Is this vice any good.
- Thread starter jaker10
- Start date
drivesitfar
Well-known member
from the picture it is pretty hard for my old eyes to make out the maker or if it is truly a made in England vise. do you have any other pictures or can you make out the name? there is some writing on the static jaw above the bolt that might be the maker's name. any pictures of the other side that might say made in England?
it has the look of an English made vise and it didn't get that type of rust overnight so if it works and it does have the 6 inch jaws I would be heading over to buy it if it's only $45. you might have some rusty gold sitting there.
good luck
it has the look of an English made vise and it didn't get that type of rust overnight so if it works and it does have the 6 inch jaws I would be heading over to buy it if it's only $45. you might have some rusty gold sitting there.
good luck
PCO6
Well-known member
It looks like a Record No. 6. If so the jaws should be 6". Records are top quality vices and I'd snap it up if you can get it for $45.
Here's my non-swivel base Record No. 6. (with a No. 8 in the background) ...
View media item 34048
Here's my non-swivel base Record No. 6. (with a No. 8 in the background) ...
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lwlobo
Well-known member
Buy it, quickly! That looks like a Record No 6, hell of a vise.
I had one like that I was trying to wrangle from a guy at a big sale, he wanted $150 and I was stuck at $100, because I didn't need it. Worth $150+ all day, as far as I'm concerned.
I had one like that I was trying to wrangle from a guy at a big sale, he wanted $150 and I was stuck at $100, because I didn't need it. Worth $150+ all day, as far as I'm concerned.
Packard V8
Well-known member
.
In the GJ continuum, that's just normal working patina. We've seen some real lumps of rust presented for our admiration. That one I'd just wipe down with WD40 and put to work.
jack vines
In the GJ continuum, that's just normal working patina. We've seen some real lumps of rust presented for our admiration. That one I'd just wipe down with WD40 and put to work.
jack vines
PCO6
Well-known member
jaker10 - New Record jaws (hard and soft) are still available so don't let that discourage you if you see it and they are bad. The cost is about $32 per set from Acklands-Grainger (or I think Grainger in the U.S.).
oldldh
Well-known member
Whyfor, howcum, you ain't bought it, yet???????????
Well I got it for $40.00. It is marked on one side PARAMO No 6 on the other side HI Duty vice and made in England. The swivel locking screw was stuck but I got it loose with Kroil. The handle is bent and It has some bad jaw screws. I don't know if there broke off or fell out. This is a damn heavy vice, Makes my 3 1/2 inch look like a baby.
drivesitfar
Well-known member
that is another good English vise. sounds like you're in business. nice find and qualifies for a 
which is my version of YS.
I hope the putting in new jaw screws tighten the jaws up and with a little light grinding to remove some of the rust and a coat of Rustoleum you have a $150+ vice (English spelling).
which is my version of YS.I hope the putting in new jaw screws tighten the jaws up and with a little light grinding to remove some of the rust and a coat of Rustoleum you have a $150+ vice (English spelling).
PCO6
Well-known member
I've heard a few versions of what happened but Paramo is basically a company that spun off from Record I believe back in the 40's. The vices are essentially the same. One of my brothers has had a Paramo No. 4 for about 40 years and it's still going strong. If yours works you got a good deal at $40. I paid $80 for the one in post #3. It didn't look great but it cleaned up well and has been in steady use for the last 2 years. It's not quite as "shiney" now as shown above.
BTW - I've straighten a few handles in my shop press. It can be a bit awkward to position and hold them down but it works.
EDIT - The new jaw sets I referred to above come with new screws. If you choose to paint it, Record, Paramo and Woden, and likely other Record derivitives, all used the same blue. I used Valspar blue which I picked up at Lowe's. It was a perfect match for an old No. 4 I purchased new in the 70's. I think your vice is from the 60's but the colour is the same.
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Farmall450
Well-known member
Yeah it is, glad to see you got it.
What I don't understand is how people keep on posting stuff like this...or like "does anyone have reviews on this $5 or less item"?
Sometimes you have to take a risk on those sorts of things...
And in this case, heck yeah it's worth anything under $1/lb if not more.
What I don't understand is how people keep on posting stuff like this...or like "does anyone have reviews on this $5 or less item"?
Sometimes you have to take a risk on those sorts of things...
And in this case, heck yeah it's worth anything under $1/lb if not more.
great white tj
Well-known member
Very good deal....
PCO6
Well-known member
jaker10 - I have 5 Record bench vices and a couple of Record wood vices. In the picture below they are from left to right Nos. 1 (actually a Woden) No. 3, No.4, No. 8 and No. 6. I bought the No. 4 new in the mid 70's. It's the only one that doesn't have a "horizantal ridge" cast in to the dynamic jaw just above the handle. I bought the No. 3 from a guy who said he bought it in the 60's. I am "assuming" 
that the other ones I have are all from the 60's because they all have the ridge. I have no proof of that but a few others here have "sort of" agreed.
Your No. 6 appears to have the ridge so I'm assuming it's about the same vintage as my No. 6.
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that the other ones I have are all from the 60's because they all have the ridge. I have no proof of that but a few others here have "sort of" agreed.Your No. 6 appears to have the ridge so I'm assuming it's about the same vintage as my No. 6.
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Outlawmws
Well-known member
AFAIK, Paramo and Woden were both spun off during the battle of Britain or just after, so one bombing raid would not destroy the only significant Vice Mfg in England. Virtually identical, all well crafted and I believe of higher strength steels.
You also got the swivel base which was optional.
Can you throw that puppy on a bathroom scale and say what it weighs?
You also got the swivel base which was optional.
Can you throw that puppy on a bathroom scale and say what it weighs?
PCO6
Well-known member
^^^ I've heard that story too and also that members of the Record family (siblings) didn't get along and decided to part ways.
If it helps, my Record No. 6 without a swivel base weighs 70 lbs.
If it helps, my Record No. 6 without a swivel base weighs 70 lbs.
PCO6
Well-known member
^^^ I better check my scales. My non-swivel base No. 8 comes in at 82 lbs.
toomanytoyzz
Well-known member
I have yet to come across a record in my pickings. I'd definitely ****** one up if I did regardless of size. That's a "you ****" in my book.
One thing I've noticed is how the Chinese **** they sell at HF, Northern etc. have that record look to them (without the quality workmanship and materials of course
).
. One thing I've noticed is how the Chinese **** they sell at HF, Northern etc. have that record look to them (without the quality workmanship and materials of course
).Outlawmws
Well-known member
PC06, those English swivel bases are HUGE in relation to the vise compared to most american vises.
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Farmall, don't make the mistake I often made when I was young and assume people know what you know. It leads to frustration and can alienate people when to them it's an honest question. It took some time for me to finally "get", that just because I thought "It's obvious" that it's not so obvious unless you know. Life is an accumulation of experiences and we all go through a different paths, and have different experiences.
Lots of threads and posts like this? yup! Why? Maybe they simply didn't happen to read those other threads,..
gatewaysysop
Well-known member
Nice find! I picked up one of these some time ago, you can see the thread here. It's definitely one of my favorite 6" vises and it is a beast!
You're lucky to get one with the swivel base, they are not often that easy to come by.
Congrats on the find, you got yours way cheaper than I got mine!
PCO6
Well-known member
I've only seen a few and they are big. Records are probably the most common vices in machine shops around here and I don't think I've ever seen one with a swivel base.
drivesitfar
Well-known member
Jaker,
I think your Paramo will look almost exactly like my 6 inch Record when you get it home and shine it up. I don't think mine weighs 100 pounds, but it is a nice vise.
Do you have the quick release on your old Paramo? i'm not sure when the put that feature into the Record vices, but it is a nice to open up the vice without turning out every turn for larger items.
by the way I paid over $200 for my slightly used Record.
I think your Paramo will look almost exactly like my 6 inch Record when you get it home and shine it up. I don't think mine weighs 100 pounds, but it is a nice vise.
Do you have the quick release on your old Paramo? i'm not sure when the put that feature into the Record vices, but it is a nice to open up the vice without turning out every turn for larger items.
by the way I paid over $200 for my slightly used Record.
ajchien
Well-known member
Nice buy!
drivesitfar
Well-known member
you still made an awesome purchase and looking forward to seeing a few pictures after you put your magic touch to that old English gem.
Smoking deal, I paid $65 for a 4" Woden and was glad to get it at that. Mine probably weighs 45 lbs.
I'd like to repaint it, and the Valspar blue sounds good, thanks to the poster who suggested it. Does Record sell touch up paint I wonder, or is the color code available for single stage urethane?
I'd like to repaint it, and the Valspar blue sounds good, thanks to the poster who suggested it. Does Record sell touch up paint I wonder, or is the color code available for single stage urethane?
PCO6
Well-known member
larryq - My Record No. 3 which would be the same as your 4" Woden weighs 33 lbs. Again, non-swivel base.
Regarding the colour, here's a picture of my Record No. 4 (4.5" jaws - 42 lbs.) that I purchased new in the mid 70's. The front lower half has been painted with the Valspar blue that I mentioned above while the top and rear half are original. I think it's a pretty good match.
I kind of doubt that Record (now Irwin) sells touch up paint. My general observation is that the current Irwin vices are a bit darker blue than the original Records.
View media item 36570
Regarding the colour, here's a picture of my Record No. 4 (4.5" jaws - 42 lbs.) that I purchased new in the mid 70's. The front lower half has been painted with the Valspar blue that I mentioned above while the top and rear half are original. I think it's a pretty good match.
I kind of doubt that Record (now Irwin) sells touch up paint. My general observation is that the current Irwin vices are a bit darker blue than the original Records.
View media item 36570
Thanks for the info and pics. Didn't know Irwin owns Record now...ah, I don't suppose you would know if the now chewed-up 'Woden' sticker that's on my swivel base is sold anywhere anymore? I need to strip the paint off this vise via electrolysis and have hesitated a little because of it.
The previous owner left a lot of gunk in the slide and screw and I've cleaned it out as best I can by hand but a day in the tank will make a world of difference.
PCO6
Well-known member
Ha! I think I have the same chewed up sticker (see post #17). Record used a similar sticker. I don't know of a source for a replacement but my guess is that they can be duplicated. I know they don't come off easily.
I have redone a few vices. Before painting I washed them down with Varsol then dipped them in a phosphoric acid product called "Rust Remover". It strips the rust but not the paint or decal. The Record No. 6 I posted above was done this way.
I have redone a few vices. Before painting I washed them down with Varsol then dipped them in a phosphoric acid product called "Rust Remover". It strips the rust but not the paint or decal. The Record No. 6 I posted above was done this way.
Bigplum
Well-known member
Nice old vice , paramo and Woden are very close to Record in terms of quality , it's all gone to china now and the prices of proper vices have gone wild over here in the UK,
god knows what the next generation of workers will make of the rubbish tools they'll have to put up with .
god knows what the next generation of workers will make of the rubbish tools they'll have to put up with .
drivesitfar
Well-known member
Big Plum,
I hear you with the younger generations not having the quality tools we and our parents and grandparents had, but maybe they will invent another material better than steel to make new tools from.
I've seen a ceramic knife cut through bone easier than a steel blade would be able to do. or maybe the US will open up all it's old steel factories when the government and environmentalists find out that China's polluted air from their factories is our air a few days later.
cheers and don't let all those old English made steel tools hit the scrap yards over there.
I hear you with the younger generations not having the quality tools we and our parents and grandparents had, but maybe they will invent another material better than steel to make new tools from.
I've seen a ceramic knife cut through bone easier than a steel blade would be able to do. or maybe the US will open up all it's old steel factories when the government and environmentalists find out that China's polluted air from their factories is our air a few days later.
cheers and don't let all those old English made steel tools hit the scrap yards over there.