The VISES of Garage Journal

Harvey Wallbanger · Sep 28, 2015

dodge610 said:
Thatblue vise did you get that in ohio wetfield center to be exact.

I did.
After I paid for it I asked the Lady how she came across a Record vise, they're not that common around here. Turns out she's a widow and her husband brought it over to the states when he moved here from England. when I got home I noticed it was covered with Lipton tea stickers. One more Record vise and I might be having tea and crumpets !

dodge610 · Sep 28, 2015

Harvey Wallbanger said:
I did.
After I paid for it I asked the Lady how she came across a Record vise, they're not that common around here. Turns out she's a widow and her husband brought it over to the states when he moved here from England. when I got home I noticed it was covered with Lipton tea stickers. One more Record vise and I might be having tea and crumpets !

That lady was supposed to be holding that vise till next weekend for me. We agreed on a price said she would take the craigslist add down. So much for her word. But at least one of us got it good deal.

Shiftless · Sep 28, 2015

My afternoon $30 Craigslist purchase.
Columbian 505 with 5 1/2 inch jaws weighing in at 63 pounds including the rust! Couple of chips in the lower corners of one jaw but no other problems. Came out of the Kaiser shipyards in Richmond CA. that closed after the war.
My first score at the 50 cents a pound target price.
Should make a fun project for me when I get around to it. I'm planning on electrolysis to start and BLO to finish.

Harvey Wallbanger · Sep 28, 2015

Sorry bout that, she made no mention of it.

JZiggy · Sep 28, 2015

Awesome find, Shiftless!

Shiftless · Sep 28, 2015

JZiggy said:
Awesome find, Shiftless!

Thanks JZ

oldldh · Sep 28, 2015

Shiftless---

At that price---

"Ya Dun Gud, Bubba!!!"

BriSco · Sep 28, 2015

jrobb316 said:
I would highly doubt yellow is the original color. Nice Rock Island, if thats your first pull at acquiring a nice vintage vise you hit a home run!

Thanks!
I have it disassembled and it definitely was yellow originally.
I left a bit of yellow inside and under the swivel on the base. It is going to be Case/IH implement blue. Because I have half a quart from a plow I painted a couple years ago. And I like the color. :beer2:

Also I found the date stamp 12/52.

Rileysan · Sep 28, 2015

Craptain said:
Brian, don't be too quick to dismiss the post vise. They always tend to look lighter than they actually are. Firstly they are forged not cast, and originally, The early ones at least, would have been made by the blacksmith who used it. Also consider the previous use, and the fact that it was still around. 3" is only small after you have been around this thread for a while, and is often much more than most people actually need. I have what I call a "Half Post Vise" it is only about 3" and is pivoted about a foot below the jaws rather than close to floor level. It has proved very robust.

Thanks for the advise - I will pay closer attention before jumping to any conclusions in the future.

In the meantime, I picked up a Craftsman 5152 this weekend for $35 and am really impressed! The quality is better, and it weighs more than that of the Wilton 645 I bought last week! I'm gunna make the Craftsman my first vise restoration project.

Brian

ShadowRuleZ · Sep 28, 2015

Harvey Wallbanger said:
And the road trip Parker 273. I'd never even seen a swivel jaw before GJ.

Glad someone got that one. No one here spoke up as the owner of it, but I still think that collar is a replacement done by the resident vise parts maker in this thread.

flavc3 · Sep 28, 2015

Ok guys anybody know what type of vises these are? Or what they were used for?? Does it look like anything is missing? One of them is stamped, "brown soggs co. haniton can"
Thanks

vintage nut · Sep 28, 2015

CRSINMICH said:
Vintage, you have access to some exotic woods. What do you do with them if you're not making vice jaw pads? I don't think I've ever heard any wood being described as vulgar. Is it too common for you? This is not in any way a criticism, just a comment on your choice of words. I like it!

I'm a custom knifemaker, so I use all manner of rare and exotic woods for handles. I've just never been a fan of purpleheart. It's just too bright purple for my taste. Not to mention it turns a dull brown in time. I've been building up quite the collection of woods over the last few years.

Sent from my C1904 using Tapatalk

va.grouseman · Sep 28, 2015

flavc3 said:
Ok guys anybody know what type of vises these are? Or what they were used for?? Does it look like anything is missing? One of them is stamped, "brown soggs co. haniton can"
Thanks

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Looks like an old timey, table clamp, bead roller.

drivesitfar · Sep 28, 2015

Harvey: i guess i'll save my warning for others because you seem to know that once you bring a good vise home it's relatives seem to follow and end up on your bench or shelf soon. nice find on the blue record and i love that old quick release lever on those.

the one you just picked up looks like the jaws are not original and it looks like one of the jaw's shelves is missing. good luck with that one and it looks like it also has the quick release lever.

Shift: Wow that's a lot of vise for that little money. i'm sure you will have it looking great soon. nice find.

Brisco: Rock Island vises are some of my favorite old vises and you have done a great job so far. Post more pictures of it especially after you painted it over on the vise repair 101 thread because i like how you have all the parts laid out for others (and me) to see what's involved to cleaning up a great old vise.

Kevin: nice find in the trees and maybe you can roll it close enough if you can't find good help to lift it on your truck.

Shiftless · Sep 28, 2015

oldldh said:
Shiftless---

At that price---

"Ya Dun Gud, Bubba!!!"

Thanks, oldldh I know the value of your assessment!
And thanks for yours too, drives..

Shiftless · Sep 28, 2015

balane said:
I've always wanted to try spray on truck bed liner as a vise finish and here it is. This is a Columbian 504 1/2. This is the first old body style Columbian with bolt on jaw inserts that I've come across, usually they're T-jaws.

.

Balane:
Beautiful job, as usual.
Your pics have given me some hints on the rusty Columbian I brought home yesterday, a VERY similar vise.. After a bit of wire brushing, I uncovered what looks to me to be the numbers 505. But the jaw widths are 5 1/2 inches. So the model number should be 505 1/2 right? My numbers are not on a raised portion above the word Columbian, but underneath the Cleveland lettering, just like on yours. Old style right? Maybe the 1/2 got worn off? I doubt it...
Perhaps questions will be answered when I get all the rust off.. :dunno:

balane · Sep 28, 2015

So your 505 is stamped with the model number like many of models were? If it was stamped in then I would say it's just worn down. If it's cast then I don't know what to say. I've seen a number of 505 Columbians and they've all had 5" jaws. I can't say I've ever seen a 505 1/2 though.

Here's a 505 with 5" jaws.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vtg-No-505-...opens-9-5-L-/281794905632?hash=item419c490620

Maui · Sep 28, 2015

Anybody interested in this Columbian 608? I think that he's dreaming.

http://ithaca.craigslist.org/tls/5220860839.html

Maui

WarDamnEagle · Sep 28, 2015

WarDamnEagle said:
Well it only took a week or so of looking locally and this popped up on Craigslist on Sunday. Just picked it up this evening. I'm going to clean it up a little bit and pretty much leave it as is. I thought $150 was a pretty fair price.

Are the dates stamped somewhere on the Wilton vises and, if so, where?

I gave this Wilton a bath in original Gunk followed by simple green followed by a soak in car wash detergent. I then dried everything off with towels and compressed air, and flushed the inside out multiple times with WD-40 and brake cleaner (alternating). It was pretty clean on the inside anyway but now all the old grease is gone. I then wiped most surfaces down with some WD-40 Specialist Corrosion Protection to ensure that I would not have any flash rusting.

Pics to follow after reassembly but first a quick question. I have searched and read a lot on lubrication of vises. I plan on using Amsoil synthetic heavy moly fortified grease on the main screw and never seize on the two carriage bolts.

Does anyone use lube on the metal to metal surface where the bottom of the vise touches the swivel base? It's less than an inch mating surface around the circumference and I doubt that I will be rotating the vise much but thought I would ask before I put it back together and mount it to the bench. Left to my own devices I would probably put a teeny amount of the Amsoil grease but thought for some reason it is meant to be left "dry".

I tend to over think these things so apologies if the answer is obvious. Again, tried to search for an answer but couldn't find that mentioned.

balane · Sep 28, 2015

It's personal preference on lubrication. My choice is to go light on the grease. On the vises I redo I put lube on the main screw threads and on all contact surfaces involving the spindle, thrust washer and whatever style keeper is on the vise. I use very little as it goes a long way and somebody down the road is going to appreciate it not being all gooped up. I've never seen a need for it where the slide meets the rails or where the static jaw rests on a swivel base.

bagged89s10 · Sep 28, 2015

I started spraying all moving parts with dry graphite lubricant. I coat The slide and bare metal parts(handle, jaws, anvil surface, etc.) with Johnson's paste wax. Who else uses that dry graphite lube on the main screw and should I also be using some other lube?

joe.striper · Sep 28, 2015

Maui said:
Anybody interested in this Columbian 608? I think that he's dreaming.

http://ithaca.craigslist.org/tls/5220860839.html

Maui

First the guys on crack. Second it's a Columbian. I just don't l;ike 'em and I cannot sell them. Also 175 lbs for an 8" vise? Seriously? My 7" Parker is 245 lbs. My 6" Athol 626 is around 200 lbs.

Don't all you guys throw stuff at me, just my opinion....

Here's a question, where do all the CL morons get their pricing? Seriously, it can't be from Ebay.

bagged89s10 · Sep 28, 2015

joe.striper said:
Veeps, I was told you liked KY for the slide...Just sayin'

Hahahahha!

joe.striper · Sep 28, 2015

Came home from work and what do I find in my driveway but this! Neighbor gave it to me. Nice little Monarch in seriously nice condition. The stand is interesteing as well, home made but I have to try and figure where very bottom base came from...

jakemac · Sep 28, 2015

Oh, great !!!!!
Now Joe has vises materializing out of thin air in his driveway.
There's no hope left for the rest of us. :sad:

bagged89s10 · Sep 28, 2015

jakemac said:
Oh, great !!!!!
Now Joe has vises materializing out of thin air in his driveway.
There's no hope left for the rest of us.

Oh hey look, it's raining vises at joes house! :headscrat

:

ChargerRT · Sep 28, 2015

Joe that base is amazing!! What does it say in the casting?

joe.striper · Sep 28, 2015

ChargerRT said:
Joe that base is amazing!! What does it say in the casting?

It took me 5 minutes to find it online. It is a De Laval cream separator base. The machine went on top. I'm going to redo the vise so the base will make somebody a nice tool base. Always good when something is free! :thumbup:

dkroth · Sep 28, 2015

joe.striper said:
Came home from work and what do I find in my driveway but this! Neighbor gave it to me. Nice little Monarch in seriously nice condition. The stand is interesteing as well, home made but I have to try and figure where very bottom base came from...

Schwing!

Harvey Wallbanger · Sep 28, 2015

drivesitfar said:
Harvey: i guess i'll save my warning for others because you seem to know that once you bring a good vise home it's relatives seem to follow and end up on your bench or shelf soon. nice find on the blue record and i love that old quick release lever on those.

the one you just picked up looks like the jaws are not original and it looks like one of the jaw's shelves is missing. good luck with that one and it looks like it also has the quick release lever.

help please. shelve missing? I removed the alum. jaws and I just see as cast material, no cracks or breaks. am I looking in the right area?

ShadowRuleZ

I got the Parker from an older gentleman who knows of GJ but I don't think he's a member or on here much. He did say the retainer came from a "nice fellow in Colorado, he's on the internet" So that lead me to the KMScott web site. Nice

02superduty · Sep 28, 2015

Joe just *****.

Brad54 · Sep 28, 2015

joe.striper said:
It took me 5 minutes to find it online. It is a De Laval cream separator base. The machine went on top. I'm going to redo the vise so the base will make somebody a nice tool base. Always good when something is free!

I'd love a base like that for an industrial-themed end table in the house.

-Brad

Thrumcap · Sep 28, 2015

Those are some nice Craftsman restos, balane and CRSINMICH.

Harvey, good to see someone ended up with that No. 25... It sat around on CL for weeks! Looks like you need a new set of jaws and screws.
Stats: Record No. 25 fitters vise, approx. weight 95 lbs. 6" jaws, 4.5" jaw depth, 8" jaw opening.

Thrumcap
:canada:

drivesitfar · Sep 28, 2015

Joe: Really?? a coachmaker's Prentiss made Monarch almost a 100 years old and in great shape showed up in your driveway for free. so tell us what you gave him the last time you dropped something off for him? very cool vise and happy to hear you have at least one neighbor that doesn't want to give you a New Jersey dirt nap.

Harvey: it was the angle of the original picture that looked like the jaw support was missing. happy to see it isn't and that you only need a new set of jaws. or use the aluminum ones and put a pair of copper jaw covers over them if you don't like their look.

nice find

Outlawmws · Sep 28, 2015

Hey Joe! You gotta see this! go outside quick! stand in your driveway for a minute! you will see...

Shiftless · Sep 28, 2015

vintage nut said:
I'm a custom knifemaker, so I use all manner of rare and exotic woods for handles. I've just never been a fan of purpleheart. It's just too bright purple for my taste. Not to mention it turns a dull brown in time. I've been building up quite the collection of woods over the last few years.

Sent from my C1904 using Tapatalk

Vintage:
I live near a store that has a scrap bin of rare hardwoods. Pay by the pound. If you are looking for anything in particular, just let me know. I admire your work which is approaching the quality of Junebuggy.
Interesting idea to use a dado set to fabricate vise jaw covers. Or even make vise jaw replacement and screw them in. As you know, once in a while we all see relatively nice mechanics vises that are missing jaws selling cheap. Hmmmm...... Neither of my 2 benches will permit attachment of a traditional woodworkers vise so the wooden jaws would be a solution.

BTW I'm sure you know that handling the sheet lead that you use for jaw covers is technically a toxic exposure. Myself, I don't worry about it because I'm old!

Shiftless · Sep 28, 2015

balane said:
So your 505 is stamped with the model number like many of models were? If it was stamped in then I would say it's just worn down. If it's cast then I don't know what to say. I've seen a number of 505 Columbians and they've all had 5" jaws. I can't say I've ever seen a 505 1/2 though.

Here's a 505 with 5" jaws.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vtg-No-505-...opens-9-5-L-/281794905632?hash=item419c490620

balane:
Thank you for your response. The numbers on this vise are not stamped but cast in. That is the older style right? Do you know when they changed styles?
I spent a few minutes of brushing with a brass brush and some industrial degreaser detergent and uncovered this under the rust and crud. I hit it with a few strokes of a fine mill file to enhance the view for the picture.
As you can see it says 505 and a half.

Is there any significance to that mysterious little angular crown shaped symbol
cast in next to the 5 1/2?

vintage nut · Sep 28, 2015

Shiftless said:
Vintage:
I live near a store that has a scrap bin of rare hardwoods. Pay by the pound. If you are looking for anything in particular, just let me know. I admire your work which is approaching the quality of Junebuggy.
Interesting idea to use a dado set to fabricate vise jaw covers. Or even make vise jaw replacement and screw them in. As you know, once in a while we all see relatively nice mechanics vises that are missing jaws selling cheap. Hmmmm...... Neither of my 2 benches will permit attachment of a traditional woodworkers vise so the wooden jaws would be a solution.

BTW I'm sure you know that handling the sheet lead that you use for jaw covers is technically a toxic exposure. Myself, I don't worry about it because I'm old!

Thanks man! I'm lucky enough to have one of the biggest hardwood suppliers in western canada about 15 minutes away from my house. If I'm ever looking for something they don't have though, I'll definitely let you know!
And I'm not that good yet, but one day

Sent from my C1904 using Tapatalk

vintage nut · Sep 28, 2015

Here's those jaw covers. Now that I think about it I can't remember if I actually used the dado blade, or a normal one.... I've done it both ways, and it's really no difference.
I've worked with lead quite a bit, casting lead hammers and such. I always make sure to take the proper precautions (wash your hands before eating, ect)

The wood covers are held on with magnets. I just drilled some holes in the back, and super glued some 1/2" magnets in.

Sent from my C1904 using Tapatalk

sandman54 · Sep 28, 2015

Almost there.

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