Wondering what folks think about this vise? Is it going to be worth restoring? I see the crack on the slide and part of the casting on the back top of the casting is missing. Possibly other issues. This would be for home workshop use.
Prentiss vise with cracks
- Thread starter pwinters
- Start date
Mr. Wonderful
Well-known member
For $50 I'd jump on that as fast as you can. I used this technique in the video with success. Save that vise!
Shiftless
Well-known member
Don’t be concerned with that at all. That flaw will lower value for a vise collector but it won’t hurt a bit for a home workshop user.
And like Mr. W. said, the crack can be arrested or even repaired.
I too, would be all over that Prentiss Bulldog for just $50.
Get over there right now and snag that vise before somebody else beats you to it.
And like Mr. W. said, the crack can be arrested or even repaired.
I too, would be all over that Prentiss Bulldog for just $50.
Get over there right now and snag that vise before somebody else beats you to it.
Mr. Wonderful
Well-known member
I wouldn't worry about it too much. I'm still planning my repair on this prentiss so count your blessings its only "a little" broken lol
Vise Info Thread
I don't find this 7" jawed, swivel-jawed, stationary base Yost listed as a model # on the spreadsheet. I'll get more info on it (jaw opening, etc).
www.garagejournal.com
robert6715
Well-known member
I would be all over that for $50.00, up here in Alaska the pickens are thin for used items & when you do find them they usualy bring a premium.
Thanks for all the encouragement to get the vise. I am glad I got it. It apparently was being thrown away at a Caterpillar plant and the seller’s father scooped it out of the dumpster some years ago.
The first thing I’d like to do is drill a hole to check the crack in the slide. Any directions or videos on how to do this right? Also wondering if I can do the brazing myself with just a propane torch or maybe best to find a pro? Finally, assuming there’s nothing I can do about the missing casting?
Thanks again!
The first thing I’d like to do is drill a hole to check the crack in the slide. Any directions or videos on how to do this right? Also wondering if I can do the brazing myself with just a propane torch or maybe best to find a pro? Finally, assuming there’s nothing I can do about the missing casting?
Thanks again!
Attachments
larry4406
Well-known member
My Prentiss Vise Restoration: The Journey
THE START OF THE VISE RESTORATION JOURNEY! Hello Vise Friends, This is my story about a very challenging vise restoration. The vise is a Prentiss No. 54 Bulldog vise, manufactured by The Prentiss Vise Co, New York, NY, in the 1920s. I won it at an auction knowing that it had a large crack...
www.garagejournal.com
Prentiss vise repair?
Hey guys, new to the forum so Hello! I ran across an old Prentiss Bulldog vise and wondered what would be the best way to repair a very large crack (see pic). I have a little fab shop where I make wrought iron handrails and other items so I could probably fix it if I new the correct way to go...
www.garagejournal.com
Prentiss No 23 Repair and Refurbish
Prentiss No 23 vise on CL listed only as "Large Vice". The ad did not have any pictures. These are 2 of the pics the seller sent after initial contact. You can see the crack in the slide in the second picture...
www.garagejournal.com
seber
Well-known member
We see a lot of old vises with that same crack in the slide. Can anyone explain why that happens? It would seem that surface should not see any stress.
tool_scrounge
Well-known member
I fixed it for you. One reason you see cracks is people use the slide as an anvil. But in the case of Prentiss, anecdotally it is much more common to find them with a slide crack in that exact location. I believe it is a weld line casting defect caused by bad mold design. Wikipedia explains is pretty well.
Weld line - Wikipedia
en.m.wikipedia.org
Curious if anyone is familiar with metal stitching/cold pinning (such as Lock ‘n Stitch)? Is that something that would work for repairing the crack in the vise slide?
If I go the brazing route on the crack, do I need to shore up the bottom of the crack in some way so the brazing doesn’t drip out of the bottom?
And can you use brazing to build up big missing chunks of casting?
If I go the brazing route on the crack, do I need to shore up the bottom of the crack in some way so the brazing doesn’t drip out of the bottom?
And can you use brazing to build up big missing chunks of casting?
KMScott
Well-known member
I have fixed a few, here is a link of how I do mine, even though I weld mine Silver Solder or braze would also work.
wiltonviseparts.wordpress.com
Fixing tail cracks in vises
I have repaired several tail cracks in big and small vises like this Reed 109 ( 9″ jaws), a big vise. There is several ways to repair these cracks and this is one way I feel is a good fix. Re…
wiltonviseparts.wordpress.com