

[emeraldcoupe]

was the 4" jaw the most common vise size? seems like 95% of the ones i find are that size.

 

[Outlawmws]

Leaving the Homeowners vises out of the picture, it is close between 3-1/2", 4", and 4-1/2" from my inventory list. YMMV... Not a scientific poll...

 

[Shiftless]

I’ll double down on what Outlaw just said. Most vises around here seem to fall into that range. My own collection has been purged of any over 100 pounds. I used to have a few 6 inchers but divested myself of those when I hit 70 y.o. for safety reasons.

 

[emeraldcoupe]

i've only had about a dozen, but except for a wilton bullit that was a 3 1/2", all the others were 4 inchers.

 

[ranger08]

To all the Reed experts out there
i have little Reed 102 in awesome condition after I removed the rust, the quality of the casting is better than any English vice I have of the same era
on both front and back is stamped 153, and under each stamp but running vertically is stamped 217
can anyone shed light on what those stamps refer to?

 

[Balejeune84]

To all the Reed experts out there
i have little Reed 102 in awesome condition after I removed the rust, the quality of the casting is better than any English vice I have of the same era
on both front and back is stamped 153, and under each stamp but running vertically is stamped 217
can anyone shed light on what those stamps refer to?

I believe 217 will be dob February 1917

 

[jonshonda]

Leaving the Homeowners vises out of the picture, it is close between 3-1/2", 4", and 4-1/2" from my inventory list. YMMV... Not a scientific poll...

That's because they are much more practical to use for 95% of what needs to be done imho! But as always, ymmv

 

[Fretters]

was the 4" jaw the most common vise size? seems like 95% of the ones i find are that size.

It's simply a good size for most tasks. In general use, something like a 6" vice is overkill. 4" or so gives the best size to functionality ratio.

Plus, over here, we also have the QR vices. A 4" version of those, compared to a 4" standard bench vice, is a fair beast, so you're unnecessarily using shedloads of bench space when going with larger vices.

 

[Fretters]

This, for example, is a Yost 803 3" vice, aside an early Parkinson No.5 3" QR vice. That No.5 is plenty big enough for most tasks.

 

[ViceRoy2030]

Gasoline works great.

I don't know why you get scolded.
We are all grown ups here.....
Aren't we?

Just put out your stogie and all should be good

 

[ViceRoy2030]

Nice Hollands Keystone!
Is that bare metal? Did you use a wire wheel or ??

Wire wheel and BLO. Sorry I don't get back to my posts as often as I should.

 

[SilverDeck]

Last week I posted about finding a Reed 204A vise in excellent condition. Used but not abused. Only one thing bothered me about the vise was that at some point, one of the original ends on the swivel lock had come off and someone had made an ill-fitting attempt at a replacement. Granted, it was better than a hex nut, but not much. Looked like it had been shaped on a bench grinder and the outer diameter was too large to “nest” into the swivel lock head the way that it should.

At times like this, it pays to know a talented machinist. There is a guy where in town who runs a welding and fabrication shop and is what I would best term as a “modern day blacksmith”. He can fix just about anything, and do it well. So I took the vise to him and asked if he could remake a new bar end nut on his lathe to match the profiles of the remaining original nut.

Here are the results and I think they speak for themselves. All that is left now is to controlled-rust it to match.

First is how the swivel lock looked when I got it.
Second pic is the ill-fitting replacment bar end nut.
Third pic is the one original bar end nut.
Last three pics are the new replacment bar end nut and the final results.

 

[BlueBomber]

I bought this 1957 Wilton 9400 for a steal off of Craigslist a few years ago. It's been accumulating dust in the space below where the 9300 was mounted, awaiting my time to strip, powder coat, and put into service. This past weekend, it dawned on me that it was pointless to put such work into a restoration for a working bench vise. I didn't baby the Wilton 9300 that had received the same treatment. So, I decided to wire brush off the worst of the rust, lube the screws and swivel, and just bolt it down!

I'm happy with my decision.

 

[Fretters]

So, I decided to wire brush off the worst of the rust, lube the screws and swivel, and just bolt it down!

I'm happy with my decision.

A good decision. You do get to that point, or age, where you begin to think: "Does it really need all the time & work involved for a restoration?".

A lot of the time, cleaned up & functional is plenty.

 

[PierceA]

You don't drive a show-car to work do you? I sure don't, especially on my muddy dirt road, snow, ice and salted roadways..
So it certainly makes sense to put your Wilton to work.. And if you want to gussy it up,, you still can!

PierceA..

Any of my vises can go to work at any time, without fear of ruining a nice paint job..

 

[ranger08]

You don't drive a show-car to work do you? I sure don't, especially on my muddy dirt road, snow, ice and salted roadways..
So it certainly makes sense to put your Wilton to work.. And if you want to gussy it up,, you still can!

PierceA..

Any of my vises can go to work at any time, without fear of ruining a nice paint job..

now thats a collection, jealous

 

[Balejeune84]

You don't drive a show-car to work do you? I sure don't, especially on my muddy dirt road, snow, ice and salted roadways..
So it certainly makes sense to put your Wilton to work.. And if you want to gussy it up,, you still can!

PierceA..

Any of my vises can go to work at any time, without fear of ruining a nice paint job..

Your coachmaker lineup

Prentiss, (2) Reed, American scale, Columbian, Rock island...? Quality iron for sure

 

[kenc184]

Finally bit the bullet and gave up looking for a "cheap" swivel base for my right-side-of-the -bench user C3. Cost me $270 delivered, but it does probably add that to the value so not so bad. My left-side vise (Reed 2C) is looking a bit miffed. $270 is more than I paid for the 2C a year or two ago!

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

Finally bit the bullet and gave up looking for a "cheap" swivel base for my right-side-of-the -bench user C3. Cost me $270 delivered, but it does probably add that to the value so not so bad. My left-side vise (Reed 2C) is looking a bit miffed. $270 is more than I paid for the 2C a year or two ago!

It only adds value if you plan on selling it lol! That 2C has nothing to be jealous of. Very nice example!

 

[Smitty]

Prentiss jewelers vise collection, room key for scale.

 

[kenc184]

Prentiss jewelers vise collection, room key for scale.

You have ta hell of a collection Smitty, from tiddlers to monsters. When you pass, I will be there to generously offer your good wife 10c on the dollar!
I'm big hearted like that..............

Give us a picture of your smallest tiddler in the jaws of your largest monster.

 

[Smitty]

Thanks Ken, I’ll be sure to warn her about you. Here’s the largest and smallest vises that Prentiss made.. 322 lbs V 3 lbs

 

[dannyr]

Prentiss jewelers vise collection, room key 'for scale'.

just for a second, I thought you wrote 'for sale'



Anyhow -- impressive.

 

[ViceRoy2030]

Here's my early Hollands 26 resto, still need to work on the swivel handles and main handle. Another GJ inmate is creating the main handle for me and I'll post pic's once thats complete. I'm contemplating a clear coat, what do you think???



It's lived a hard life but what an amazing vise she is!!!

 

[va.grouseman]

Ok, which of you fellows scored this little ******?

stephens patented quick action vise | eBay

<p>stephens patented quick action vise. </p><p>Wonderful condition, 2” jaws with 2” opening. I didn’t clean it thinking that new owner would want to do his/her special touch</p>

www.ebay.com

 

[PierceA]

Ranger08 and Balejeune84, thanks.. It's an addiction, or is it an affliction? Not sure.
But I sure do love finding and fixing up vises..
Those photos are from over a year ago. and of course the collection has grown 'some' since then.
I have been remiss in not posting the new additions to the 'pile' as they were acquired.. I don't have photos of each
these at this time, but will try to remember what 'new' has come into the shop:
Wilton 600s
Wilton early C3,
Yost 34C.
Parker 436 [I think I did post this one already]
Parker 'Coach Maker's'.. I posted it but it has NO model number on it, Probably an early Parker 4000.
Prentiss 5" jaws swivel base,, can't remember the number, near mint.. near perfect jaws and NO CRACKS !
Three Athol 615's. One on a wonderful Iron base.
Reed 214, filer's vise
Reed 124`1/2 coach maker's
Reed 114 filer's vise
Reed 204 R, with very nice jaws.
Reed 32, predecessor to the Reed C2, with near mint jaws, and the rare to find, notched benchtop base, pipe jaws missing
Two more Parker No. 20's. I think I have 4 or 5 of them now, and each one is slightly different, I may post a comparison.
A completely no-mark, no-name vise that is for sure a Reed 204`1/2. But has replaceable jaw faces..
Several smaller clamp-on vises, 2" and under,
A Stephen's Patent side arm vise,, 3" jaws in VERY nice condition. The fine-tooth 'rack' down the side is near mint.
A Yost fixed base, 7". A 107 I think that is.

And several I can 'see' but can't remember the maker or what their condition is.. [I think at this point this is an affliction ]

I've been putting some time in on previously posted vises that needed repairs,, I hope to take photos and show the before and after
results of my work.. Some were a real challenge..

PierceA.

 

[Jayman17]

Smitty, that’s a great side by side comparison!

Jay

 

[Fierljeppen]

Ranger08 and Balejeune84, thanks.. It's an addiction, or is it an affliction? Not sure.
But I sure do love finding and fixing up vises.

A Yost fixed base, 7". A 107 I think that is.

PierceA.

It may be an addiction, but I certainly don't think that it's an affliction for you. You say "I sure do love finding and fixing up vises", which is all positive. And, with the current vise market being so strong, I'd say you'd probably make a profit if you decided to sell any one of your vises.

A hobby that provides enjoyment and potential profit at the same time is as rare as your Yost no. 107 machinist vise.

I believe that is the original casting style that Yost used in that vise when introduced in 1908. I also believe the original models had "G M" in the casting until around 1915, when they were eliminated and looked more like yours. In 1920, Yost changed the casting style entirely, which makes me think that your vise is from around the (1915-1920) era.

Vise on!

 

[Smitty]

Smitty, that’s a great side by side comparison!

Jay

Prentiss really had a lot of different models over the years. I took these pics a while back with a Prentiss 22 swivel jaw and a 1-3/4” jewelers vise.

 

[Balejeune84]

Ranger08 and Balejeune84, thanks.. It's an addiction, or is it an affliction? Not sure.
But I sure do love finding and fixing up vises..
Those photos are from over a year ago. and of course the collection has grown 'some' since then.
I have been remiss in not posting the new additions to the 'pile' as they were acquired.. I don't have photos of each
these at this time, but will try to remember what 'new' has come into the shop:
Wilton 600s
Wilton early C3,
Yost 34C.
Parker 436 [I think I did post this one already]
Parker 'Coach Maker's'.. I posted it but it has NO model number on it, Probably an early Parker 4000.
Prentiss 5" jaws swivel base,, can't remember the number, near mint.. near perfect jaws and NO CRACKS !
Three Athol 615's. One on a wonderful Iron base.
Reed 214, filer's vise
Reed 124`1/2 coach maker's
Reed 114 filer's vise
Reed 204 R, with very nice jaws.
Reed 32, predecessor to the Reed C2, with near mint jaws, and the rare to find, notched benchtop base, pipe jaws missing
Two more Parker No. 20's. I think I have 4 or 5 of them now, and each one is slightly different, I may post a comparison.
A completely no-mark, no-name vise that is for sure a Reed 204`1/2. But has replaceable jaw faces..
Several smaller clamp-on vises, 2" and under,
A Stephen's Patent side arm vise,, 3" jaws in VERY nice condition. The fine-tooth 'rack' down the side is near mint.
A Yost fixed base, 7". A 107 I think that is.

And several I can 'see' but can't remember the maker or what their condition is.. [I think at this point this is an affliction ]

I've been putting some time in on previously posted vises that needed repairs,, I hope to take photos and show the before and after
results of my work.. Some were a real challenge..

PierceA.

Wow awesome collection. So your unmarked reed 204½ do you have any pictures of it?
Have you looked or found a date stamp? I would imagine it could have been a paper label for another brand

 

[M635_Guy]

Here's my early Hollands 26 resto, still need to work on the swivel handles and main handle. Another GJ inmate is creating the main handle for me and I'll post pic's once thats complete. I'm contemplating a clear coat, what do you think???

I'd leave it in that awesome matte-black look.

 

[ranger08]

Here's my early Hollands 26 resto, still need to work on the swivel handles and main handle. Another GJ inmate is creating the main handle for me and I'll post pic's once thats complete. I'm contemplating a clear coat, what do you think???



It's lived a hard life but what an amazing vise she is!!!

what colour/ brand have you painted it, looks perfect, if clear coat matt or semi gloss

 

[Indexmill]

Smitty, seriously, do you have a plan for your collection for after you pass? Jus wunderin as I have a similar problem not that far off.

 

[F-22]

My System Koch vice restoration:

https://imgur.com/a/NcJWW6A

I think it's German. I've been using it for a year since I sorted it out. It's really strong, with the round guide but also an extra support guide underneath the front

 

[Smitty]

Smitty, seriously, do you have a plan for your collection for after you pass? Jus wunderin as I have a similar problem not that far off.

My collection is close to nine tons right now so I couldn’t leave the responsibility of dealing with it to my family. I plan on selling them all someday, I’m just preserving them for future generations to enjoy.

 

[PierceA]

Balejeune84:
Here are a few photos of the 'NoName' Reed vise. I put it next to an actual Reed 204-1/2, To my eye they came from the same molds.
I think you maybe be correct: a paper-label seller.
I looked for date-stamps, but can't find any matching ones on both the Static and Dynamic..

PierceA

 

[PierceA]

Took some photos of a few vises I mentioned about 10 posts above.
And a photo of a second shelf or rack of vises.

PierceA

 

[ViceRoy2030]

My collection is close to nine tons right now so I couldn’t leave the responsibility of dealing with it to my family. I plan on selling them all someday, I’m just preserving them for future generations to enjoy.

Respect!!! I have 3,600 lbs and I thought "I" had a problem. I feel sooo much better however, I think I just received "permission" of sorts. This place is like therapy!!!

 

[ViceRoy2030]

Weekend haul:

2 Reeds, 1 Holland and 5 Wiltons