The VISES of Garage Journal

Catalyze · Aug 16, 2012

Very nice vises Jason! Combo vises are always a treat to see and that one is in very nice shape.

Lump - somehow it does not strike me as anything but fitting that you would have a timing chain vise! I can only hope that you have little kids around to amaze when you get it cleaned up and whirring about.....that vise was made when OSHA wasn't around to make you put guards on gears and real men had less than 10 fingers. LOL
Craig

Lump · Aug 16, 2012

Yeah, nice vises, Jason.

Catalyze, you're right...it IS kind of fitting...since I'm a car guy. But my buddy B100 just found me a bigger vise, and I'm supposed to go get it this weekend. And I've got that cool Parker that rotates like an Asian-made vise, and...well, about 20 others (mostly small or mid-sized). Moreover, my wife and I found a really cool home and property for sale, which MIGHT tempt us to sell and move, so I don't want to fasten a really nice vise to a built-in bench. With all that in mind, I MIGHT take this one to the Blacksmith show in Sept, and see if anyone falls in love. Not sure yet.

Outlawmws · Aug 17, 2012

OK, I sold the "Zombie" vise I did the repair posts about this past weekend, so that makes buying another vise tonight OK right?.. Right?... Oh, somebody nod their head at least... :lol_hitti

36 mile round trip CL find, Prentiss Vice Co. Monarch No. 215. 4" jaws, but dang! This thing seems little! I get a weight of 28-9 lbs. Sound about right? :dunno:

The outside is a little crusty, but other than the main screw needing shimmed to lessen the 1/2 turn of backlash, it hasn't been thrashed!

No nicks, cuts or bruises, no anvil work on the top of the slide; this one may be a candidate for getting de-rusted and left ****. The jaws are semi loaded, but a wire brushing should take care of that. The only thing significant is the handle at one end had a tiny bit of kink to it.

Pics:

bigcaddy · Aug 17, 2012

Damn you Outlaw!! I was going to post pics of my new Prentiss/Monarch #217 i got a few days ago.

We have the exact same vise except mine has 5" jaws

Outlawmws · Aug 17, 2012

bigcaddy said:
Damn you Outlaw!! I was going to post pics of my new Prentiss/Monarch #217 i got a few days ago.

We have the exact same vise except mine has 5" jaws

So post em up! :evil:

This little thing is a lightweight! :sad:

Kevin54 · Aug 17, 2012

Lump....How does that vise mount to a bench, or how does it mount to anything? I see one hole at the bottom and a slot above that. Would those be the mounting points?

Last week I posted about a guy having a garage sale in Eaton, Ohio. I'm wondering if anyone made it there. He has about a dozen+ benches and maybe six or so Wiltons. If they did, post up some pics.

Kevin54 · Aug 17, 2012

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Tindjin said:
Would love to be find something like that here. Humm, I wonder how bad the shipping would be.

Paying shipping would be worth it just to have that vise. I shipped a 3' metal shear out to Oregon from Ohio and I think shipping was around $75 going by truck.

cegreen · Aug 17, 2012

roblouvasz said:
If you're referring to the rustoleum paint in the photo, that's not what's on the vise. I just put the can in the photo for size reference.

Would you be willing to share what paint IS on the vise?

A beautiful resto on a beautiful vise - thanks for posting.

-Chris

bigcaddy · Aug 17, 2012

Outlawmws said:
So post em up! This little thing is a lightweight!

HAHA. I actually left it at work so no pictures until Monday. I should have a few more vises to post pictures of too. Another member sent me one yesterday so i can finish a Craftsman project vise i've had sitting around for a few months.

Outlawmws · Aug 17, 2012

Kevin54 said:
Lump....How does that vise mount to a bench, or how does it mount to anything? I see one hole at the bottom and a slot above that. Would those be the mounting points?

Last week I posted about a guy having a garage sale in Eaton, Ohio. I'm wondering if anyone made it there. He has about a dozen+ benches and maybe six or so Wiltons. If they did, post up some pics.

Kevin, the angled part just below the static jaw is the main mounting point. it required the bench to be notched though (Also requires a thick bench!). bolts from both the face and the top. that that single hole near the bottom needs support to keep the vise from racking.

Check Lump's other posts and he explains the slot is for a slide/guide that is MIA that gets welded to the dynamic jaw arm.

Catalyze · Aug 17, 2012

Bigcaddy and Outlawmws - you two are like the old Doublemint Twins......only with Monarch vises!
Craig

dayid · Aug 17, 2012

bigcaddy said:
Damn you Outlaw!! I was going to post pics of my new Prentiss/Monarch #217 i got a few days ago.

We have the exact same vise except mine has 5" jaws

I thought the 217 was 4.5"?

Lump · Aug 17, 2012

Dag-gone it! I think I'm gonna put together a tool collectors' show here in Ohio next year. I would LOVE to have an area for vises, anvils, etc. Wouldn't it be cool to all get together and set up vises, and learn how to repair/restore 'em, etc? I keep getting this same idea, because I want to ATTEND it myself. I want to see those vises, all together in one place, at one time. I want to stand around and yak with the guys who know all about them. That's what caused me to start my automotive swap meet, and it has now grown huge.
Whaddaya say, guys? Would some of you come to it?

bigcaddy · Aug 17, 2012

I'm sure plenty of members would show up to an antique tool show with vises and anvils, Lump I sure would but its a long long ways away from my house.

Here is the Morgan that i bought last weekend with a fresh coat of paint and a little polish on the unpainted parts. Its in great condition for being as old as it is.

I'm debating if i should highlight the lettering in silver or just leave it blue. Its a nice looking vise but not a keeper in my book. If anybody is interested in buying it, let me know.

EOC_Jason · Aug 17, 2012

bigcaddy said:
Here is the Morgan that i bought last weekend with a fresh coat of paint and a little polish on the unpainted parts. Its in great condition for being as old as it is.

I'm debating if i should highlight the lettering in silver or just leave it blue. Its a nice looking vise but not a keeper in my book. If anybody is interested in buying it, let me know.

I would just leave it as-is. It sure is a nice little four incher...

bl00 · Aug 17, 2012

Picked this up today for $150. It's a Prentiss No 58 Heavy Chipping Vise with an 8 1/2 jaw. :beer:

It's very front heavy. Without the clamps holding it down you can tip it forward with one finger.

The "little" vise is shown for size comparison. It's a Prentiss No 5 that weighs 146 lbs. I'll weigh the big one in parts when I disassemble it for cleaning. It's in really nice shape other than the rust.

Outlawmws · Aug 17, 2012

Catalyze said:
Bigcaddy and Outlawmws - you two are like the old Doublemint Twins......only with Monarch vises!
Craig

Craig, have you noticed these things come in swarms? A couple of weeks ago it's Reeds, this week its Monarch/Prentiss, and we can expect two, three more in the next week or so to pop up... :thumbup:

Outlawmws · Aug 17, 2012

bl00 said:
Picked this up today for $150. It's a Prentiss No 58 Heavy Chipping Vise with an 8 1/2 jaw. It's very front heavy. Without the clamps holding it down you can tip it forward with one finger.

The "little" vise is shown for size comparison. It's a Prentiss No 5 that weighs 146 lbs. I'll weigh the big one in parts when I disassemble it for cleaning. It's in really nice shape other than the rust.

See? Bl00 just did one of them! :willy_nil

Lump · Aug 17, 2012

Wow, B100. Whatta MONSTER. And, at $150? Whew, you really did release some good "Vise Karma," didn't you?

And by the way, YOU ****! :beer:

Congrats on a real beauty, for sure. :thumbup:

EOC_Jason · Aug 17, 2012

bl00 said:
Picked this up today for $150. It's a Prentiss No 58 Heavy Chipping Vise with an 8 1/2 jaw.

You ****, you ****, you ****, you ****.... unless you want to sell it to me. :willy_nil

A No. 57 weighs 210 lbs... So I'm guessing around 260 lbs?

demographic · Aug 17, 2012

bl00 said:
Picked this up today for $150. It's a Prentiss No 58 Heavy Chipping Vise with an 8 1/2 jaw.

There's a Record 518 1/2 heavy chipping vice in the same size jaws but as yet I've never seen one in the flesh, just in an old catalogue. Its made from pearlitic malleable iron (not normal cast iron) so will be plenty tough.
One thing that UK vices are quite good at is getting the strength without too much weight* so I would like to see how heavy the record heavy chipping vice is compared to the Prentiss.

*Can we draw a parallel to the 1960s sport cars? Maybe? :dunno:

mncountrydoc · Aug 17, 2012

I picked this up today because all I had was a cheap flimsy Chinese vise anyone know anything about how to id it. There is multiple coats of paint that I will wire wheel off in hopes of some stamping the head rotates but once something is clamped in the jaws it stops rotating also not sure what the diamond shape on the jaws are for
Sent from my SCH-I405 using Tapatalk 2

PCO6 · Aug 17, 2012

mncountrydoc - I have one just like it. They're pretty common. I bought mine over 20 years ago and use it as my "outdoor welding vice". It's worked well for all these years.

mncountrydoc · Aug 17, 2012

Any idea off the make hope out was worth the 20 I paid

Sent from my SCH-I405 using Tapatalk 2

Outlawmws · Aug 17, 2012

mncountrydoc said:
I picked this up today because all I had was a cheap flimsy Chinese vise anyone know anything about how to id it. There is multiple coats of paint that I will wire wheel off in hopes of some stamping the head rotates but once something is clamped in the jaws it stops rotating also not sure what the diamond shape on the jaws are for
Sent from my SCH-I405 using Tapatalk 2

99.99% sure that is either a ChiCom or Taiwan import.

The diamond shape is for gripping round or irregular objects.

Outlawmws · Aug 17, 2012

demographic said:
There's a Record 518 1/2 heavy chipping vice in the same size jaws but as yet I've never seen one in the flesh, just in an old catalogue. Its made from pearlitic malleable iron (not normal cast iron) so will be plenty tough.
One thing that UK vices are quite good at is getting the strength without too much weight* so I would like to see how heavy the record heavy chipping vice is compared to the Prentiss.

*Can we draw a parallel to the 1960s sport cars? Maybe?

Do the Record vises have problems with letting out the magic smoke? :dunno:

demoman · Aug 17, 2012

bl00 said:
Picked this up today for $150. It's a Prentiss No 58 Heavy Chipping Vise with an 8 1/2 jaw. It's very front heavy. Without the clamps holding it down you can tip it forward with one finger.

The "little" vise is shown for size comparison. It's a Prentiss No 5 that weighs 146 lbs. I'll weigh the big one in parts when I disassemble it for cleaning. It's in really nice shape other than the rust.

Fred - Very nice vise!! :pimpflash

That will definitely put you in the front door of the big vise of the month club! :beer:

Outlawmws · Aug 17, 2012

mncountrydoc said:
Any idea off the make hope out was worth the 20 I paid

Sent from my SCH-I405 using Tapatalk 2

No clue on the actual make (Import, make means nothing..) but while you didn't get stabbed @ $20, it was at or near top dollar IMO.

Outlawmws · Aug 17, 2012

demoman said:
Fred - Very nice vise!! That will definitely put you in the front door of the big vise of the month club!

Of the month? Probably of the year! :beer:

(And yes, He ***** for finding that monster!) :pimpflash

gatewaysysop · Aug 17, 2012

bl00 said:
Picked this up today for $150. It's a Prentiss No 58 Heavy Chipping Vise with an 8 1/2 jaw.

As I said once before, damn you sir, damn you! You absolutely ****! :beer:

A Prentiss #58, that's one of those dream vises that most of us will never own or even see in person, no matter how hard we try, and you got it for about 1/10th to 1/20th of what it goes for in the open market to boot! Go out and buy some lotto tickets, you lucky *******! :thumbup:

toomanytoyzz · Aug 17, 2012

Got this "little" guy today with a couple of other good scores. It needs a handle for the swivel base, but I should be able to get one. I have a parts vise I may vick it from.

What I like about this one over most of the smaller Littlestown vises you see is that the lead screw is covered which helps to keep shavings/particles caused when grinding, cutting etc. I am gonna give it a tear down and repaint. The current paint job is awful. :wtf:

ShadowRuleZ · Aug 17, 2012

Post that block grinder in the block grinder thread!

toomanytoyzz · Aug 17, 2012

ShadowRuleZ said:
Post that block grinder in the block grinder thread!

I will, but check this thread out. http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=162213
This is what I drove two hours to get. The block grinder guys will love this score.

Catalyze · Aug 17, 2012

bl00 - Grats on the Prentiss! However, I feel no jealousy at all. None....nope. You are like the friend of mine who married a gorgeous stripper. Sure you are happy now....but that vise will break your heart eventually (or your foot). That is too much vise for just one man...yep. So my soon to be depressed friend, enjoy the here and now. In the meantime, just like I asked my friend, can I see some more pictures?
Craig

bl00 · Aug 17, 2012

Lump said:
Wow, B100. Whatta MONSTER.

Any luck on your end?

EOC_Jason said:
You ****, you ****, you ****, you ****.... unless you want to sell it to me.
A No. 57 weighs 210 lbs... So I'm guessing around 260 lbs?

Don't I know it. I'll get a weight on it eventually. I think the biggest version of this vise is the one jopickens has. His says it was made in Meridian, so that would've been after Parker bought them out.

demographic said:
There's a Record 518 1/2 heavy chipping vice in the same size jaws but as yet I've never seen one in the flesh, just in an old catalogue.

I recall seeing a pic of a Record that had "heavy chipping vice" in the casting. I'll see if I can find it again.

Outlawmws said:
Do the Record vises have problems with letting out the magic smoke?

That cracked me up.

gatewaysysop said:
A
A Prentiss #58, that's one of those dream vises that most of us will never own or even see in person,

I didn't think I'd find one either, at least not that I could afford. I love the classic old school look to it. And it's freakin huge!

Catalyze said:
bl00 - Grats on the Prentiss! However, I feel no jealousy at all. None....nope. You are like the friend of mine who married a gorgeous stripper. Sure you are happy now....but that vise will break your heart eventually (or your foot). That is too much vise for just one man...yep. So my soon to be depressed friend, enjoy the here and now. In the meantime, just like I asked my friend, can I see some more pictures?
Craig

That's a deal. You send me pictures of your friends wife and I'll send you pictures of the vise. :bounce:

PCO6 · Aug 17, 2012

mncountrydoc said:
Any idea off the make hope out was worth the 20 I paid

I doubt this will help but mine has a plate with "IMA" riveted to the side of it. I'm sure they have had MANY names attached to them. I bought it at Busy Bee. For $20 you did fine.

bl00 · Aug 17, 2012

demographic said:
There's a Record 518 1/2 heavy chipping vice in the same size jaws but as yet I've never seen one in the flesh, just in an old catalogue.

Here's a 6 inch. Does the bigger one have the same shape or the more traditional Record shape?

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35604059@N03/4936263884/" title="RECORD No. 516 HEAVY CHIPPING VICE by Ljotulfson, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4082/4936263884_9e39dc19d2_z.jpg" width="640" height="433" alt="RECORD No. 516 HEAVY CHIPPING VICE"></a>

Lump · Aug 18, 2012

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lump
Wow, B100. Whatta MONSTER.

Any luck on your end?

I am headed down there tomorrow, Fred. Hopefully it will all work out. Thanks for the lead!

demographic · Aug 18, 2012

bl00 said:
Here's a 6 inch. Does the bigger one have the same shape or the more traditional Record shape?

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35604059@N03/4936263884/" title="RECORD No. 516 HEAVY CHIPPING VICE by Ljotulfson, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4082/4936263884_9e39dc19d2_z.jpg" width="640" height="433" alt="RECORD No. 516 HEAVY CHIPPING VICE"></a>

Same shape as that^. I copied the catalogue page and this is the section blown up for greater clarity.

Catalyze · Aug 18, 2012

bl00 - I had a friend (not the one with the stripper wife) send me a link to another huge Prentiss for sale in Alabama. It is one that I have never seen in any catalog. The model number is 518 1/2. It is an 8 1/2" stationary vise in the Bull Dog line. On the side of it is the usual late model Prentiss logo....Meridan location....but it is bigger than anything that I have seen listed in a Bull Dog line. It is also on sale for the small sum of $500 so I think that I shall not take any trip to Alabama this year.
Craig

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