Is this vise too far gone?

[Flatsbroke]

http://boston.craigslist.org/sob/tls/4988404448.html

I've been looking for a vise to rebuild for some time now to clean up and make look it nice. I don't really have any experience with this kind of thing. What do you guys think?

 

[exmaxima1]

http://boston.craigslist.org/sob/tls/4988404448.html

I've been looking for a vise to rebuild for some time now to clean up and make look it nice. I don't really have any experience with this kind of thing. What do you guys think?

I wouldn't buy a quality vise with welded jaws. That's a $20 vise.

 

[thehorse13]

This vise has had a hard life. You can see that it was used by someone who welded the jaws and I can see places where chunks of metal are missing along with actual parts. The handle is beat to death as well.

You can clean up this vise but for 80 bucks I would look for a better candidate.

 

[CNGsaves]

Yeah it would hold stuff just fine . . . especially since stationary vise.

Not worth $80 so beat him down on price to < $50 . . . . I'd try for $35 or $40.

 

[Flatsbroke]

Guess I'll hold off for the next one. Thanks

 

[Tim37]

You can mill the jaws out and make that right but like others said too much

 

[Kirbot]

Non replaceable jaws from the looks of it. And the checkering is completely worn off.
And I'm not sure what's going on with the bottoms of those jaws.

I'd pass and look for an old Reed, or something like that. Wiltons are nice, but they aren't worth the premium over other old American vises.

 

[Jure]

i'd pass...its beat up to death

 

[zkling]

The welded on jaws don't bother me near as much as the missing chunk on the static jaw/body does. $20 parts or welding vise.

 

[exmaxima1]

You can mill the jaws out and make that right but like others said too much

Seriously? I'm not a machinist, but I would think those hardened jaws would be really tough to mill out....

 

[G_P]

I agree with the others. That thing is beat. Not worth anywhere near $80.
It would be a good deal if you can get it dirt cheap and use it to hold stuff while welding. You wouldn't have to worry about hurting the vise!

 

[Cato]

Anything can be fixed...just are you willing to spend the time to do the work?

 

[whyNick?]

It's probably fully functional and for $20 or $30 would make a decent welding vise but if you're looking for one to restore that one's just too much work. It's not that rare to see decent examples for $125-$150 and if you're living right they turn up for much less from time to time.

 

[454ragtop]

Flatsbroke, are you on the South Shore? I could probably part with one of my vises, either restored or barn fresh and ready for restoration.
Jim

 

[JoeFin]

No that Vise is NOT too far gone

The price may be a bit too high - but the vise itself could be easily brought back to it's former glory

THIS Vise was pretty far gone

Why folks are to sloppy to throw a piece of wood or metal scrap under the part being drilled is beyond me. I'm sure the rest of the work look like the vise they use - Sloppy

So after a few 5095 welds to fill the drill marks and a trip to the surface grinder to clean them up - this is what that same Brown and Sharp Machinist Vise looks like

Craftsmanship shines through - and Cream always rises

 

[NUTTSGT]

Like a few others have said, it'd be fine as is for a welding vise but there's no way I'd pay that much for a welding vise.

 

[balane]

Looking at that Wilton gives me anxiety!!

 

[Hammer1963]

Looks like all the major parts are there and everything is repairable. It all boils down to time vs dollars. Like others, offer less and have fun and learn as you go. I myself would choose the milling method and if you do not have access to to mill, you'll be surprised what you can do with a quality hacksaw, drill, file and grinders.

 

[Hammer1963]

No that Vise is NOT too far gone

The price may be a bit too high - but the vise itself could be easily brought back to it's former glory

THIS Vise was pretty far gone

Why folks are to sloppy to throw a piece of wood or metal scrap under the part being drilled is beyond me. I'm sure the rest of the work look like the vise they use - Sloppy

So after a few 5095 welds to fill the drill marks and a trip to the surface grinder to clean them up - this is what that same Brown and Sharp Machinist Vise looks like

Craftsmanship shines through - and Cream always rises

Excellent repair and resto JoeFin!

 

[ZRX61]

While it can be repaired back to it's former glory, the amount of work involved means the seller would have to pay me $100 to take it away.

 

[Fretters]

Joe: Lovely work on that machinist vice.

While it can be repaired back to it's former glory, the amount of work involved means the seller would have to pay me $100 to take it away.

Not everyone buys stuff to resell or such though.

IMHO, there's nowt on that vice which looks too bad. The price is definitely way too high for its condition.