2400 Miles for a Reed 3C Vise

[Catalyze]

Yes....I just drove 2400 miles (round trip) for a Reed 3C vise. If you stop laughing, I will explain. Once a year, I get this urge to do something "manly" and it usually involves making a trip over a long distance in a short amount of time. For instance, last year was the "Honey, I just bought an El Camino and it's in Knoxville. Rusty has this weekend off so I was just thinking....." and that trip was 2200 miles in 3 1/2 days.

This year, I was poking around on Fleabay when I found a vise that had 2 really dark photos and a listing of some kind of vise that would open 12". I passed it up since the photos were really dark and it didn't list a manufacturer. It was also $120.00 and local pick up. Local being in Glen Ellyn, Illinois....i.e. Chicago. After a few days of seeing this same vise just sitting with no bids, I coped and pasted the photos onto my desktop and started adjusting things. There it was....Reed 3C on the side. Now I started the vise ritual....slide edges straight....jaw faces...handle straight...etc It all was perfect...or as perfect as a dark photo would allow.

I sent the seller a question about cracks and things and he allowed as it was in fine fettle. So I started the yearly "whine". "Honey, Rusty has this weekend off and I found a vise on Ebay that sold last year for $1600 and this one is only 10% of that amount so it's almost free. Oh, about Rusty....it's in Chicago and he could help drive." So it began.....2400 miles in 50 hours...for a vise from 2 dark photos in a city I have never seen....did I mention in my wife's new car?
Photos to follow.
Craig

 

[sanya]

You're alright in my book, dude.

 

[A_Pmech]

Sounds like something I would do (have done).

Waiting to read the full story and hoping for photos!

 

[BJ42LX]

2400 is impressive.

Last spring I drove 670 round trip to buy a transmission from a guy in Montreal (border guard was a gear head, so I didn't have to pay duty!). A couple times Wife and I have gone 660 round trip to Philly for a cheese steak, but it's been a while since we've done that.

 

[Catalyze]

Thanks sanya!

I asked the seller if he would hold the vise for 2 weeks so that Rusty could line up his 4 day weekend (10 on....4 off) and he said "Fine, as long as you pay in advance." Perfect! I got the bid on the vise and paid for it. Now the wheels of insanity were in motion. Rusty and I head out on Wednesday about 5 PM from eastern New Mexico. Did I forget to mention that I had not driven this car more than 5 miles in the 6 months we had owned it? We haven't had rain since last October so I had no clue where the wiper switch was...cruise control....and barely remembered where the turn signal was at. No matter, Rusty had a flashlight and the owner's manual. What could go wrong?

We got to Oklahoma City and then Mayhem showed up. Toll Roads. In New Mexico, most folks don't carry car insurance let alone pay to drive on a road. $1.15 says the sign. We toss in the change and catch up with the 3 tree hauling semis we passed earlier. They have toll passes so they don't stop. Fast forward 2 more toll booths and we are out of change. I am standing at some stupid booth....in the dark....in the wind...in the prairie (rolling hills according to Woodie Guthrie the singer) trying to feed wrinkled dollars into a changer. Fine. Eventually we make it to Joplin, Mo and spend the night (what's left of it since it is 3 AM Thursday).

Rusty and I are up early sort of and get gas. I spy a Sherriff in his car. I tap on his window. "Sir, do you know where there is a bank at close by?" He looks at me and replies "Why exactly do you need one?" Not realizing that sleep deprived New Mexicans probably look like bank robbers, I explained about Oklahoma stealing our change and I needed a roll of quarters to get back home soon. He laughed and pointed to the bank down the street. We got quarters there and headed North.

To tell you how laser focused we were would not do the trip justice so here is Proof: Rusy passing up a Hooters!
View media item 9935
Next: the Vise and Twilight Zone
Craig

 

[domain]

Wow im in for the cool story... Cliff hangers! Hahah

 

[Bull]

This rules.

 

[91bronc300]

Will you be my friend? My life was like this when I was young, but no more LOL

I have a feeling it would be a very, very bad (good) idea to get drunk with you.

 

[Catalyze]

Greetings again!
Now Rusty and I are not your average bumpkins. We have attended 2 goat ropings and had a Denny's Grand Slam breakfast in our lives. However, in Missouri things are a wee bit different. Take Adult Stores for instance. Rusty and I are not sure what sort of clientele mix bowling and adult shopping....but we think we like it.
View media item 9937
Rain. By now everyone in America knows how hard it has rained in Mid America. Apparently my wife's car does not. The rain sensing wipers didn't sense a thing...ever (which by some crazy chance I had turned off looking for the cruise control). So it was with great surprise when we came upon Noah hauling his racing ark down the highway.
View media item 9936
We eventually get up to Chicago and hit I-355 which is an Illinois attempt at playing Oklahoma. Fine. We threw quarters like Mardi Gras partiers throwing beads and found Glen Ellyn. Let me tell you about Glen Ellyn from a New Mexican. It has trees that are scary, grass that is green and scary, and quiet streets that are scary. We pull up to the house (which is neat and scary) and meet the man with the Reed 3C. He tells us that he is late for a Shriner meeting and "there is the vise on the porch". I ask him where he got the vise and he yells as he drives off...."I inherited it." That's it...no history...no stories...just a passing away of someone who knew a damned good vise when he bought this one a long time ago.

That's when Rusty nudges me. I look around and there is a mother in a dress pushing her daughter down the sidewalk on a bike. "Great job Honey! You're riding so well!" she says. I look around and there is a couple of young adults walking and holding hands and drinking bottled water. It's not like Lindsey Lohan tossing back Red Bull and Vodka. Then it happened. An older gentleman pushing a lawn mower crosses our path and says "Say Gents....great weather for mowing don't you think?" That's when Rusty and I got really scared. This place was too perfect for us. It was The Twilight Zone. We left and headed north to Bristol, Wisconsin for a Columbian 204 1/2 vise off of CL. I mean come on.....we were practically in the neighborhood.

We headed south after Bristol and spent the night (Thursday) in Eureka, Missouri. Before we depart Illinois however....let me tell you about 2 states and their highway workers.
This is what Illinois thinks should happen if you should hit one:
View media item 9938
Missouri has the same sign except......they take your money and your license. So Rusty and I figure (it took us about 200 miles to come up with this) that if you hit one in Illinois...drag him into Missouri and report it.

Final leg home next.
Craig

 

[jabberwoki]

**** and i thought i was the man driving 300 miles for a jack!!!!!

 

[HOOTinKY]

Does she have a sister?

I would have Rusty checked out by a Doc..... Pass a Hooter's....?!?!?!? Are you nuts....

I thought I was bad with spur of the moment long haul trips...we may be related.

 

[Amitygravel]

Craig
Great story ! In June I'm taking my 6 year old to Albuquerque to meet her grandparents so she can spend a week with them before her Mom gets there to spend a week as well.
What route did you follow to get to St Louis ? Any other pointers to make the trip easier ?
I'm going to have to do the drive out and turn around and head back too !
Thanks for any tips !

Craig

 

[Catalyze]

Hello and how's it going?
Thanks for all the comments. When our wives let us speak to each other again, I will tell Rusty that we did just fine.

Friday morning and we are heading home down soggy I-44. My hat is off to the Missouri Highway Department and their mowing crew. It was raining so hard that we were driving about 50 mph when we passed the mower sliding off the embankment and into parked cars. I know the guy in the tractor had his radio turned off thinking "Damn Joe...gets to ride in the safety truck....I'm not listening to him make fun of me." And of course Joe in the safety truck is furiously trying to get Allen in the tractor to stop since the foreman told them to come back in...it's raining too hard to mow.

By now we are back and flinging quarters in Oklahoma (in the rain) when I see a blur coming up. Something from my past...tugs at my mind....what is it:
View media item 9939View media item 9940It is 2 fellows driving an ex drag Corvette in a rain storm! One is wiping the inside of the windshield for all he is worth and the other is trying to steer between the raindrops as his Huge rear tires send spray all the way back to Saint Louis. I guess they must have taken out the rain sensing wipers too when they went racing.

Finally Rusty and I come upon someone who is tired of throwing quarters at toll booths. And he is telling the world about it. Or maybe he is tired of New Mexicans driving on his toll roads. Your guess is as good as mine:
View media item 9941
Finally we hit Tulsa.....we are tired....we are confused....but we are almost home. That's when the Final Blow hits. It is Friday the 20th of May. Tomorrow on the 21st, the World Ends. Here is a sign telling us it is all over. The whole trip was for nothing:
View media item 9942
We came on home in silence. Who knew we only got to enjoy the vise for one day? 2400 miles....50 hours.....only 3 hours to enjoy the vise before:
Craig

 

[Catalyze]

Amitygravel - coming from Chicago to Abq you will probably want to take I-55 south into Saint Louis. About 30 miles north of Saint Louis in the southbound side, there is killer road construction for about 20 miles. It necks to one lane and is slow to stopped. That is why we drove so long and far coming home out of Bristol/Chicago. We wanted to go through it near midnight when traffic was very light. It worked a treat. Once through Saint Louis, you take I-44 south all the way to Oklahoma City ($14.00 to get across Oklahoma). From there it is just I-40 west to Abq through Amarillo in Texas. Stop at The Big Texan in Amarillo if you get a chance and need to eat dinner. It is a fun place for kids and adults. Great steaks and western ranch decor.....wood...stuffed heads...games...and even a motel should you need one. Drive safe and have fun like we did!
Craig

 

[Amitygravel]

Awesome ! Thanks for the tips ! I wondered about the tolls , i'll make sure I take a couple rolls of quarters !

Craig

 

[metalhead212121]

all in all a great story... but no pics of the vise?? shame on you.

 

[Boiler]

I really enjoyed this thread and want more! Half of me was enjoying the road trip and the other half was thinking for the cost of gas surely you could have bribed this guy to ship it to you, but what fun would that have been? None! Good on ya!

x2 on pictures of the vise.

 

[Hermit]

all in all a great story... but no pics of the vise?? shame on you.

that's what i was thinking...BUT it's not about the destination it's about the journey.

 

[Catalyze]

Okie dokey........
Here is what it looked like on arrival at home on Friday night about 7 PM:
View media item 9911We managed to bag the vises (Reed in 2 parts) and not tear anything up. Did I mention that this was my wife's car and she Really loves it?

Here is the object of the trip. The Reed 3C and a Columbian 204 1/2. The Columbian is of course a 4 1/2" jaw combination vise. The Reed is a 5" combination vise. One weighs about 61 pounds and one weighs about 120 pounds.
View media item 9835
Thanks to Missouri and Illinois for providing us with entertainment!
Craig

 

[mjozefow]

Well you have topped me! I have never done more than 600 for a vise...

You are crazy in all the good ways.

 

[Even 11]

Craig;

You rock! I have gone on "Crazy Craigslist adventures" before for tools and vises but I think my record is about 250 miles round trip. Actually I did have my step daughters aunt buy one in New Mexico for me but she had to hold it for 3 months until I was headed through there for a Phoenix Xmas. I actually really like the CCAs and always try to find somewhere to eat that is cool too. Just did one to Denver this weekend for a pair of vises.

-Dane

 

[davesnothere]

awesome thread!

 

[CD1]

Great story.

Your wife must love you alot to let you take her new car on a tool roadtrip!

 

[MrMark]

I love the story. That is a GM car of some kind, no?

How much was that Columbian, that is my favorite model you got there. I have been looking for one at a reasonable price for a while.

 

[dwiggins]

I love the story. That is a GM car of some kind, no?

How much was that Columbian, that is my favorite model you got there. I have been looking for one at a reasonable price for a while.

http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/tls/2399133026.html

thing this has a chance of being reasonable? photo's pretty bad, i know. i'd like to replace my chicom vise but i'm not super knowledgable on vises.

 

[mjozefow]

http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/tls/2399133026.html

thing this has a chance of being reasonable? photo's pretty bad, i know. i'd like to replace my chicom vise but i'm not super knowledgable on vises.

Nothing fantastic there. Keep on looking!

 

[PistolWhip]

You got a vice, saw some cool stuff, a nice trip away and a story to tell. I think you got a bargin! I've traveled all over the Eastern 3rd of America for cars and I can say that with each one of them, the trip itself was worth as much if not more than the car I bought. It's nice to see things that you would normaly have never seen or go places that you would probably not have gone otherwise.
Nice vices too!

 

[MrMark]

http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/tls/2399133026.html

thing this has a chance of being reasonable? photo's pretty bad, i know. i'd like to replace my chicom vise but i'm not super knowledgable on vises.

No, that is not a machinist vise. Might be us made though. It is priced too high as Mitch noted.

 

[rsieracki]

I live 10 mins from glen ellyn.... looks like i should have been watching ebay. its alright the Parker i picked up about the same time of your road trip made it alright. Enjoy your vises!

 

[Catalyze]

MrMark - IIRC the Columbian was $35.00, I had scrounged CL just before we left for a 75 mile radius of Chicago. I figured 2 vises cut the trip cost in half....at least that's my story to my wife when 2 bags appeared at trip's end.

Here is the Columbian finished:
View media item 9879Craig

 

[MrMark]

Wow! I have seen those for hundreds of dollars. That is my favorite of all time. Please tell how you did the restoration of it? Cup wire wheel on the electic grinder? Bead blaster?

what's with the body bags?

 

[Bull]

I didn't know you very well prior to this thread, but now I am certain that you are the cat's nutz. Stick around!

 

[930dreamer]

You're the Man, great story.

 

[johnnybentwrench]

You are by far one of the craziest guys here. This Thread is great, I love road trips.
Your Wife is a keeper! I hope you changed the oil and washed it or do you need to drive a week to get a jack

ohh.. The Vise looks great in the color you did it

 

[Catalyze]

MrMark - I just did electrolysis on the big parts, wire cup brushed, Rustoleum Safety Red, and used an old HF buffer on the shiny bits, these goofy vises are good tools made by good folks in a great country

Now everyone go out this summer and take a Road Trip!
Craig

 

[d33pt]

Thanks for the story. Very inspiring. Now I just need to find out what I'm willing to drive that far for.

 

[toolnut]

Now this is a tool story for the ages about a man and his vises!Great story!

 

[kc-steve]

. . . Thanks to Missouri and Illinois for providing us with entertainment!
Craig

You are welcome.

This thread is hilarious! I have trouble just crossing the river in the Kansas City metro area much less drive across the country. I recall in my youth women complaining, "why won't men drive north of the river for a date?"

BTW, I let a similar Columbian go last week at an estate sale. I had just bought another Columbian the week before for $35 and decided I better back off the second one for $60. I already have more vintage vises than I could ever need. Now I'm just getting particular.

Steve

 

[tinbender 66]

Great story!! Great vises. Are you Dave Barry? A friend and I drove 1600 miles to get my Chevy II with a car trailer, in my '78 Chevy 3/4 ton @about 10 mpg. 3 days, we had a blast.

 

[csmitty]

Yea, I went through Chicago area last summer. I never will again. I didn't have any money either and just went through the passes. Well, they don't joke about that. Either I payed the 70 something dollars total or each one got bumped to a max of $75 or something. So yea. I just sent them a check and a big FU. I'll go over to Iowa and the likes to get to WI before I go through the metro area again.

A buddy of mine and I went to NV from Knoxville, TN to trade his Cherokee for an FJ40 1.5yrs ago. Straight 35hrs and about 2300mi on the way out. Needless to say we stoped off on the way back. That was also mid Dec going over I70 with a 32' GN trailer. Typical southern naiveness. That and exits every 5-10miles. Kansas got real scary at midnight with the gas light on and no lights in sight.

Those are some awesome trips though!