Oswego No. 88 Vise restoration

[bagged89s10]

So I picked up this vise last week for $65. It's pretty much a Parker No. 88 copy. It just has the long center mounting bolt for the swivel. I believe they used Parker dies. 4" wide jaws. They open 7". It's approximately 9.5" tall. 18.5" long. The mounting base is 7" in diameter. Weighs around 55 lbs.






The patent date on the swivel wrench says Dec 10th, 1867


The jaws are in good shape other than the screw and bolt used as pins on the dynamic side.



~Veeps

 

[bagged89s10]

Disassembled it and wire wheeled the rust off. The pins holding the dynamic jaws were just a bent nail and screw. I have to figure out what you use to repair it. I measured the holes with a drill bit and they are 13/64" holes.





The pipe jaw on the static side is broken. I will have to make one.




~Veeps

 

[bagged89s10]

Started painting last night. I first cleaned the parts twice with straight TSP. Wiped the parts dry. Then wiped everything with acetone. Then taped up the slide and jaws and started spraying. I got at least 3 coats on m. I still have to spray the edges I couldn't get to. I will wait a few days and then spray them. I still need to wire brush and clean the swivel parts to paint them.





~Veeps

 

[bagged89s10]

Rustoleum hammered black is gray but it lays down nicely.






~Veeps

 

[69supercj]

Thats looking really good. I was going to use some hammered black to paint a floor lamp I'm restoring but I want it black, not gray. Might have to try a different brand of paint.

 

[bagged89s10]

Thats looking really good. I was going to use some hammered black to paint a floor lamp I'm restoring but I want it black, not gray. Might have to try a different brand of paint.

Thanks. I might have to bake the vise in the sun because it's still under 60F out in the garage.

Yeah nothing black about it. I was hoping it was going to be a little darker but I can live with it. I'm going to outline the lettering in white, or try to at least.


~Veeps

 

[8man]

I like the vise. Nice work.

 

[McBrownie]

Thanks. I might have to bake the vise in the sun because it's still under 60F out in the garage.

Yeah nothing black about it. I was hoping it was going to be a little darker but I can live with it. I'm going to outline the lettering in white, or try to at least.


~Veeps

Get some makeup sponges. They are wedge shaped and hold paint pretty well. I forgot where I got mine. Dollar Store maybe? I would also use ivory instead of white. It will give it more a vintage look. Looking good!

 

[bagged89s10]

Get some makeup sponges. They are wedge shaped and hold paint pretty well. I forgot where I got mine. Dollar Store maybe? I would also use ivory instead of white. It will give it more a vintage look. Looking good!

I can probably steal some from my wife. I was going to try artist brushes that I bought for painting edges on a house number plaque. I haven't used them yet. I like the ivory idea! That would really make it pop too. That's what I did with yeh trim on my house. I bought a small can if white rustoleum the other day but I can return it. What kind of paint should I use for the lettering?


~Veeps

 

[classicJackets]

When I did the lettering on mine, I toom a tip from (I think) Nine4 and used a qtip to apply the paint. Sprayed rustoleum on a piece of cardboard and then used the qtip to transfer it. Worked pretty well, but was not a precision tool

 

[thehorse13]

Sharpie makes paint pens. They are outstanding for getting the lettering done.

 

[firemanast]

Sharpie makes paint pens. They are outstanding for getting the lettering done.

+1

 

[bagged89s10]

Sharpie paint pens vs rustoleum. What's more durable?


~Veeps

 

[thehorse13]

Sharpie paint pens vs rustoleum. What's more durable?


~Veeps

I haven't done any stress tests but if you knock around your vise, you can always go back with your paint pen and quickly redo the lettering. It took me less than 5 minutes to do all of the lettering on my Prentiss. See attached.

Using a paint pen will keep you out of your wife's makeup bag and likely out of trouble. I think this trumps any durability issue you may have. lol

 

[senlow]

Sharpie paint pens vs rustoleum. What's more durable?


~Veeps

Your vise deserves the best. Use 1-Shot pinstriping & lettering enamel.

 

[454ragtop]

I've been using a chisel tip Sharpie for highlighting the lettering, has worked well for me. Tried using paint with the folded paper towel trick, didn't have much luck keeping it from where I didn't want it.
Jim

 

[bagged89s10]

Your vise deserves the best. Use 1-Shot pinstriping & lettering enamel.

Oh man this stuff comes in Ivory!

http://www.walmart.com/msharbor/ip/...391&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=88037706071&veh=mweb:sem



Sharpie is off the list for this vise because I want off white or ivory for the letters and they don't have it. This seems like a really good option. I do want to learn how to outline stuff with brushes so this might be the perfect opportunity to learn. A pen would be easier though. I'm sure I can find one at a crafts store like michaels.

Lots of options.


~Veeps

 

[bagged89s10]

Taking too long for paint to dry in this cold weather. I need a nice 70F+ sunny day so this thing can bake.



~Veeps

 

[drivesitfar]

Bagged: might i suggest that you buy a fairly inexpensive heat gun or since you seem to buy a vise a day maybe look on Craigslist for a vintage oven to put in your garage like this one.

nice looking vise and i wonder how many other vise companies made that exact vise because looks the same as the Parker 88 and the Morgan 88?

good luck

 

[bagged89s10]

Bagged: might i suggest that you buy a fairly inexpensive heat gun or since you seem to buy a vise a day maybe look on Craigslist for a vintage oven to put in your garage like this one.



nice looking vise and i wonder how many other vise companies made that exact vise because looks the same as the Parker 88 and the Morgan 88?



good luck

Well the paint is dry but I need it to cure like when I spray paint in the summer.. That's all. I do have a cheap heat gun.

That's funny you mention the stove. I used to have the same style GE apartment size stove but I sold it when I bought my house and gutted the kitchen. I wish I kept it now. Only thing is my garage is too small to put one in.

I'll have to rely on the natural heat from the sun.

Also talking about CL I am supposed to pick up a craftsman 150 floor mount drill press Friday for dirt cheap. I guess I should sell my Duro dp now, but the look of it has grown on me. Maybe I'll sell the craftsman one I pick up.



This is the craftsman one the guy said he's holding for me.



~Veeps

 

[bagged89s10]

About half way done. Need to paint the swivel parts and wrench still, and outline the lettering. Then make a replacement pipe jaw,. Lastly polish up the handle, slide, and jaw.


I don't know if you can see it in the picture but the bottom of the jaws are worm a little so the top of the jaws only touch when closed. Didn't realize that until now.




~Veeps

 

[bagged89s10]

Let the vise bake in the sun today.

You don't know how useful an extra swivel base vise is until you have one sitting in the garage.

My Parker no 22 holding my Oswego No 88 so it can bake in the sun while I went to work today. Hopefully it's still upright when i get home.

Also had a few minutes to stop at the steel yard and get some steel to make a replacement pipe jaw

Can't beat the bargain barn they have. All steel in the barn is $1/pound so this cost $4.




~Veeps

 

[bagged89s10]

It's coming together


I might have to keep this vise. I was thinking about selling it buy it's turning out to look pretty nice. I might redo and smooth out that that dynamic jaw a little.

As my earlier post shows, the jaws are unevenly warn. I'm going to attempt to grind them back to parallel with a belt sander, and then use a checkering file to file new jaw serrations.

Hope it works.


~Veeps

 

[ADSR]

Looks fantastic! Nice work!

 

[Lynsi0ux]

Disassembled it and wire wheeled the rust off. The pins holding the dynamic jaws were just a bent nail and screw. I have to figure out what you use to repair it. I measured the holes with a drill bit and they are 13/64" holes.





The pipe jaw on the static side is broken. I will have to make one.




~Veeps

Wow! That is looking GREAT! I just bought one this week and only wish I had the skills and know how you have! Excellent work!

 

[bagged89s10]

Wow! That is looking GREAT! I just bought one this week and only wish I had the skills and know how you have! Excellent work!

Thank you. If you need any help don't hesitate to ask. Most guys on GJ are very helpful.