BeardedOne
Well-known member
So much truth in this post. I got my first old vise in September of last year and I understand the problem of collecting them. I do have plans for several though.
The VISES of Garage Journal
- Thread starter mjozefow
- Start date
So much truth in this post. I got my first old vise in September of last year and I understand the problem of collecting them. I do have plans for several though.
BeardedOne
Well-known member
Rbarnes:
I have been playing catch-up in this thread since about pg 3348.
I read your question about making wood look older/richer and one thing that came to mind is the shou sugi ban method of wood preservation. Literally burning it and then oiling is what I've heard, but have not done anything like that myself. I was a cabinetmaker/estimator/draftsman for about 10 years but never did anything with the technique. I suppose you could vary the intensity of fire brought to it like some people prefer burned marshmallows over 'toasted' ones.
I have been playing catch-up in this thread since about pg 3348.
I read your question about making wood look older/richer and one thing that came to mind is the shou sugi ban method of wood preservation. Literally burning it and then oiling is what I've heard, but have not done anything like that myself. I was a cabinetmaker/estimator/draftsman for about 10 years but never did anything with the technique. I suppose you could vary the intensity of fire brought to it like some people prefer burned marshmallows over 'toasted' ones.
Don't bother with heat....you won't be able to put enough into it where it matters to do anything. I've tried and it's simply a waste of time. There's too much mass and it soaks up the heat before it gets to any rust.
One critical factor in getting a Wilton unstuck (and most others) is that it absolutely has to be securely mounted to something that won't move. If not, much of your effort is completely wasted and you won't get it free.
Since it moves a bit, bolt it to a bench and then try prying a bit between the jaws if you can get something in between. There's a good chance it will pop free. Then just wire wheel the slide clean, run rags into the body of the vise to clean it (a bit of carburetor cleaner works well for that), then grease the slide and reassemble. I like marine trailer grease because it displaces water well, is usually green that goes well with the Wilton color, it's easy to find, and is pretty inexpensive.
If that doesn't free the dynamic, you need to really disassemble it properly. Run a dowel through from the front, pop the dust cover out, remove the rear pins, pull out the nut, then use your dowel again to knock the tail cap assembly out. That will allow you to use a large socket, or piece of pipe on the back of the slide and tap it free (with the base secured to a bench). Clean, lube and reassemble.
It looks like your vise was "restored" by someone and depending upon how well it was done, they might not have gotten the slide or body of the vise really clean and sitting for a couple of months was all it took to seize it. A spot of rust half the size of a dime can lock up a Wilton solid.
I run through the process here, and it also has a link to a video about the easiest way to remove rear pins.
https://mivise.com/vise-restoration-process/
I don't have much time to post here now but had a few minutes to post a new find. I've probably bought, restored, sold 100 vises and anvils since I last posted....keeping me busy.
I've been star-crossed trying to get a Craftsman Rock Island for years. Every time a decent one would show up, something would happen. Not this time!
It was at a local estate auction and my wife saw it and showed it to me. Out the door with buyer's premium it was $109 and I'm tickled.
Craftsman 5163, 4.5" wide jaws, 72lbs, made January of 1940. Other than being dirty and a few file scars it's in amazing condition. It has quite a bit of the original paint and there's barely a mark anywhere on the slide. The jaws have lots of stuff packed in the teeth, but they look sharp otherwise.
I'm going to try giving it a scrub down first before deciding if it'll get stripped and repainted. I think I have maybe five vises set aside to keep and this might make six...it's a great user size that would be more then enough for 99% of what people do in home shops.
I've been star-crossed trying to get a Craftsman Rock Island for years. Every time a decent one would show up, something would happen. Not this time!
It was at a local estate auction and my wife saw it and showed it to me. Out the door with buyer's premium it was $109 and I'm tickled.
Craftsman 5163, 4.5" wide jaws, 72lbs, made January of 1940. Other than being dirty and a few file scars it's in amazing condition. It has quite a bit of the original paint and there's barely a mark anywhere on the slide. The jaws have lots of stuff packed in the teeth, but they look sharp otherwise.
I'm going to try giving it a scrub down first before deciding if it'll get stripped and repainted. I think I have maybe five vises set aside to keep and this might make six...it's a great user size that would be more then enough for 99% of what people do in home shops.
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Asport
Well-known member
MayerMR
Well-known member
Haha, you think you're going to stop at just one? hahahaahha
You're unlikely to hurt it. This one was so incredibly seized that I had to use a trailer ball hitch and a 3lb mini sledge to dislodge it. It wasn't even stuck from rust, just dried up old grease.
Beautiful vise. I've keep looking for one too but I haven't had the luck yet.
That's really neat, but man they are proud of it.
I found this Reed 4c last weekend, it’s in remarkable shape. It’s been well used but there’s barely a hammer mark on it.
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gman007
Well-known member
I found this Reed 4c last weekend, it’s in remarkable shape. It’s been well used but there’s barely a hammer mark on it.
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Beautiful. Well used but never abused! Can’t get better than that. [emoji481]
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I found this Reed 4c last weekend, it’s in remarkable shape. It’s been well used but there’s barely a hammer mark on it.
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Those pics just say "beautiful". Are the jaws easy to replace?
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Asport
Well-known member
I have vise envy! What a find!
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Thanks, it was a CL find about an hour and a half away.Smitty Absolutely super find
drivesitfar
Well-known member
Smitty: usually the guys don't quote the pics in a short reply, but I have to say your 4c is a find. WELL DONE!!
welcome to the forum and nice that you finally showed up after you probably lurked for a long time while catching up to some of the guys in your vise addiction.
just curious if you could (or did you) weigh the 4c and the big Columbian next to it. i think one of my 4c's weighs 178, but i've heard the Columbians have hollow jaws.
welcome to the forum and nice that you finally showed up after you probably lurked for a long time while catching up to some of the guys in your vise addiction.
just curious if you could (or did you) weigh the 4c and the big Columbian next to it. i think one of my 4c's weighs 178, but i've heard the Columbians have hollow jaws.
Thanks, I had to take it apart to lift it into the truck by myself. Yeah, it weighed in at 186. The Columbian 206 is one quarter inch taller but it’s 30lbs lighter at 156.
drivesitfar
Well-known member
Smitty: THANKS!! I guess when you get time we'll need to see pics of the other 28 or is it 29 now if your total is 30 (31)?
drivesitfar
Well-known member
Smitty: i'm guessing you won't sell it for $400 tomorrow will you?
some of us have spent twice that much and triple or more for a vise that nice so you did well and i'm sure you know it.
CONGRATS AGAIN!!
some of us have spent twice that much and triple or more for a vise that nice so you did well and i'm sure you know it.
CONGRATS AGAIN!!
I think I’ve found some interesting vises and look forward to sharing pics with the board. I’ve become partial to Prentiss vises and Parker’s I have well over a ton.
Mr. Wonderful
Well-known member
I think that's a good price, if you can even find one in that good of shape!!! Its less than $2.00 per Lb.
Tennessee Cattleman
Well-known member
Very nice looking Reed 4C, I don't think you are hurting on price if it works as good as it looks.
MayerMR
Well-known member
Maybe not exactly a "you ****!" price tag, but for that specimen it's pretty darn close. I doubt too many people in this thread wouldn't have shelled that out, happily. Nice find!
They were asking $400 and it had been up for a while. They just wanted it out of the garage.
It’s never seen the light of day. It had a light coat of black paint and lots of grease. I gave it a light clean up and slathered it with linseed oil.Very nice looking Reed 4C, I don't think you are hurting on price if it works as good as it looks.
This Prentiss no. 183 is one of my favorite vises, it’s had a hard life but it still looks good. It has six inch jaws and weighs in at 186 lbs.
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I picked up this Wilton yesterday , the jaws are 4 1/2'' wide and I think it's an HD model because it's longer and it opens further than a standard 4 1/2'' but I've never seen or had one that doesn't have a model number or any numbers on it at all , also it just says Wilton USA on both sides and the ones I've seen all have Chicago or Schiller Park Ill. stamped on the sides. I was just wondering if anyone might know if it was manufactured in Chicago or Schiller Park ? Thanks
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MissileBear
Well-known member
Is there a date stamped on the key?
AngryBeaver
Well-known member
I found this Reed 4c last weekend, it’s in remarkable shape. It’s been well used but there’s barely a hammer mark on it.
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Is that a 2/67 date stamp on both the static and dynamic? mastic looking. made 2 months before mine.
This is a chicago made. technically this i second generation after the "pat pend" and "pat pen" models. This is made prior to the actual HD models that weren't made until later. This may or may not have a date stamped on it. Each revision got bigger....
this is an early one.. if not a date it was likely 1945-49.
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Not really true.
The vise he has is most likely 1942-1945. It was after the patent was issued in 1942, and before they started adding dates to the key in 1945. From 1945 to 1949 it would normally have a dated key, and said Chicago on it. Some oddballs slipped through, but it's a safe bet that one was released for sale between 42 and 45.
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va.grouseman
Well-known member
A real nice Dodge Slide-set.---Boy they just don't come cheap, ever.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-VINTA...IVEL-BENCH-VISE-MISHAWAKA-IN-USA/253964151954
https://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-VINTA...IVEL-BENCH-VISE-MISHAWAKA-IN-USA/253964151954
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MayerMR
Well-known member
That is nice. What makes the Dodge's so expensive? Just their rarity?
wrenchguy
Well-known member
va, is the support correct? doesn't look bearing all the way???
va.grouseman
Well-known member
Mostly that.---But you couldn't use one on heavy duty stuff because of the way they are made.---Note the way the quick-set mechanism works.---The teeth are extended throughout the slide support, making the slide support a fragile place of weakness.---A lot of them are cracked at the static body and some are broken plum off.---But you can't have it both ways, speed and strength.---So they are mostly a light duty novelty.
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Hey, if you are going to collect vises be proud of it. After all, it is one of the least damaging "vices" I can think of. Whenever I ask anyone if they have any vises, I keep expecting them to say, "I drink, I smoke, I chase women" . Seriously, as long as you do not hurt anyone else and enjoy doing something, isn't that what it is all about?
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Blacksmith post vise