The VISES of Garage Journal

[Richard Barre]

Maybe the vise was purchased, and then it was realized the ability to swivel the jaw to the side was inherently problematic for other uses. (Such as clamping something, and bending it towards the side in the same plane as the vise swiveled, or unfastening tight fasteners in the same direction.
If there was no extra money to buy another vise, drilling the holes and strapping the vise jaw in place would make sense.

Good observation. TY

 

[Richard Barre]

Can someone identify this vise?

 

[Shergar]

Nothing to do with me, and no description, but while wandering a Marrakesh souk very recently I was mighty impressed not with the vice, but the Afica’s heaviest duty vice stand!



That aint falling over in a hurry The repurposed concrete filled Propane bottle anvils look good too!

 

[TheRealZeus]

Can someone identify this vise?

Yup. What you have there has come to be commonly referred to as a “Buffalo” Vise. Number on the side usually corresponds to the width of the jaw in inches. Although often dismissed, they are excellent to utilize in order to preserve other vises you do not wish to take hack saws, grinders, welders, hammers, combined with inevitable rage out upon. Example: Bolting one to a table outside should not stress one out to much if it is left in the rain. The country of production varies across the globe, to include, Taiwan, China, India, and probably a couple other places.

 

[TheRealZeus]

A namesake from the web…


Another thread at PM, with much greater detail specifically for the type/model, here:

#9 Buffalo Bench Vise

I'm not sure if this is the correct forum for this...............and if not, maybe someone with the authority to move it would do so. I have a beautiful #9 Buffalo Bench Vise in extremely good condition, with original paint. Jaws measure 9 1/2" and only have slight surface rust. Don't know...

www.practicalmachinist.com

 

[hemifalcon]

It’s been a minute since sharing here… just a junky Wilton I rehabbed…

 

[hemifalcon]

Continued..

 

[parkersxsvise]

Finally got an excellent Parker No71 swivel jaw swivel base vise for gunsmithing. This thing is my baby, it brought some challenges but it is worth every ounce of time I put into it. I had a friend cut me the taper pin and I finished it out on my lathe. Now I just need to find someone to make me brass jaws. 3.5 in jaws, 4 1/4 throat depth.

 

[Beerhippie]

Now I just need to find someone to make me brass jaws.

Good luck.

Just make/buy some jaw covers.



I think Parker jaws were individually fitted to each vise.

 

[Outlawmws]

Finally got an excellent Parker No71 swivel jaw swivel base vise for gunsmithing. This thing is my baby, it brought some challenges but it is worth every ounce of time I put into it. I had a friend cut me the taper pin and I finished it out on my lathe. Now I just need to find someone to make me brass jaws. 3.5 in jaws, 4 1/4 throat depth.

Awesome find!

 

[Outlawmws]

Good luck.

Just make some jaw covers.
I think Parker jaws were individually fitted to each vise.

Correct!

 

[Richard Barre]

Is this worth buying? No name. Any input appreciated......!!

 

[RTM]

Is this worth buying? No name. Any input appreciated......!!

Wow, third one this year, and its already the 5th of March.

Still an Asian Import, still a decent vise, but don't expect to be able to beat on it, the quality is variable from label to label, we joke that they all come out of the same factory, and only the label is different. Sawyer NuTyp is the original*, almost all the rest are clones or cheap copies.

ETA: * maybe not, apparently others in the game first, will add more later if someone else doesn't

 

[neophyte]

Is this worth buying? No name. Any input appreciated......!!

If the price is right.
Currently you can purchase newly made versions of this vise, for around $180 from Yost, or Harbor Freight, and the vises will be made from Ductile Iron, rather than the grey flake iron the older versions were made from.
This is likely an Asian (Chinese made version), which were sold under a number of different brands over a few decades or more.
The original of this vise was the Sawyer Nutyp vise, which was made in the USA, decades ago, back when vises were commonly made from grey flake iron.
Due the when the original was designed, grey iron seems to work for the design, and there seem to be plenty of surviving examples of the Chinese made versions.
“Value” is a personal thing, so $50-$100 is about the maximum I would pay for one, and I would lean towards the lower end.
Most people aren’t familiar with the design though, and think “Cha-Ching” and ask way too much.

 

[Richard Barre]

Wow, third one this year, and its already the 5th of March.

Still an Asian Import, still a decent vise, but don't expect to be able to beat on it, the quality is variable from label to label, we joke that they all come out of the same factory, and only the label is different. Sawyer NuTyp is the original*, almost all the rest are clones or cheap copies.

ETA: * maybe not, apparently others in the game first, will add more later if someone else doesn't

Thank you MW... funny guy...!!

 

[Beerhippie]

One thing to say about these used Nutyp-style vises showing up recently: They're used and not broken. I'd look for signs of some abuse to be sure they don't break the first time they get hit.

As I've mentioned before, there's one of these mounted to the corner of my workbench in the plant shop. It's survived about thirty years of hard use and abuse. A friend bought one--same brand (Roughneck)--after using mine a few times. His broke the first time he tried bending a piece of 1/8" steel using a hammer. Snapped right off at the top half of the swivel base.

 

[Richard Barre]

If the price is right.
Currently you can purchase newly made versions of this vise, for around $180 from Yost, or Harbor Freight, and the vises will be made from Ductile Iron, rather than the grey flake iron the older versions were made from.
This is likely an Asian (Chinese made version), which were sold under a number of different brands over a few decades or more.
The original of this vise was the Sawyer Nutyp vise, which was made in the USA, decades ago, back when vises were commonly made from grey flake iron.
Due the when the original was designed, grey iron seems to work for the design, and there seem to be plenty of surviving examples of the Chinese made versions.
“Value” is a personal thing, so $50-$100 is about the maximum I would pay for one, and I would lean towards the lower end.
Most people aren’t familiar with the design though, and think “Cha-Ching” and ask way too much.

Thank you N. You just saved me some bucks....!!

 

[RTM]

@Richard Barre

One thing to say about these used Nutyp-style vises showing up recently: They're used and not broken. I'd look for signs of some abuse to be sure they don't break the first time they get hit.

As I've mentioned before, there's one of these mounted to the corner of my workbench in the plant shop. It's survived about thirty years of hard use and abuse. A friend bought one--same brand (Roughneck)--after using mine a few times. His broke the first time he tried bending a piece of 1/8" steel using a hammer. Snapped right off at the top half of the swivel base.

This is the spectrum I was referring to. @Beerhippie loves his, but a friend was not so lucky.

I have one at home, supposedly originally bought in the 1980s, that I paid $10 for. I would have still been in at $20. It has lots of bondo showing, a nice metal plate instead of a sticker, rotational locks in two directions. But I'm not taking off my Reed 203.5 for this one. I have a Record, bigger Reed, FPU, and Parker that would all be used ahead of it

 

[Beerhippie]

But I'm not taking off my Reed 203.5 for this one. I have a Record, bigger Reed, FPU, and Parker that would all be used ahead of it

I also have 4 1/2" Reed and Parker vises mounted in the shop. The reasons the Roughneck tends to get used so much more are the rotating head and the pipe jaws. For my purposes, these two features get used a lot.

If I'm going to really whale on something, the Parker and Reed are right there--and the Parker is portable, so I can take it to the job.

 

[Richard Barre]

A little help please... can anyone put a mdl number and/or value on this vise? I can't find any info on it other than a newer model.

 

[Outlawmws]

A little help please... can anyone put a mdl number and/or value on this vise? I can't find any info on it other than a newer model.

Basically the same as above...

 

[paulsomlo]

A little help please... can anyone put a mdl number and/or value on this vise? I can't find any info on it other than a newer model.

Its value is in its ability to hold things - and that's about it.

 

[RTM]

A little help please... can anyone put a mdl number and/or value on this vise? I can't find any info on it other than a newer model.

Available in some general shape as late as 2015

Wilton Full-Line Product Catalog : 2015 : WMH Tool Group, Inc. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

80 p., 27.6 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

I could not find it in any catalogs from 1960 to 2009.

Maybe you will have better luck

Internet Archive: Digital Library of Free & Borrowable Texts, Movies, Music & Wayback Machine

archive.org

 

[Beerhippie]

Its value is in its ability to hold things - and that's about it.

But... it's a WILTON!

 

[Outlawmws]

But... it's a MIC WILTON!

Fixed it for you!

 

[paulsomlo]

But... it's a WILTON!

Actually, it's a ChiLTON

 

[neophyte]

A little help please... can anyone put a mdl number and/or value on this vise? I can't find any info on it other than a newer model.

Wilyon still manufactures version of the rotating vises.
The current version has a redesigned body shape that is stylish, but otherwise just as mundane as the older Wilton version, snd the cast iron is simply listed as “cast iron” in the specs, so probably just grey flake iron rather than ductile iron.
The Wilton versions also cost more than some of the ductile iron versions nowadays.
The Wilton version appear to have cast in jaws, which probably work, but which will be inferior to separate hardened steel jaws.
The screw on the side for fixing the rotating front jaws is aldo a sort of crappy design, were the screw digs into the rotating body, constantly marring it. (The mini Harbor Freight rotating vise uses a similar design, and it annoys me, but for $25 I accept it for the low price). The original Sawyer Nutype vises used a spring loaded pin that engages with holes, so technically less adjustable, but also more durable over time.
Current cast iron Wilton vises of this type seem to cost around $230+.
I found an old listing for the Wilton that shows a price of $292.
I find this way to high, and nowadays a new vise, out of similar grey iron, outside a Wilton, would cost around $100 new.
If I had one, I would use it till it broke, but I would not pay much for one, and I would likely pay less for a Wilton version, than one of the other generic Chinese versions, with the separate steel jaws.

As for the brittle cast iron, I sort of wonder if annealing the older vises in an oven for a few hours would fix the issue?
It would require repainting, and be a pain though.

 

[1Bad55Chevy]

Wilyon still manufactures version of the rotating vises.
The current version has a redesigned body shape that is stylish, but otherwise just as mundane as the older Wilton version, snd the cast iron is simply listed as “cast iron” in the specs, so probably just grey flake iron rather than ductile iron.
The Wilton versions also cost more than some of the ductile iron versions nowadays.
The Wilton version appear to have cast in jaws, which probably work, but which will be inferior to separate hardened steel jaws.
The screw on the side for fixing the rotating front jaws is aldo a sort of crappy design, were the screw digs into the rotating body, constantly marring it. (The mini Harbor Freight rotating vise uses a similar design, and it annoys me, but for $25 I accept it for the low price). The original Sawyer Nutype vises used a spring loaded pin that engages with holes, so technically less adjustable, but also more durable over time.
Current cast iron Wilton vises of this type seem to cost around $230+.
I found an old listing for the Wilton that shows a price of $292.
I find this way to high, and nowadays a new vise, out of similar grey iron, outside a Wilton, would cost around $100 new.
If I had one, I would use it till it broke, but I would not pay much for one, and I would likely pay less for a Wilton version, than one of the other generic Chinese versions, with the separate steel jaws.

As for the brittle cast iron, I sort of wonder if annealing the older vises in an oven for a few hours would fix the issue?
It would require repainting, and be a pain though.

I have that vise..... its a real winner....

 

[neophyte]

I have that vise..... its a real winner....

The grey one, or the older blue one?
I like the looks of the newer Wilton versions, and Wilton, unlike many other vise suppliers, is making multiple sizes, (I think the original Sawyer Nutyp came in 4 or 5 sizes), but I’m iffy on a vise made out of a material that might suddenly fracture in use, dropping something heavy on my foot, hence why I usually recommend ductile iron vises.

 

[Patrickm82]

So here is the vise I was asking about last week. I went to the guys shop and he had a full on blacksmith shop going on. Very cool!! Grabbed the vise and a hammer head the guy made. The vise is a 80mm LES with dynamic rear jaw. She needs a good cleaning but very good condition no rust and like new jaws. The jaws are coated in a shellac or something thick!

 

[Beerhippie]

^looks like one of the reverse Polish vises, but up-side-down.

 

[RTM]

So here is the vise I was asking about last week. I went to the guys shop and he had a full on blacksmith shop going on. Very cool!! Grabbed the vise and a hammer head the guy made. The vise is a 80mm LES with dynamic rear jaw. She needs a good cleaning but very good condition no rust and like new jaws. The jaws are coated in a shellac or something thick!

LES might be an abbreviation for Leinen, the only unknown L on the vise sheet. Both GJ links are dead.

Leinen

Buy your Leinen vises incl. Junior models right here ✅ Authorised Leinen dealer ✅ We are engineers ✅ Fair prices ✅ Large stock ✅ Fast shipping from Germany ✅

www.jensputzier.com

 

[Patrickm82]

That would be pretty cool @RTM I must admit I don’t know a damn thing about it! Just needed one, it was only $70 so I took a shot.

 

[1Bad55Chevy]

The grey one, or the older blue one?
I like the looks of the newer Wilton versions, and Wilton, unlike many other vise suppliers, is making multiple sizes, (I think the original Sawyer Nutyp came in 4 or 5 sizes), but I’m iffy on a vise made out of a material that might suddenly fracture in use, dropping something heavy on my foot, hence why I usually recommend ductile iron vises.

The Grey one in 6". The jaws are constantly coming loose with light automotive work (i am in DFW so no rust here), If you try to hit anything in it the thing twists... absolute ****.

I want to buy the mini Fireball vise or something vintage. I do have a post vise i use in my shop now I scored for FREE! I use the post vise if I have to beat a bearing off or something.

 

[Nessism]

Is this worth buying? No name. Any input appreciated......!!

I have one of those vices. Bought in 1995, at a DYI warehouse store in Ohio. It's been a very nice piece for me. Smooth rotation, both the base and the head, and very robust. Look at the thickness of the dynamic jaw. Unless there is a hidden casting flaw, that thing ain't breaking. I've beat on mine plenty. Funny thing, I bought one of those Harbor Freight Doyle vices, the big one, but have never installed it because I don't have the heart to demote this old unit. No disrespect to old American made vices, but where I worked, we had dozens of old Morgans, Athols, Wiltons, Columbians, etc, and other than the Wiltons, the action on this vice is nicer than most.

 

[Itinerant]

This little Craftsman came along with a workbench I picked up today. Needs a good cleaning and the handle needs straightening but otherwise good to go, 3 3/4” jaws.

 

[Nessism]

This little Craftsman came along with a workbench I picked up today. Needs a good cleaning and the handle needs straightening but otherwise good to go, 3 3/4” jaws.

I have the 4" version, 391-5188, which came with my house. I recently cleaned it up, greased it, and sprayed it black. Been trying to rehome it for $65, but no love. All I get are $40 offers. Not all older vices are worth much.

 

[Itinerant]

I have the 4" version, 391-5188, which came with my house. I recently cleaned it up, greased it, and sprayed it black. Been trying to rehome it for $65, but no love. All I get are $40 offers. Not all older vices are worth much.

I’ve always liked the looks of these Craftsman vises and I’m surprised you can’t get $65 for yours. I’m going to re-mount mine on the bench once it’s cleaned and the handle straight.

 

[Itinerant]

Cross-post from the “What did you do “IN” your garage” today thread.

Mounted my Rock Island 574 onto a repurposed Singer sewing machine treadle.

 

[bastel]

So here is the vise I was asking about last week. I went to the guys shop and he had a full on blacksmith shop going on. Very cool!! Grabbed the vise and a hammer head the guy made. The vise is a 80mm LES with dynamic rear jaw. She needs a good cleaning but very good condition no rust and like new jaws. The jaws are coated in a shellac or something thick!

LES is short for Leipziger Eisen- und Stahlwerke, which was the east german state owned company that took over Meier & Weichelt after the war. Your vise is the "modern" variant, you can see the streamlined casting. It's not a bad thing, they open a bit wider I think and feel like they added some iron where it counts. The old models looked nicer, though. They also made smaller models (70, 60, 50 mm) which don't use the steel plate design for the dynamic jaw but dovetails and no inverted screw. They made many other models as well. The HS and the S model were the staple vise design which are everywhere in eastern germany. The S model was made by many other companies, tho, it's not a unique design but follows the Koch patent. The HS follows the back opener Leinen patent but is one of the very few with integrated legs. Leinen, Boley etc need to be mounted on wooden plates (for proper height) and then bolted to the bench.

Attached a few pics from my google drive where they are available in HQ