Help Me ID MY DADS OLD Wilton

[OKDave]

Hey guys, I am trying to refurbish this Wilton I got from my brother. He had it for 7 years since my dad passed, and had not touched it. I got it from him, and want to restore it. BTW, it closes but will not open, I guess this little threaded key is the part that I need. I really apprectiate any help.
Thanks, Dave

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

I don't think I've ever seen a Wilton quite like that one Dave. It does bear a strong resemblance to a Wilton triple duty vise. Perhaps an early version of one? They were designed for the handyman who might need a versatile vise for Wood, pipe, or metal. Someone else probably knows for sure. You'll probably have to make any parts you need to make it work right. Ed.

 

[drivesitfar]

DAVE: i'm not certain about the Wilton you own how the screw is attached to the dynamic jaw, but from the sounds of it that part is missing or needs a screw or two or three.

lots of these vises have been restored in the years i've been on GJ so you might post your request on the vise repair 101 thread in this section and also take a few close up pictures of the handle and the underside of the vise in the front of it.

good luck and it's a good solid vise if you get it working correctly again.

 

[OKDave]

Thanks Oregon, I have been checking out google images of wilton vise's and have not seen this exact model. I do get some hits on the 111103 and 111102 stamped into the jaws, they do not seem to be connected with this exact model. I will keep on searching thou.
Dave

 

[OKDave]

Sorry drivesitfar, when I posted I did not see your reply. Its funny, you mention that thread. As I search for info, the GJ, seems to be the most common result on google. I did find this. In this post from "the vises of garage journal" post 3689, a member describes this vise to a T, and even the same problem I have.
Dave

"Gary Indiana, (kind of makes ya wonder if it's a name, or location...) I have a question about your unlabelled Wilton 645... I have been lurking around for a couple of weeks, hoping to identify my recent acquisition - a Wilton unnumbered 5" vise. Mine has no "645" cast into the body, but mine does have "Wilton" cast into one side in big bold letters. It also has EXACTLY the same casting numbers as yours stamped into the three major castings, 111101, 111102, and 111103. Where yours says Made in USA, mine has three lines of text cast into the body, "Jaw Width 5", "Jaw Opening 6 1/2", and "Made in USA".

My dilemna is this. I have removed the lead screw and dynamic jaw but I cannot remove the lead screw nut from the dovetail because of the pin that comes up from the base plate. With other vises, that pin must be hammer driven up and out from below. Installed, it usually will protrude through the main base body, securing the lead nut in its dovetail by blocking any forces trying to drive the lead nut rearward. But in the case of my 645, the pin comes through under the lead nut, and as such it cannot be driven through from underneath because the lead nut is blocking its egress. How is your pin positioned in relation to the lead nut?

I also think that someone may have reversed the lead nut in the dovetail on my vise. One face of the nut casting is flush between the end of the threaded portion and the end of the dovetail part of the nut casting. The other end of the nut casting is offset, with the male dovetail longer than the threaded portion. It would make more sense if the offset end of the nut were positioned toward the rear of the vise so as to maximize engagement of the lead screw when the dynamic jaw is fully extended. On mine, the offset end of the nut is facing the front of the vise, and the flush end is situated to the rear. Could you look at yours and let me know the orientation of the lead nut? Thanks in advance.
The Sarge is offline Report Post

 

[OKDave]

BTW, I sent a message to that member, but they only had a few post, and it has been years.
Dave

 

[drivesitfar]

Dave: i'm betting the 6 digit #'s you are talking about are part #'s. how wide are the jaws on your vise if you didn't already say. i've owned a few of these, but i've usually passed them on to other members without taking one apart yet.

i'm guessing your vise # is 645 or 644 or something like that and if you see a 3 digit # that is probably the model #. also i'm guessing that your vise is from the 60's and maybe early 70's. just a WAG if you wanted some idea and maybe you know better since it's been in your family.

good luck

 

[OKDave]

Thanks Driveitfar, that time line would roughly line up with what I was thinking. I was born in 71, and can remember tinkering around with it my whole life. The 645 seems to be the nearest match I have found. I got to spend some more it this evening. I was cleaning on it some more, and noticed a set screw that was so covered up with crud. I could not see any head on it, so I drilled it out, and ez-outed the remains. After a re-tap, I have now made sense of how it went together. I can made it work with a set screw and a chunk of a BIG nail. The set screw just holds the junk of nail in and keeps everything stationary. The pics might make it more clear. I am gonna be out of town this weekend (balloon festival) and will then set up my rust removal.
Thanks so much for the help, Dave

 

[OKDave]

Here r the pics....

 

[OKDave]

BTW, did Wilton braze on some jaws? Or has this been done at some later time? I wonder if I remove these current jaws they will have the taps for Wilton jaws.
Dave

 

[OKDave]

I just found the same vise on ebay. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Wil...713826?hash=item2373cdaae2:g:UBUAAOSwIgNXv3HV This one has the standard wilton jaws. So I would assume that mine has had some southern engineering! The ebay vise is listed as a "Vintage Wilton Swivel Vise Gunsmith Blacksmith Bench #645"
Dave

 

[1982fxr]

I've had a few of those. Someone brazed those jaws on.

 

[1982fxr]

They went all the way up to 8 inches...

 

[1982fxr]

One of mine had a thick base like a bullet, sure looked factory. All the others were like yours

 

[drivesitfar]

Dave: you are very welcome if i helped you at all or some with your old Wilton. As far as i know Wilton has never welded or brazed any of their jaws and yours does look like a repair. since it's a family vise with history just spiff it up so it works and use it for those projects you don't want to use with a nicer vise once you get another one.

if you like Wiltons keep your eyes open for a Bullet or Tradesman model because those are their top of the line models and they are made much better than your 645.

or take a look at the big vise thread or even the vise repair 101 thread and get to love Reed, Rock Island, Holland's, Starrett, Athol and many others like I (we) do here on GJ.

good luck and happy to hear you figured out how to make that old Wilton work again.

 

[OKDave]

Sorry I have not been able to reply before now, the jaws are 5" wide. I think when I get back in town I am gonna work on removing them, they currently are completely flat, and I can remember growing up, having things shift while working on them.
What would be the best way a removing them? They seem to be welded/brazed on the top and sides. You can see underneath them. I do welding, but do not have a torch set up. Should I take it to a welder/machinist and see if they can remove them. Or go at it gingerly with a die grinder and then file to clean up.
Thanks again for all the help so far! Dave

 

[drivesitfar]

Dave: personally I wouldn't touch the jaws and spend the time and energy on another bigger older vise and use this one as your welding, beater or sentimental one.

i bet you can find one in good shape like yours for $50-100 if you look around. i know it won't be the same as the one your Dad and Grampa used, but i'm pretty sure there was a reason for one of them or their friends to weld the jaws on. also if you need a bit more grip just make or buy yourself some copper or aluminum jaws and since that metal is reasonably soft the project will actually sink into it. much better in my opinion than putting teeth marks in something you are trying to fix or work on.

good luck and keep asking questions if you have any. also if you go in your Garage Journal profile you can put in your area and maybe another member might have a nice vise to sell you for a reasonable price. also while you are in your profile click on Avatar and you can download a picture of your favorite car, thing or whatever.

 

[OKDave]

Thanks drivesit, I get what your saying it makes sense.
Thanks and I will fill in my info!
Dave