Wilton C2 resto and a Rock Island too

Gert · Oct 2, 2013

So, here's the story.
Since I became a member of GJ (feb 2012) I started searching Dutch CL in search of a Wilton vise. Guess what, none found. Just cheap China vises, a lot of Heuer vises. But no Wilton. A couple of weeks ago I found a Rock Island that became mine for 75 euro's. A bit rusty but looking good with even some green paint (original ?). I stopped searching Dutch CL. But two weeks later I searched once more, just in case. And there it was - a Wilton C2. Got it for 25 euro's ($34) because of a broken jaw and a missing end cap which was mentioned in the advert. I am planning to restore them completely during the coming winter and will update every now and than. The Wilton first.

Photo from the advert.
The yellow lines mark the broken jaw.

The broken jaw

This is the Rock Island

Here is the Wilton on my workbench. Pipe jaws are mounted upside down (wrong).

A very faint date: 12-31-64

Let the resto begin - removal of the remaining good jaw. The screws are completely damaged and it is no longer possible to use a screwdriver. I chose to remove the screws the brutal way - cut a new slot. No worries about the jaws, both the broken one and the 'good' one will be replaced by new ones.

And remove them with a impact screwdriver

The screw-things that lock the swivel base are interesting as they have no pin/handles through them so you can lock and unlock the base by hand. Maybe I will make the handles. For now I cleaned them on my lathe. First one finished.

So far for now.
Cheers, Gert

wrenchguy · Oct 2, 2013

nice.

cclfn · Oct 2, 2013

I like the thread waiting for the next stage.

Wes

Gert · Oct 10, 2013

Ready for sandblasting. Delicate parts will get protective tape, as well as the thread of the spindle.

Lookin4'67Galaxieconv · Oct 10, 2013

Looking forward to the finished product. Both vises look very good quality. I already have a great Wilton, would love to find a Rock Island like that. :thumbup:

oldldh · Oct 10, 2013

American Iron in the Netherlands??? :dunno:

Who'da thunk it??? :lol_hitti

When you get through with your restorations, you will have a pair of "as good as it gets" clampers!!! :thumbup:

Ya dun gud, Bubba!!! :drool:

tedsters · Oct 10, 2013

nice vises that C2 looks like it is in super nice shape great find and pretty darn good deal on the 2 also

RogueFab · Oct 10, 2013

Nice pair of vises. I would keep them both too! What did you do to clena that on the lathe? emry cloth? Or did you use a cutting tool?

Gert · Oct 11, 2013

RogueFab said:
Nice pair of vises. I would keep them both too! What did you do to clena that on the lathe? emry cloth? Or did you use a cutting tool?

I gonna keep them for sure.
I removed about 0.2 mm (0.008 inch) with a cutting tool as there was too much pitting from rust. Finished with several grades of sandpaper.

oldldh said:
American Iron in the Netherlands???

I was surprised too !

Gert · Oct 17, 2013

Returned from sandblasting

Interesting detail - BD - makers mark?

Gert · Oct 17, 2013

At this point I need some help from you.
If you look into the hole for the pipejaws there are only two small edges (or protrusions or whatever they are called) that support the lower side of the pipejaw. One is broken. I cannot imagine these two small protrusions can hold the clamping force. Both the static jaw as the movable jaw look like this.
Any clue?

There are no holes in the pipejaws

KMScott · Oct 17, 2013

Hi Gert
I wish you was next door, I could help you a couple of ways, one way would be to tack weld a block on the back of the pipe jaws and have the casting support the pipe jaws, yes I know it is not a good idea to weld on tool steel but I have done this many times repairing cores and cavities in injection molds with a TIG welder, a tack is all you need. another thought would be to add a 3/8 pin all the way through the casting like they did in the earlier Combination vises when they used to pin in the jaws. But the pin could be positioned where the jaw is backed up or resting on it. This would take a machine shop and a careful dimensions. The Pipe jaws should be floating and not be a ridged mount like the newer vises. The pipe jaws that have through holes and pinned in have plenty of clearance for the pin and this allows the pipe jaw to float and locate on the bar or pipe you are clamping. The newer pipe jaws have a clip and this is why they used the clip. If I was helping you I would machine a small pocket where the set screw sets in with a carbide drill (5/16:18 set screw pocket a .343 pocket) since the set screws have left a good marking and then not tighten the set screw and allow some floating action. Let them wobble some. Just my two cents.

Kevin

Gert · Oct 26, 2013

Thanks for the suggestions for the pipe jaws Kevin.
I like the idea of welding a block at the back of the pipe jaws. I think epoxy glue will work as well.
But to make it look more original two pins through each pipe jaw would be best, but I think that is the most challenging option and I feel a little discomfort drilling in the vise. Anybody know what the diameter of the pins is?

In the meantime I made a centerpin for the swivel base.

rusty65 · Oct 26, 2013

Your restoration is coming along great! I enjoy seeing old iron being made useable again.

Sent directly from the Snap On Kool Aid factory.

Gert · Nov 23, 2013

A little update. Received some wonderful new jaws from KMScott. Thanks Kevin!
Here they are mounted temporary.

I found the horse shoe washer was far from original. I decided to make a new one. The old one right, the newly made left:

The anvil of the C2 was covered with dings so I milled it flat. Sorry for dark picture:

autopts · Nov 23, 2013

Gert said:
A little update. Received some wonderful new jaws from KMScott. Thanks Kevin!
Here they are mounted temporary.

I found the horse shoe washer was far from original. I decided to make a new one. The old one right, the newly made left:

The anvil of the C2 was covered with dings so I milled it flat. Sorry for dark picture:

Gert, that C2 was definitely worth the wait. Its a beauty

Beowulf · Jan 11, 2014

Any updates

Gert · Oct 25, 2014

Sorry for the long wait.
It's finally finished.
Primer with anti-rust.

I made some alu blocks to fill the room behind the pipe jaws

Gert · Oct 25, 2014

And here she is in all her glory:

Gert · Oct 25, 2014

Some more details:

Exit 61 · Oct 25, 2014

Nice...................

Gert · Oct 25, 2014

And some more :drool:

I had to make new pins as the old ones where broken.
I chose to let them stick out and made an attachement so I can remove them with a slide-hammer.

Also made some washers

Gert · Oct 25, 2014

Ready to rock and roll next to a Record nr 4.
For some reason the colour in the pictures is a bit lighter than real. It's RAL 3020 - which is red but the photo's look more like orange.

Now it's time to work on the Rock Island.

Davefr · Oct 25, 2014

That's some incredible work and attention to detail!!

drivesitfar · Oct 25, 2014

Gert: you may have taken a while to finish your Wilton C2, but you did a helluva job. it looks bright orange on my laptop so hard to believe it's really red.

i have a couple questions. can you tell me why you have that nice pice of steel put back behind the pipe jaws? i haven't taken my C2's pipe jaws out yet, but i thought they were just one piece inside that space.

also would you mind posting your restoration over on the Vise Repair 101 thread and take up several posts to show all your pictures of that awesome vise and the work you did? i'd really be curious how you decided to make the pins to hold the vise nut in place because i think Wilton could have improved that part of their vises. some members have actually put threaded pins in there so they could just use an Allen wrench to remove them the next time.

just curious if you still live in the Netherlands and how did you get a pair of KMScott's jaws shipped to you? i just saw that an airline going through Iceland has $99 airline tickets from US to Europe which might be worth a trip or two just to trade some stuff because i hear shipping would almost cost that much. i really don't know for certain so would like to hear more about shipping to and from Europe.

NICE JOB!!!!

BJ42LX · Oct 25, 2014

Gert said:
And some more

I had to make new pins as the old ones where broken.
I chose to let them stick out and made an attachement so I can remove them with a slide-hammer.

Gert, business opportunity: Make up a few dozen (hundred?) of those pins for all us Wilton guys who find bent, rusted and mangled pins when doing our own vise restorations.

Just a thought...

That C2 is mint.

zkling · Oct 25, 2014

Just DAMN, that very nice!!! :thumbup:

One of if not the best looking restored wilton on here. Only thing you may want to add are rubber bumpers (finger savers) to the handle ends to keep them nice.

KMScott · Oct 25, 2014

Gert, I absolutely love it. Super great job. You inspire me. Thanks for posting these awesome pictures.

organ · Oct 25, 2014

Nice!

balane · Oct 25, 2014

That's a gorgeous job, just excellent. You can be proud of that one. My camera has a difficult time with red too for some reason. I adjust color hue in photoshop to get it looking more accurate to the real item.

.

CNGsaves · Oct 25, 2014

Simply AWESOME !!!

You've earned YOU **** for now owning the hottest Wilton C2 worldwide!!

Thanks for sharing, and keep up excellent work. :thumbup:

Gert · Oct 25, 2014

Thanks for all your kind words. It really makes me proud as it's my first vise-resto.

Davefr Thanks. Took me about 4 hours to do the lettering. Just with a little paintbrush and a steady hand. The letter G from Chicago happened to be the most difficult to do right.

drivesitfar The piece of aluminium behind the pipe jaw is a kind of replacement for broken ridges that originally hold the lower part of the pipe-jaw. I've explained it with pictures in the Vise Repair 101 thread as you requested.
About the jaws from Kevin - he was so kind to send them to me by post.
And yes, I still live in Holland. Born and raised here and plan to stay here for a long time :beer:

BJ42LX Thanks for the idea of the business opportunity to make some more pins for other Wilton fans. The idea is good, but there's a lack of time issue thingy.

zkling This C2 definitively needs finger savers. I have found them on eBay but did not order them yet. Guess I could not wait to show the pictures...

KMScott Thanks Kevin. I couldn't do it without your jaws!

Gert · Oct 25, 2014

balane said:
That's a gorgeous job, just excellent. You can be proud of that one. My camera has a difficult time with red too for some reason. I adjust color hue in photoshop to get it looking more accurate to the real item.

.

Now it has the right colour. Spot on. Thanks for the tip :rocker:

Lbcwanabe · Oct 25, 2014

Wow turned out great

Gert · Oct 25, 2014

CNGsaves said:
Simply AWESOME !!!

You've earned YOU **** for now owning the hottest Wilton C2 worldwide!!

Thanks for sharing, and keep up excellent work.

My first 'you ****' :rocker:

zkling · Oct 25, 2014

Gert said:
Now it has the right colour. Spot on. Thanks for the tip

It's red? Dang I really liked the bright orange.

Lookin4'67Galaxieconv · Oct 25, 2014

That's one beautiful vise. Would you like it to be closer to it's birthplace? I'll take it off your hands and I'll even pay for the shipping! :lol:

FatBeagle · Oct 25, 2014

Wow! Nice work.

Hako86 · Oct 26, 2014

Awsome restoration! Ready to use :beer:

I wish there were some more of these awsome vises around here in Holland

G20-Budo · Jan 18, 2016

Gert - That's an incredible vise restore, you can be proud of for the rest of your life. Every time you go out in the shop, and look at it.. I'm sure you smile from ear to ear!

Wilton C2 resto and a Rock Island too

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