New guy and Reed vise question

[gwis2]

Hi guys,

I'm new here and have been reading and gaining all your wonderful information and wisedom for awhile now. It's great to look up info or personal reviews about tools and such (and the occassional laugh - like the gentleman with the red truck, duct tape, and the holes in the hood...now that's entertainment - thanks!)
My question is this: what is the difference between a Reed 204 with a swivel base and a Reed 205 with a swivel base? There is a person on CL that wants $125 for a 205 and I think that's a bit high although worth it to me. I (unlike some of you lucky ones) have yet to fall into the "look at this, found this 100 Lbs. vise at an estate sale for $10 bucks!" but I'm out there looking. I might add it's disheartening to garage sale all day or flea market and only find baby clothes and MIT tools. So, I would more than likely save the difference in gas by buying this one and not driving all over hell... Thanks for any help and advice!

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

A 204 Reed has 4" wide jaws and a 205 Reed has 5" wide jaws. I would offer them $100 for the 205 and see if they take it. It you are needing a vise and that one is in great shape, it might be worth it. A lot of the prices depend on where in the country you are located.

By the way, this really should have been posted in the general tools section. The "questions and suggestions" are related to the the forum as in "why don't we have a Yugo car recycling thread?"

 

[gwis2]

um....yeah, maybe that's why I couldn't find it after I posted it. so now I have to ask, where is it and how do YOU find it?
Can I move it over to there?

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

Go to the main menu (one level up from here) and look for the "tools" section and click on the "General Tool Discussion" forum. As for moving it, PM a moderator (ex: Bull) and ask them to move it for you.

 

[gwis2]

Thanks for the help!

 

[gwis2]

Now that it's moved to the right place (ahem) can some of you other guys chime in?

 

[bmwpower]

I would need picts before I could comment.

I look at it this way...
...make an offer and buy it now. If you find a better one, sell the old one...or keep it like most of us on here do. Sometimes it's nice to have more than one vice at different stations in your garage.

IIRC, I sold my stationary Reeds for under $100 each, but they were in pretty decent shape, original paint.

 

[gwis2]

Alrighty then here is the link for the pic

http://flint.craigslist.org/tls/1711650824.html

I've been in contact with this guy and we scheduled a meeting for tomorrow..

 

[bmwpower]

Looks like it's been sitting at the bottom of a lake for a number of years...lol...maybe it's just the pict.
But nothing that would make me run away, it just might need some TLC.

Need better picts of the jaw area, handle, etc. I definitely would offer sub $100.

Let me know what happens when you meet up.

 

[porphyre]

Yeah, that's definitely a $50 or less vise. Check for beating/mushrooming on the end of the sliding jaw. Make sure you can open the vise all the way - take note if the last 2-3 inches are much more difficult, this indicates mushrooming.

 

[mkdive]

Sorry cant help you with the vise....but

 

[mkirkpatrick]

I would have a hard time handing over 125 for that. Maybe 40 or less, looks like it lead a very hard life.

 

[DIC]

Looks like it's been sitting at the bottom of a lake for a number of years...lol...maybe it's just the pict.
But nothing that would make me run away, it just might need some TLC.

Need better picts of the jaw area, handle, etc. I definitely would offer sub $100.

Let me know what happens when you meet up.

It says ( Location: SWARTZ CREEK )..........

 

[Treorp55]

There is a listing on the Lansing Craigslist for a Parker Vise for $50. Dont remember the size. It is in Bath

 

[fatfillup]

That vise is a little rough for $125. $50 or so if it works decently. If I think a CL price is high, I let it sit and see if it gets reposted a few times then make my offer.

You have a good point about wasting your gas. I have had minimal luck at garage sales and flea markets. I like auctions and use auctionzip.com and after viewing the pics and descriptions, eliminate most wild goose chases. I have bought 2 wlitons, a large Reed and a large Prentice for $25 to $50 each. Most people drop out of the bidding after $35 or so and I don't lose many good vises.

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

Glad you posted the picture....

Looking like that, $40 to $50 is the most I would pay. It will take a lot of time in a blast cabinet to get it back into shape for painting and that is assuming the jaws are in good shape and the vise does not have any problems other than neglect.

 

[gwis2]

Now I can picture myself going there and offering $50.00 for it... the slack jaw look on this guys face is gonna be priceless! He's (much like everyone else) more than likely under the impression that what he has is made from gold and will tell me to take a hike. Worse he can say is no, right? Of course I'm thankful you guys are giving your opinions and I'm not going into it too newbie blind! We'll see what happens.

 

[gwis2]

So, I go see this vise tonight and it's nothing like the picture. to my surprise there wasn't any rust on it at all! I can't imagine what he used for the photo but it must have been a POS because this thing looked like a completely different vise! First thing I notice is that the handle had hammer marks all over it, the jaws have some cuts and gouges (from a grinder I suspect) in them, and it has a few battle scars. I unscrew it out all the way and it hangs up towards the last few inches at the end (thanks for the tip Porphyre about mushrooming!) to the point to where I can't get it back in without a slight jarring on the garage floor. I'm thinking "it's not too bad, maybe I'll offer him..." and then as I turn it over, I see a chunk about 1/2" wide by about an inch high MISSING from the slide where it meets the outside jaw! After reading Mjozefow's and BanjoSavesTheDay's cliff notes on vises (nice one btw guys) I knew to stay away from broken ones. Kindly said that the break was a deal breaker for me and left...the search continues! However, lesson learned - things aren't always as they seem in photos...

 

[mjozefow]

Hi guys,

I'm new here and have been reading and gaining all your wonderful information and wisedom for awhile now. It's great to look up info or personal reviews about tools and such (and the occassional laugh - like the gentleman with the red truck, duct tape, and the holes in the hood...now that's entertainment - thanks!)
My question is this: what is the difference between a Reed 204 with a swivel base and a Reed 205 with a swivel base? There is a person on CL that wants $125 for a 205 and I think that's a bit high although worth it to me. I (unlike some of you lucky ones) have yet to fall into the "look at this, found this 100 Lbs. vise at an estate sale for $10 bucks!" but I'm out there looking. I might add it's disheartening to garage sale all day or flea market and only find baby clothes and MIT tools. So, I would more than likely save the difference in gas by buying this one and not driving all over hell... Thanks for any help and advice!

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=62716

 

[fatfillup]

So, I go see this vise tonight and it's nothing like the picture. to my surprise there wasn't any rust on it at all! I can't imagine what he used for the photo but it must have been a POS because this thing looked like a completely different vise! First thing I notice is that the handle had hammer marks all over it, the jaws have some cuts and gouges (from a grinder I suspect) in them, and it has a few battle scars. I unscrew it out all the way and it hangs up towards the last few inches at the end (thanks for the tip Porphyre about mushrooming!) to the point to where I can't get it back in without a slight jarring on the garage floor. I'm thinking "it's not too bad, maybe I'll offer him..." and then as I turn it over, I see a chunk about 1/2" wide by about an inch high MISSING from the slide where it meets the outside jaw! After reading Mjozefow's and BanjoSavesTheDay's cliff notes on vises (nice one btw guys) I knew to stay away from broken ones. Kindly said that the break was a deal breaker for me and left...the search continues! However, lesson learned - things aren't always as they seem in photos...

Nice follow up. thanks and good hunting!!

 

[Major Ramifications]

My old Reed was $5 at a garage sale, but I had to unbolt it from the workbench myself, and it does not have the swivel base.
Keep hunting, and you will find what you are looking for.

 

[mjozefow]

Glad it helped.