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Powr Kraft Vise

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bareass172

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Aug 5, 2012
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N'awlins
Hey guys, I snagged this yesterday and was wondering if anyone has any additional info about it. It's a Montgomery Ward Powr Kraft vise, jaws approximately 4" across and the swivel side so it can tip up 90 degrees. Overall the paint is pristine, the only thing I see is slight surface rust. I doubt it was ever actually used as best as I can tell. As you can see in the pics it's missing the jaws.

I searched here, Garage Gazette, the couple of Wikis with vise info that I could find and just general Google searches. The only thing I found was a picture of a magazine ad that had this vise in it. The vise itself shows no visible markings beyond what is clear in the pictures, some raised castings and some stamps that also turn up no results. Stamp is UX121079 on base, 121078 on slide.

Can anyone give me any additional info or history on this thing? I figure, with my limited knowledge, that it's a 70's era maybe. Anyone know where I can find jaws?

I didn't really need it, but couldn't pass it up if for no other reason than the novelty/rarity of it. :rocker:

Thanks for info, as always.
 

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ken w.

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Aug 16, 2012
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Western New York
I had that same vise a few years ago. Someone begged me to sell it to them for over a year and I finally did. It's not a bad vise. I would use it. I have a junker Dunlap vise in the garage with vise jaws. Let me measure them. Can you measure the center to center hole spacing for the jaws ?
 
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bareass172

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Re-badged Wilton, well that sounds good to me! The jaw mounting holes are 2-1/4" apart center to center.

Thanks for the feedback!
 
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EOC_Jason

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Jun 25, 2012
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Bentonville, AR
If you google Wilton Tilt Vise and look at the images you will see lots that look like yours. The Versa Vise also bears some resemblance around the jaws. I do NOT think they had any jaw inserts. Those holes I believe are there for people that might want to mount some blocks of wood for wood-working or other delicate work.
 
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bareass172

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N'awlins
That did the trick! Searching for Wilton tilt vise led me to one, that led me to change out "Montgomery Ward" and "Powr Kraft" for "Wilton" and then adding the number "UX121079" at the end. I found plenty of examples, including one posted here in the vise thread:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=44782&page=294

I find it interesting that the model number yielded no results, but putting Wilton in front of it did. Either way, I find as many pictures with jaws as I find without so it may be somewhat optional.

Thanks for getting me down the right path, I knew someone here would know!
 
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drivesitfar

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Bareass: My guess is a re badged Wilton because they made vises for a lot of big companies. i'm amazed that you took the pictures of that vise on your wood dining table and not a restored vise at that. What a guy.

most guys i know with the Wilton version or the Versa vise love all the options of these with all the positions you can hold things in. keep that for your light duty work until you find a baby wilton with a power arm and a clamp.

cheers
 
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bareass172

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Aug 5, 2012
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N'awlins
Ken - thanks for checking!

Drivesitfar - thanks for the info.

This thing is growing on me, and it's versatility seems like it can be useful for small tasks (as others mentioned). I just need to figure out where I'm going to mount it... Or I might just sit on it for a bit and decide later. It is in such pristine condition it's just nuts to me. I need some jaws, so I'll dig a bit. I have to imagine that it can't be that hard to find some 4" jaws since Wilton is so big. If all else fails, maybe I'll make some Delrin jaws to prevent damage to small stuff.
 
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Outlawmws

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Aug 9, 2011
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Location
The Badlands
Well color me surprised, I would not have expected that vise to have "made in USA" on it. I had a Wilton version for many years before giving it to a buddy. I don't remember it having that. :dunno:

The holes in the jaws were for steel jaw inserts. lightly serrated. I'd bet you can still get them from Wilton.

They also came with Pipe jaw inserts the went in the lower section of the jaw.

Not a bad vise for light work, but I didn't care for it. YMMV.


Mounting: Consider sticking on a 6 x 6 or 12 x 12 piece of heavy ply, then glue/screwing a cleat under it, that can then be gripped in a work mate, or a larger vise...

Or if left flat, simply clamped to a bench or table top.
 
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