1946 Wilton No.4

[Brian R.]

Hi guys. I'm glad to be here. I've acquired a 1946 Wilton No.4 with 4 1/2" jaw width. Aside from the obvious usefulness of it, I love just looking at it on my bench. It's such a cool-looking tool.
I kind of like the old worn un-restored look for now but without getting too crazy maybe I'll at least get it back to it's original color (some faint light gray remains). I have noticed some interesting machining on this old vise and I'd love your guys' input on it. I think the original jaws are still on it. I say this because the machining striations from the area on the side of the jaw which I assume are factory carry into to the sides of the jaws. Haha. I feel like a ballistics expert examining rifling grooves! Also, I notice that mine along with other early Wiltons had a distinctly rounded oval casting for the rear jaw housing. The jaw slot on mine is cut almost 1/2" deep and barely accommodates the jaws. In fact someone has ground the jaw housing casting so it does not overlap into the jaw area. I wonder it a guy at the factor did this after cutting the jaw slot a little too deep? Only I would wonder about this--or maybe other tool nuts?? See pics and thanks in advance.

 

[KMScott]

Yes the jaw shelf is pretty deep, does these jaws measure 4-1/2 x 3/4 x 1/2" thick or are they 4-1/2 x 5/8 x 7/16 thick. Back then they had two different jaw sizes. The first serrations were straight and yours looks in great shape. Nice vise and welcome to GJ. Kevin

 

[DWise]

Re: 194? Wilton No.4

I like the red, but I would at least remove the paint from the collar and acorn nuts.

 

[Roberts210]

Here is an un-restored 1946 Wilton for a color comparison.

 

[Brian R.]

Hey thanks guys! Great input. My articulating jaw stamp reads 3-46. I am getting some more pictures and specs up this week. Kevin, jaws are definitely 1/2" depth. The shelf was machined to about that as well. I can see the conversation..."you cut the shelf to 1/2" but the jaws are 1/2"! Well, just grind back the casting until it fits and hopefully Vogl won't notice." Collar washer screws are 10-32 with 5/8" thread depth. Jaw screws are 1/4-20 also with 5/8" thread depth. Swivel nuts are 1/2/-13 and are just about 7/8" tall (.880 with a micrometer). The collar washer and screws appear to have remaining cadmium plating. Robert, that pic is very helpful! Getting a proper color match is going with be a tricky one I'm sure. Dwise, I am going to get the vise back to the way it looked in Robert's pic. No paint where it shouldn't be.

 

[G-ManBart]

Getting a proper color match is going with be a tricky one I'm sure.

It will be. That early color is part blue, part gray, and all we have now are examples with 70 years of fading, so it's really anybody's guess what they looked like originally. I also think it's possible they changed paint vendors at times so two vises made close to one another in time might have slight variations. I've spent a lot of time looking at early Wilton paint colors (pictures posted) and some seem to look more of a powdery blue with some gray, and some seem to look more gray with a hint of blue....probably just fading due to different exposure/environments, but there's really no way to be sure.

Regardless, your vise will look great when you're done with it in any of those colors!

 

[Brian R.]

Here's some progress and notes for you guys. I've done some de-rusting with POR-15 Metal Ready and extra fine 0000 steel wool. I like the combo. It's not agressive. I noticed that the original jaws and sides of the vise were milled together with the vise in the closed position. A circular grinder wheel consistent with a 12" diameter was used. I think they painted the vise and installed the jaws and then buzzed each side of the vise with the wheel--just a tidbit for those interested. As far as paint goes, I pulled out an ancient can of Pactra spray paint I had. The color is "Nimbus Gray". The match to the original is ok I guess. It's darker that what my pics suggest. I think I am going to go with it because it kind of has that 40's pale blue going on. Thoughts?

 

[DWise]

I think that gray will look good. Looks like it is cleaning up nicely.

 

[Brian R.]

Yeah it is pretty clean. It always amazes my that a tool like this can come through 7 decades and still be in one piece much less tight and generally as it was in it's first few years. The thing is that once I've got it re-greased it will go another 71 years I'm sure. It's the lynch pin of my garage!
The handle collar washer has a lot of intact blueish cadmium plating on it still. Were any of the other parts on these early post war vises plated? The cap nuts for the swivel perhaps? Assuming the ones I have are original they appear to be just plain steel. I know a lot of manufacturing plants were compelled to paint parts they may might normally have plated because of war rationing. Schwinn bicycles comes to mind. My 1941 DX has the rims painted black instead of chromed. Maybe plating materials were still scarce in the first year following the end of the war?

 

[G-ManBart]

Here's some progress and notes for you guys. I've done some de-rusting with POR-15 Metal Ready and extra fine 0000 steel wool. I like the combo. It's not agressive. I noticed that the original jaws and sides of the vise were milled together with the vise in the closed position. A circular grinder wheel consistent with a 12" diameter was used. I think they painted the vise and installed the jaws and then buzzed each side of the vise with the wheel--just a tidbit for those interested. As far as paint goes, I pulled out an ancient can of Pactra spray paint I had. The color is "Nimbus Gray". The match to the original is ok I guess. It's darker that what my pics suggest. I think I am going to go with it because it kind of has that 40's pale blue going on. Thoughts?

Nice pic on the jaws! On the vises I've gotten with really good original paint I've noticed that the back edge of the jaws will be painted, which tells me they had to be in place with the vise was painted. They must have either masked the tops of the jaws, or done a final finishing operation on them in place. It would be interesting to know the actual steps involved.

I think that gray will be a good choice....it's in the right ballpark and since Wilton never had paint codes that can be matched (even today) all we're trying to do is get close when that sure looks it.

 

[CrotalusAtrox]

If you soak the whole vise in straight simple green for about four days you can get the old paint of by merely using a scotch bright pad while it soaks.

 

[Brian R.]

Nice pic on the jaws! On the vises I've gotten with really good original paint I've noticed that the back edge of the jaws will be painted, which tells me they had to be in place with the vise was painted. They must have either masked the tops of the jaws, or done a final finishing operation on them in place. It would be interesting to know the actual steps involved.

I think that gray will be a good choice....it's in the right ballpark and since Wilton never had paint codes that can be matched (even today) all we're trying to do is get close when that sure looks it.

Cool details on the masked jaws. I'm still looking for the holy grail of 40's Wilton paint matches. Haha.

If you soak the whole vise in straight simple green for about four days you can get the old paint of by merely using a scotch bright pad while it soaks.

I've always been a fan of Simple Green. I have a gallon of the industrial strength stuff.

Update on the vise: I have the vise vice! I got another one. I'm probably going to give the '46 #4 to my kid brother as a housewarming gift. Well that means I just had to get another one for me.

I am trying to date it now. I have theory that it's an early '45 or '44. It doesn't have a date stamp on the key but I've noticed some consistencies it has with other proven patent pending "War" Wiltons. I will post those details in the ongoing Wilton dating thread I've seen here.

 

[thehorse13]

KMScott makes new jaw pads for Wiltons. I just got myself a nose cap for my 1966 three inch Wilton. I repainted mine with a 1960s General Motors blue color.

 

[Brian R.]

KMScott makes new jaw pads for Wiltons. I just got myself a nose cap for my 1966 three inch Wilton. I repainted mine with a 1960s General Motors blue color.

Love the GM color on that vise. I also love your tool boxes! Attached is a pic of the boxes in my garage. Great minds think alike.

 

[thehorse13]

If you like that blue, for around 5 bucks you can buy a can of it from Amazon. You can't find it in local stores.

Blue paint

I love my 1957 Snap-On roller. I have a mid 50s KR-56 on top because that is exactly how this stack was sold during that time period (57-58). Toolboxes are another obsession. I recently grabbed a KR-260 roller cab. The holy grail for Snap-On box collectors.

 

[eddieK]

KMScott makes new jaw pads for Wiltons. I just got myself a nose cap for my 1966 three inch Wilton. I repainted mine with a 1960s General Motors blue color.

I love that color...how does one get it?

 

[thehorse13]

I love that color...how does one get it?

Easy. Click the link in the post. I put the Amazon link in my previous post.

 

[G-ManBart]

If you like that blue, for around 5 bucks you can buy a can of it from Amazon. You can't find it in local stores.

Blue paint

Many of the Home Depot/Lowes around here carry that hammered light blue, and all of the Menard's that I've been in have it.

 

[thehorse13]

Many of the Home Depot/Lowes around here carry that hammered light blue, and all of the Menard's that I've been in have it.

You're lucky. It can't be found in these parts. Amazon solved that problem for me.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[G-ManBart]

You're lucky. It can't be found in these parts. Amazon solved that problem for me.

There seems to be no rhyme or reason on paint availability even within the same family of stores. I don't see why a light blue with be any more or less popular in various states, but I'm sure some computer somewhere has a reason for it

 

[Brian R.]

I love my 1957 Snap-On roller. I have a mid 50s KR-56 on top because that is exactly how this stack was sold during that time period (57-58). Toolboxes are another obsession. I recently grabbed a KR-260 roller cab. The holy grail for Snap-On box collectors.

Awesome score with the 260! My lower box is a 1958 KR-352. The upper is a 1975 KRA-59B. I also have a 1975 KR-272 side hanger box. It's too long to hang on the side of the 352 so I wall-mounted it. Do you see what some dope did to the 352! They cut and bent the top edge to accommodate a wide top box at some point. I hope someday to match the 352 with a correct late 50's KR-58A and KR-421. Then the death star will be complete. I bet a custom side- mount shelf with a smaller Wilton bullet would look good on a rolling Snap-on setup too.