Everything you need to know about bench vises...

[mjozefow]

Mine is an old Columbian 504 1/2 ...

????

If this is it, then hammer away. If you look at my the eBay link posted above, you will see why you don't want to hammer away like crazy if it is not designed to be hammered on.

 

[Cantause]

Hi, nice thread!

Here are some good quality european brands

Brockhaus Heuer Germany

Since 1925, drop forged steel vices

Leinen: Germany

I couldn't find much about them but they seem to be very appreciated in Germany

Gressel Switzerland

Most of their range is for mills and CNC centers but here are some of their conventional vices:

Model PS

Model AX

Model AXP, with a 16kN air cylinder

Sambre et Meuse France

Cast steel, a very old brand, top notch quality they have the reputation of burying their owners and... their grand children...

The company's main activity is casting for the railway industry, they've been bought recently by another french company named Dolex which has its own vice range. I've heard that the vice production has stopped for the moment...
Pricey vices...

I'm sorry for the mistakes, I'm not used to write in english anymore...

François, Belgium

 

[Monte]

"Kanca" from Turkey

produces copies of "Heuer" and "Ridgid" vises

"Durlach"

"Fza-Morsificio" from Italy.
Produces "FZA", "Ursus" and "Leinen" vises

"Schlegel" cast vises from germany

"MCP Braun" from Italy:

"York" from czech republic

 

[Endotoxin]

Mounting Hardware

For the mounting purposes of a stationary Jack, do you have any suggestions on the hardware to use?

I've got a nice Prentiss No.3 (which I cannot find any other references to through google) And I temporarily mounted it using deck screws and a series of washers...

But, I just refinished my workbench and I Want to mount it properly!

Thanks!

 

[babzog]

That York (Czech made) looks pretty stout!

 

[porphyre]

Re: Mounting Hardware

For the mounting purposes of a stationary Jack, do you have any suggestions on the hardware to use?

I came to this thread to ask just that question.

From looking at pictures in this thread, it seems to be a sandwich like this:
Bolt -> Washer (or flange bolt, no washer) -> vise -> bench -> nut

There aren't any good pictures from below the bench, but I assume there's a washer between the nut and the bench?

What about threaded holes in a solid steel top? Minimum thickness of the steel recommended?

Any recommendations for type of bench to put it on? Unfortunately, mine's a repurposed kitchen cabinet, so it's 1/2" particle board. I'm worried the thing'll tear out. I plan to put the biggest washer I can find on the underside between the nut and the bench.

 

[red92s]

Looks like most of the European vises go with the "trapezoid" shape on the slide . . . I think Ridgid and Irwin are like this as well. Any benefit with that design?

 

[Lump]

Is anyone interested in seeing old catalog listings for various bench vises? This first one is from my 1920 Beckley-Ralston catalog. There area couple more pages with vises, and then I have two more catalogs of that same vintage. Let me know if you guys find this interesting, and I'll post a couple more. If not, I'll go away quietly.

 

[Zrexxer]

Is anyone interested in seeing old catalog listings for various bench vises?

I love old catalogs - by all means post them.

 

[Lump]

Okay, thanks. Here are the next two images from the BR catalog. One is a whole page, and the other is an oddball "vise"...which probably doesn't really fit the definition here...but it was listed with vises in 1920!

Okay, I warned you in advance...this next one is not quite really my definition of a "vise".

 

[porphyre]

Lump - That's fantastic. Any catalogs with Reeds?

 

[Lump]

Haven't found any Reeds yet. How 'bout some Parkers? Gotta get couple pages of Pittsburg catalog scanned...

 

[Lump]

Okay, from my 1926 Pittsburg Auto Equipment catalog. This is an image of the main page on bench vises:

 

[Lump]

This is the only other page in that Pittsburg catalog with bench vises. I tried to make the pix a little larger this time, so you could read the specs easier. But that reduces photo quality, of course. The main thing that I noticed right away is that these Parker vises were not cheap for their day! Keep in mind that a new Model T in 1926 was about $500, if my memory serves me correctly. Here is the photo:

 

[Lump]

Here is the 2-page image from my last old hardbound catalog; this time the Lomont Automotive Equipment Co, from Fort Wayne, Indiana (Wholesale only. No point in trying to order one of these!) Note that the brand names have been obscured by the company. To prevent price-comparison shopping, no doubt...just like many wholesalers today!

 

[mjozefow]

Very nice! More please. I can't add them to the main article due to size, but maybe a spin-off?

 

[Lump]

Sorry, mjozefow. I didn't mean to mess up anything...and I must confess ignorance. I don't understand what a "main article" is. I thought the post/thread is all there is to it? I have about 3,000 old paper catalogs, but most of them are for vintage auto parts. Only a few are about tools. But these 3 oldest ones interest me the most.

 

[caper]

Those catalogs are awesome Lump.I'd love to see you make a thread with some scans from the old catalogs.Especially that old Bonney stuff you mentioned on your profile page.

 

[mjozefow]

Sorry, mjozefow. I didn't mean to mess up anything...and I must confess ignorance. I don't understand what a "main article" is. I thought the post/thread is all there is to it? I have about 3,000 old paper catalogs, but most of them are for vintage auto parts. Only a few are about catalogs. But these 3 oldest ones interest me the most.

No they are awesome! I just have taken most of the stuff people have posted and incorporated it onto my first three posts. But these would take a load of space at the top. Thats all.

 

[Lump]

No they are awesome! I just have taken most of the stuff people have posted and incorporated it onto my first three posts. But these would take a load of space at the top. Thats all.

Sorry, man. I'm kinda green about blogs and forums and stuff. By the way, I made a typo in my last post. When talking about my catalog collection, I said, "Only a few are about catalogs." I should have said, "Only a few are about tools." Anyway, that "3000" number is a giant guess anyway. I have hundreds and hundreds of old catalogs. Could be more or less than that. But people always ask me how many, and I finally just estimated a number. Years ago I bought several thousand dollars worth of obsolete autoparts, along with lots of catalogs to ID the parts. But I needed more catalogs, and I have been buying and hoarding them ever since. So I always enjoy a rare opportunity like this to share them with other people who can appreciate some of them.

 

[mjozefow]

Ads linked! Thanks Lump!

 

[BanjoSavesTheDay]

Proper way to mount a bench vise:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45099362@N02/4575050724/" title="mounting by BanjoSavesTheDay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4019/4575050724_a91ed463ce.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="mounting" /></a>

You should mount it so that the static jaw overhangs the edge of the work bench. It doesn't have to be a lot; only enough so that you are free to clamp long pieces vertically without hitting the work bench.

You never want to do this with a Parker vise though because they just can't anything too big to fit on the work bench.


Oh and I don't like the sandbox idea anymore cause it just makes it harder for you to know when I've updated. I'll delete my posts after you use them.

Did you miss this post or decide not to include it? It's totally fine if you don't want it in there. I've also got some more piece idenfication pictures on the way like I mentioned before.

 

[JayL]

I saw a NOS Wilson 6" Jaw Machinist Vise ( color was somewhat Beige) . It says Drop Forged Steel and Made in Ohio on the nameplate. Price was around $134. Is this a good vise?

I googled the Wilson Vise but did not get much info.

Thanks

 

[mjozefow]

Did you miss this post or decide not to include it? It's totally fine if you don't want it in there. I've also got some more piece idenfication pictures on the way like I mentioned before.

Didn't look Banjo, my bad. The sandbox idea is awesome, but I don't always check this thread. PM me next time.

 

[mjozefow]

I saw a NOS Wilson 6" Jaw Machinist Vise ( color was somewhat Beige) . It says Drop Forged Steel and Made in Ohio on the nameplate. Price was around $134. Is this a good vise?

I googled the Wilson Vise but did not get much info.

Thanks

Wilson? Not Wilton? Though Wilton's are made in Illinois.

 

[BanjoSavesTheDay]

Didn't look Banjo, my bad. The sandbox idea is awesome, but I don't always check this thread. PM me next time.

That's a much better idea. I will start doing that.

 

[dsxmachine]

This is a great thread, I have learned alot from this and your videos - thanks!

I just purchased an old style Columbian 604 and a Morgan (Chicago) 104, which I am now cleaning up for continuing service. See attached picture of the Morgan (this is the before image)

I contacted the Milwaukee Tool and Equipment Co, and have a little more info for you on the Morgan vises:

"The Morgan Company was founded in 1929, and moved to Aurora around 1947. We purchased the Morgan Company and moved it to Milwaukee in February 1970. Each Morgan vise will have one of these city names on it, telling us about how old the vise could be.

All Morgan vises were and still are painted blue. Its very close to what is called Federal Safety Blue."

Also, I have attached their machinist vise parts price list for anyone that needs it.

 

[Gunnar]

Does anybody know anything about Hartford vises? I googled it and couldn't come up with anything.

 

[mjozefow]

Does anybody know anything about Hartford vises? I googled it and couldn't come up with anything.

Chinese made re-brand. The lead screw is far too small for the size of the vise.

 

[autopts71045]

Lump! A 5 Star showing!! Excelent!

 

[mjozefow]

Updated with info on how to tell if a vise is a cheapo import.

 

[babzog]

Finally remembered to snap some pics of my vises.

The Henry #2 in the shop - this is my "go to" workhorse:



And the Record #1 I picked up last weekend for $8:



I have a cheap Taiwan swivel base vise in the garage that is going to be replaced with the Record.

The Record is looking a bit rough but I've been soaking it in soapy water and scrubbing the scuzz off with a wire brush. I was doubtful at first that it was a Record since I couldn't see "Record" printed anywhere on it, but the other vise thread confirmed it (by posting a pic of the #1 in the jaws of a #6).

 

[mjozefow]

Added Wilton Pricing addendum. I'm going to try to squeeze Henry vises in later. Any History on them babzog?

 

[babzog]

I had posted some info on the Henry in post # 34, including a link to a writeup of Henry Power Tools, which I'm assuming is the manufacturer of the vise. It was the best info I could find but I can't say if it's 100% accurate.

 

[kbeitz]

This is a few of my vises...

 

[visecolumbian]

Just picked up a Columbian D44 bench vise, attached are some pictures of before and after.

I used a Makita 4 inch grinder on it, still have some work left.

Mike

 

[taylorguitar]

Is there a difference in a "tradesman" vs "machinist" vise, or is tradesman just a Wilton brand name?

thanks

 

[abstamaria]

This is a great thread. I have just discovered it and look forward to reading it more carefully. Thank you.

Andres

 

[mjozefow]

Is there a difference in a "tradesman" vs "machinist" vise, or is tradesman just a Wilton brand name?

thanks

The Tradesman brand of Wilton is a high quality mechanics vise really. It has an anvil area and pipe jaws. The machinist series, does not have pipe jaws, but is an outlier in that it does have an anvil.

Machinist:

Tradesman:

 

[taylorguitar]

Mjozefow,

thanks for the reply. looking at the Wilton Tradesman series 1700 series vs Wilton Combination C- series, I couldn't see so much reason for the C series to cost so much more. Narrower jaws, but wider pipe clamps...then noticed close to twice the weight. do you think the much higher price for a C series is worth it? If I were a professional machinist like my father was might think so, but I'm a diy'er, handy man, with a truck, tractor, bush-hog and sailboat. not sure i will see the benefit of more poundage.