Finally got a Wilton Bullet!

[Flatsbroke]

After almost a year of searching for a tradesman or bullet with the requirement of paying no more than $70, I finally got a 4" bullet.

I was heading down to CT on Friday for the weekend and had checked the local CL before I left with no luck. I checked again on Friday night and found a work bench, which included a vise and grinder, that had just been posted that needed to be out of the sellers house by Sunday for $50. The seller didn't know anything about the vise and I couldn't tell since it was a lousy pic from far away. I decided to go check it out first thing on Saturday morning. Turned out to be a Wilton vise and Delta grinder. Needless to say, I was very excited to get everything for $50.

This is my first restore, what are your suggestions? Isn't there a dos and dont's/how-to thread on here? I would like to find some new(er) serrated jaws for it, anyone have some for sale or the swivel locks?

 

[colt zantop]

Nice score for 50 bucks!

 

[00pewter]

What a great deal! Restore that bad boy and shed now life in her! Complete tear down and remove all of the gunk!

 

[exmaxima1]

I'd pay $50 for the bench alone!

 

[fourjeepin]

You ****! You paid for the bench and got a free grinder and a really great vise. Good job

 

[Buckgnarly]

Wow, 46 date code?! Some nice history there!

 

[firemanast]

After almost a year of searching for a tradesman or bullet with the requirement of paying no more than $70, I finally got a 4" bullet.

I was heading down to CT on Friday for the weekend and had checked the local CL before I left with no luck. I checked again on Friday night and found a work bench, which included a vise and grinder, that had just been posted that needed to be out of the sellers house by Sunday for $50. The seller didn't know anything about the vise and I couldn't tell since it was a lousy pic from far away. I decided to go check it out first thing on Saturday morning. Turned out to be a Wilton vise and Delta grinder. Needless to say, I was very excited to get everything for $50.

This is my first restore, what are your suggestions? Isn't there a dos and dont's/how-to thread on here? I would like to find some new(er) serrated jaws for it, anyone have some for sale or the swivel locks?


Nice very sweet deal ! Also here is a great place to buy the parts that you need.
http://www.wiltonviseparts.net/

 

[Richard Cranium]

congrats, and welcome to the Wilton group.

 

[franzdom]

Wow, you ****!!!

 

[oldldh]

Ya dun gud, bubba!!!

 

[Shadowdog500]

Nose score.

That vise is a find.

I have that same exact bench grinder. If you true that wheel with a diomand point dresser you will be suprised how smooth it is.

Chris

 

[jreb10]

Wow!

Looks like a close relative of mine, also a 4 incher:



And of course the date stamp:



What do the jaws look like on yours? Mine have the horizontal lines.

 

[Flatsbroke]

Mine are horizontal as well. Will probably be replacing with serrated jaws when I break it all down

 

[zkling]

Well that was a good deal. Congrats!

Restoration tips:
Use care when dis assembly, don't force anything, especially if you are not sure of how it connects.

Start with a good degreasing and chemical stripper.

Don't go crazy with power tools for your restoration. It is much easier to remove metal than to put it back on. A FINE non twisted wire wheel on a bench grinder is a safe choice, beyond that it can get out of hand fast if you aren't familiar.

 

[Flatsbroke]

What is the best way to degrease the inside? Can I use the wire wheel on the gunk caked onto the slide? What's the best way to polish/shine the slide and handle?