Is this Wilton vise worth saving?

[MushCreek]

I ran across this Wilton bullet on FB. Looks good, except someone welded the jaw inserts on. First, why on earth would anyone do that?!? I'm curious as to whether any of you have tried to restore a vise with welded jaws. I figured I could clamp it down in the mill, and gently cut away the weld until I got the inserts free. I wonder how deep the weld goes into the casting? What is a vise like this worth? I think he's way too high at $250.

 

[IndyGarage]

I'm not sure what material the castings are but I would think the welds are probably a bit brittle due to dissimilar materials.

It probably works fine. If it were $50 I might buy it, grind off the extra weld metal, paint it, and use it as-is, but there are a ton of those available, why overpay for one that's not very nice.

 

[seber]

Assuming the jaws are hardened, you will play hell cutting them loose. I think that is a user as is but no more.

 

[Rinspeed]

Lol at $250, tell him to step away from the crack pipe.

 

[danski0224]

That's worth at least $1,500.00.

Grab it now.

 

[slowtwitch73]

250 is high as Snoop Dog.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

My extent of "saving" this poor critter would be to pay $50 at most, grind off a bit of the slobber-weld, give it a rattle can paint job and use it.

 

[neophyte]

Personally, I’d say $250 would be better spent on a Harbor Freight Doyle vise, especially given the size.
The jaws on that have been welded.
The anvil has the smooshed look of an anvil that someone repeatedly beat on with a heavy hammer like a drilling hammer.
I would not be surprised if the vise has been “over tightened” while being used as a press or for serious heavy duty work that should have been done in a vise twice the size, and four times the weight.

 

[Josh91RY]

I agree with the other people saying $50. It's a cool old fish hook wilton but that is going to take some life saving measures to bring it back. Might be a fun project tho, instead of leaving it to suffer in billy bobs garage forever more.

 

[jdewitt]

One thing to note is it's either missing the swivel plate or it's a fixed base. Either way, it's less useful like that.