Restoring my grandpa's Wilton vise

[OneStaple]

Hey all,

I'm new here and hoping you might be able to give me a few pointers on restoring my grandpa's Wilton vise. It's a 1740 vise that was in his shop as far back as I can remember, roughly in the exact same condition as now. He passed away about ten years ago, and I managed to hold onto the vise. I'm embarrassed to say that it has been sitting in my garage waiting for restoration since then. The date stamp says 1972.

Beyond the standard cleaning, these are the items that I could use some help on:

1. One of the jaw faces is obviously a replacement and the other is broken. Does someone source replacement jaw faces that fit, or do I need to fab some myself?
2. The pipe jaws are missing. I'm not sure they're critical for me, but it'd be kind of nice to have some. I see McMaster has replacements. Is that a decent source?
3. The clamps for the swivel base are missing and have been replaced with nuts. Is there a source for the handled clamps? Or a decent alternative? I'm going for function over form mostly, as I plan to use this.
4. The underside of the stationary jaw was broken off at some point. How important is that?
5. What type of grease/lube to you put on all the moving parts when putting everything back together?

For fun, I'm also attaching pictures of another Wilton vise (4" jaws) that I picked up a while ago. I should probably do a light cleaning and put new grease in, but otherwise it's good to go. Can anyone tell me the model number? The slide says it's from 1975.

Thanks!
Tyler

 

[1982fxr]

Should be able to get all those parts between Ereplacementparts.com and McMaster for pipe jaws.

Other one is a machinist vise. I think model 9400 N. Would end in S if it had the swivel base.

 

[aggiegrads]

I would leave the vise as-is to be a monument to your grandfather’s git-r-done grit. To say that the vise has seen “hard use” is an understatement and there are likely cracks that you don’t see.

 

[OneStaple]

I would leave the vise as-is to be a monument to your grandfather’s git-r-done grit. To say that the vise has seen “hard use” is an understatement and there are likely cracks that you don’t see.

Yeah, I have mixed feelings about what level of restoration I want to do, specifically along the lines of whether I want to strip it down and repaint it or not. I may just leave it as-is in that respect. However, I do want to clean up the working parts (sliding components, fix/replace the jaw faces, clean up the anvil surface, etc.).

Is that broken ledge on the fixed jaw a fatal issue? Or mostly just a convenience for keeping the jaw face aligned?

Should be able to get all those parts between Ereplacementparts.com and McMaster for pipe jaws.

Other one is a machinist vise. I think model 9400 N. Would end in S if it had the swivel base.

Thanks for the info!

Tyler

 

[Packard V8]

Is that broken ledge on the fixed jaw a fatal issue? Or mostly just a convenience for keeping the jaw face aligned?

Tyler

Since Grandpa isn't around to defend himself, we'll give him the benefit of the doubt and maybe it was already beat to shite when he bought it.

But no, the broken ledges aren't fatal; the vise will still clamp.

jack vines

 

[OneStaple]

Since Grandpa isn't around to defend himself, we'll give him the benefit of the doubt and maybe it was already beat to shite when he bought it.

Haha. Knowing my grandpa, I'd say there's a pretty decent chance that he wailed on something in the vise with a hammer or mallet and did the damage himself. But probably way back in 1990 or earlier.

I have no clue if he bought the vise new or picked it up somewhere along the way. It was in his workshop for as far back as I can remember.

Tyler

 

[ecotec]

I would wipe it down a couple times with Fluid Film and mount it as your grandfather used it.

I would buy it some new jaws at some point. The way the world is, you could possibly luck into an entire used vise (garage or estate sale) for what you will pay for a replacement set of jaws.

That has been my luck with vintage finds that need work. The one or two parts that need to be replaced cost as much as the project.

 

[BlackHorseSaga]

I would wipe it down a couple times with Fluid Film and mount it as your grandfather used it.

I would buy it some new jaws at some point. The way the world is, you could possibly luck into an entire used vise (garage or estate sale) for what you will pay for a replacement set of jaws.

That has been my luck with vintage finds that need work. The one or two parts that need to be replaced cost as much as the project.

On all my Wiltons I've replaced the jaws with T6 aluminum. Usually 1/4" thicker than the original jaws. Not very hard to make. Most of the Wilton jaw inserts don't even remotely sit flat on the vise shelves. Puts all the pressure on the bolts.

Can make a set for about $10. I definitely wouldn't buy them from Wilton.

 

[OneStaple]

I would wipe it down a couple times with Fluid Film and mount it as your grandfather used it.

I would buy it some new jaws at some point. The way the world is, you could possibly luck into an entire used vise (garage or estate sale) for what you will pay for a replacement set of jaws.

That has been my luck with vintage finds that need work. The one or two parts that need to be replaced cost as much as the project.

Agreed regarding replacement parts. Ereplacementparts doesn't seem to have the jaws or handles, but a few other sites online do. Replacement serrated jaws are $50+, which seems like a hard pill to swallow. I'm now leaning toward getting some 1/2" x 3/4" copper bar stock and making my own. For roughly the same price, I can make two sets of jaws, one for each vise.

There's certainly a sentimental aspect to this vise, but I want it to be functional/usable. And that means some sort of new jaws.

Tyler

 

[OneStaple]

On all my Wiltons I've replaced the jaws with T6 aluminum. Usually 1/4" thicker than the original jaws. Not very hard to make. Most of the Wilton jaw inserts don't even remotely sit flat on the vise shelves. Puts all the pressure on the bolts.

Can make a set for about $10. I definitely wouldn't buy them from Wilton.

I see you were responding as I was responding. Aluminum would certainly be cheaper and easier to get than copper. But would the copper be a better material? It wouldn't be too hard to replace either one if they get dinged up.

I'm a woodworker and I want to get into some knife making (plus just general garage/life stuff), so I don't anticipate needing to do anything crazy with these vises.

Tyler

 

[BlackHorseSaga]

I see you were responding as I was responding. Aluminum would certainly be cheaper and easier to get than copper. But would the copper be a better material? It wouldn't be too hard to replace either one if they get dinged up.

I'm a woodworker and I want to get into some knife making (plus just general garage/life stuff), so I don't anticipate needing to do anything crazy with these vises.

Tyler

Copper is only better if you're talking about a Mauviel pan.