Sawyer 604 1/2 D

[ScottyC]

Hello All.....

Brand new to the site as I have recently come into possession of a Sawyer 604 1/2 D Vise. GJ has helped me quite a bit with the history of this vise as well as similar models. The vise appears to be in really great shape. I'm not a collector or even an enthusiast although these things are pretty cool. I'm inclined to think about restoring it although it looks like it doesn't need much other than cleaning and painting (and I see there is a lot of helpful threads on how to do that). My question is does it make sense to strip and repaint it or is there something to be said for keeping the original paint and condition as it is?? I am attaching some pictures.... Thanks for any advise on this.

 

[drivesitfar]

Scotty: if that is your first vise you did very well. most of the vises that look like that are from China and are POS. that said even the China made ones are loved by their owners because of all the uses you have with that design.

might i suggest you just clean it up good and then put on a few coats of either BLO (boiled linseed oil) or Johnson paste wax in the yellow can. there is more color on that almost 100 year old vises than normally found so i'd keep it looking like that because not only is that vise a good user it's a collectable and it looks like it has all its parts.

i'll say this again for you and those that were taught different. a vise is not an anvil so get a piece of RR track to beat on and a vise is not a press so don't put a cheater bar on the handle and use a press for that work.

also welcome to the forum and post up pictures of your other vises along with this one over on the vise thread in general tools section if you want to.

 

[ScottyC]

Thank you Drivesitfar (is that a golf reference?)! That is great advise and tells me what I need to know. I was thinking the same thing....that it seemed to have quite a bit of color yet so why not leave it. I will clean it and treat it as you have suggested. Is there any particular lubricant that you would suggest I use for the moving parts (even though they seem to work fairly smoothly). Simple WD40??

Thanks again, I will post over in General Tools as well!

 

[drivesitfar]

Scotty: yes i was on the long drive tour in 2004 and 11th in the world long driving contest in 2003 with a ripped rotator cuff. if i'd only had the equipment of today when i was hitting golf balls out of round in a hole or two in my teens with persimmon wood heads and whippy shafts.

need a golf swing tip just ask.

here's a vise i'm going to clean up a little and rub a few coats of BLO on and set it on one of my benches. sure it's missing some paint, but it's about 70 years old and i'll make sure the BLO dries before applying another coat and it should shine.

as far as grease don't use WD 40. most any silicone grease will work better and some of the better choices are in the vise repair 101 thread on post #5 with a few notes to later posts in that thread. here's a link

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=252830&page=71

I saw you posted your vise in the vise thread and loved the little old lady only used on Sundays comment.

cheers

 

[ScottyC]

Very cool! Drive for show right! I can still get it out there myself at 50! Let the big dawg eat! I remember a kid on that long drive tour who was like 5'9 or something just crushing it and I couldn't believe he could do that at his size! Mechanics right!

Very cool on the vise as well. That's a little gem isn't it? I will definitely work with the BLO and the silicone grease. I have a new appreciation for these and will keep an eye out.

Thanks again!