Old Dunlap Vise Restoration

[AmericanMade]

I've been trying to find a good vise for a few months with no luck. Something with a 5 or 6" jaw. The Prentiss and Parker Vises are really nice. I purchased a small 3" Dunlap Vise on eBay to hold me over until I find a larger vise. I restored it and took pictures for anyone else interested in this vise. I really like the appearance of this vise.











After Disassembly I submerged it in boiling soapy water.



2nd step - Electrolysis with Baking Soda



After wire brushing from angle grinder

 

[AmericanMade]

I used a small brush a red acrylic paint to highlight the lettering and raised areas.


The areas I wanted bare metal I took the wire brush to and took of the grey paint. This included the anvil, handles, and jaw inserts. I used candle wax to protect the bare metal from corrosion.





I'm happy with the result. My one issue is the static jaw is cracked as visible in the pictures. It appears someone hammered down on the insert which broke the cast. There were hammer marks all over the tops on the inserts also. Because this crack is not in an area which is subjected to force I am not worried about the jaw failing.

 

[drivesitfar]

AM: some parts of your vise are in great shape especially after your Electrolysis, but with that broken piece under your jaw i probably wouldn't have bought that vise or spent a lot of time on it. feel free to post your next vise restore in the Vise Repair 101 section and if you reserve a second post for the after you will get some helpful tips if you might need some before you start.

it looks like you know how to do Electrolysis, but can i mention it's not good to put the negative clip in the water. better to hang your parts from a piece of baling wire and clip the baling wire up out of the water maybe by putting a stick across the top. i'll post a couple pictures if you want a couple examples.

next i wouldn't paint the entire slide on the dynamic or the top of the swivel were there will be a little grease or oil and metal to metal contact.

I probably would have taken the main screw out of the dynamic and the vise nut out of the static to get a better cleaning.

other than that you did a pretty decent job and that vise should work good for light duty while you are looking for a big old US or English, German or Polish made vise.

you can post up the before and after pictures on the Vise Repair 101 thread and others might have comments because that has quite a few followers for vises in general.

 

[AmericanMade]

Drivesitfar- I agree with your comments. I bought the vise on eBay and overpaid when the crack is taken into account. I didn't know about the crack until I stripped the paint. As I mentioned I don't think it will affect it's durability because of it's location. As far as your advice concerning leaving the dynamic slide unpainted; what is your thought behind that? My thought is that the paint offers an extra degree of protection from corrosion and if it ends up looking bad I can always strip it with a wire wheel.
I added a picture of the Acme screw. It appeared to me that the nut that retains it in the slide is pressed on. I couldn't think of an easy way to remove it and reinstall it.

 

[zer01]

Looks great. If it works for your intended purposes then it will be a great vise. The crack may never be an issue if you treat the vise well and don't abuse it. Looks like someone was beating on something way to hard and struck the jaw pads causing the crack. Shouldn't really be an issue unless you decide to beat on it also. My original Dunlap has paint on the slide from the factory, so no worries. Looks great should be a great little vise. Good job on the paint.

 

[drivesitfar]

AM: since i haven't taken apart an open screw vise yet i'm not the expert by far. i have seen a number of methods to do so though so i'll throw out an idea that has been mentioned on my (our) vise repair 101 thread. the Athol vise owners said they use a piece of PVC to fit over the screw with a slot in it to pull out the cotter pin if yours has one. that way they aren't in that tight space trying to push pull and stand on their head at the same time.

check out the vise repair 101 thread that is in my signature below my post and you'll maybe see that vise or post yours up with more pictures and ask for a fix because that is not an uncommon vise.

check out the huge vise thread and you might get an idea why the experts don't paint their slides. some of the better vises have very tight tollerances so even a little paint will get in the way and scraped off. stripping it and having a bit of BOL (boiled linseed oil), WD or even a little grease or oil will keep it from rusting and working better. or try it with paint and if your vise doesn't scrape the paint off just a little lubrication might work ok.

here's the giant vise thread link if you haven't seen it and beware many members have complained of a vice for vises so BEE CAREFUL. http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=44782

good luck

 

[AmericanMade]

It's good to know that the good quality vises have tight tolerances on the slide. Every vise I have seen in person is loose. I can't wait to get my hands on a quality one. Thanks for the advice.

 

[drivesitfar]

AM: you are welcome. also you might want to put your city and or state where you are located and maybe another member might have one of his 100+ pound vises for you to try or maybe sell you one. since i travel in 3 states and Canada i put in a general area of the US, but at least you know i'm not outside the country and on which side of the US if i need help or something shipped.

I've sold a few to some members because i almost always buy one that is sitting on the floor or bench when a client is moving so it finds a good home. i do like them so i don't sell many, but i also need to fund other tool purchases so some have to find new homes.

did you understand the pvc pipe fix if you ever want to try and get the screw out? if you go on the 101 thread and search for Athol you might see those pictures to get you a visual.

 

[AmericanMade]

Location added. I'm not understanding the PVC method but I will check out the Vise 101 thread.

 

[drivesitfar]

AM: check out post #466 on the vise repair 101 thread and here's a link and if this doesn't work there is another link in my signature. good luck and let me (us) know how it works if you try it.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=4380089&highlight=athol#post4380089

 

[454ragtop]

Just restored one of these myself, pics in the vise mega thread. Unlike most vises, the slide on these was painted. My vise had never been repainted, and the slide had paint on it from the factory. Also, the PVC method won't work to remove the main screw. These have a crimped on collar that doesn't lend itself to removal and replacement. I too left the screw in the slide and worked around it, which I almost never do, but the risks outweighed the reward.
Jim

 

[drivesitfar]

Jim: thanks for letting AM know from your experience. i was just trying to help and keep his thread alive so it and he wouldn't get any information and lost in the thousand of threads we have on GJ.

AM: next time you buy a vise and can't find the answers in the Vise Repair 101 thread would you mind posting your questions in that thread that will usually always get one of us to help you?

good luck with that one and you did a great job painting it for your first vise.

 

[firemanast]

It's good to know that the good quality vises have tight tolerances on the slide. Every vise I have seen in person is loose. I can't wait to get my hands on a quality one. Thanks for the advice.

Nice work on the restoration, use it with care and it will last you a long time.

 

[Alan Douglas]

My father bought this 5244 in the late 1940s I think (I can't remember ever not seeing it). I've never done anything to it except use it. Apparently the factory painted it with the jaws closed and paid no attention to the hidden part of the slide, since there's no paint there.

 

[AmericanMade]

Thanks for the input and feedback. I learned a few things and I am confident I can restore a nicer vise now. Alan Douglas:That is interesting about the slide and date. I am now wondering how old my vise is. I have been thinking 50s but it would be cool to find out it is WWII era.