Got a Bullet

[Toolhunter]

Lately I must have done something to please the tool gods

Craigslist score Wilton bullet date stated "GAUR EXP" "6-?-61"
one of the mounting tabs is broke off couple gouges on top of one jaw and what looks like excess weld on the anvil i have not spotted any cracks and think i did well regardless of the one broken tab.

tomorrow will be clean sand paint and lube

 

[Tjc]

But the real question is....... how much was itt?

 

[Toolhunter]

I spent $50 tried to haggle but when the guy said "I looked them up online" i just handed over the money haha

 

[chief ben]

That is a nice find, and the price was good, I have one just like it, but mine looks brand new, because I never let anyone weld on it, I got mine in 1973 from the Navy, the base got broke and it feel on the floor in the shop and no one would do anything with it, it layed there for about two weeks,
guys would just sweep around it, So I had a buddy help me put it in my truck and took it home, the next day one of the chief's ask what happen to that vice, I told him I think some one put in the dumpster, end of story,

 

[Toolhunter]

Then the rains came

Found a crack about half the circumference of the slide where it meets the dynamic jaw.....took the part to the best metal fab and repair shop in my area they stated they woud not reapir the piece told me it was a crying shame. The guy said they could fix it but it would break again.....well i figure ill just keep an eye out for another dynamic jaw...but in the mean time i will attempt the repair my self...i cannot just throw it in the scrap pile and i will not sell the jaw with the vise but i never planned to sell it anyway...some may think im wasting my time dont worry i do it alot pics will come as i go.

 

[Zeke]

It didn't look right in the first pic. I've said this before (and got put down), but I think buying of old tools has been taken by a frenzy. I blame this on TV shows as well as Net forums such as this. A year ago or so, I didn't even know the values of some of my stuff. If it looked good, I bought it. Turns out I have a Columbian and an Athol. I wouldn't have gone out of my way or paid any more for either of them.

And then I got the bug. I didn't need this, but I got it for 20 bucks. No, it didn't look like this when I brought it home.

But, I'm not going whole hog on a Wilton bullet unless it's way undersold. Other than the factor, what makes them (bullets) so special? All my vises hold stuff.

 

[Toolhunter]

My first one i got at a garage sale for $10 its the red one behind the bullet I had no idea what a wilton was just wanted a vise for my garage and i try to buy anything that says made in usa.

Main problem is my generation will not have the type of quality the old tools seem to have without paying a months wages for it.

 

[ShadowRuleZ]

Sorry to hear the bad news on the condition. Was this the one on the GR CL about a month ago?

 

[Steevo]

Then the rains came

Found a crack about half the circumference of the slide where it meets the dynamic jaw.....took the part to the best metal fab and repair shop in my area they stated they woud not reapir the piece told me it was a crying shame. The guy said they could fix it but it would break again.....well i figure ill just keep an eye out for another dynamic jaw...but in the mean time i will attempt the repair my self...i cannot just throw it in the scrap pile and i will not sell the jaw with the vise but i never planned to sell it anyway...some may think im wasting my time dont worry i do it alot pics will come as i go.

That is a bummer.
I was wondering why the dynamic jaw was tilted the way it was.

 

[Toolhunter]

No it was in the jackson CL

It has its first pass of weld and is sitting in the sand box cooling off

 

[thundermug]

Good luck with the fix. I've got a similar vise from 74. Its a beast.

 

[KSwiss]

Got photos showing the crack? Give us a clue what to look for

 

[MoparTrucks]

It didn't look right in the first pic. I've said this before (and got put down), but I think buying of old tools has been taken by a frenzy. I blame this on TV shows as well as Net forums such as this. A year ago or so, I didn't even know the values of some of my stuff. If it looked good, I bought it.

You have a very good point. Since joining this site I find myself now interested in looking at old signs, shop clocks, vises, work benches, etc. as if they were the coolest pieces of art imaginable. I mean seriously, before I never would have put one iota of thought into a shop clock for instance now I find myself looking for the one that is "just right" for my shop.

Sorry for the rant, I'll go back to looking at Cl for old anvils or my very own Wilton!

 

[Toolhunter]

Heres the crack but be aware I have only stick welded a few times so it wont be pretty. I was going to cut the jaw right off because i put it in a 20 ton press and it wouldnt straighten out. but i decided i could live with it being off rather than cutting it completly off.

 

[Toolhunter]

Alittle grinding. i beveled it further but didnt take a pic

 

[Man of Many Vices]

You're a great photographer.

 

[Toolhunter]

Thanks haha just my camera phone and a random sheet of white paper that was on my work bench.

 

[Toolhunter]

Well lost access to a welder so i hit cl again haha
found a sears and roebuck arc welder on the cheap after driving out to meet with the guy he says do you have any interest in any other tools......

I reply what else might you have..
he says pretty much anything in the barn is for sale go ahead and take a look...

Well i wish i would have brought my truck picked up the welder a air compressor and a chas parker no. 204 the parker besides the surface rust is very nice came with a swivel and the wrench for the swivel. Gave $100 for the three and I need to a stop getting on CL

 

[Ksullivan]

Sounds like a sweet deal for the sears buzzbox, and an air compressor and another vise. Nice find

 

[Toolhunter]

So the Bullet is on hold till I set up the welder
But.. heres the parker

It has a wrench I think thats awesome

some sanding and paint

ohh heres the welder it will be treated to new paint and internal clean up