Picking up a American Scale vice tomorrow, cant wait

[Loren]

OK, PICS UPLOADED 140 lbs!!! Picking up a American Scale vice tomorrow, cant wait

Ill post pics tomorrow. Anyway Im getting a fixed base American Scale Vice from a older gentleman down in Oregon. Im up 45 min north of Seattle, so quite a drive. The vice has 6 inch wide jaws and is bolted to a semi truck wheel that has a pole welded to the wheel and a steel plate on top. It is in outstanding shape!!! The guy said it came off a Aircraft carrier that was decommissioned right after WW2. I have no reason not to believe him. He said the thing is a monster, very heavy!!! Getting it for $100!! Sound like a decent deal?? this puppy weighs in at 140 pounds on the money

 

[davethorik]

You don't need to disguise your gloat as a price check. Gloating is ok, although generally wait til its in your posession first. Oh, and this thread is worthless without pics.

Monster is a relative term in the vise world, yours should be in the 120-160ish pound neighborhood depending on if it is fixed or swivel base. Also make sure the old timer doesnt think 6" vise means it opens 6", that would mean you're dealing with a 4-4.5" vise.

 

[Loren]

Haha, yea I made sure I asked very specifically are the jaws themselves 6 inches in width. He said yes. He stated it is well over 100 pounds. Ill post pics tomorrow. It will be stripped of the Navy grey paint that Im assuming is original.

 

[Loren]

Pics are uploaded. Again this was off a Aircraft Carrier from WW2. Under the few coats of paint, I found the Property of USN, then some kind of number. Weighs in at exactly 140 pounds, this thing is a tank!!! Works great, nice and smooth.

 

[coljar]

I think that is one heck of a deal. Congratulations! Wish he knew what carrier it came from. I picked up a 6" Wilton bullet last year for $100 that I am currently restoring as one of my projects during all this alone time.

 

[Loren]

Thanks man. Yup, this weekend Im going to tear it down, inspect, clean some more and lightly lube the large screw. I kind of like the bare metal. What do you guys think. Not sure what color it was originally, It was a soild 8 hour day driving down to make the purchase, but Im thrilled to death!!!! $100 for a wilton sounds like one heck of a deal!!!

 

[coljar]

Thanks man. Yup, this weekend Im going to tear it down, inspect, clean some more and lightly lube the large screw. I kind of like the bare metal. What do you guys think. Not sure what color it was originally, It was a soild 8 hour day driving down to make the purchase, but Im thrilled to death!!!! $100 for a wilton sounds like one heck of a deal!!!

Bare metal would be fine and keeping it coated with light oil. This 4" bullet I restored a few years ago is my favorite color, machinery gray.

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[Loren]

That looks great!! Im torn weather to paint it or not. This weekend Im taking it apart, completely cleaning hit, wire wheel the screw and lube the slide and screw. From what Ive been reading, anti seize seems to be the favorite for lube. Is that correct? For both the slide and screw?

 

[drivesitfar]

LOREN: funny I was going to make that seller the same offer, but i'm about an hour closer and that drive kills me. that said i'm happy you are going to pick it up and maybe traffic won't be so bad thru Tacoma or crossing the bridge at the border if you don't use 205.

if you have any questions on restoring the vise post up pictures over on the Vise Repair 101 thread and here's the link: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=252830

i'd probably finish stripping it, grease the main screw and nut with MOBILE 1 red grease and maybe put some light oil or beeswax on the slide AND put a few light coats of BLO (boiled linseed oil) on the vise. OR if you like painted tools it's your call. here's a picture of my bigger Reed 4c that was sandblasted and had 2 or 3 light coats of BLO put on it about 5 or 6 years ago.

it's a monster so if you haven't seen a big old vise before you are in for a treat and I pretty much guarantee you that you'll be smiling the entire way home.

sounds like a fun day on the road and if you have a Costco card I stop for gas at Tumwater on the way down and Wilsonville on the way back.

cheers

 

[drivesitfar]

DAVE: BTW I already checked this American Scale #56 specs out on the vise repair thread I think post #2 or maybe it was post #91 that said it was a REAL 6 inch wide jaw.

he's going after a big un and yes I agree nobody should post about a Craigs or other type of auction or internet deal until it's in your hands cause many times others here are already working on it or might already have a deal in place. OR somebody lurking might see your GJ post and be closer to snap up your vise (deal).

 

[Shiftless]

Dave and Drives are right cautioning you and anybody else who reads his post. There are more than a few shall we say “unscrupulous” people who haunt GJ, rarely if ever participate, and get tips here about great deals on vises and all kinds of other things as well. If you, like many others, spend hours searching C/L, FB, and other sites for deals, finally find one, and make the mistake of posting here before getting it into your hands, you might lose out to another guy who took advantage of you.

That AS is a great vise from a great manufacturer half way across the country from you in Kansas City. Long gone now, of course.

I have a big Columbian vise with some US Navy history. Mine was salvaged from the Kaiser shipyards, Richmond CA, that built Liberty ships during WW2.

If you decide to paint it instead of leaving it bare and protected with BLO, maybe consider battleship gray.


.

 

[Loren]

Thanks a lot driveitfar & Shiftless!!! Where do you live Driveitfar?? Im up in Lake Stevens and yes it is quite a drive, but man was it worth it!!! I LOVE this vice, it is a heavy sucker. That is funny you were going to offer him the same price. He was a little hesitant, but I think he knew I was going to be quite a drive for me and felt sorry. Haha Where can I find the Mobile1 red grease at? Would Walmart have it? Also, fortunately looks like the old man did take halfway decent care of it, as the slide did have some grease on it, although it looked pretty old.
Last question. Where most of the weight of the slide glides through the main body, do I put a thicker grease down there, or just light oil like you mentioned? It does slide pretty good now, it is a one finger vice, meaning I can extend it out all the way pretty easy just using my index finger. Im very new when it comes to restoring vices. LOL I did however just get done restoring a 67 Camaro, guessing this wont be near as difficult. ANYWAY, thanks you guys for the input, I truly appreciate it.

 

[drivesitfar]

Loren: i'm just west of Seatac's airport runway hanging over puget sound so yep it would have been a haul to pick it up, but i've got a few friends in Salem that might have held it for me until I made another trip to the Oregon Coast which is maybe our favorite place on the planet.

i'm using up some Red Grease that I bought a close out from TriFlow cause i like their oils. as far as Mobil 1 it's what i'm planning on buying if i ever run out of TriFlow and i'm pretty sure you can buy a can of it almost anywhere including your automotive places and maybe Amazon to have it shipped.

stop by and post up a few pics of your vise and 67 camaro on my Organizing thread cause even though I had a 67 & 70 mustangs your Chevy was a cool car too.

i've seen some of these old vise greased up with pounds and pounds of grease and some with very little. it depends how good your tolerances are, but guessing since it's in great shape that you won't need much grease and maybe even a little oil or wax might be enough.

nice find and glad you already got it in your hands. I didn't need it, but it's hard for me to pass up on a good old well kept 6 inch vise made in the old USA when vises had some HEFT.

post pictures of it over on the vise repair 101 thread and ask your questions over there too and maybe since it's got more than a few vise guys watching it they might have more information for you.

cheers

 

[Loren]

Great, thanks a lot Dave!! Sure glad you did not buy that vice. haha When I called Brian (the owner of the vice) on Monday, he said I had to pick it up on Tuesday because he was leaving permanently for Arizona. So I told my supervisor that I HAVE TO take Tuesday off to make that drive. My wife thought I was crazy, she just doesn't understand. Haha Ill get the Camaro pics and vice pics uploaded soon. Thanks again

 

[Shiftless]

Great story, Loren.
To me, the stories are worth almost as much as the vises. The thrill of the hunt and bringing home the trophy is a real boost.

Did you happen to ask the seller, since he was moving and I assume radically downsizing, whether or not he had other things for sale? I’ve had good luck in the past with that question. Lots of old guys who are moving like to offload their stuff relatively cheaply when they meet friendly younger guys who show interest in the tools.


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[Loren]

He actually had some other stuff I really would have liked to have bought. One being a oxy acedelyen cutting torch setup. Automotive painting equipment and some other misc tools. I just had the funds for the vice on me. Money is a little tight right now.
He was leaving the house that he had been in since he was 8 years old, folks had long since passed away. So he and his 3 other siblings are putting the house and 5 acres up for sale and ince it sells, the Executor of the estate, I believe his sister is going to send him his portion of the money down to Az.

 

[Shiftless]

The story behind your vise keeps getting better and better.

Not too long ago my wife, the executor of her fathers estate, had to empty his house so it could be sold and the proceeds split among the siblings. His workbench had a big American Scale vise on it that of course was removed by me and ceremoniously handed to one of the brothers in law who promised to keep it safe and never sell it to anyone outside the family.

My FIL liked to tell the story about how, as a young machinist, he bought it for $1.00 from his boss who bought a trailer full of them at a war surplus sale right after WW2 was over.

 

[Loren]

Wow, now that is a great story!! I cant imagine a pile of these beautiful vices! I just turned 50 and plan on keeping this thing for the long haul. Can't wait to take it apart this weekend and give it the loving care it deserves. Couldn't be happier. I currently have a Morgan Chicago 45 on my bench right now and the American Scale dwarfs it. Haha. I'm going to mount the AS vice to a 12x12x1 inch thick steel plate which will be through bolted to the bench. Will drill and tap holes in plate for the vice. I love these kind of projects!!!

 

[Shiftless]

Great plan!
That heavy steel plate will make it seem like an even bigger, heavier vise.
You’re fitting right in to the overkill world of Garage Journal.

BTW, my user vise is a Wilton C1 ( 4 1/2 inch jaws) weighing in at about 75 pounds. No steel plate...just bolted to a 4 inch thick wooden workbench.

 

[Loren]

Haha yes, I have a tendency to over build things!!! This site is great, lots of useful knowledge!!!

 

[Loren]

Is this the beeswax you are talking about for the slide?

 

[drivesitfar]

Loren: I haven’t actually used beeswax on my vise slides cause I usually wipe on a little triflo lubricationbut I bet it would work fine. Beeswax really works well on wood and metal cabinet drawers and some members add some to regular linseed oil to make a nice ointment to wipe in their vises and tools. If you buy it let us know how you like it here or on the vise repair 101 thread.

 

[jumbojak]

I was told by a chemist that beeswax is corrosive. Not sure if it's true.

 

[RTM]

I find pure beeswax sticky, and won’t use it as a lube. I get it from a friend who is a beekeeper. Mixed w BLO and turpentine, yes.

 

[RTM]

Dave and Drives are right cautioning you and anybody else who reads his post. There are more than a few shall we say “unscrupulous” people who haunt GJ, rarely if ever participate, and get tips here about great deals on vises and all kinds of other things as well. If you, like many others, spend hours searching C/L, FB, and other sites for deals, finally find one, and make the mistake of posting here before getting it into your hands, you might lose out to another guy who took advantage of you.

I had a nightmare about just that 2 nights ago. I was buying a ?Black hawk? Torpedo tool box for $20, empty, and it was on my cart and rolling away, and suddenly the seller tells me it’s now $35, some guy had magically appeared and told him it was too cheap. And yes I know $35 is still a steal, but it was a nightmare that woke me up.

 

[Shiftless]

I had a nightmare about just that 2 nights ago. I was buying a ?Black hawk? Torpedo tool box for $20, empty, and it was on my cart and rolling away, and suddenly the seller tells me it’s now $35, some guy had magically appeared and told him it was too cheap. And yes I know $35 is still a steal, but it was a nightmare that woke me up.

Yeah, most all of us have stories like that. Sometimes a nightmare when you’re sleeping and sometimes stuff like that happens in really life.

About 20 years ago, I responded to an ad for a 69 Mustang GT fastback. Good condition, $1500

I got there as fast as I could and saw another guy just finishing signing a personal check for the car. I only missed that deal by a few minutes.

 

[Loren]

Got the screw out, looks pretty good, there is about a 4 inch section where you can tell it was used the most as the threads are a little narrower, but should not affect it at all. I had to take a little pick to each thread from the grime build up. Think I'm just gonna use
Mobile 1 synthetic grease on it, should that be ok?

 

[drivesitfar]

Mobile 1 seems to be the one most used but honestly most any grease will work. I normally take the main screws out and clean them up on my bench grinders wire wheel but if picking is your method and it works I’m ok with that

 

[Shiftless]

I’m one of the many who use Mobil One. I like it because it doesn’t stain like black grease does. BTW, it’s red so it looks good on clean steel not like dirt.
You don’t need very much at all. I put a thin film on the bottoms of dynamic slides and the tops of the support shelves on vises that have those.

It’s easy to apply...I have a one pound can and I just dip my finger into it and smear it on.

 

[Loren]

Thanks for all the great tips everybody here's a few pictures of it completely apart and cleaned.

 

[Shiftless]

You did a VERY thorough job cleaning that vise.

How did you get into all of the nooks and crannies? Do you have a big parts washer tub or even more envy producing... an ultrasonic cleaner large enough for a big vise?

 

[Loren]

Wire brushes, solvent and some nylon brushes. The handle was bent a little bit, just got it almost perfectly straight in my shop press. Time for light grease and putting it back together

 

[Loren]

Took some fine Emery clothto the slides, smooth as a baby's behind!!

 

[Loren]

I know it looks like a lot of grease but really it isn't.

 

[Loren]

Almost ready for assembly

 

[drivesitfar]

Loren: I’m really glad you made the trip to pick up that big old vise cause it might have had an easy life and good owner in its past but it has now found the best home possible. Nice work taking it apart too.

One thing you might want to buy or make is copper, aluminum, brass or even plastic jaw covers that will save the jaws and your projects from damage.

Well done sir!!

 

[Shiftless]

to what drives said.

Do you know that you can adjust the axial free play by bending that tall pin that locks the main nut in place? Many times after complete overhaul like you did, the action might be too tight or too loose.

 

[drivesitfar]

Or maybe buy a thrust washer?

 

[Loren]

Thanks so much drive it far. I REALLY enjoyed busting it down cleaning it etc... I will take very good care of it, as I do ALL my tools. I really want to take the jaws off, but those screws have hardly any depth to them and the are standard, not Phillips which makes it even harder. I'll eventually try some heat and a impact tool.
Dave, you are correct about the freeplay in the handle, it takes 1 full revolution of the handle to move the jaws, so I will likely tap that retaining dowel towards the dove tail thing. I couldn't be more happier with it. It opens and closes like butter

 

[Loren]

Just letting you know that the very ugly stand it's on is what it came on. That is NOT it's permanent resting place. The scrap yard I get my steel from is closed due to the Coronavirus. It will eventually be mounted on a 1 in thick steel plate, which will be bolted to my bench.