Picked this up for $150, probably overpaid but I have a thing for old tools.
Pretty sure it was made in 1950, unsure on the month as it has been worn away.
First vise restoration project.
To start was pretty rough, dinged up on the slide.
Tore it down, and wire wheeled the heavy stuff off, degreased and then sandblasted any mating surfaces. Used standard Red N’ Tacky on the base and some anti-seize on the threads. Read that dry lube was preferable on exposed surfaces so I mixed graphite with paraffin wax which worked great.
My setup isn’t’ big enough to powder coat this guy so painters tape and Rust-Oleum high performance red enamel paint and primer. Did about 4-5 coats.
Letters were outlined with a bit of black enamel paint and a Q-tip.
I would like to spend some time and fill in some of the spots where the iron has broken away (you can see the gap on the fixed jaw) but am not too comfortable with the process so it may have to wait until I have a better welding setup for cast iron (open to suggestions)
Just needs mounted and then some cooper jaws. I am missing the pipe jaws but am not concerned and if somewhere down the road I find a donor vise I will get them installed.
Anyway, hope you guys enjoy it and I am welcome to feedback. The goal is to eventually find an old Wilton Bullet and restore one of those.
Pretty sure it was made in 1950, unsure on the month as it has been worn away.
First vise restoration project.
To start was pretty rough, dinged up on the slide.
Tore it down, and wire wheeled the heavy stuff off, degreased and then sandblasted any mating surfaces. Used standard Red N’ Tacky on the base and some anti-seize on the threads. Read that dry lube was preferable on exposed surfaces so I mixed graphite with paraffin wax which worked great.
My setup isn’t’ big enough to powder coat this guy so painters tape and Rust-Oleum high performance red enamel paint and primer. Did about 4-5 coats.
Letters were outlined with a bit of black enamel paint and a Q-tip.
I would like to spend some time and fill in some of the spots where the iron has broken away (you can see the gap on the fixed jaw) but am not too comfortable with the process so it may have to wait until I have a better welding setup for cast iron (open to suggestions)
Just needs mounted and then some cooper jaws. I am missing the pipe jaws but am not concerned and if somewhere down the road I find a donor vise I will get them installed.
Anyway, hope you guys enjoy it and I am welcome to feedback. The goal is to eventually find an old Wilton Bullet and restore one of those.
