Questions for the Vise-Knowledgeable

[zenit]

I recently purchased a Prentiss no 51 vise in need of some TLC and I've been on my way to restoring it.

I had a few questions for those that have already gone through this process.

1. Is there anyway to "sharpen" or help define these letters?

I'm hoping that the blob letters are not just poor casting.

2. I uncovered this when I wirebrushed the paint off the dynamic jaw. It almost looks like a weld, but the front and rear of the jaw don't show any evidence of being broken or rewelded. Maybe just a not-so-great cast?

3. When I've been cleaning off the flaking white paint vice I've been finding small flecks of red, does anyone have any idea- were Prentiss vises originally red or maybe it was on a red workbench for a while?

 

[drivesitfar]

Zenit: Your Prentiss does look like it had a huge brazing fix a very long time ago and i might work fine for another 100 years. i'd use Electrolysis to take all the old paint off and your casting letters will show up much better. there are a couple really good Electrolysis threads on this forum to show you how to set up an E tank and use it or you can wire brush all the old paint off.

does the red paint sort of have a darkish almost purple look to it like my old Prentiss #26 i'm attaching a picture or two of?

good luck

 

[SweetD]

I would say:

1) Other than removing all of the paint that is still on the vise / lettering, you're not going to be able to "sharpen" the lettering up much. Probably cast that way, possibly been inadvertently hit with a grinder or sander over its long life. I have several Prentiss vises that have varying degrees of sharpness to the cast-in lettering.

2) I would say that has definitely been welded, and ground down on the inner side. Could be a fine, old repair that will not give you trouble. But I think that's a significatnt weld. The casting would not come out that "rough" - even on an oldie. I have a Prentiss with the same sort of repair. Someone did a very nice job on it, but it's reapired nonetheless.

3) Most all of the older Prentiss vises would have come painted black from the factory.

Good luck!

Dave

 

[drivesitfar]

Sweet D: pretty positive the red on my Prentiss #26 is original as I've seen on a few other Prentiss vises. Black was maybe their main color and i think they also had a green too. since they quit business around WWII it isn't easy to verify especially since any of the catalog pages left are all black and white. maybe there is some color options in the wording of those catalogs if somebody has one to check.

Z: D is right about the casting being worn on your old vise so after cleaning and if you paint your vise maybe a white or silver paint on the lettering will make them pop like so many have done. since that break is at a pretty crucial spot even though it looks like a good braze job i wouldn't over turn and tighten up things too tight in that vise to keep it working for years to come.

 

[Davefr]

You can sharpen up that lettering using a Dremel and these bits:

However it'll be time consuming.

 

[zenit]

Thanks all for the responses.

It's a bummer to hear about the lettering and weld. I guess it will serve for now, but I'll keep my eyes peeled for another #51, or at least another dynamic jaw for one. I don't expect that it will see much intense use/misuse, as I already own a press.

The paint is kind of a deep/purplish red, kind of like this:

However, it makes it kind of hard to distinguish the paint flecks from old rust.

Will do on the E tank. I've used that process for many things before- I just prefer to the initial wire wheeling/nitric acid soak to get most of the accessible rust off before relying on the tank to get the inaccessible.

Also, another question: I don't see how to replace the jaw faces. -
According to this database, they have replaceable faces?
http://scuttle.dayid.org/wiki/index.php/Prentiss_Vise

 

[EOC_Jason]

Yeah it kind of looks like an old brazing fix, but if it's that old I'm sure it will work great.

The best you can do is remove all the old paint for the lettering. You have to realize that vise is probably somewhere between 70-100 years old...

 

[1982fxr]

they just weren't thinking of us when they made those castings...

 

[zkling]

Hit the repaired area in question real well with a cup wire brush. Almost looks like a weldment, but hard to tell with all the discoloration. I can't see any trace of bronze from the picture, so....

 

[zenit]

Hit the repaired area in question real well with a cup wire brush. Almost looks like a weldment, but hard to tell with all the discoloration. I can't see any trace of bronze from the picture, so....

Pictures as requested:

No sign of brass, looks like a weld to me.
Excuse the mess in the background, I'm still working on setting up my basement.

In other news, I found another #51 on craigslist, but it's out in Minneapolis, 6 hours away. If it doesn't sell, I may contact the seller to see if he's interested in shipping it.

 

[Fretters]

Wouldn't worry too much about the fact it's been welded. It's likely been working fine like that for donkeys. It's an added bit of character.

 

[EOC_Jason]

You can mix up some JB Weld to fill in the holes and smooth out the lines. Then once you paint it you will hardly notice... If it's been like that all these years it's probably fine.