Recent content by hitechneanderthol

merkyworks, just my $0.02 - if you want to put a 3" vise on a powRarm then I would recommend looking for a Wilton 303 (hydraulic version - the unit with the twist/spoked handle). The work load rating for a 301 is 75 lbs., but for the 303 it is 150 lbs. Yes, the 301 will work for light-er use...

I just bought a '70's "Oregon" brand chainsaw sharpening attachment that is very similar to a Wilton 301 powRarm. Internally it has a large rod like the hydraulic 303. Also the cup under the rotating ball is rounded, not 'V'-ed out like a Wilton - so I would think it would have more work...

I just bought a '70's "Oregon" brand chainsaw sharpening attachment that is very similar to the Wilton 301 powRarm. Internally it has a large rod like the hydraulic 303. Also the cup under the rotating ball is rounded, not 'V'-ed out like a Wilton - so I would think it would have more work...

Exactly BlackVersa2, I was referring to the 2" and 2 1/2" vises. Wilton did not change the bucks for these two sizes like they did on the 3" and larger sizes when they moved their factory in 1957.

There are?... Really?... Where? 3", 4" and some other sizes, sure, but 2 1/2"?

Wilton does not make the 2" or 2 1/2" copper soft covers anymore. You can find them every great once in a blue moon on ebay - very expensive. A while back I found a few pair of unused/unformed covers on Craigslist. If you are going to USE your vise I would make or buy some copper flat bar and...

Technically the 2" Wilton's are all a #20. The main body (the static, in this case) usually has a 920 molded into it (on the later units), the dynamic (moveable) has an 820, the main nut has 720, etc. The 2 1/2" vises are 925, 825, 725 etc... The 3" vises are 930, 830, 730, etc... The 4" vises...

A Wilton powRarm literally says, Wilton" right on the base, so you know who made it. Wilton did not invent the powrarm. They bought the rights and slightly altered them and then took out some patents. There are some "powrarm"s legally made before Wilton bought the rights - like Garfield (in the...

I have an original, never used/formed pair of 2" and 2 1/2" factory Wilton covers BUT other than these, I have never seen any in the wild, any place on-line including on Amazon... only the odd picture on the net.

I just bought a '70's "Oregon" brand chainsaw sharpening attachment that is very similar to the Wilton 301 powRarm. Internally it has a large rod like the hydraulic 303. Also the cup under the rotating ball is rounded, not 'V'-ed out like a Wilton - so I would think it would have more work...

There is sooo much misinformation out there. People will easily/eagerly believe some false nugget but totally dismiss a bucket of truth. Your date stamp of 4-46 means that your vise was made in 4-46. The 5 year warranty date stamping didn't start until the mid '50's and had "Guar. Exp." Stamped...

Wilton did make 2 1/2" copper jaw COVERS in their "Chicago" and "Schiller park" factories. I have two pair of "Chicago" covers. They have never been used or fitted. But Wilton did not make brass jaws. 'Hobby garage' sells some on eBay sometimes. You might get lucky checking Craigslist, garage...

Your vise has several features that point it toward late '40's/early '50's. Wilton date sta~ped most vises, but some would slip through... Wilton didn't have stellar QC. If I were to guess I would put it in the early '50's ('52.). Repainting it REALLY dropped its value.

Think about it beltdrive. A company isn't going to store castings for 30 years. They want/need the floor space. The 2 1/2" vises were still made in the US, still made in Chicago, so why not use the older bucks for a vise that is not a big seller? Especially if the bucks aren't worn out. Just...

That's very interesting Rileysan. The name PowRarm and the style are patented by Wilton. My PowRarm is similar to yours but it has a different base and pedistal. I think that you have a pre-production prototype. Even IF you're not a Wilton fan/collector I would recommend holding on to this or...