Grind marks on Wilton

[Bryan Burns]

I've been preparing this baby for sale and wonder if I should paint it to cover the grind marks and also increase the value.

I'm sure that a lot of buyers would like to paint it themselves but I think it will show better painted.

I can't tell if it ever had factory paint and whether the grind marks were from the factory. Grinds are on the back end and top.

Any idea on it's worth? It's an 820 without a power arm.



I got it for a song but I think someone painted it with Testor's model paint as the paint was very soft:

 

[Davefr]

There's no way I'd paint it to flip. It looks pretty good to me.

IMHO painting would reduce vs enhance it's value. (unless you do a super good job and match the exact original color.)

The buyer might not like the color and/or assume the paint is hiding a major flaw like a weld.

P.S. The best source of values is Ebay sold listings history.

 

[wild cowboy]

There's no way I'd paint it to flip. It looks pretty good to me.

IMHO painting would reduce vs enhance it's value.

This.

also, on the value, one in that shape without base brings around $175 or so on ebay, shipped

 

[454ragtop]

Well, if it were me, if those grind marks aren't that deep, I'd sand/grind them smooth, removing as little metal as possible, then take pics of the bare metal state, then paint it very carefully in OEM color. Don't think cracks and welds are a real big problem on baby bullets anyway, pretty hard to work them that hard, though I'm not saying it couldn't be done.
HTH, Jim

 

[drivesitfar]

BB: that is a pretty decent baby bullet and honestly those small grind marks are more character marks that shouldn't hurt your sale. if it were mine and i was selling it i'd probably put in a minimum bid on the auction and let the market decide rather than a BIN price. also i'd put 2 or 3 coats of boiled linseed oil on it because more than likely a gun guy is going to buy it and you know how they like their naked steel.

of course if you are capable and want to spend the extra money to give it a bluing like gunsmith coat then that would be better, but i wouldn't spend the time or extra money for that if i was going to sell it.

 

[Bryan Burns]

BB: that is a pretty decent baby bullet and honestly those small grind marks are more character marks that shouldn't hurt your sale. if it were mine and i was selling it i'd probably put in a minimum bid on the auction and let the market decide rather than a BIN price. also i'd put 2 or 3 coats of boiled linseed oil on it because more than likely a gun guy is going to buy it and you know how they like their naked steel.

of course if you are cable and want to spend the extra money to give it a bluing like gunsmith coat then that would be better, but i wouldn't spend the time for that if i was going to sell it.

Thanks! I'm really toying with selling it on the Garage Journal.

And funny thing is, before I learned about Watco oil, I used linseed oil on every tool with wood on it but never on metal. This vise has wax on it which I use a final finish for all my tools. I'm eager to get home and try some linseed oil on some of my tools.

Here're a few more pics.










Is this a 1967 vise? The slide says 78 so that's when the warranty expired?

 

[drivesitfar]

BB: your vise is a February 1978 production. Wilton stopped using the 5 year guarantee stamps in the 60's and we are trying to find out when they stopped and started that process. i have started a thread in case you want to read more on that subject that has been moved to the Vintage tool section since we are looking for Wilton date stamps prior to 1970 on their vises slides. if you have any other old Wiltons with earlier stamps please post a picture of the vise and slide on that thread.

as far as linseed oil i hear it takes a lot longer to cure so most of the guys here like the boiled linseed oil. if you have a proven method and want to share results can you post over on the vise repair 101 thread that is also in the new vintage tool section?

here's a couple pictures of my Reed 4C with boiled linseed oil on it (3 coats on a 90 degree day) so you can see if you approve. the "little" Wilton 606 SJ vise next to the 4C on the shelf is in it's natural steel and rust condition waiting it's turn to get spiffed up.

 

[sberry]

They cleaned up a sloppy forge from the factory, its done all the time.