Please need help !!!

[HMS57]

My son over worked my Dad's old Wards Master Quality vise with a 4' length of pipe for leverage, wrong thing to do...Broke the front jaw off at the slide...This vise has been in the family for I don't know how long, I'm 60 and I grew up at The Garage and remember the vise from as long as I can remember...At any rate, Logan my son is crushed because of the attachment that I have always had for my Dad, his Grandfather and sentimental value...Not to mention that we used the vise almost every day...Dad isn't with us today, but in our mind & heart he still is...I would so appreicate ANY HELP in locating a twin vise or just the front jaw & slide bar...It's a 4" jaw, with a 6" jaw opening...WARDS MASTER QUALITY cased on the right side and on the left side is 5455...
PLEASE e-mail [email protected] or reply back here...

Thanks Again,
'HMS57'

 

[bigcaddy]

My son over worked my Dad's old Wards Master Quality vise with a 4' length of pipe for leverage, wrong thing to do...Broke the front jaw off at the slide...This vise has been in the family for I don't know how long, I'm 60 and I grew up at The Garage and remember the vise from as long as I can remember...At any rate, Logan my son is crushed because of the attachment that I have always had for my Dad, his Grandfather and sentimental value...Not to mention that we used the vise almost every day...Dad isn't with us today, but in our mind & heart he still is...I would so appreicate ANY HELP in locating a twin vise or just the front jaw & slide bar...It's a 4" jaw, with a 6" jaw opening...WARDS MASTER QUALITY cased on the right side and on the left side is 5455...
PLEASE e-mail [email protected] or reply back here...

Thanks Again,
'HMS57'

Your best bet is going to be ebay but there are a number of members on here that collect bench vises and would be more then happy to help you out.

I collect them but do not currently own a Wards. If i did, it would be yours if the models matched. Try posting a picture of the vise from both sides so the members can get a good look and let you know what they have laying around.

You have come to the right place to find an odd and obscure tool. Best of luck.

 

[wrenchr]

Pic of the vise in question?

 

[HMS57]

i'm trying to foward the pix from my phone to my email but it keeps saying failed...i will get the pix to you guys...
THANKS...

'HMS57'

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

no description but only one on ebay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/vintage-war...379?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item25764ca0f3

 

[JASTECH]

HMS57, Welcome to GJ and our family. Like such, help is here.

Thanks, JASTECH & Son

 

[AZ_Catskinner]

Without the pictures it is hard to tell, but your vise may be repairable.

Check with a local machine shop if you cannot locate a suitable replacement part, they may be able to get you back together without too much effort. A GOOD welder can probably get it back together with nickel rod as well.

 

[davesnothere]

Larry's got a nice one, but its only got 3" jaws.

http://www.oldtoolman.com/tool/OTM-1608/

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

Not having seen the pictures yet, but thinking how it broke, it might be able to fixed (welded). Where do you live?

 

[HMS57]

Not having seen the pictures yet, but thinking how it broke, it might be able to fixed (welded). Where do you live?

will send pix from work tomorrow...
I do know that it's a MACHINIST TYPE VISE WITHOUT THE ANVIL...

Thanks...

'HMS57'

 

[ZRX61]

Having read the story I think the only fix is going to be putting him up for adoption

 

[HMS57]

Having read the story I think the only fix is going to be putting him up for adoption

There have been times that one would think about adoption, we ALL have our moments & good lord I have had mine...it was not the brightest thing to do & i don't know anyone that can say that they have not done some that they regret...but life goings on and we deal with it...i was sitting there working on the tig not 3' away and was watching him just trying to set the corners of a carriage bolt through a flat spacer...he had a 4' pipe and placed it over the vise handle and went clockwise and BANG it split and popped apart at the slide bar that the front jaw is casted to...I really never thought about until I read on this site that that is why the makers of the vises designed the vise with that size handle to begin with...it's as much my fault as Logan's for not educating him years ago...but then I can say to Dad, Thanks for not educating me 50 years ago...lol...

i have no idea why my pix are not being sent from my phone, i have sent MANY before...i will send the pix trust me...only because of the RESPONCE that i rec'd from you guys, i know & feel that i'm only getting closer to fixin Dad's old vise...

Thanks Again,

Dennis
'HMS57'

 

[HMS57]

There have been times that one would think about adoption, we ALL have our moments & good lord I have had mine...it was not the brightest thing to do & i don't know anyone that can say that they have not done some that they regret...but life goings on and we deal with it...i was sitting there working on the tig not 3' away and was watching him just trying to set the corners of a carriage bolt through a flat spacer...he had a 4' pipe and placed it over the vise handle and went clockwise and BANG it split and popped apart at the slide bar that the front jaw is casted to...I really never thought about until I read on this site that that is why the makers of the vises designed the vise with that size handle to begin with...it's as much my fault as Logan's for not educating him years ago...but then I can say to Dad, Thanks for not educating me 50 years ago...lol...

i have no idea why my pix are not being sent from my phone, i have sent MANY before...i will send the pix trust me...only because of the RESPONCE that i rec'd from you guys, i know & feel that i'm only getting closer to fixin Dad's old vise...

Thanks Again,

Dennis
'HMS57'

Please Help If You Can...

 

[HMS57]

Please Help If You Can...

another picture...

 

[HMS57]

On a roll now boys...

Thanks,

'HMS57'

 

[GeneralDisorder]

Woof. Yeah there's not going to be any repairing that effectively. Not cost effectively anyway.

Looks like a good old unit from the days of quality american MW products.... I'm sure your dad would be happy with an upgrade to a larger size or similarly well made old american vise don't you think?

Look for a Wilton bullet or a Colombian, Rock Island, or other heavy duty quality american unit from the good old days. I have had good luck scoring vises on craigslist and at estate and garage sales - I have some serious vises including a 4.5" Rock Island swivel base that I use daily and paid $75 for off Craigslist.

GD

 

[HMS57]

Woof. Yeah there's not going to be any repairing that effectively. Not cost effectively anyway.

Looks like a good old unit from the days of quality american MW products.... I'm sure your dad would be happy with an upgrade to a larger size or similarly well made old american vise don't you think?

Look for a Wilton bullet or a Colombian, Rock Island, or other heavy duty quality american unit from the good old days. I have had good luck scoring vises on craigslist and at estate and garage sales - I have some serious vises including a 4.5" Rock Island swivel base that I use daily and paid $75 for off Craigslist.

GD

I'm sure he would, Dads no longer with us. And I so appreicate your reply. Maybe someone out there may have the part I need to replace what is broken. That way I can still have a little piece of Dad at the bench.
Thanks again
'HMS57'

 

[Outlawmws]

I can't open up the first two thumbnail pics, but if we can get better pics overall (lighting) I'd venture to guess that a well known MFG made that vise for MW, and if the dynamic jaws are not further marked a part or even a donor vise my be possible.

You can add he full sized pics from your thumbnails using the following process,which also works for "edit post" in the "advanced" edit mode:

 

[bigcaddy]

Whoa, that is some break! I thought it was a solid bar/exposed screw model of vise and not a covered screw type.

Do any members on here know who made Wards vises? It looks like a Columbian to me so maybe the front jaw of a Columbian will fit and at least make it whole until a complete replacement can be found?


Edit: Dammit, Outlaw! Stop reading my mind. I just posed the same question and you beat me to it by seconds

 

[Mike007]

another picture...

Ouch.

 

[Outlawmws]

From what I can see, that vise had design elements similar to Prentiss, Rock island, and Reed, but there are significant differences also.

Are the vise jaw faces a "C" shape as the go onto the jaws Themselves?

Can you completely disassemble the vise and show any other casting markings? These were often the same as the OEM markings...

 

[Outlawmws]

Whoa, that is some break! I thought it was a solid bar/exposed screw model of vise and not a covered screw type.

Do any members on here know who made Wards vises? It looks like a Columbian to me so maybe the front jaw of a Columbian will fit and at least make it whole until a complete replacement can be found?


Edit: Dammit, Outlaw! Stop reading my mind. I just posed the same question and you beat me to it by seconds

Colombian is another good possibility, but I don't have any of those so can't comment directly.

If it is a Colombian, that's good news, as a LOT of those were made...

 

[HMS57]

From what I can see, that vise had design elements similar to Prentiss, Rock island, and Reed, but there are significant differences also.

Are the vise jaw faces a "C" shape as the go onto the jaws Themselves?

Can you completely disassemble the vise and show any other casting markings? These were often the same as the OEM markings...

The centers of the vise jaws stick out and the re-movable jaws are the C shaped part...it's like the vise itself is the male & the re-movable jaws are the female...
I'll work on better & brighter pix...

I want to say this right know, I had NO idea that there is a VISE WORLD community out there...I'm REALLY IMPRESSED with the returns that I have rec'd from you guys...It's the kind of thing that makes working together as ONE, WORK...

THANKS Again For Your Interest...It really MEANS alot to me...

Dennis
'HMS57'

 

[Outlawmws]

I'm guessing you may have missed this thread:

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=44782

 

[Catamount]

Sounds like you need to visit the "vise parts swap" thread:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=88292

 

[AZ_Catskinner]

From the looks of it it CAN be welded. It won't have quite it's original strength, but it'll hold to preserve it.

 

[ZRX61]

From the looks of it it CAN be welded. It won't have quite it's original strength, but it'll hold to preserve it.

I'd take a crack at it if it were mine. Take the screw out & put a piece of round brass bar on the hole. Push it together & tack weld it in a few spots. Then start with the grinder to make a V groove, weld it up, extend the groove, weld it up, back & forth, side to side, top to bottom...

 

[NC-Fordguy]

Welding cast is tough but can be done

I've had good luck welding broken motor mount ears on engine blocks.

Find a good welding shop and see what they can do

 

[mypov]

I was going to suggest taking it to a welding/fab shop, they can probably make it work again, or atleast put it back together and you can keep it for the value it holds.

Cast is a ******* to weld, but it can be done needs to be heated so it can cool with the weld at the same time to avoid cracking/warping/popping out of the weld.
I think anyway.

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

Just saw the pictures. WOW! I recall a 4' piece of pipe was involved. What was he trying to do?

 

[Carson_13]

Man that ***** but I did similar with my fathers tools when I was younger and you are right things happen. Deffinately worth trying to weld, it's broken anyways worth a shot.

 

[Man of Many Vices]

The welding strategy outlined above (ZRX61, Fordguy, Mypov, and others) seems reasonable to get a light duty vise. But also pick up a heavy duty vise so that the problem doesn't happen again. Two vises is the bare minimum to have, anyway.