Question about a Yost vise

[thomasr]

Greetings all, first time poster here. I've recently gotten bit by the vintage tool bug. Mostly hammers, axes, and a couple timber processing related tools. Only a hand full of items so far but I'm picking up steam.

I have a questions about an old vise I acquired...a Yost 42. I actually emailed the company for info and while the person tried their best....well, we determined the vise in question was probably pre-1950 and info was a little sketchy. Most all my questions were answered to my satisfaction except for one. I have a pic attached. What is that little piece protruding up from behind the inner jaw? It almost looks like a grease or oil fitting. It also looks like it could be holding the inner jaw in place, but what an odd looking bolt. However that thing is frozen in place. I tried turning it with channel locks with reasonable force...I don't want to break anything...but it wouldn't budge. Is it even removable? What is its function. Anything else you might know about this vise I'd sure appreciate it. I've only started cleaning it up...I kind of like the patina. Thanks...I'm going to enjoy this place.

 

[larry_g]

That is a swivel jaw vise and the pin sticking up prevents it from swiveling while in place. If you can remove the slide you may get to the bottom of the pin to punch it out. Do the penetrating oil for a few days and see where that gets you.

on edit, look at this thread, https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=111371
lg
no neat sig line

 

[thomasr]

Well I'll be....I never would have thunk it. But now my next dumb question...what's the benefit of having that one jaw swivel? Securing odd shapes in the jaws? That's all that comes to my mind.

Ok second maybe not so dumb question. It struck me odd that the jaws didn't have replaceable inserts. You can plainly see where harder metal was forged into the working side. Any idea what Yost was thinking when they did that? The Yost rep told me it was in the "machinist" category...seems like an odd feature for a machinist vise. Thanks already.

 

[Roberts210]

Is it just the way the photo was taken, or does the dynamic jaw lean out a little bit? In other words when the vise is closed do the jaws line up? And NICE catch by the way!

 

[thomasr]

Roberts210,
It may droop a little but I think its more of an optical illusion. I've included another pic with the jaws closed. Yeah it's seen some use and abuse but overall I think it's in pretty good shape.
I kind of came by this piece the hard way. We lost my Dad a few years ago and we've finally gotten to the point where we can start cleaning out his shop/garage. Both my parents were raised in the depression so nothing got thrown away...lots to go through. My Dad built his garage in 1973 IIRC. That vise showed up about that time...no idea where he got it. All these years I thought that vise was colored gray. After cleaning away several layers of dirt, grease, and general grime imagine my surprise to find it was actually a shade of green. I'll make sure everything is serviceable an lubed but I'll probably keep it this way...the way Dad left it.
My little 3" Samson Jr, on the other hand was a flea market find. Now that I have the Yost the Samson may get a total face lift.

 

[FJ 432]

Well I'll be....I never would have thunk it. But now my next dumb question...what's the benefit of having that one jaw swivel? Securing odd shapes in the jaws? That's all that comes to my mind.

Ok second maybe not so dumb question. It struck me odd that the jaws didn't have replaceable inserts. You can plainly see where harder metal was forged into the working side. Any idea what Yost was thinking when they did that? The Yost rep told me it was in the "machinist" category...seems like an odd feature for a machinist vise. Thanks already.

Yes is the answer.

Some manufacturers did not use jaw inserts. I have never read an explanation as to why but I usually associate that as being an older vise.

Nice find.

 

[thomasr]

Some manufacturers did not use jaw inserts. I have never read an explanation as to why but I usually associate that as being an older vise.

Nice find.[/QUOTE]

That's interesting, because the Yost rep sent me a couple pages out of an old catalog and most every one listed except the 42, 44 and a couple others had replaceable jaws. So I'm taking it that they were making them replaceable, just not on those models. Not a real issue for me, just wondering why. I'll probably get some aluminum and soft jaws...the ones held on by magnets. Just because.....

 

[454ragtop]

That vise has kind of a Prentiss look about it, I wonder if Yost contracted them to make their swivel jaw vises?

 

[Maui]

I suspect that the movable jaw came from a donor vise. If you look at the jaws themselves they are different thicknesses. They don't match.