1942 Dunlap 5171 vise restore aka Craftsman, Reed

Alexbn921 · Dec 15, 2013

Restoring an June of 1942 Dunlap Machinists vise most likely made by Rock Island.
4" Jaws, 6 1/2" Open, 34 1/2 Pounds.
Thanks to Outlawmws's craftsman vise thread. Slide is stamped with 6 42.
Dunlap is suppose to be the value brand for craftsman, but this is a heavy duty machinist vise. Very little rust to start with and overall good condition. I had to drill out one of the jaw bolts because it was bent.
KMScott gave me a source for new bolts.

GJ poll - What color should I paint it?
I'm thinking red.

This vise is going to be mounted on my outdoor work bench. Any ideas that will make it last longer in the elements would be helpful.

1982fxr · Dec 15, 2013

if you don't cover it I think it will rust no matter what. I keep a couple outside and run a big tarp over the whole top of the bench, and that's to keep them from rusting here in the desert.

Shame to do all that work and see the evil brown stuff pop up overnight, which it will.

What they called "light duty" back in the day is built like a tank compared to most of the chicom stuff out there these days.

RED!!!!!

larryq · Dec 15, 2013

Nice looking vise.

For lasting paint that won't break you I'd recommend something like Summit's single-stage urethane. They have low VOC formulas now for guys like us in CA who aren't allowed to buy anything stronger than watercolors (so it feels sometimes...)

Get a quart of red and you'll be sitting pretty (activator needed):

http://bit.ly/1dEJ0Vg

Put some decent primer down first, and if you don't have an hvlp gun just buy a one-shot preval sprayer for $10, two or three coats 15 minutes apart and you'll be set.

Which part of the east bay are you in?

Outlawmws · Dec 15, 2013

Wax and grease the heck out of it to have a prayer of keeping the rust away, and you will need to do some detailed painting internally, as well as the bottom. You will also want a tub of some sort to cover it, but then you need a weight on top of that to keep the wind from blowing it away...

I do agree, keeping a nice vise outside is not a good plan. (I've been working on getting a 5" Reed unfroze where the slide is rusted onto the main body. So far its not budged...)

Alexbn921 · Dec 15, 2013

Primer done.
Gonna be RED :bounce:

All non moving parts will be painted.
Everything else will be waxed. I like the idea of a cover.
Here in Walnut creek it doesn't rain all summer.
I was going to try and have a quick change system for the bench but I like the idea of a sturdy vise outside.

It will go at the end of this bench.

Outlawmws · Dec 16, 2013

If you are mounting that to the end of an open frame bench like that, you may want to consider adding two more 2X4's on the end, and then "skinning" that end with plywood to stabilize the bench. It wouldn't hut to go lengthwise with a skin as well.

rusty65 · Dec 16, 2013

I think your vise was made by Rock Island for Sears.

Sent directly from the Snap On Kool Aid factory.

Alexbn921 · Dec 16, 2013

Thanks Outlaw
Wherever I mount the vise will get reworked to support the extra load. I plan on pulling the top off and reinforcing the hole end of the bench. It is still a work in progress.
I do like having it to paint, grind, saw on. :thumbup:

bluebolt · Dec 16, 2013

Aah so it's June 1942 I thought it was earlier. Nice resto so far!

Alexbn921 · Dec 16, 2013

All painted, waxed, greased. I might paint the letters white. No wiggle at all in the slide. I don't know if I will be able to put it outside as planned.

drivesitfar · Dec 17, 2013

nice job on the restoration :thumbup:

did you do all the prep to get it to the shiny bare steel with a hand or bench grinder? or did you do an "E" bath?

instead of putting that vise outside maybe you should get another one that you want to get some more patina (rust) on.

ADSR · Dec 17, 2013

That's awesome. And no, you cant put that outside.

Alexbn921 · Dec 17, 2013

There was very little rust to start with, although there was 3 layers of spray bomb. I hit it with a 6 inch wire wheel on my grider. Then a 3 inch on my drill, followed by a 1 inch on a dremel. I picked up a 50 piece wire brush kit for the dremel and it is amazing at getting all the nooks and crannies. The inside the the slide is primered and I used bearing grease inside the main body to protect it. There is no bare metal that is not protected. This vise is a 100 times better then the 5 1/2 crapsman made in china I've been using. It will be covered, just have to make a nice one for it.

larryq · Dec 17, 2013

rusty65 said:
I think your vise was made by Rock Island for Sears.

Sent directly from the Snap On Kool Aid factory.

Looks exactly like a 3" Rock Island I have, also red. Will post comparison pics tonight, but I think it's RI.

larryq · Dec 18, 2013

Here's my Rock Island. I think it looks identical, or as close as it can.

Alexbn921 · Dec 18, 2013

Pretty much the same vise. I updated my description. I couldn't find a way to edit my title. Nice vise, what year is it?

larryq · Dec 18, 2013

Alexbn921 said:
Pretty much the same vise. I updated my description. I couldn't find a way to edit my title. Nice vise, what year is it?

Wish I knew, but there's no date code on it, patent or anything besides the text on the side I took the photo of.

KF5LCH · Dec 18, 2013

Very nice. It looks like new!

I just couldn't let it sit outside in the weather. It's too nice.

1942 Dunlap 5171 vise restore aka Craftsman, Reed

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