Recent content by Gary Indiana

Outstanding detective work! Thanks!

I picked up a US made quick release 3.75" from flea market. Looks like the original paint was red. I wonder who made it and when?

And this is another $40 vise from Chicago CL. Great shape with some original paint.

My recent Chicago CL acquisition: 4" Reed in a great shape. $40. I learned to be quick with this kind of rare bargains. I cleaned it up a bit and painted 2 coats of flood penetrol to prevent rusting.

Good points. Thanks, Gman.

I got a Japanese (1970's?) 3.5" Royal 414 for $10 at a flea market. The slide is bent downward and slightly sideway, perhaps result of hammer abuse? The jaw pads, screw, and everything else is in great shape. I plan to straighten it up and paint. Would anyone recommend any good technique how...

I like the handle looking straight and shiny, indicates low mileage. Would you know if the jaws always had hardened pads in vises of that period around 1940?

Ctalyze made a great restoration of a vise just like mine. His "Craftsman" label was intact.

Before and after. $50 Craigslist purchase. Vintage Craftsman made by Columbian, missing "Craftsman" label on side. 4" jaws, 48lb. Plaster and rust cleaned up with cup wire brush on angle grinder. I might paint it later or leave as is.

I am offered this 4" Erie for $100. The owner does not know much about it, or about tools in general. The Erie could be from 1940's. Does anyone know this vise? Specifically, would you know whether the jaws are made with hardened inserts, or, are they a single part with the vise? All I have is...

Thanks for sharing the knowledge. I was surprised to see on Amazon new 4" Columbians of that 1968 style. Must be new old stock then.

What a beauty. Thanks for posting. Is that finished with bluing?

Sharing my joy of acquiring a 4" Craftsman made by Columbian around 1968. $50 from Craigslist (pictures are from the CL ad). Beside the white spots of plaster, some surface rust, and missing Craftsman decal on r.h. side (I assume it was made of brass) the vise looks to be in a top shape...

Desperate times call for desperate measures :rocker: Just don't tell anybody, please :ninja: But I feel the same way and will try fleamarkets first to get quality old US-made clamp for quality parts. But then again, my heart will bleed before I destroy good old clamp. Maybe I'll find one that...

Outlawmws, thanks for the tip. What I'm afraid of is that if the dish part isn't sturdy enough then it will flatten while mounting the vise to a table. Maybe a C clamp from Harbor F would have a fitting dish that I could "borrow"?