Dunlap 5173 Vise

[jonhdw]

Hello, I'm new to Garage Journal and I want to ask the professionals here about this cool new Dunlap vise I picked up today.

It's a Dunlap 5173 Vise with a fixed base, 5" jaws, opens almost 10" and weighs around 60 pounds. It's stamped 182, so I'm assuming that means it was made in January 1982. No cracks or welded repairs anywhere.

I did some digging online and there is NOTHING about the 5173 vise anywhere I look. I see a few bits of info on the 5171, but that looks a lot smaller than this 5173.

I'm interested in any information you guys might have on it, but I'm mostly wondering if it's worth it to restore it. I got it for cheap with the intent to use it as a beater, but the more I look at it, I'm wondering if it might be worth something. What do you guys think?

 

[AceofSpad3s]

Hello, I'm new to Garage Journal and I want to ask the professionals here about this cool new Dunlap vise I picked up today.

It's a Dunlap 5173 Vise with a fixed base, 5" jaws, opens almost 10" and weighs around 60 pounds. It's stamped 182, so I'm assuming that means it was made in January 1982. No cracks or welded repairs anywhere.

I did some digging online and there is NOTHING about the 5173 vise anywhere I look. I see a few bits of info on the 5171, but that looks a lot smaller than this 5173.

I'm interested in any information you guys might have on it, but I'm mostly wondering if it's worth it to restore it. I got it for cheap with the intent to use it as a beater, but the more I look at it, I'm wondering if it might be worth something. What do you guys think?

I would guess it was made by Colombian or reed. I do know a bit about dunlap since I have 2 smaller vises of theirs. the newest it yours could be is early 60's since sears stopped using the dunlap brand name around then. Dunlap was the tier below craftsman and was used from late 30's to late 50's/early 60's. I would bet yours is from the 40's/50's. Even though it was a second tier brand their vises are still nice. I think it would be worth a resto since it probably a columbian or reed, which both make nice vises. I would not use it as a beater since it is a nice vise besides the rust. I used to use my 3.5" dunlap all the time before I got my 9400. Somewhere on here there is a thread where someone scanned old sears catalogs and posted them, probably your best bet on finding out age of it.

How much did you get it for and what is you main vise if you don't mind me asking?

 

[jonhdw]

Thanks for the info Ace! I'll definitely look for that thread with the Sears Catalogs. So if it was made in the 60's, do you know what the 182 stamped on the bottom of the dynamic jaw means? I figured it meant January 1982.

I got it for $40, and my main vise is an old Columbian 603-1/2.

 

[balane]

That one screams Rock Island to me.

EDIT: Do the jaws look like this? If so, definitely Rock Island.

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[jonhdw]

Yes Balane, they are the C shaped jaw inserts like your picture. So that means Rock Island for sure? Thanks!

 

[balane]

I don't want to sound like a know it all but I'm 100% confident your vise was manufactured by Rock Island which, in my opinion, is one of the top five vise manufacturers of all time. That's a very well built vise that will never do you wrong. Their only weak point is that the threaded holes for the jaw screws seem to have a tendency for stripping over time.

Here's a thread on the 4" version of your vise, the 5171 Dunlap.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=228095

 

[balane]

Here is the Rock Island version of your vise. It was sold as the No. 95 and 595. This would be identical to yours other than branding.

.

 

[jonhdw]

Awesome balane, thanks for the info, I appreciate it!

 

[AceofSpad3s]

Yes Balane, they are the C shaped jaw inserts like your picture. So that means Rock Island for sure? Thanks!

I would say it is a rock island too. I don't have any vises of that style so the first thing that came to mind was reed,colombian. My main vise is a wilton 9400 so those are more are of expertise. Yours is most likely 40's, 60's is when they stopped using the dunlap brand. I think your are right about 182 being a manufacturing date but I don't know how do decipher it. Maybe the 18th day of 1942 or 52? Wiltons have guar exp then a date which if 5 years after it was manufactured stamped on dynamic jaw as well. You should be able to get a rough idea of when they were in production from the catalogs.

 

[CNGsaves]

Hate to tell you, vise is not worth restoring and you should dump it for half of what you paid + shipping cost. I'll take it off your hands and you can ship it parcel post.

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j/k . .just kidding !! That's a keeper stationary vise and well worth restoring!!

Welcome to GJ and check out the threads for electrolysis, Vise Repair 101, etc and you'll be tearing vise down for full restore !! You'll still "NEED" to keep hunting for a baby Bullet Wilton, a swivel Wilton, couple more vises, Craftsman block grinder, and vintage drill press . . . . THEN . . . you'll be just starting on the Full Effect of GJ Craziness !!

Tell us what you paid, and you could be getting YS awards !!

 

[AceofSpad3s]

You'll still "NEED" to keep hunting for a baby Bullet Wilton, a swivel Wilton, couple more vises, Craftsman block grinder, and vintage drill press . . . . THEN . . . you'll be just starting on the Full Effect of GJ Craziness !!

Tell us what you paid, and you could be getting YS awards !!

Unfortunately for his wallet you are true. I got a swivel wilton, a block and a dunlap drill press (doesn't count since it is broke and been canabalized for the motor) and I am still for hunting more vises and block grinders. It is quite the vise to have (pun intended). RIP my wallet.

 

[jonhdw]

Yeah I hear that about my wallet for sure; Wilton vises are crazy expensive! Yeah, I'm definitely getting hooked CNG! I think you guys have already convinced me to restore this vise, so I'll have to post some pics of the progress here in the coming days.

 

[CNGsaves]

My bad OP . . . I missed that you only paid $ 40 for that Dunlap vise.

For quality 5" vise . . . . yeah, you SCORED on that one. YOU **** !!

 

[AceofSpad3s]

Yeah I hear that about my wallet for sure; Wilton vises are crazy expensive! Yeah, I'm definitely getting hooked CNG! I think you guys have already convinced me to restore this vise, so I'll have to post some pics of the progress here in the coming days.

Wiltons can be found cheap if you are quick. I got mine for $50 on craigslist,in nice shape and with the swivel base. The ad was up for a hour and the guy said his phone was ringing off the hook when I went to pick it up. Pure luck that I managed to get it before anyone else. Pics from 3 months ago if you want to take a look http://imgur.com/a/f9XJ4, also got a pic of my 3 1/2" dunlap in there as well.

 

[jreb10]

That is a real nice vise! Even though Dunlap was the Sears "second tier" brand, I'd be surprised if Rock Island lowered the quality of their vise production for Dunlap. I bet is is as good as any Rock Island vise.

And lots of people would love to have a Dunlap-labeled Rock Island in their vise inventory. There is a giant sucking sound coming from that $50 price.

 

[jonhdw]

Ha ha, thanks CNG! I figured I could risk $40 since I couldn't find any info on it online. Good to know I got a good deal! Yeah ACE, I've been trying for years to find a Wilton score, but no luck. Maybe I can flip this Dunlap to pay for a Wilton, LOL.

 

[jonhdw]

Thanks jreb10! I agree, the more I look at it the more I can see the quality. If it's "second tier" they didn't skimp anywhere that's for sure.

 

[balane]

Not to start an argument but I'd personally take your Rock Island / Dunlap vise over a similarly sized and featured Wilton. That's for personal use, not for resale mind you. The vise you have right there is an outstanding tool.

 

[wrenchguy]

Not to start an argument but I'd personally take your Rock Island / Dunlap vise over a similarly sized and featured Wilton. That's for personal use, not for resale mind you. The vise you have right there is an outstanding tool.

this

 

[AceofSpad3s]

Ha ha, thanks CNG! I figured I could risk $40 since I couldn't find any info on it online. Good to know I got a good deal! Yeah ACE, I've been trying for years to find a Wilton score, but no luck. Maybe I can flip this Dunlap to pay for a Wilton, LOL.

When you clean the rust off it post pics, I bet it will clean up well!
If you find a wilton cheap enough it might be worth it since they got good resale value. But I don't see any advantage in usability over the dunlap unless you have it outside, which would be better suited for the wilton since it is sealed.. Plus with the dunlap, you don't have to worry about having a coronary if you nick the thing while working, trust me that has nearly happened a few times with the wilton.

 

[CNGsaves]

Wiltons can be found cheap if you are quick. I got mine for $50 on craigslist,in nice shape and with the swivel base. The ad was up for a hour and the guy said his phone was ringing off the hook when I went to pick it up. Pure luck that I managed to get it before anyone else. Pics from 3 months ago if you want to take a look http://imgur.com/a/f9XJ4, also got a pic of my 3 1/2" dunlap in there as well.

^ ^ ^ Wow Ace . . . . . $ 50 for that swivel Wilton and $ 3 for the Dunlap . .
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. . . . . . . . That's some massive SUCKAGE there !! Tremendous Scores !!

 

[AceofSpad3s]

^ ^ ^ Wow Ace . . . . . $ 50 for that swivel Wilton and $ 3 for the Dunlap . .
. . . . .
. . . . . . . . That's some massive SUCKAGE there !! Tremendous Scores !!

Thanks I got a knack for getting vises on the cheap, 6 weeks ago I got a littlestown woodworking vise (looked like it was stored in a lake it was so rusty) with a small box of sockets and a swivel base 8" workmate for $10, a month ago I got a green dunlap for $2, 2 2" vises and a columbian 3.5" for about $10, the came in a lot so no specific price (pics http://imgur.com/a/TE8V7). 2 weeks ago I got another 2" vise with a few little boxes and some wrenches for $3 and 2 months ago I got a 5" usa craftsman with a chunk broke off the casting and a 4" buffalo for $5, sold the buffalo for $10. I spend around 3-4 hours on saturdays hitting yardsales and check craigslist every couple hours, and it pays off. I gotta find something to do with all of them though, I am making a bench out of a door for my wilton and the woodworking vise since they take up alot of room, probably going to use the columbian for the basement and I might stick those little 2" vises in my desk toolbox and one in the portable one. The green dunlap needs to be cleaned and I might list it on cl for $15-$20. Sorry for the novel. Sorry jonhdw for getting so off topic, I hope that is okay.

 

[jonhdw]

Yeah I'll definitely post some pics as soon as I get it stripped down to bare metal. Hopefully within a week or so.

 

[jonhdw]

Hey everyone, I finally finished the Dunlap 5173 Vise! I primed and painted it right after I wire wheeled it, so I don't have any pics of the bare metal, but it was in great shape. Everything turned out beautifully!

 

[Tigersaw95]

Your vise is a lot older than you think.
Dunlap line of tools started in the late 1920's. There is a good chance that vise is 75 years or older. Hope this helps some. By the way, an excellent stout vise. Don't part with it.

 

[jonhdw]

Thanks Tigersaw. Unfortunately I decided to sell it. It was an incredibly strong vise. Wish I would have kept it.