Craftsman 5198. Who made these awesome vises!!

LesserSon · Jan 22, 2021

Do you think that weld/fill on the spindle hub is to hide cosmetic damage, or does it look like repair to functional damage?
That hub would have been turned from steel stock, not cast (like older “meatball” hubs) - right?
Hard to imagine functional damage that wouldn’t also damage the spindle nut or spindle threads.

Mr. Wonderful · Jan 22, 2021

I don't have a picture but my 5197 had a brass color spot just like it on there. I wonder what it could be?

ejot · Jan 23, 2021

Lesser - From what I can tell, a cosmetic repair. No evidence of related damage I can find outside that immediate area. Turned steel makes sense, anyone know for sure? Not sure what material the fill is either.

Mr. W - Interesting! Wonder if anyone else finds something like it...?

Got this mostly apart and may get a chance to start cleaning it up this weekend.
This is within a year or two of that King-Seeley drill press and I like how they match up in finish and style.

Nut is in good shape. It's wise to file a radius in the bottom of the cut slot? The point of this cut is to angle the "sliver" of thread so the screw mildly binds and the handle does not drop when released?

LesserSon · Jan 23, 2021

ejot said:
Lesser - From what I can tell, a cosmetic repair. No evidence of related damage I can find outside that immediate area. Turned steel makes sense, anyone know for sure?

Thank you for the close-up of the hub. Now I’ve had a look at the twin grooves, which show a grainy texture, I think it IS cast (or forged - the grooves being part of the rough hub) onto the spindle, then turned smooth. The braze or weld could be factory to fill cosmetic voids in the cast.

drivesitfar · Feb 9, 2021

there was a huge discussion on the main vise thread this last week about the Craftsman 519x's and if any of you members that posted over there would maybe cut and paste your posts here or just bring that conversation to this thread that would be awesome. Cause it will get lost in that huge thread in a week or so.

I think Ed's last post where he found a common part/piece in both his Rock Island vises and the Craftsman 519x's is pretty convincing, but like was said there really isn't any written evidence or any member that worked at Rock Island or Sears at the time to put the stamp on this mystery.

I still say it's Rock Island vise company that made these great old vises. even though there are similar designs to several other companies the style of the jaws, the size of the main body, parts similar and the 519x's production ending the same time that Rock Island vise company closed it's doors are pretty convincing.

Elysne · Feb 10, 2021

TnTx said:
After stumbling onto a solid Athol 624 and this (seemingly) very nice 5195 within a 2 week period, spending very little on each one, I ran across this excellent forum.

I didn't know to check the main nut on the Craftsman before buying, and this one is broken. A real shame, the vise otherwise is in great shape.

After searching for a while online, it seems that finding a replacement is unlikely. Are there any other options? If not, I'd be glad to donate parts to anyone willing to pay shipping.

Do you still have this? Willing to oart with it?

Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

drivesitfar · Feb 10, 2021

ELSYNE: best to send a PM (personal message) for this kind of post. if you aren't sure how to make one make a post on my DIY thread instead of here and I'll let you know. click on other member's handle and a drop down message should appear where you can click on send a message.

good luck and glad you'd like to own one of these cool old 519x's too.

ejot · Feb 24, 2021

Just finished up my 5196 and am pleased how it's working. Very smooth, no backlash, handle position staying in place. It was a real joy putting this back to good "user" condition while preserving much of the originality and character. Final finish is buffed paste wax. Looking forward to putting it back in service.

drivesitfar · Feb 26, 2021

That 5196 looks like it found a good home. It might be my favorite medium sized vise.

ooba tooba · Feb 27, 2021

I think I posted mine here but I’m not sure what thread and it was awhile ago. Couple years maybe. When my wife’s friend lost her husband (my old friend and roommate) she sold their home and she moved into another home and this old Craftsman was mounted on a nice homemade work bench. I asked her if it was hers and she said it came with the house and she was going to pitch it. I tried to talk her into keeping it because she might need it for something, but she said if I didn’t want it, it was gone the following garbage day. I took it to my shop for a few years but it was abused by my coworkers. One of them bumped a huge cabinet into it and one of the end caps from the main spindle/handle flew off and they didn’t even bother to look for it. I had to search all over the warehouse floor. Found it and epoxy’d it back on and took it home that night. Sorry about the long story. I need to restore it and mount it when I get in my garage this spring.

drivesitfar · Feb 27, 2021

OOBA: I like those old Craftsman heritage badged ones even better than the ones with the raised lettering so i'm happy you saved it. sadly I bet a lot of old vises and good tools were just thrown in the trash.

Roberts210 · Feb 27, 2021

People are STILL throwing perfectly good vices away. That's where I found this Wilton--at the recycling yard.

drivesitfar · Feb 28, 2021

Roberts: usually even the non tool people have heard of WILTON so maybe they just didn't like money or need it?

did you find that just recently? NICE FIND cause it looks like a keeper under the surface rust!!

ALL: in case some of you have missed this thread Ed started about a few of his old Craftsmans made by Rock Island here's the link:

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=472015

there is also more posts on this thread about why Rock Island probably was the company making our old 519x's

Roberts210 · Feb 28, 2021

I found it in January, if I remember correctly. The recycling yard wanted $5 for it, but it was missing the horse-shoe washer and it was stuck and rusty, but oddly enough the jaw inserts weren't rusty.

I made a horse shoe washer, put the vise in the electrolysis tank for 2 days, shot it with 2K primer and top coated it with machine gray enamel.

Roberts210 · Feb 28, 2021

Look how virgin the jaws are--no heavy dings from apes swinging BFH's, no hacksaw marks. This vise, tho neglected, was not abused.

ooba tooba · Feb 28, 2021

drivesitfar said:
OOBA: I like those old Craftsman heritage badged ones even better than the ones with the raised lettering so i'm happy you saved it. sadly I bet a lot of old vises and good tools were just thrown in the trash.

I didn’t notice others didn’t have a badge until you mentioned it. I just couldn’t fathom putting something like that out for pickup.

drivesitfar · Mar 1, 2021

Roberts: I think we were talking about that HORSESHOE over on the VISE REPAIR 101 thread a couple weeks ago, but I don't think you posted pics of the before and after of the Wilton? And the story of it being free either?

WOW I thought it looked pretty clean under the surface rust. NICE FIND AND SAVE!!

OOBA: yep some people's junk is certainly not TRASH.

ALL: did any of you look at the new thread Ed started about 2 Craftsman vises that has some interesting information about Rock Island vise company?

Roberts210 · Mar 1, 2021

Thanks Drives. But the Wilton wasn't free... I had to pay 5 hard-earned dollars for it! Under the rust it really was the cleanest Wilton I'd ever seen.

drivesitfar · Mar 1, 2021

Roberts: so I guess you didn't overpay? :bounce:

speaking of $5 remember when I'd work for $1 a day delivering newspapers or my first 20+ hour job a week paid $1.65 an hour.

did you make that horseshoe retainer out of a big washer or cut out of a piece of metal plate? if you already posted this up over on the 101 thread i'll look for it there too or if you haven't please post cause it looks like it worked.

have a great day!!

wrenchguy · Mar 1, 2021

Re: Craftsman 5198. Who made these awesome vises!!

ed4banger · Mar 1, 2021

wrenchguy said:
Re: Craftsman 5198. Who made these awesome vises!!

Rock Island :lol2:

Roberts210 · Mar 1, 2021

This particular recycling yard gets a lot of steel scrap, and I buy scrap steel from them, for various projects, so they let me look at their other stuff that they sell for higher than scrap prices. The day I got the Wilton they also had two other vises there--a broken but braised Craftsman and a small Goodell Pratt. They wanted $10 for the Craftsman, $4 for the G-P and $5 for the Wilton. I've been going there for many years, and that was the first time I ever saw vises for sale.

I cut the horse-shoe washer out of a piece of cold rolled plate. I drilled a 1/2" hole in the plate and enlarged it with my router and a solid carbide straight burr to the correct size. Once the hole was the right size I used a jig saw to cut the washer out of the plate, and a 6X48 to sand the edges round.

ooba tooba · Mar 1, 2021

Popped up on my marketplace. No affiliation. A beauty.

drivesitfar · Mar 2, 2021

OOBA: In case you didn't know that old Long C craftsman isn't a 519x vise and I've been calling them a REEDSMAN cause Reed made them for SEARS. it's a great vise and it should get bought by anyone that needs a good non swivel vise.

ED: ROCK ISLAND does seem like the one doesn't it. I think you posted a part in another thread of your Rock Island vise that was also same in the 519x's that was maybe a pin. the fact that jaws and a lot of the parts are the same size and weight and the ending of the 519x's at the same time Rock Island stopped selling vises are all great indicators.

if you or anybody else with more than a few of these 519x's wants to post more pics of them (sort of a family shot) please do.

one of our members BigCaddy long ago posted his 519x's family picture somewhere on GJ (maybe the big vise thread) and he was the first one to actually find a 5198 of which we know of about 8 or 9 now.

Roberts: I never have stopped in a SCRAP YARD and wish I had one close cause I love going through old discarded tools that still have lots of life left in them. nice story!!

ed4banger · Mar 2, 2021

..........

LesserSon · Mar 2, 2021

Those are gorgeous! Is that hammered metalic on several (green, blue)? I suppose those are the ones you mean? I did hammered green on my first repaint, and while I like it, I will probably never paint another vise. I came around to Drives’ “naked” aesthetic.

ed4banger · Mar 2, 2021

LesserSon said:
Those are gorgeous! Is that hammered metalic on several (green, blue)?

Yeah, hammerite blue and green, but that's what I was into a couple years back. I now prefer a more authentic/original color on my vises, so I have plans to repaint some of these. Thanks by the way.

ooba tooba · Mar 2, 2021

ed4banger said:
Yeah, hammerite blue and green, but that's what I was into a couple years back. I now prefer a more authentic/original color on my vises, so I have plans to repaint some of these. Thanks by the way.

Super cool! How can I bring the shine back to my old Craftsman vice handle and screw like that?

ed4banger · Mar 2, 2021

ooba tooba said:
Super cool! How can I bring the shine back to my old Craftsman vice handle and screw like that?

Handles are actually pretty easy, I use a 1x42 belt sander, starting with sandpaper if needed, then moving on to 3M metal conditioning belts, brown/red/blue. I finish there. Spindle is more difficult. Can use long strips of wet/dry sandpaper backed with blue painters tape to reinforce it. I sometimes spend as much time on this as i do the rest of the vise.

ooba tooba · Mar 2, 2021

Interesting, thanks!

G20-Budo · Mar 2, 2021

Roberts210 said:
Look how virgin the jaws are--no heavy dings from apes swinging BFH's, no hacksaw marks. This vise, tho neglected, was not abused.

Roberts, that vice turned out freaking great!! Good job restoring it. Awesome find! :thumbup:

Roberts210 · Mar 2, 2021

Thanks Kyle.

drivesitfar · Mar 3, 2021

LESSOR: yep NAKED IS BEST unless you have ED'S skill to shine and paint one like he does.

Ed: speaking of painting which ones are you thinking of repainting? also can you post the specs of the 5190 which i'm guessing it has 3 inch wide jaws?

you've only ever seen one and i'm guessing it's the one you own cause it followed you home?

I might have 4 or or maybe a few more because with my bride not quite knowing how many I own life is a bit better/easier. SO i tucked a few here and there and I actually don't really know.

Kyle: good to see you posting again. any updates on your garage thread to mention cause i think i'm still subscribed to get a notice?

Roberts: I agree that little wilton's before and after pics are amazing.

G20-Budo · Mar 3, 2021

drivesitfar said:
Kyle: good to see you posting again. any updates on your garage thread to mention cause i think i'm still subscribed to get a notice?

Drives,

I'll post some updates. I've been working on the shed and now an off grid solar system for the house. I've done a few other projects. I'll post some updates.

Back on topic, these little craftsman vises are really nice. If I see one in my area I'll have pick one up. I'm still enjoying my Hollands, so happy I found GJ and learned about some of the older, well made vises!

ed4banger · Mar 4, 2021

drivesitfar said:
LESSOR: yep NAKED IS BEST unless you have ED'S skill to shine and paint one like he does.

Ed: speaking of painting which ones are you thinking of repainting? also can you post the specs of the 5190 which i'm guessing it has 3 inch wide jaws?

you've only ever seen one and i'm guessing it's the one you own cause it followed you home?

I might have 4 or or maybe a few more because with my bride not quite knowing how many I own life is a bit better/easier. SO i tucked a few here and there and I actually don't really know.

Kyle: good to see you posting again. any updates on your garage thread to mention cause i think i'm still subscribed to get a notice?

Roberts: I agree that little wilton's before and after pics are amazing.

.....

drivesitfar · Mar 4, 2021

ED: thanks for all the information!! I bet any vise you decided to restore and leave NAKED so to speak might look better than one you painted cause you shine up the steel so nicely. have you tried not painting one?

I have to say your photo booth for your cool old vises in front of your Gertsner toolbox is way up there in the COOL TERRITORY!!

I know you are probably super busy, but if you ever want to document how you shine up your handles and sides of the jaws and anvil areas over on the vise repair 101 thread here's the link: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=252830

thanks!!

ed4banger · Mar 4, 2021

drivesitfar said:
ED: thanks for all the information!! I bet any vise you decided to restore and leave NAKED so to speak might look better than one you painted cause you shine up the steel so nicely. have you tried not painting one?

I have to say your photo booth for your cool old vises in front of your Gertsner toolbox is way up there in the COOL TERRITORY!!

I know you are probably super busy, but if you ever want to document how you shine up your handles and sides of the jaws and anvil areas over on the vise repair 101 thread here's the link: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=252830

thanks!!

.....

drivesitfar · Mar 4, 2021

ED: that is a great looking GERTSNER and guessing your dad was maybe pretty handy too.

even though the Vise Repair 101 thread is pretty big we still have new members posting on it saying they've been following it and reading every new post.

also when I do get more of my DIY work and Organizing done I will start sort of a legend at the beginning of that thread to document certain posts that are worth noting. SO if you want to take up a few posts (maybe put 4 words in 3 or 4 posts in a row to reserve space) then go back and edit in your before to after process I bet more than a few of the people years from now will be taking a look at it.

for example I just referred a young member to McBrownie's posts from #117-124 on the 101 thread cause he had a Parker he was restoring and McB did a nice job documenting it.

your call and your time, but I know i'd love it cause one of these days i'll make time to shine up a few of mine cause I doubt i'll ever sell them.

sounds like you were smiling both ways on that drive to pick up the old box. does your bride join you or do you put in an audio book?

my wife and I have taken more than a few road trips to pick up a vise or tools and it's usually a good day or two or three.

ed4banger · Mar 4, 2021

drivesitfar said:
ED: that is a great looking GERTSNER and guessing your dad was maybe pretty handy too.

even though the Vise Repair 101 thread is pretty big we still have new members posting on it saying they've been following it and reading every new post.

also when I do get more of my DIY work and Organizing done I will start sort of a legend at the beginning of that thread to document certain posts that are worth noting. SO if you want to take up a few posts (maybe put 4 words in 3 or 4 posts in a row to reserve space) then go back and edit in your before to after process I bet more than a few of the people years from now will be taking a look at it.

for example I just referred a young member to McBrownie's posts from #117-124 on the 101 thread cause he had a Parker he was restoring and McB did a nice job documenting it.

your call and your time, but I know i'd love it cause one of these days i'll make time to shine up a few of mine cause I doubt i'll ever sell them.

sounds like you were smiling both ways on that drive to pick up the old box. does your bride join you or do you put in an audio book?

my wife and I have taken more than a few road trips to pick up a vise or tools and it's usually a good day or two or three.

I would have taken my wife and made a day of it if not for this pandemic. Picked it up close to Gettysburg, so would have made a nice day trip.

drivesitfar · Mar 4, 2021

ED: just a note. we have been packing our own food and drinks and finding places to stop and eat or eat in the car if we can't find a local restaurant to support.

Craftsman 5198. Who made these awesome vises!!

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