Reed swivel jaw price?

[xjbmx]

Hey, new guy to the forum. I've been a non registered lurker for a few years and have found alot of good info, so thank you guys for that!

Anywho, I have been trying to find a beefy vice the last few months as my dads last two hand me down El cheapos exploded. (and no, no extentions on the handle!) So I have been looking in flea markets for an older biger, USA made vice and finally found one worth considering but im not so sure if the price is right for it. It is a Reed with the swivel jaw, not sure on the year, or P/N but from my searching I think it is a 405 or 407? It is a huge SOB, and looks either restored or barely used, the jaw and swivel base handles are still are a clean black oxide and the rest of the vice is a clean red. The only scary thing is the jaw handle is bent, I'll have to re check the threads and so forth but the rest had very minimal slop.

At anyrate just wondering what a fair price would be for one of these? I've seen buying guides saying .50 to .65 a pound for any used vice, and other guys paying $300 for other used viced and guys saying that was a steal? The seller wants $100 for it, but I'm sure I could knock it down if needed.

 

[Fretters]

The seller wants $100 for it, but I'm sure I could knock it down if needed.

Try getting it cheaper if you want, but judging from the description, I'd personally say that sounds like a damn good price as is, if the vice has no bad damage anywhere. Any photos of it?

The whole dollar/pound per pound of metal thing, btw, is something I've never believed. Outside of scrap metal, there's no realistic way of ever pricing tools and machinery per pound. Anyone who can get by on that philosophy is either ****** lucky or just passes over as much or more as they buy.

 

[zkling]

If it's the 407 and condition is as you say, GO GET IT!!!

 

[Outlawmws]

Well a 405 has 5" wide jaws, and a 407 has 7" and will give you a hernia trying to pick it up...

You cannot value vises by the lb, no matter what anyone says, same as you can't value meat by the pound when its one price for hamburger, and a heart stopping price for porterhouse...

Assuming its at least a 5", and it does not have any issues, I don't think $100 is out of reach at all.

Change that to a 403 (3") and its a different story...

Reed made some of the best vises out there...

 

[xjbmx]

The only picture I took was of the patent numbers thinking it was the part numbers so research when I got home. Sadly it is barely legible in the photo. I'm thinking it's either just poorly repainted but minimal use since the handles were a good black oxide, or the original casting was just wonky.

 

[xjbmx]

Well a 405 has 5" wide jaws, and a 407 has 7" and will give you a hernia trying to pick it up...

You cannot value vises by the lb, no matter what anyone says, same as you can't value meat by the pound when its one price for hamburger, and a heart stopping price for porterhouse...

Assuming its at least a 5", and it does not have any issues, I don't think $1000 is out of reach at all.

Change that to a 403 (3") and its a different story...

Reed made some of the best vises out there...

It's definitely a monster, just moving it about to look at sucked and I'm a biger guy. I wasn't going to try and lift the thing but I'm not sure if it would be hernia inducing if I did, probably close though. If it helps I seem to remember that it only had 2 or 3 mounting tabs, but I could be confusing it with the other decent looking vice they had which I think may have been just a Chinese no brand literally no brand at that, nothing but 100 casted in the side.

 

[Outlawmws]

Can't see the forest for the trees on that one...

 

[drivesitfar]

XJ: pictures would help us help you a lot. Reed swivel jaw vises are well built, but the swivel jaw feature wasn't always used by their owners so you might have some work to get it to work. some owners actually didn't like the swivel and welded theirs to the static jaw.

if you have a choice of a working 405 or 407 for $100 you have my vote to buy it and if you don't like it i'll reimburse you the $100 and pay to have it shipped.

Outlaw: i'm guessing you meant $100 and not $1,000? and yes the 407 would weigh about 150 pounds so it does have a little heft to it.

 

[Outlawmws]

XJ: pictures would help us help you a lot. Reed swivel jaw vises are well built, but the swivel jaw feature wasn't always used by their owners so you might have some work to get it to work. some owners actually didn't like the swivel and welded theirs to the static jaw.

if you have a choice of a working 405 or 407 for $100 you have my vote to buy it and if you don't like it i'll reimburse you the $100 and pay to have it shipped.

Outlaw: i'm guessing you meant $100 and not $1,000? and yes the 407 would weigh about 150 pounds so it does have a little heft to it.

Yeah, just caught and fixed that myself!

 

[drivesitfar]

XJ: that side of the vise tells us next to nothing. here's my Reed 404.5 so does the red one you are looking at look like this?

 

[Fretters]

XJ: that side of the vise tells us next to nothing.

I've spent about five minutes looking at that photo thinking that I must be overlooking the bit with the model number. Now I know why I can't see one.

 

[xjbmx]

XJ: that side of the vise tells us next to nothing. here's my Reed 404.5 so does the red one you are looking at look like this?

It is hard to gauge the size but that looks about right. I remember it being rather tall like that, enough that it stood out as odd to me. (by no means a vice expert).

 

[xjbmx]

I've spent about five minutes looking at that photo thinking that I must be overlooking the bit with the model number. Now I know why I can't see one.

Yeah sorry! As I said, it turned out to be the wrong side. Those were just patents and not part numbers haha.

 

[xjbmx]

Also, if the 407 is about 150 pounds then im going to go with I sady doubt it was a 407. It was heavy but I don't think it was that heavy. I'll get a weight of something here at work and see if the I can get a feel. I played with it on Saturday for about 5 minutes and had to go. The place opens back up Friday at noon, so I'll be here first thing haha.

 

[Fretters]

Yeah sorry! As I said, it turned out to be the wrong side. Those were just patents and not part numbers haha.

Aye, t'was my fault for not reading your post fully.

 

[drivesitfar]

XJ: it's hard to see the 404.5 on the one side of my vise with all the old paint, but your red Reed might be easier to read now that you know where to look. the number will be on the opposite side of the static jaw from the patent dates you posted a picture of.

thinks to look for that might be issues on these big vises are cracks in the top of the dynamic slide in back where previous users have used it sort of like an anvil. swivel pin and jaw are stuck or welded. how easy does the screw turn in and out and since it might be close to 100 pounds if its a 405 pull out the entire front (dynamic) jaw and look at the underside at the screw and to see if any welds. also look at the vise nut inside the static for issues.

good luck

 

[bluebolt]

XJ: pictures would help us help you a lot. Reed swivel jaw vises are well built, but the swivel jaw feature wasn't always used by their owners so you might have some work to get it to work. some owners actually didn't like the swivel and welded theirs to the static jaw.

if you have a choice of a working 405 or 407 for $100 you have my vote to buy it and if you don't like it i'll reimburse you the $100 and pay to have it shipped.

Outlaw: i'm guessing you meant $100 and not $1,000? and yes the 407 would weigh about 150 pounds so it does have a little heft to it.

You are a little off on your weight. 407 should weigh 223 pounds. 405 is 98 pounds.

And if it is truly in good shape I would happily pay $100 plus for ANY Reed swivel jaw.

 

[drivesitfar]

BB: i should have known the 407 weighed more than my 190 pound 6 inch 4C, but it was late and i have the flu this week. I totally agree the price is good if it's not cracked, broken or welded for a swivel jaw Reed.

XJ: if you have your cell camera and can take pictures from all sides to show us we will help if you still have questions. by the way if it is a 407 and 223 pounds i'm sure your comments of big would have been more like gigantic so probably a 405 or like mine a 404.5. good luck

 

[Outlawmws]

So did you buy it yet?

Inquiring minds and all that.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Wow! I wish I could step into a deal like that!

 

[zeet]

A functioning Reed swivel jaw for a hundred bucks???

I'd say grab it and THEN ask questions! ;^)

 

[xjbmx]

So did you buy it yet?

Inquiring minds and all that.

Nope! Being it's at a flea market it is open Friday to Sunday haha. I'll be there first thing on Friday as they have a nearly complete larger Craftman wrench set (1/2" to 1 5/16" if I remember correctly) with an S.K. 5/8" and a Proto set of similar size I want to get but after searching here a bunch I think he is asking too much. Maybe I'll try to get him to throw it in with the vice haha.

I'll probably post up some pictures when I get there to see what you guys think. I was playing with some weights today It definitely was not a 407 at that weight, I'd say a good 85 to 110 pound range as I did not pick it up but rolled it about on the floor trying to get a good look at it. So you are probably correct at a 405 or 404.5.

 

[xjbmx]

A functioning Reed swivel jaw for a hundred bucks???

I'd say grab it and THEN ask questions! ;^)

Haha if I knew what it was at the time I would have haha. I would have just wrote it off until he said an old black smith almost bought it but didn't like the swivel jaw feature. Thats what then got my curious as to what the hell that ment as I could see the lines for it to move but had no clue as to how or why. Which lead me to sitting on my phone in the parking lot after they closed looking up what I could.

 

[xjbmx]

You are a little off on your weight. 407 should weigh 223 pounds. 405 is 98 pounds.

And if it is truly in good shape I would happily pay $100 plus for ANY Reed swivel jaw.

What about the 414, 414 1/2 and 415 vices? I haven't seen anything about them except in that photo.

 

[drivesitfar]

XJ: you don't want much for your first vise do you? that Reed 400 series vises are all keepers so be happy if you get one of them. like i said check for cracks, welds and missing parts because one guy tried to sell me a vise that didn't have the vise nut inside it one time so it wouldn't work without an expensive fix. be willing to walk if you see a huge crack or weld that the red paint is trying to hide.

your flea market seller probably has no idea the rear jaw swivels and it might be stuck anyway, but if you start playing with it in front of him your $100 price might go up or another shopper might say hey i'll buy it. use your best judgement. many guys on this forum would like a vise like that even if they own a few.

 

[xjbmx]

XJ: you don't want much for your first vise do you? that Reed 400 series vises are all keepers so be happy if you get one of them. like i said check for cracks, welds and missing parts because one guy tried to sell me a vise that didn't have the vise nut inside it one time so it wouldn't work without an expensive fix. be willing to walk if you see a huge crack or weld that the red paint is trying to hide.

your flea market seller probably has no idea the rear jaw swivels and it might be stuck anyway, but if you start playing with it in front of him your $100 price might go up or another shopper might say hey i'll buy it. use your best judgement. many guys on this forum would like a vise like that even if they own a few.

Oh no, i'm not botherd by the price if thats how I came off. Just jokingly mentioning about having him throw in the wrenches. (granted I will try for he sake of it haha) I was prepared to spend about that for something out of a Sears but figured I would look for some good old iron first.

 

[Greasymofo]

I got a wilton vice its old and heavy as **** ftom a buddy for 50 bucks. Took it home cleaned it up with my wire brush nut on my drill and she looks great. Its a monster about 50 pounds. Gotta love them old tools

 

[mtwaterguy]

I got a wilton vice its old and heavy as **** ftom a buddy for 50 bucks. Took it home cleaned it up with my wire brush nut on my drill and she looks great. Its a monster about 50 pounds. Gotta love them old tools

Welcome to the board. Stick around, your definition of monster may change after reading about some of the other members vises.

 

[xjbmx]

Ok so it's a Reed 414 1/4

 

[xjbmx]

Not in the best shape I thought it was it. Sadly the dynamic jaws seem to be welded.

 

[zkling]

Well that was a bit of a let down. Does the swivel work properly?

 

[Outlawmws]

Did you get it?

Actually that doesn't look too bad, I don't see any screws so those jaws are probably not removable to begin with, they are cast in place, and someone probably knocked one loose. I don't see any welds on the swivel jaw. Check the slide where it merges into the dynamic jaw for any welds (If so walk...) and be sure the Dynamic jaw support is still there... (I think I se an edge of it...)

Use the repair weld as a negotiation point for the price. That is one repair that while it needs some clem up, is probably not a big deal.

 

[xjbmx]

Your telling me. Wish I knew about vises before I saw it. The pin is stuck, there was another guy that walked up as soon as I did. He knew what it was but you could tell he was keeping it in. As we looked over everything we both start to reveal more about it. Sadly I think the pin is posibly brazed in place.

 

[xjbmx]

Did you get it?

Actually that doesn't look too bad, I don't see any screws so those jaws are probably not removable to begin with, they are cast in place, and someone probably knocked one loose. I don't see any welds on the swivel jaw. Check the slide where it merges into the dynamic jaw for any welds (If so walk...) and be sure the Dynamic jaw support is still there... (I think I se an edge of it...)

Use the repair weld as a negotiation point for the price. That is one repair that while it needs some clem up, is probably not a big deal.

Yeah Reeds jaws are not replaceable. The problem for me is the dynamic jaw is also rounded quite a bit. I'll wander back and check that real quick

 

[drivesitfar]

XJ: did you get a picture? post and maybe we can help.

 

[xjbmx]

XJ: did you get a picture? post and maybe we can help.

I posted a few! Are they not working?

 

[Outlawmws]

Yeah Reeds jaws are not replaceable. The problem for me is the dynamic jaw is also rounded quite a bit. I'll wander back and check that real quick

Yeah, I looked at that pic under high mag, and it may be braised in... not a good thing...

Or in may be paint fill. Look for a flake off that area.

 

[xjbmx]

After looking more, the pin i think is a bolt? On the inside it seems to have threads on it.

A nail


Aanndd. This is the jaw nut? (Word excapes me) seems there is a pin that has been smashed in there.

 

[drivesitfar]

XJ: i'm not sure it's brazed either so i wouldn't necessarily run away from that vise because it looks pretty clean. is the line of weld on the one jaw a fix or just some leftover from a project? see any cracks?

it looks like a 404 or did it say 404 1/2 on the side? if you are still there ask if you can take the dynamic out all the way so you can check under the pin which should have a hole inside the static above the vise nut. see any signs of damage or weld there?

if you can get that swivel pin out and the swivel jaw to work it's easily worth the $100.

good luck

 

[drivesitfar]

XJ: it's looking better all the time now that i see the bottom of the pin has threads. with all that paint on it you still might have some work getting the pin out, but i'd probably hand him a Benjamin ($100) for that vise.

good luck