New to me vise...

[FarmerWill]

SO... sight unseen, a buddy calls says he was given a massive old vise and has no use for it. Tells me, come get it.
I'm not gonna look a gift horse in the mouth, but...
It apparently sat outside for a while, does anyone have any pointers on things to look for as far as damage? Common issues?

 

[Maui]

Post some photos when you get the chance. And be sure to measure the width of the jaws.

 

[Shiftless]

Maui is right. Without photos and some more info none of us can respond with ad “vice”.

Depending on what you have there, just leave it out front and post your address. One of the guys here will be happy to take it off your hands so you can work on your other projects.

 

[Rileysan]

A big vise in today's world can just as easily be Chinese junk, so until you post photos, how can we offer vise advice?

 

[davethorik]

Different people have different ideas of what a "big" vise really is. Usually a '6 inch vise' is a 4".

 

[FarmerWill]

A big vise in today's world can just as easily be Chinese junk, so until you post photos, how can we offer vise advice?

That was clever... vise advice... little alliteration...

 

[FarmerWill]

I will post pics as soon as we head down south to pick it up.

 

[drivesitfar]

FARMER: rust isn't always bad, but WELDS, BROKEN OR MISSING PARTS can be deal killers so yes a few pictures. my guess is you will be asking us how to spiff it up after you haul it home.

if it's not seized stuck and really heavy most vises will just unscrew and come apart (not all will though especially if a lot of dirt or rust on the back of the slide or if it's hammered a bit out of square.

LIFT WITH YOUR LEGS!!!

 

[SuperCat]

I just happened to see this vise restoration video yesterday. There is a lot of work done, but, wow!, the end result is fantastic. Hope you enjoy it. Good luck with your score, it may be ugly when you get it, but there are all kinds of possibilities waiting for you.

Rusty Deadlocked Vice - Perfect Restoration

 

[FarmerWill]

Okay guys, here's an overall of the vise. Ball peen sitting on top for reference. She's dirty, nasty, rusty- the collar dogs are stuck. The main screw works, she opens, rotates but won't rotate.

 

[Maui]

Nobody here would describe that vise as "massive". It looks like an Asian import. How wide are the jaws?

 

[drivesitfar]

Will: while that vise is big to some at about 70 pounds the guys watching your thread would consider it average. that said it's the CHINESE WONDER VISE and a lot of members that own several vises like using it for their welding vise cause it has many options.

it's not very well built, but like i've said many many times I've yet to find anybody that owns one that doesn't love theirs. yours actually might be old enough to be a bit better quality and might have been made in Taiwan.

while you didn't get the holy grail of BIG VISES you should be able to use it.

 

[FarmerWill]

Okay well. Didn't mean to offend anyone. Like I said. It's new to me. Something I did not have before. Knowing where it was and what it came out of, dunno about the Chinese part. But. This weekend I will start working on it.

 

[drivesitfar]

Will: certainly not offending anybody (or shouldn't have) and it's barely vintage, but hopefully it will be useful for many years to come so you can be even more handy. if you might have a few funds to go shopping for another old vise take a look at the big vise thread in general tools and see what others have bought and use when you have a few minutes.

I can't tell if your pipe jaws are missing. are they? also you can use a screwdriver to use the swivel base's option if it's not rusted shut or make a little handle out of a bolt if you like that better.

good luck!!

 

[FarmerWill]

Probably making a new handle, one swivel side is missing.
Looking at it last night, I think everything is there. It's been sitting literally for years.
The pipe jaws are down there. I have some cruddy pics- phone is old- Will see if I can knock down some rust tonight.
Any advice on just overall cleaning the jack screws or?

 

[FarmerWill]

And the link on the forum APPEARED.. thanks DRIVEIT...

 

[drivesitfar]

One word of caution. Those chinese wonder vises can be full of bonds so light cleaning with simple green and maybe a couple light coats if BLO should get you up and running. Good luck

Yep vinegar, molesses and water and there are several other options to evapor rust and electrolysisgood luck

 

[454ragtop]

Might want to investigate why the jaws aren't rotating together, they're supposed to rotate, but they're supposed to stay aligned to each other as they do. No sense cleaning it up till you make sure it's not broken.

 

[FarmerWill]

Thanks for the 411. Gonna start messing with it Saturday.
See where we go.

 

[FarmerWill]

More pics.. Details...

 

[FarmerWill]

Got off work early. Came home and temp had warmed to 72' balmy South Texas degrees.
So, figured lets go take a look. How bad could it be?
Oh... Its bad... And it gets worse.
Pics speak for themselves.
Got some welding to do

 

[Shiftless]

Have you welded cast iron before? I have heard that it isn’t easy.
By now I’m sure you know that you don’t have a great vise to work on. Being broken like that would make most of us consign it to the scrap heap. But if you just want practice, or just want to overcome adversity for the hell of it, do it!

Personally, I would look for a better vise. Check out the brands and models the guys over on the main vise pages are working on. You won’t regret it!
If you were closer, you could choose between many I have that I’d be willing to part with for reasonable $$.

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Okay well. Didn't mean to offend anyone. Like I said. It's new to me. Something I did not have before. Knowing where it was and what it came out of, dunno about the Chinese part. But. This weekend I will start working on it.

Like drives said you didn't offend anyone. One man's junk is another man's treasure and I'm not calling our vise junk. Plus you got it at the right price! Congrats!

 

[Rileysan]

Have you welded cast iron before? I have heard that it isn’t easy.
By now I’m sure you know that you don’t have a great vise to work on. Being broken like that would make most of us consign it to the scrap heap. But if you just want practice, or just want to overcome adversity for the hell of it, do it!

Personally, I would look for a better vise. Check out the brands and models the guys over on the main vise pages are working on. You won’t regret it!
If you were closer, you could choose between many I have that I’d be willing to part with for reasonable $$.

It's a great vise to practice on since there's not a lot to lose should the attempt fail. I've brazed vises with mixed results but I've found it easy to stick weld with 316 stainless rod. I won't do it any other way now.

Brian

 

[WWShop]

I bought one of those on CL a long while back for $10 for my brother in law. I stripped about a 1/8 inch of paint and body filler. Found out the filler was covering some crappy welds and huge gaps. Ended up selling it for $20.

 

[FarmerWill]

To All:
This looks like probably the best board thing I've ever joined...
Welded cast iron? Yes. Probably... 15 years ago.... Not since.
A learning vise.. Probably... Yup... Price was right. Its on my work table so. Its gotta get fixed.
Looking for a better one? That already began.
Now... Time to make a shopping list....

 

[FarmerWill]

Okay guys.. Sunday morning update.
She's all apart. Have three really good friends whos welding skills make mine look like a preschooler-read here I'm bribing a rig welder or boilermaker with beer. . in the meantime. Those locking hand screws are out. The base is paint frame. All the mating surfaces polished with 220 and I worked on that anvil.
She's seen better days and came from a shady part of the world...
But.
Now its a new life.

 

[drivesitfar]

Will: good for you for saving it and i'm sure it will be one of your favorite vises even if you get a good old BIG UN made in the USA pre WWII.

don't forget to take lots of pictures and post them and tell us how the pros and you braze/weld Chinese pot metal.

cheers and best of luck!!

 

[FarmerWill]

Dunno if the pics made it...

 

[FarmerWill]

Will: good for you for saving it and i'm sure it will be one of your favorite vises even if you get a good old BIG UN made in the USA pre WWII.

don't forget to take lots of pictures and post them and tell us how the pros and you braze/weld Chinese pot metal.

cheers and best of luck!!

You did read the part about bribery... Right?

 

[drivesitfar]

Will: don't burn up too many favors and your money fixing this old vise cause i think new ones can be bought for $50 to $150. that said it looks like you've got it apart which will bode well once you get a good old MADE IN USA vise cause they are easier to take apart.

nice wrench balancing of the PB Blaster too.

good luck

Happy Thanksgiving!!

 

[FarmerWill]

Quick update... Buddy of mine is going to "school me" on welding cast iron... Till then... Cleaned up the body and base... Gave them light coats of hammered bronze...
Btw... Yall weren't kidding about the filler...
Wth?

 

[drivesitfar]

Will: how's the progress on the Chinese Wonder Vise coming along? yep BONDO is their friend on those vises isn't it?

did you have your friends braze or weld it or decide to use their skills later on something more valuable?

good luck