Craftsman 5152 4" Vise restoration

[Rileysan]

A couple of weeks ago, I purchased my first vintage vise from Craigslist for $35 - a Craftsman 5152 4" machinist vise, which according to the Scuttle Wiki page, has the following stats:

Built: 1937-1942 (with question marks - indicating they aren't sure if this is 100% accurate?).
Cost: $8.90 (1937) $9.50 (1942) (am guessing these prices were pulled from catalogues dated from these years)
Weight: 41lbs
Jaw width: 4"
Jaw opening: 6" (I didn't measure the opening or depth, but I don't think that 6" is correct)

http://scuttle.dayid.org/wiki/index.php/Craftsman_Vise

Since I am a big fan of classic Craftsman tools, I wanted this one to be my first restoration. Here are a few pix introducing my first restore. I will update this thread as time allows. In the meantime, I will reserve a couple consecutive posts in this thread in order to allow me to show the finished product early in the thread.

I will be painting this with Plastikote #224 Ford Blue engine enamel

and using VHT high-temp aluminum paint for the lettering - both of which are a common theme for my shop tools.

Brian

 

[Rileysan]

Adding a few pix of the jaws from the Craftsman after taking them apart. I took some measurements for the sake of those who might be wondering if these are similar to other vises of this era (Read: Rock Island vises)


Edit: In case you were interested, here are the jaw specs on paper. This might save someone a little work in the future. BTW, I have been speaking with another member privately trying to see if the Rock Island 593 jaws will work and have a drawing to compare specs. Am hoping he will eventually post it to this thread.

If anyone wants to correct the terminology of my descriptions, please let me know - I am not a machinist!

Jaw length: 4.000"
Jaw width: 1.1875"
Jaw thickness: .555"
Top offset width: .475"
Bottom offset width: .290"
Channel width: .423"
Channel depth: .180"
Hole width: .315"
Holes, center-to-center: 2.75"
Holes, outside edges of hole to outside edge of jaw: .47"

Brian

 

[Rileysan]

More jaw pix.

 

[Rileysan]

Looking at the screw, can one determine the taper of the head with the measurements given? I ask, because one of the screws is bent and may have to be replaced.

 

[Rileysan]

reserved for finished pix

 

[scooternut]

Cant help you on determining the angle. Consider making your own. I just used 1/4 20 bolts in a pair of vise grips and a belt grinder. I've seen others post that they used a drill to make a lathe of sorts against the grinder. I just turned mine by hand.
View media item 49404

 

[rodbinkc]

Good pics, I just got the same vise because I thought it was a classic as well. Hope to see finished pics. Good day

 

[thehorse13]

I'm one of the people who used a drill to make a poor man's lathe. It works perfectly. A little bur clean up here and there along the way and you're all set.

Also, I recently resprayed this late 40s Craftsman drill index. The paint that I found is a perfect match to the factory blue color used by Craftsman. They sell it at Wally World for $3.50.

I look forward to the final result.

 

[Provincial]

Brian, if you need to make a screw (or screws) bring the sample and some sacrificial screws over to my place and I'll modify them on the lathe.