The VISES of Garage Journal

bastel · Nov 30, 2019

Just in.
Nice Wabeco 5" vise with a twist: You can easily do 30 curls with this one or lift it with your little finger! Perfect for a funny surprise or a back bumper

Made from 'Simalit 70', this is a featherweight, but a sturdy one.
I guess
Si = Ag or Si
ma = Mn or Mg
lit = Li
So either an Al alloy or a Mg alloy.

Loydski29 · Nov 30, 2019

My 577 also has the anomaly cast into the base mine looks to be in a different spot than yours Smitty

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Smitty · Nov 30, 2019

Loydski: Interesting, you base seems to have been cast from a repaired mold at well.

Mark in Indiana · Nov 30, 2019

Smitty said:
Mark in Indiana, glad I could help, that’s a first class restoration.

Thanks for the kind words.

Vise · Nov 30, 2019

Loydski - the plot thickens. What’s the date for on your 577 with that different plate? Mine (with the same phantom plate as Smitty and KMS had) is dated 1944.

Smitty - same question, what’s the date on yours?

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Shiftless · Nov 30, 2019

bastel said:
Just in.
Nice Wabeco 5" vise with a twist: You can easily do 30 curls with this one or lift it with your little finger! Perfect for a funny surprise or a back bumper
Made from 'Simalit 70', this is a featherweight, but a sturdy one.
I guess
Si = Ag or Si
ma = Mn or Mg
lit = Li
So either an Al alloy or a Mg alloy.

Interesting...
I really doubt that a steel alloy would contain Silver or Lithium.
Beyond that, I don’t have a clue. :dunno:

ken w. · Nov 30, 2019

I rescued this Yost 206 from going to the scrap yard. It's pretty darn heavy. This will be a winter project for me.

Smitty · Nov 30, 2019

Best winter project ever, nice find.

Smitty · Nov 30, 2019

Vise: My date stamp is open to interpretation.

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KMScott · Nov 30, 2019

Vise said:
Loydski - the plot thickens. What’s the date for on your 577 with that different plate? Mine (with the same phantom plate as Smitty and KMS had) is dated 1944.

Smitty - same question, what’s the date on yours?

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My date is 9-53 on this 544B.

Loydski29 · Nov 30, 2019

Vise mine is 8-44

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Smitty · Dec 1, 2019

KMScott said:
My date is 9-53 on this 544B.

You have a 6” Rock Island combo vise? It looks like it has new jaws all the way around. Nice vise, how much does it weigh?

KMScott · Dec 1, 2019

Smitty said:
You have a 6” Rock Island combo vise? It looks like it has new jaws all the way around. Nice vise, how much does it weigh?

Being a jaw maker I always have to make new ones on all my restores. This vise came from the Coors Plant in Golden and needed a couple repairs. Here are the spec:s. Vise is owned by a GJ member in Texas. Just finished it's little brother the 541B.

Weight 205 lbs
Length - 27"
Widest dimension of vise - 14"
Height - 15-1/2"
Height from top of jaws to square slider - 7-1/2"
Maximum safe jaw opening -11" It can go more but the sq slider is inside the Static Jaw Support opening.
Jaw width - 6"
Jaw height - 1-3/4"

nutjob · Dec 1, 2019

I went to look at this Wilton 4 1/2" Cadet. Welded up jaws and the base is welded to the vise. Looked like the dynamic jaw and the lower support is still in place but the vise side all gone. The swivel base looked OK and dynamic jaw did move in and out OK. The seller was asking $50 and best he would do was $45. Did not even make an offer, too far apart.

The seller is close so I will give them a few weeks and if still for sale see if we can make a deal.

Kevin

jonshonda · Dec 1, 2019

Smitty said:
Nice job on the shelves, all that extra space is a great motivator to shop till you drop. It looks like you’ve got some pretty heavy vises so a center support structure might be a good idea.

I did end up adding a center support, as I will be adding another 146lbs to the shelf once I get the Prentiss No 5 jaws machined straight. :bounce:

Vise · Dec 1, 2019

KMS - that 6” RI combo vise is a stunner!

I can’t make heads or tails of the phantom plates. Loydski’s really threw me because mine is also 1944 (June I believe) but has the plate location found in the later 50’s vises from Smitty and KMS. Unsolved mysteries.

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kenc184 · Dec 1, 2019

KMS's jaws are great, but they seem like the kind of thing I could aspire to, but the repair he did on the dovetail of a Parker I think it was from the under side of the vise just blew me away. Amazing to achieve that accuracy blind.

Shiftless · Dec 1, 2019

Ken:
If you are considering making jaws close in quality to Kevin’s, I’d bet you can make a nice little business out of that since the master has formally announced his pending retirement.

bastel · Dec 1, 2019

Thought I would take a family photo before getting rid of most of them some day in the future (only keeping the two small #4 ones,

).

Smitty · Dec 1, 2019

KMS: That 544B is a beast and I won’t rest until I find one. The crisp pipe jaws really bring the vise to life. Combo vises are a favorite of mine and I have them from 7 different manufacturers so far.
The 541B looks equally amazing, nice work.

Johnshonda: Hopefully you post some pics of the Prentiss no. 5 when it’s done, you don’t see those very often. It looks like you’ve got some serious iron going on those new shelves.

scotts_4x · Dec 1, 2019

I recently scored this vise on craigslist. Craftsman 5197. The jaw on the dynamic has been replaced with a custom smooth jaw and I'd like to get it replaced. Does anyone know if the jaws of a rock island 574/594 would fit? Could anyone get dimensions? The look very close but I dont have a set I can touch to compare.

-Scott

jrobb316 · Dec 1, 2019

No base abnormality on mine.

jrobb316 · Dec 1, 2019

Hopefully this is better than measurements. I forgot I have a 5197 and a 594. Same jaws, shiny ones are 594 and rusty one is 5197. Tried both jaws on the 5197, one fit perfect the other was a little tall, I assume just not finished as much for the casting it went on. Screws are the same. Both bolted in perfect.

454ragtop · Dec 1, 2019

Can I join the 577 club? https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2975449&highlight=Rock+Island#post2975449

Smitty · Dec 1, 2019

454: The more the merrier.

scotts_4x · Dec 2, 2019

Jrobb: wow thanks, talk about getting right on it! That's perfect. Now I just need to see if I can find a used jaw or if I need to buy a new set. Thank you VERY much.

Anyone have any rock island or craftsman 5197 jaws laying around? Hahaha

-Scott

jrobb316 · Dec 2, 2019

scotts_4x said:
Jrobb: wow thanks, talk about getting right on it! That's perfect. Now I just need to see if I can find a used jaw or if I need to buy a new set. Thank you VERY much.

Anyone have any rock island or craftsman 5197 jaws laying around? Hahaha

-Scott

Benchvisejaws.com
Order today because he's closing up after December. Top quality, you won't be disappointed. I have 2 sets that should hit my mailbox tomorrow.
Ha, it says on the page also fits 5197

Smitty · Dec 2, 2019

When it rains it pours. This Rock Island 594 popped up on the board yesterday for sixty bucks. The vise has 4 1/2” jaws and weighs in at 60 lbs.

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Mr. Wonderful · Dec 2, 2019

scotts_4x said:
I recently scored this vise on craigslist. Craftsman 5197. The jaw on the dynamic has been replaced with a custom smooth jaw and I'd like to get it replaced. Does anyone know if the jaws of a rock island 574/594 would fit? Could anyone get dimensions? The look very close but I dont have a set I can touch to compare.

-Scott

Scotts,

please head over to the 5197 register link below so I can add yours to the count!

Serrat Yasargil · Dec 2, 2019

bastel said:
Thought I would take a family photo before getting rid of most of them some day in the future (only keeping the two small #4 ones, ).

Oh no 8astel! Don’t get rid of them unless you are shipping them to New Mexico, USA!! :bounce:

kenc184 · Dec 2, 2019

454ragtop said:
Can I join the 577 club? https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2975449&highlight=Rock+Island#post2975449

Whoa! Smitty jumped the gun. It'll ahve to go to the committee. :bounce:

kenc184 · Dec 2, 2019

Shiftless said:
Ken:
If you are considering making jaws close in quality to Kevin’s, I’d bet you can make a nice little business out of that since the master has formally announced his pending retirement.

Shift: No, I'm not getting into the jaw business. Just pointing out that as an amateur machinist I COULD see myself making jaws - it's within my limitations, but that dovetail fix from underneath......... the chances of me getting thst right are slim! Kudos to KMS for that job.

bastel · Dec 2, 2019

Serrat Yasargil said:
Oh no 8astel! Don’t get rid of them unless you are shipping them to New Mexico, USA!!

You can apply for any model no 5

Ps: saw a Zeus VS7 on the classifieds today, 18cm jaws... dunno looks a bit too big in my eyes, at least the anvil plate looks "thinish"

pps: Also in today (super cool mystery vise next sunday and I shall have most I actually wanted): Cäsar Schulz KG 'Fix' vise. Fix as in 'quick'. Has a quick release mechanism, probably shaped after some british vise, this boxy square style is so not german. Jaws are offset to one side a bit. That company actually survived on their own in east germany until somewhere in the 60s, when it became a state owned company, PSW. Mostly made the good stuff for the export to western europe, only low grade stuff for east germany. Still exists today as Ixion-Maxion, making nice drill presses.
Most Fix vises are in a sorry state this one not so much, only one nick and the jaw inserts might be remade.

CRTDI · Dec 2, 2019

Still have my 577. Dusted off and lubricated, but pretty much in the same condition.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=71487&highlight=rock+island

romanop1 · Dec 2, 2019

Hi All,

Newbe here. I have a old craftsman vise no. 506-51330 made in the U.S.A. and i cannot find anything anywhere about it. It was my late Dads and I want to restore it for my shop. If anyone could help I would greatly appreciate it. Pics attached.

454ragtop · Dec 2, 2019

romanop1 said:
Hi All,

Newbe here. I have a old craftsman vise no. 506-51330 made in the U.S.A. and i cannot find anything anywhere about it. It was my late Dads and I want to restore it for my shop. If anyone could help I would greatly appreciate it. Pics attached.

Welcome. We might be able to help if we knew what you needed to know. Do you have a more specific question?

joe.striper · Dec 2, 2019

I got sick of my filthy shop so I paid a younger guy from one of the boards to help me re-arrange the shop. I paid him a Prentiss 6" swivel base vise. Worth every penny.

I now have a place for my 7" Prentiss with its 52lb factory pipe jaws, my Athol shelf, Reed Shelf, Parker shelves, Wilton shelf and my foreign vise shelf (foreign vises taking the jobs American Vise's won't do).

I also did this early parker baby bullet for John Dyer. I used 3 coats of flat camo and 2 coats clear. I like the color.

Mark in Indiana · Dec 2, 2019

romanop1 said:
Hi All,

Newbe here. I have a old craftsman vise no. 506-51330 made in the U.S.A. and i cannot find anything anywhere about it. It was my late Dads and I want to restore it for my shop. If anyone could help I would greatly appreciate it. Pics attached.

I think it’s great that you’re making your late father’s vise a family heirloom. Looks like you just need to clean it down to bare metal, paint and polish it. Whatever questions you have will be expertly answered here. BTW: I restored my late father’s vise, now displayed in my bar room.

Smitty · Dec 2, 2019

joe.striper said:
I got sick of my filthy shop so I paid a younger guy from one of the boards to help me re-arrange the shop. I paid him a Prentiss 6" swivel base vise. Worth every penny.

I now have a place for my 7" Prentiss with its 52lb factory pipe jaws, my Athol shelf, Reed Shelf, Parker shelves, Wilton shelf and my foreign vise shelf (foreign vises taking the jobs American Vise's won't do).

I also did this early parker baby bullet for John Dyer. I used 3 coats of flat camo and 2 coats clear. I like the color.

Wow Joe, that’s truly an amazing collection. My back hurts just looking at it.

romanop1 · Dec 2, 2019

Mark in Indiana said:
I think it’s great that you’re making your late father’s vise a family heirloom. Looks like you just need to clean it down to bare metal, paint and polish it. Whatever questions you have will be expertly answered here. BTW: I restored my late father’s vise, now displayed in my bar room.

Thank you Smitty between my Dad and grandpa I have a S**t load of vintage tools. The vise has just always been there. I just built of 30x40 garage with radiant heating system. I’m and just about done. I’ve acquired a 72”x 30”
Butcher block top that I’m going to restore to new condition , I would love
To see that vise shining mounted on it. I don’t know what it is about that vise )or vises I general) but it seems like a lot of people on here have the same passion for them!

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