How many vises do you own? 2015

[CwazyWabbit]

Re: How many vises do you own?

Great post 2oolhound, there's a Record #00 as well

For many years I had two bench vices and a rubbish drill vice, then after a couple of decades I noticed more had followed me home and hidden themselves around the workshop, then they started bringing their friends home and before long I had well over 50 of all shapes and sizes. Everywhere I look now there's one lurking like a mischievous teenager plotting to overthrow me ....

 

[2oolhound]

Re: How many vises do you own?

Great post 2oolhound, there's a Record #00 as well

Thanks and thanks for reminding me about the 00. I've gotten confused in the past thinking I had the 00 so I bought another 0 only to get home and realize it was the 00 I was missing. I now have 3 "0" and no "00". To make matters worse I believe there's an 8 too and I definitely need one of those.

 

[90zcar]

Re: How many vises do you own?

One...


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[Fraggles]

Re: How many vises do you own?

Thanks and thanks for reminding me about the 00. I've gotten confused in the past thinking I had the 00 so I bought another 0 only to get home and realize it was the 00 I was missing. I now have 3 "0" and no "00". To make matters worse I believe there's an 8 too and I definitely need one of those.

and a Record No.7 too!

 

[Gidge]

Re: How many vises do you own?

I selected 6-10, but my vise holdings are in a constant state of flux.
I only really use my bench vise -- the others are projects, specialty vises (e.g. pipe vise, fly tying vise), or being held for others who are sans vise.

 

[woody 73]

Re: How many vises do you own?

2oolhound great story what ever happened to your beautiful assistant did you ever marry her? Although if any women yelled at me for buying a few tools well looks or not they would be sent packing.

 

[CwazyWabbit]

Re: How many vises do you own?

and a Record No.7 too!

We'd better not mention the other 30 or 40 odd vice numbers that Record did or poor old 2oolhound will have a heart attack

 

[Shiftless]

Re: How many vises do you own?

2oolhound:

Thanks for the Excellent post!
Like you, I lived for quite a while with just one vise. A 1970's 3 1/2 inch Craftsman covered screw made in Japan purchased new at Sears.
Then one day at a garage sale I spied a Shiller Park Wilton mechanics swivel base vise with 4 inch jaws that had double hold downs, no rust, most of its original light blue paint, perfect serrated jaws and very little wear any where. Marked 35 bucks. I offered 20. Seller knew what he had and insisted on at least 30. So I took the deal and hauled it home.
For many years I was satisfied having two workbenches and a vise on each.
If you have read this far, you probably know what comes next...


But then I started lurking on GJ, finally joined, and started appreciating the history and craftsmanship of all the old vises. Now I have 10. A 3 inch and a 2 inch Prentiss I got on eBay and all the rest on C/L.
Most of them are about as old as I am, which I appreciate. (been retired for 6 years)

Thanks again for all who have participated so far in the poll I started.
Those of you who are holding back for some reason, go ahead and post your number. The poll closes in a few more days. It is anonymous. You don't have to sit down and write any stories unless you want to.
The 3 members who have thus far posted numbers in the 3 digits, more power to you! You must have WAY more storage space than I do

 

[drivesitfar]

Re: How many vises do you own?

2ool: helluva post. don't get on the vise thread and see or ask for all the Record catalogs and vices Record made because i'm sure the guys across the pond are close when they say there are more than a few more than the ones you've listed. nice start and i'm sure the one you have 2 of will be good trading material for that smaller one you need or maybe it will find a new home to help fund the ones you need. when you start collecting the 8 inchers is when you run into more funds needed and maybe flights or shipping to get them to you.

again nice post

Shift: I haven't had time to figure out where i've stuffed all the vises I own to make a count, but i'm guessing over 100 since it sounds like the poll is including pipe and wood vises. i'm almost afraid to put them all in one spot because my wife has an idea, but that might put a little damper on her coming with me to pick up one that we seem to do fairly often. i'm probably going to slim down to the mid 20's some day when i decide which ones i like the most. of course that is maybe how i ended up with many of them is because one does have a better look or use than another.

ALL: as far as user vises almost any vise will work well if you use it as a third very strong hand and not an anvil, press or a bender of thick metal. when you break a newish vise sure you can buy another one, but when you break an older one they don't make those any longer and there really is something about the look of the older vises i do like. not to mention any family history that might have come with it.

my favorite vises so far are my Wilton baby bullet with the power arm and clamp and my Reed 404.5 swivel jaw and the Reed 1C, Reed 2C, and Reed 4C. i'm sure as i get my Emmert pattern maker vise restored it will do a lot of things for my wooden projects. the rest are probably heading down the road unless I can talk my wife into letting me build a 40 x 120 shop with an apartment upstairs and sell our home. i'm sure she'd like a regular house, but she's on board with a nice size detached garage for my STUFF.

cheers all

cheers

 

[disston]

Re: How many vises do you own?

I voted for 2-5 and then saw somebody mentioned he didn't remember the pipe vice. Me too. So I have 5. Well we are still the biggest group. Sort of a indication of what GJ is all about. I'm going to be moving up someday tho. i would already be in the next group if my Wilton had not been stolen.

I need something really big.

 

[Fretters]

Re: How many vises do you own?

...the rest are probably heading down the road unless I can talk my wife into letting me build a 40 x 120 shop with an apartment upstairs and sell our home. i'm sure she'd like a regular house, but she's on board with a nice size detached garage for my STUFF.

That would mean letting your wife near your workshop! Are you mad man. You'll be giving her the keys to it next.

 

[Fretters]

Re: How many vises do you own?

We'd better not mention the other 30 or 40 odd vice numbers that Record did or poor old 2oolhound will have a heart attack

Post the catalogues; Go on, you know you want to.

 

[BAndritsch]

Re: How many vises do you own?

Aw he'll, I'm just a piker. I only have 12 two of which are nice and shiny thanks to lurking this forum.
Bill

 

[Carbonblk46]

Re: How many vises do you own?

How many vises is too many? I see all these garages with 5+ haha I'm envious


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[NitroSun]

Re: How many vises do you own?

I only have 1, a Rock Island 577.

Dumb question for you restoration guys. Do you paint the raised letters freehand or is there some other technique?

 

[Outlawmws]

Re: How many vises do you own?

Some use a paint pen, Others use a block and paper towel dipped in the paint for the most part.

 

[nine4gmc]

Re: How many vises do you own?

I used q-tips before I saw the paper towel method, haven't tried it yet but it looked like it would work great.

 

[90zcar]

Re: How many vises do you own?

What is the paper towel method


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[nine4gmc]

Re: How many vises do you own?

I'll try to explain but I **** at instructions. Roll a paper towel real tight and fold it in half. Dab the folded end in the paint and use it to blot the raised letters, kind of like how a rubber stamp works.

 

[KMScott]

Re: How many vises do you own?

NitroSun, I cheat a little, I take a file and flatten the text. This makes it a bunch easier. After painting I use a small brush, the ones you used to use painting plastic models. I trim the bristles where there is only a 1/2 dozen or so and tapered. Then paint free hand. The bristles hold plenty of paint and if you have a steady hand then it goes pretty quick.

 

[bagged89s10]

How many vises do you own?

NitroSun, I cheat a little, I take a file and flatten the text. This makes it a bunch easier. After painting I use a small brush, the ones you used to use painting plastic models. I trim the bristles where there is only a 1/2 dozen or so and tapered. Then paint free hand. The bristles hold plenty of paint and if you have a steady hand then it goes pretty quick.

I have to try to flatten with a file next time. I use a paint pen and the sharp highest points of the raised lettering on the small letters is a pain.

 

[Fretters]

Re: How many vises do you own?

How many vises is too many? I see all these garages with 5+ haha I'm envious

One or two good vices, (per person), is usually plenty for most for general work. After that, it's usually into dedicated task territory if more are necessary. Then there are the combined users & collectors/hoarders.

 

[drivesitfar]

Re: How many vises do you own?

90: here's the link to the paper towel method of painting letters on cast iron.

http://www.shanewhitlock.com/blog/?p=272

KM: i like the idea of filing the letters smooth prior to painting them. I'm guessing a small 4 or 6 inch file or do you use a bigger file and do more than one letter at a time?

Fretters: vise investors are not Hoarders.

 

[bagged89s10]

Re: How many vises do you own?

90: here's the link to the paper towel method of painting letters on cast iron.



http://www.shanewhitlock.com/blog/?p=272



KM: i like the idea of filing the letters smooth prior to painting them. I'm guessing a small 4 or 6 inch file or do you use a bigger file and do more than one letter at a time?



Fretters: vise investors are not Hoarders.

I like the paper towel method but it would be tough to use it on really small lettering.

 

[RStewart]

Re: How many vises do you own?

So you guys with over 100, how many over 100?

 

[2oolhound]

Re: How many vises do you own?

and a Record No.7 too!

Oh man, I thought they skipped #7. Are you sure about that?

2oolhound great story what ever happened to your beautiful assistant did you ever marry her? Although if any women yelled at me for buying a few tools well looks or not they would be sent packing.

Nope, didn't marry her, she was spoken for at the time though in hind sight it looks like there may have been some chemistry brewing.

We'd better not mention the other 30 or 40 odd vice numbers that Record did or poor old 2oolhound will have a heart attack

Yes, don't post them, i don't need any bait.

2oolhound:

Thanks for the Excellent post!
Thanks again for all who have participated so far in the poll I started.
Those of you who are holding back for some reason, go ahead and post your number. The poll closes in a few more days. It is anonymous. You don't have to sit down and write any stories unless you want to.
The 3 members who have thus far posted numbers in the 3 digits, more power to you! You must have WAY more storage space than I do

Thanks for the comp! It's an interesting poll.

2ool: helluva post. don't get on the vise thread and see or ask for all the Record catalogs and vices Record made because i'm sure the guys across the pond are close when they say there are more than a few more than the ones you've listed.

again nice post cheers

Thanks for all the comps guys, It was late and I was thinking I was getting a little long winded so I'm glad it didn't come off like that too much.

Post the catalogues; Go on, you know you want to.

I'm pretty sure posting the catalogs won't insight me to collect any more. I think it's quite understandable for a guy to have the complete run of Record Mechanic's vises from 00 to 8 but I'm not addicted like some of youse guys here. I mean numbers in the 20's, 30's, 50's and upwards, let's face that's pretty well an addiction. I may have reported 17 on the poll although I found another dp vise on my chop saw I forgot about and still need to find a 6" post vise because I've wanted one for decades. I'd probably grab a 4" too if it presented itself. Once I add the 3 Records I'm missing I could get rid of the 2 extra "0"s so that's just adding 1 to my count. However if I could get my hands on one of those aussie vises with the 45' offset jaws I'd grab one in a heart beat and if I ever ran into a wilton bullet that'd be a must own. How about those swivel jaw vises, I mean who could pass one of those up. There's a few others I can't think of the names off the top of my head but whether it's the design, functionality, robustness or swivelling, rotating or quick release features you are going to want them for sure but I wouldn't call that an addiction, that's just a vise appreciation.

By the way, anyone know what page of the Vises of GJ those record catalogs are posted on? No harm in having a look.

 

[drivesitfar]

Re: How many vises do you own?

2ool: it sounds like you have the addiction to own a few hundred vises and maybe lack of vise funds or inventory to buy within driving distance from you is only difference between you and some of us.

Swivel jaws
Pattern vises
Small vise with power arms or versa vise
Huge (warning takes up good portion of vise funds and space)
Offset
Mill
Drill press
Blacksmith
Pipe
Wood
Old, vintage, unique
Catalogs showing a few not mentioned above

Now i now I'm sure I didn't hit them all, but you can see why i own more than a few and even when i sell a few it will be hard to get down to 20.

Maybe CW can post up his record and parkinson catalogs again or post up the post # that some of them are on the vise thread

 

[Fretters]

Re: How many vises do you own?

The Parkinsons one is the only complete catalogue. The Record ones are various pages from a catalogue. If you do a search of Cwazywabbit's posts in the vices thread, you should find the images of the pages.

 

[CwazyWabbit]

Re: How many vises do you own?

I will when I get a chance scan in the record catalogues.

 

[drivesitfar]

Re: How many vises do you own?

2ool: i also forgot to mention the quick release record and parkinson vices. Of course a triple swiveler might be on the list too.

CW: when you get time. Cheers

 

[Shiftless]

Re: How many vises do you own?

Everyone:

Well, the poll is closed. I'm glad it turned out to be interesting to so many of you.
Statistically, the number of respondents with fewer than 2 vises was sometimes even but often outnumbered by the number of guys with more than 20.
That ratio stayed about the same for a week.
( I ran the poll through the general tool section and not the vises thread.)

That gives you an insight into GJ subscribers, doesn't it?

 

[2oolhound]

Re: How many vises do you own?

2ool: it sounds like you have the addiction to own a few hundred vises and maybe lack of vise funds or inventory to buy within driving distance from you is only difference between you and some of us.

Hmm, Good observation but I'm still not admitting to anything.

The Parkinsons one is the only complete catalogue. The Record ones are various pages from a catalogue. If you do a search of Cwazywabbit's posts in the vices thread, you should find the images of the pages.

OK, I found 2 posts around pg 1405 with just a few records.

I will when I get a chance scan in the record catalogues.

I'll show you mine if you show me yours. I have some cat. pages from 1968 and 1981 and some solo grabs from the web. I have just posted them on post #37153 on page 1858 on "The VISES of Garage Journal" thread to keep the info consolidated on one thread. Here's the link:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=5216961&posted=1#post5216961

 

[PugetDude]

Re: How many vises do you own?

I've got half a dozen vises, ranging from a POS 4" chicom drill press vise up to a nice old Wilton bullet. Also have a big 18" Kindt-Collins Pattern Vise in excellent condition I could probably be talked out of...

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3426294

 

[balane]

Re: How many vises do you own?

I'll say this; I'm so uncoordinated that when I go to pick my nose I knock my hat off. Even in the hands of a guy like me a rolled paper towel dabber yields excellent results. Any other method seems impossible to me. The paper towel is that easy!

 

[ez-duzit]

Re: How many vises do you own?

Once I started thinking about all the individual vises I have, it surprised me there are so many!

Don't forget machinist's vises.

 

[DieselDent]

Re: How many vises do you own?

My big reed 406R awaiting a restore
View media item 37712

DD: cool little stand and Reed 406. just curious how you keep it from rolling around. do tell and can you post a few more pictures?

Ill post more pictures, there is a foot brake on the other side with the jack controls. It can lift quite a bit, I think the hydraulic cylinder in the stand is 6" dia with a 24" lift. I got it surplus and was going to use it for the reed since it weighs like 200lbs on its own but it has proven to be very useful for pulling transmission, axles and general use around the lift.

 

[DieselDent]

Re: How many vises do you own?

What it looked like when I got it, says "Navy Test Pilot School" on the tag but now weight rating. It apparently came out of a simulator in their hanger and they sent it to scrap when it went out of use. Its made out of 1/4" plate steel with a hydraulic cylinder in the middle.
View media item 37713
Better picture of my 406
View media item 9251

 

[larry_g]

Re: How many vises do you own?

I have a wide variety throughout the shop.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Jarhead0408]

Re: How many vises do you own?

Why'd the poll close?

 

[Edgee2004]

Re: How many vises do you own?

I lost count. I'll upload a photo later.

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