Yost 31C Vise Restoration

p0lar · Jul 10, 2013

So, I found this vise attached to what really amounts to a scrap table. I'm not extremely familiar with name brand vises apart from Wilton, but I do know what a good one feels like. I worked this one back and forth a few times, the swivel locks were stuck, but it otherwise was in great shape with what I'll call "OK" jaws. I'm pretty sure this is a Yost 31C, and don't know much about it (age, etc), except that it's in good mechanical shape.

If I'm to pull this apart to clean it up and restore, is there a particular place to start and any potential pitfalls? I'd like to document its restoration here to see if others with the same vise can chime in. It appears to have a 3.5" wide jaw, and I've not gotten around to measuring how far they open but will update this space when I do.

Does anyone have any clue what the true original paint was on it? It absolutely wasn't green, red or orange, I suspect.

Thanks!

P.S. I won't say what I paid for it (*cough* $25 *cough*) - don't really know what it's worth so I'm not sure if I'll get slapped or fived.

P.P.S. Photos!

rusty65 · Jul 10, 2013

The original color would be a blue color and let me be the first to say you **** great score!

Outlawmws · Jul 10, 2013

That's a usuck for sure!

I like that is has a variant of my swivel lock nut fix on it!

p0lar · Jul 11, 2013

rusty65 said:
The original color would be a blue color and let me be the first to say you **** great score!

I believe you're correct. This is what I found under the base, it looks like a light metallic blue, probably an industry-standard colour if I had to hazard the guess.

And disassembled - the only real issue I discovered was that the jaws had a few small nicks in them; however, since these jaws are square and don't have a built-in landing/detent, I can simply flip them around.

And somewhat cleaned up - most of the paint removed except in some of the more delicate places where I'd rather use a finer wire wheel brush and/or stripper. I may blast a few of the corners that I can't reach, or simply let solvent do the work on my behalf. I'm going to attempt to match the colour on the base, so I didn't touch it for the time being.

I think once I'm done, it'll have many a good year of service in front of it as I absolutely plan to give it a good working home to live in.

zoomieport · Jul 11, 2013

Well done... That will clean up nicely! Yost has moved there operations to Holland, Michigan, about 45 minute from me.

I think they "mostly" do government work these days, I think they still sell through distribution too... These are guesses, not 100% sure about that...

Keep us updated!

Zoom

p0lar · Jul 11, 2013

zoomieport said:
Well done... That will clean up nicely! Yost has moved there operations to Holland, Michigan, about 45 minute from me.

According to Yost's web site:

yostvises.com said:
We were founded in 1908 in the town of Meadville, Pennsylvania. After several decades of manufacturing vises and other products, we moved to Muskegon, MI and not too long after that, we moved to our final location: Holland, MI.

They don't give much of a time frame within that blurb excepting 'several decades', meaning in my book - at least 3; thus, I'm thinking the vise I have couldn't be any older than ~1950, and I suspect it's closer to a 70's model based on the hardware/fasteners I saw when I disassembled it, though I'm admittedly no expert and am working on observation/anecdotal experience alone.

I think they "mostly" do government work these days, I think they still sell through distribution too... These are guesses, not 100% sure about that...

By the prices they charge, it wouldn't surprise me in the least if they're government-contracted - I couldn't purchase one of these vises at full price without making other sacrifices, that's for sure.

Keep us updated!

I'm actually headed to source paint around the lunch hour, and I don't plan to let this restoration project drag out, so there should be decent results within at least a day or two.

zoomieport · Jul 11, 2013

I just called Yost...
They've been in Holland 35 years, Muskegon for 10 years, and the rest was in Meadville...
ZOOM

p0lar · Jul 11, 2013

So I took an extra half-hour today and worked with a local auto parts store paint guy (very friendly and patient with my OCD), the results speak for themselves.

I basically wiped the part down with acetone (lightly), then laid a sheet of paper down and sprayed two light coats. I don't know if I'll get any closer - the colour-matched paint has a tiny bit more shine to it, but that may be due to the original paint's age or the fact it was wiped with acetone first. In either event, I'm pleased with the result and will procede as planned!

p0lar · Jul 11, 2013

zoomieport said:
I just called Yost...
They've been in Holland 35 years, Muskegon for 10 years, and the rest was in Meadville...
ZOOM

So that makes this vice a 1978 or newer model. I think one feature of it that's particularly noticeable is the fact that it doesn't have the curved 'Y O S T' written on the armature. As well, it doesn't have an anvil machined into the rear. I'm not sure when those additions were made to the 31C, but that might also clue someone in to the age of this particular revision.

Thanks for the information!

Super Sport · Jul 11, 2013

Good looking vise! I don't own a Yost, but have only heard great things about them!

I'm hoping to one day run across a decent deal on a Muskegon-made Yost, since that is where I grew up. Interesting to know they were there for a decade in the 70's!

zoomieport · Jul 11, 2013

p0lar said:
So that makes this vice a 1978 or newer model. I think one feature of it that's particularly noticeable is the fact that it doesn't have the curved 'Y O S T' written on the armature. As well, it doesn't have an anvil machined into the rear. I'm not sure when those additions were made to the 31C, but that might also clue someone in to the age of this particular revision.

Thanks for the information!

You bet! Just keep us posted!

ZOOM

jakemac · Jul 11, 2013

p0lar -
Could you post the info on the paint you used, as well as the base and formula, so that others could use it for their resto projects ?

Looking at the photo, you (and your paint mixer) did a great job of matching the original paint.

p0lar · Jul 11, 2013

Burst of colour... self-etching primer first, of course!

p0lar · Jul 11, 2013

jakemac said:
p0lar -
Could you post the info on the paint you used, as well as the base and formula, so that others could use it for their resto projects ?

Yikes - I'll do what I can, but to be very humble, I can't take credit excepting for my OCD (if that's the case that it was finally beneficial). The guy who was doing the paint mixing has been doing it for a long time, and basically made a one-off can. It cost me ~$24 out the door, so it's not inexpensive either!

Looking at the photo, you (and your paint mixer) did a great job of matching the original paint.

Thanks! I'm hoping everything comes out well - this is my first vise restoration project (I may be hooked). I tried to masq off all the machined surfaces, which I'll oil before assembly; however, some I'll simply have to perform a paint removal on as it was too difficult to masq them and allow access to parts that I felt should be protected.

p0lar · Jul 11, 2013

I've got one of the jaws polished {mostly}... I'll work on the other as well as the turnstyle and handle when I get more time. These are photos for posterity only.

LXCam · Jul 11, 2013

Dude that thing is gonna be stellar when it's back together, nice score and great job on the paint!.

kazlx · Jul 11, 2013

Nice job...I dig it.

p0lar · Jul 11, 2013

LXCam said:
Dude that thing is gonna be stellar when it's back together, nice score and great job on the paint!.

Thanks! It's so hot/humid here that it's going to take at least two days for it to dry well enough to even dream of reassembling - odds are it may take up to a week, so I've carefully shelved all the components.

In the mean time, I've found a local hardware store with stainless bolts (jaw anchors and swivel mount bits, plus one stainless set screw).

The total was going to come to $15.27 + tax, absolutely absurd. I'm going to keep looking.

Zrexxer · Jul 11, 2013

This is the blue that Yost is painting new vises now... I like your color better.

p0lar · Jul 11, 2013

Zrexxer said:
This is the blue that Yost is painting new vises now... I like your color better.

Yeah, I saw that on Yost's site. I'm still not 100% sure the blue I matched was the original colour, but it was the the only one sitting atop the bare metal that remained after everything else was removed. I also found its overspray in some interesting places in a pretty uniform fashion, so of all the colours I found on it when it came into my possession, I feel it was the most probable.

One of the guys at the parts store wanted me to soak the whole vice in oil, then towel it off and call it done. I briefly considered that, but am a sucker for original paint.

I'm happy with the results so far, but it's still not worth much as a tool until I can anchor it to a bench.

p0lar · Jul 12, 2013

While the reverse side of the swivel clamping plate is being painted/drying, I brought the rest of the components indoors to finish curing in a more climate-controlled environment (less humidity).

So, a few more photos are in order.

Super Sport · Jul 12, 2013

That thing looks fantastic!

fullthrottle24 · Jul 12, 2013

Nice work, love the OCD blue.

p0lar · Jul 12, 2013

fullthrottle24 said:
Nice work, love the OCD blue.

Is that what colour I should call it the next time I request a match? :lol_hitti

Just as a follow-up, I'm now soaking the pipe grip teeth, retaining/set pins, and screw collar in Pentosin 75W-80 gear oil. I've not decided if I'll lubricate the screw with a high temperature brake grease or just use a copper-based anti-seize.

Any thoughts on that? Or something better?

p0lar · Jul 12, 2013

So, I've got most of it finished, reassembled, oiled, lubricated and finished polishing the jaws. Those turned out better than the photos show, actually.

I'll post both sides and a few finished shots once the swivel clamping late has cured sufficiently. I haven't decided if I'll try to search out original clamping hardware or just keep the character of the vise as modified throughout the years. I really tried not to make too many changes to it, charismatically, so that it retains some of its 'experience' as it has been handed from owner to owner.

Naturally, good experience doesn't have to mean an appalling exterior.

p0lar · Jul 12, 2013

Just realized I have the pipe jaws upside-down. The smaller diameter is on the bottom.

Corrected - photos will be amended soon.

Goon · Jul 12, 2013

p0lar,

Your vise turned out absolutely excellent. I very much agree with the paint vs. the oil "seasoning" method. I live in the rust belt. You should paint, let it cure for a long time, then oil the snot out of it.

Are you planning on using it legit or just light duty and collecting? I don't abuse my vises but I have used the wire brush on parts in held in the vise and that will beat up the paint a bit.

Just in case anyone is wondering HomeDepot.com sells Yost vises.

p0lar · Jul 12, 2013

Goon said:
p0lar,

Your vise turned out absolutely excellent. I very much agree with the paint vs. the oil "seasoning" method. I live in the rust belt. You should paint, let it cure for a long time, then oil the snot out of it.

I plan to just keep the moving and exposed bits oiled appropriately as I do other tools. I don't anticipate it being a problem, and if I have to refurbish it again in 20 years, so be it! I've done it once, I can do it again, heh.

Are you planning on using it legit or just light duty and collecting? I don't abuse my vises but I have used the wire brush on parts in held in the vise and that will beat up the paint a bit.

I absolutely plan to use it - there's no place in my garage to keep something that's not going to get usage. I don't collect much of anything that I can't use. I don't typically wire-wheel brush anything held in a vise, but I wouldn't be afraid to. There's nothing mechanically sensitive that I found, in all fairness.

Just in case anyone is wondering HomeDepot.com sells Yost vises.

Yeah, I saw that! The latest incarnation of the Yost 31C costs $442.92 at Home Depot {plus tax} - out of my budget, for sure.

Goon · Jul 12, 2013

Well that is excellent. I am the same way, I would not have a trailer queen if you know what I mean. At the same time I take reasonable care of my stuff so it never gets too beat up.

Goon · Jul 12, 2013

What do you plan to do for the swivel locks? I'm missing one on a vise and I will either scavenge one or make one from a coupling nut like your original pics had.

If I use a coupling nut I would probably do something to cap it to prevent metal filings and gunk from getting in there.

p0lar · Jul 13, 2013

Goon said:
What do you plan to do for the swivel locks? I'm missing one on a vise and I will either scavenge one or make one from a coupling nut like your original pics had.

If I use a coupling nut I would probably do something to cap it to prevent metal filings and gunk from getting in there.

I'm going to stay with the ones it came with, for now; however, I acquired some rubber and steel washers that I'm going to use as a seat between the locks and the base. So, it'll go like this, top to bottom:

Swivel Lock (AKA Coupling nut)
Steel washer
Rubber washer
Base

I'm going to write a letter to Yost to see if they'd be willing to simply sell a set of original swivel locks rather than the crudely-fashioned ones I have.

If not, I'll probably just put a small set screw in the top with a tiny bit of loctite blue to keep it from wriggling loose (up or down).

Goon · Jul 14, 2013

Yeah a set screw would work. I have been able to find various lock nuts for Wilton vises but am not sure of the thread they are. If I can find a brick and mortar store that has them I will figure it out.

Also, ranging from $12 to $40 I don't know how much it's really worth. $40 is more than your initial investment. I can tell you my Wilton is 1/2x13 size/thread so if yours is that you have a good chance of finding replacements.

Duct Tape Man · Jul 14, 2013

Gorgeous vise! Hope I can find a deal like that on a Yost or Wilton someday, I'm just working with an old Craftsman vise and it's okay, but I want something bigger. Doesn't every guy, though?

zoomieport · Jul 14, 2013

I bet the boys at the factory in Holland, Mi. would be impressed, it looks better than when it left their place... Well done!

p0lar · Jul 14, 2013

Thanks for the kind words - it was a lot of fun, honestly, and the reward is self-evident.

Here are links to the replacement OEM Yost parts, probably not a perfect match for that era, but 100% Yost no less.

I'll post fully-assembled shots from a few angles when I get some free time and try to update the first post in this thread so others who come across it don't have to wade through the whole thing.

Zrexxer · Jul 14, 2013

zoomieport said:
I bet the boys at the factory in Holland, Mi. would be impressed, it looks better than when it left their place... Well done!

I imagine they'd probably look at it and sneer "that damn fool didn't get paid one dime more for doin' all that extra work!"

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