The VISES of Garage Journal

[Lump]

My first post here
and my vise...

Hello, Allsystems. Welcome to Garage Journal. Nice photo of your vise too. As you post more often, you will find that members here REALLY prefer posts and threads with photos.

Keep posting!

Good garage-wishes on ya!

 

[Bigworm12]

WOW!...I thought I was the only one with a vise fetish....Until I came here...lol
Can't wait to post my vises tonight...I have a nice vintage Wilton and a Columbian 605M2. The Wilton is pretty cool as I haven't seen another one exactly like it. Weighs about 200 pounds, has 5-6 " jaws and also has pipe jaws. Similiar to a bullet or cadet type but it's not. I'm sure someone can help me identify it...Man, can't wait to get home and post the pictures up.....

 

[autopts]

One more for the vise journal. A Reed 3C.

 

[BanjoSavesTheDay]

Weeeeell, I finally got the Holy Grail. I picked up my Reed 109 from the terminal today. Pics to follow, but it might be a few days. It's pretty big though.

Mitch and Nick and others, I'm sorry for my extended no call, no write disappearance. I will try not to vanish so completely in the future!!

 

[edl]

buy this huge Barrett vise here

http://newyork.craigslist.org/lgi/tls/2635915469.html

yes, it is my vise

(sorry if this should be posted somewhere else!)

 

[autopts]

Weeeeell, I finally got the Holy Grail. I picked up my Reed 109 from the terminal today. Pics to follow, but it might be a few days. It's pretty big though.

Mitch and Nick and others, I'm sorry for my extended no call, no write disappearance. I will try not to vanish so completely in the future!!

Who are you again?....Stick around this time buddy!

 

[ZRX61]

Yard sale this morning... $2.00

 

[demoman]

Kole - We need photos of the 109. Is it the one fron North Carolina? PLEASE post photos soon.
Brad

 

[Zeke]

WOW!...I thought I was the only one with a vise fetish....Until I came here...lol
Can't wait to post my vises tonight...I have a nice vintage Wilton and a Columbian 605M2. The Wilton is pretty cool as I haven't seen another one exactly like it. Weighs about 200 pounds, has 5-6 " jaws and also has pipe jaws. Similiar to a bullet or cadet type but it's not. I'm sure someone can help me identify it...Man, can't wait to get home and post the pictures up.....

...waiting....

 

[BanjoSavesTheDay]

I was rushed in my picture taking, but here is a little sneak peek. I am going to create a separate thread for it when I get a chance since there's a long story on how I got it. It's hard to capture the enormity of this thing in a picture, but I will be taking a lot more. Weight is right around 300 lbs, jaws are 9" wide.

The mighty Reed 109! (Next to the 6" Craftsman vise that everybody has.)

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45099362@N02/6230782396/" title="IMG_7658 by BanjoSavesTheDay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6100/6230782396_8c2fb25896_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="IMG_7658"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45099362@N02/6230249723/" title="IMG_7665 by BanjoSavesTheDay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6041/6230249723_17bc91127e_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="IMG_7665"></a>

 

[Even 11]

HOLY ****!!! what is that from, a train service station? We need more details man!

-Dane

 

[Amitygravel]

Holy **** is right!
I think I got a hernia just from looking at the photo of it.

 

[demoman]

Kole - very nice 109. The one I have is beat to death by some idiot. What did it really weigh? I forget what the catalog lists it weighing. You must share the story about it. That is the best part to find out some history on these big vises and where they were used. Now that you have a 109 you must find a 209 swivel !!!!! What happened to the 109 that was in North Carolina about a month ago on craigslist? I was too late and it was gone.
Brad
Brad

 

[pfbz]

The mighty Reed 109! <img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6041/6230249723_17bc91127e_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="IMG_7665">

Awesome! Might need to drill a caisson to mount it though...

 

[mjozefow]

Nice score Kole! Is that what you have been up to all this time?

 

[BanjoSavesTheDay]

Kole - very nice 109. The one I have is beat to death by some idiot. What did it really weigh? I forget what the catalog lists it weighing. You must share the story about it. That is the best part to find out some history on these big vises and where they were used. Now that you have a 109 you must find a 209 swivel !!!!! What happened to the 109 that was in North Carolina about a month ago on craigslist? I was too late and it was gone.
Brad
Brad

Thanks! I was awfully jealous of you for a while since you had one and I didn't. It makes up for it in some small part that mine might be in a little better condition. The shipping weight was 317 lbs with a fairly modest crate, so it weighs right at 300. As you know, those pictures really don't do it justice. My intention was to take picture angles that made the vise look big, but I think all I accomplished was to make the table look small.

I did not know about the one in NC. Did it sell or did you just not find the ad soon enough?

Nice score Kole! Is that what you have been up to all this time?

Yes it is!! I'll tell the whole story when I create a thread, but this is the same one I've been chasing for well over a year now. Patience paid off in the end with this one. I didn't really feel like I could show my face around here without it I guess.

 

[BJ42LX]

Yes it is!! I'll tell the whole story when I create a thread, but this is the same one I've been chasing for well over a year now. Patience paid off in the end with this one. I didn't really feel like I could show my face around here without it I guess.

And now we have to wait a year for the story?!

Details, man! Details!

 

[rbannon]

For reference, could we get some dimensions on the slide height and width, screw diameter and pitch, and handle diameter and length?
Thanks,

 

[spitfire1]

Great thread! Here are my three vises a Wilton, Columbia and a small no name?

 

[Brad54]

Here's my cleaned-up Reed 103.
I did another post about it tonight. Took less than 4 hours from the before to the after. I'll bake it and hit it with linseed oil/turpentine once I get my shop oven working.

93 pounds of back-breaking "Oof!"

With the handle's collar adjusted, it is the tightest action I've EVER seen on a vise. Move the handle a couple degrees, and the jaw is moving.

-Brad

 

[brianpgriset]

All the paint was chipping off my Columbian 204 1/2. Since the last time I cleaned it (all the way back on page 1 of this thread!) I've purchased a blast cabinet, so this time a gave it a proper blasting and paint:

And my repaired and painted Rock Island 573:

 

[Gary Indiana]

I gave it a proper blasting and paint...

Sweet tools, but... the handles would be better left without painting, as they will scratch and chip as soon as you use the vices. Don't you think?

 

[dirtdigger1]

HELLO EVERYBODY::: I have a columbian model 608 swivle base vise that I have decided to sell if the price is good enough. I would like to know if anyone can tell me what it is worth. I have been told by several people that it should be worth a lot of change. THANKS LELAND

 

[Lump]

HELLO EVERYBODY::: I have a columbian model 608 swivle base vise that I have decided to sell if the price is good enough. I would like to know if anyone can tell me what it is worth. I have been told by several people that it should be worth a lot of change. THANKS LELAND

Hello, Leland. Where are you located? I might have some interest, if I can afford it. I want a vise with 8" or 9" jaws. Does that fit the description of yours?

 

[dirtdigger1]

I am located at Castle Rock, Colorado Phone# 303 688 4201

 

[Bigworm12]

ZEKE!...I spoke too soon. My home PC got a virus and was out for a while...I still have my pictures though. I'm hoping I can put the pictures up tonight....Sorry for the long wait...
Man, I thought I had a big vise but DAAANG Kole has a huge one!...(For some reason that didn't sound so well)...

 

[Bigworm12]

Here's a quick half-@#$ picture I took last night. Sorry, I know the picture isn't great. I just wanted to post something up since I've been talking about this vise forever!....
Anyway, need a little bit of help identifying it. It is a Wilton. It's marked on the sides. Very similiar to a Wilton C1. That's the closest thing I've seen it to. Maybe it's a old Wilton C1 ?..Not sure....Weighs about 200-250 pounds, has 5-1/2" jaws and pipe jaws as well. pretty big size (If you compare it to the beer bottles there in the picture, btw those aren't mine!)....I'll try to get some better pictures taken during the day here shortly.
Paid $15 for it a while back....The petite guy just wanted it out of his garage, he couldn't even budge it when he tried moving it!...

 

[Lump]

Found an oddball Wilton vise...this time a little bitty one, and nothing like any other Wilton I've ever seen. Check out the photos below:

It's clearly marked with "WILTON" and "Made in the USA" and "Schiller Park, ILL." See my hand in the photo below for a size reference:

Jaw width is only 2", and it opens to only about 2.5": (that's 5.08cm X 6.35cm, for our metric-system members).

With jaws closed, total length is only about 5":

The jaw inserts are obviously steel, but both the dynamic jaw and the static jaw appear to be non-ferrous...maybe aluminum or some alloy? Has anyone else ever seen one like this? Any guess on the age? When was Wilton made in Schiller Park?

I have quite a few small vises already, so I would have normally passed on one this size. But how could I turn my back on a little Made-in-Usa Wilton like this for................. six bucks?

 

[SweetD]

That is a cool and unique vise Lump - nice!

Dave

 

[Obie]

Six? Heck, I'll quadruple your money and even pay shipping!

 

[Lump]

Six? Heck, I'll quadruple your money and even pay shipping!

As Grandma used to warn me, "Be careful what you ask for...you might get it!"

I will have to think about it, but I have about a dozen too many small-to-medium vises, while still looking for my "holy grail mondo-humongo" vise, so I may sell a few before long.

 

[Outlawmws]

Lump, that vise body is likely either Zamak, or zinc/potmetal I'd guess Zamak as it is structurally stronger that ordinary pot metal.

Found an oddball Wilton vise...this time a little bitty one, and nothing like any other Wilton I've ever seen. Check out the photos below:

It's clearly marked with "WILTON" and "Made in the USA" and "Schiller Park, ILL." See my hand in the photo below for a size reference:

Jaw width is only 2", and it opens to only about 2.5": (that's 5.08cm X 6.35cm, for our metric-system members).

With jaws closed, total length is only about 5":

The jaw inserts are obviously steel, but both the dynamic jaw and the static jaw appear to be non-ferrous...maybe aluminum or some alloy? Has anyone else ever seen one like this? Any guess on the age? When was Wilton made in Schiller Park?

I have quite a few small vises already, so I would have normally passed on one this size. But how could I turn my back on a little Made-in-Usa Wilton like this for................. six bucks?

 

[Lump]

Lump, that vise body is likely either Zamak, or zinc/potmetal I'd guess Zamak as it is structurally stronger that ordinary pot metal.

Thanks, Outlaw. I was noticing that the metal on this vise is in remarkably good condition, with almost no visible dents, dings, etc. Yet, just about every flake of paint is gone from the non-ferrous metal body. So maybe it has some kind of "shield" like stainless steel, which makes it hard to paint (and resists corrosion)? Maybe that is another clue?

 

[Outlawmws]

I couldn't say Lump, off the top of my head, I don't know of a way to test for if it is Zamak. However, through the 40's and 50's (probably more) Zamak was used extensively by Atlas for one to make parts and even gears for small lathes and mills. It is heavy with Zinc, but it's alloy is much stronger. For even a small vise body like this, I'd think they would want the added strength.

As you have noticed in it's as cast condition the finish is very smooth, and I think that has more to do with it shedding the paint easier.

It is a beautiful little vise for its size and was probably intended for the hobbyist market at a guess.

 

[illmatyk]

Newb question, but how high of a table/stand do you guys normally mount your vises?

 

[Stuart in MN]

Found an oddball Wilton vise...this time a little bitty one, and nothing like any other Wilton I've ever seen. Check out the photos below:

I posted a photo about a year ago in this thread of a similar Wilton I picked up at a swap meet:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1120924&highlight=wilton#post1120924

I wonder if yours was also all red when it was new, it looks like there's still a little paint hanging on in the letters and on the jaws.

 

[bgott]

Newb question, but how high of a table/stand do you guys normally mount your vises?

As a rule, you want the top of the jaws to be even with your forearm when it's bent at a ninety degree angle, even with your elbow. That is for a run of the mill general purpose vise. Vises can be mounted higher for light detail work or lower for large heavy items. What usually happens is that the vise gets mounted on top of the most convenient bench, what you see is what you get.

 

[Outlawmws]

As a rule, you want the top of the jaws to be even with your forearm when it's bent at a ninety degree angle, even with your elbow. That is for a run of the mill general purpose vise. Vises can be mounted higher for light detail work or lower for large heavy items. What usually happens is that the vise gets mounted on top of the most convenient bench, what you see is what you get.

Agreed,

The deal is partly dependent on what you do the most with the vise. A black smith has a different primary "working envelop" than a model builder. try to determine what you will do with it the most, of what would be the most difficult working position you will commonly perform, and work toward optimizing that.

It was discussed recently about setting up a stand that was adjustable, and could be moved up and down as needed. Two sliding posts with a Portapower inside might be one way to do it (This is obviously for the real heavy vises...). Another might be a screw jack assembly inside. For casual use this is obviously overkill, but if you do a lot of vise work, it could be worth the effort.

 

[demographic]

Agreed,

The deal is partly dependent on what you do the most with the vise. A black smith has a different primary "working envelop" than a model builder. try to determine what you will do with it the most, of what would be the most difficult working position you will commonly perform, and work toward optimizing that.

It was discussed recently about setting up a stand that was adjustable, and could be moved up and down as needed. Two sliding posts with a Portapower inside might be one way to do it (This is obviously for the real heavy vises...). Another might be a screw jack assembly inside. For casual use this is obviously overkill, but if you do a lot of vise work, it could be worth the effort.

THIS page might interest you if you haven't already seen it.
I can't give a direct link but if you go on that Brockhaus Heuer vice page then click on the part on the left that says Collapsible Lift it will show an animation about how they do it.

This thread must be generating a lot of hits for Garage Journal cos every time I search for almost any type of vice/vise (depending on what variety of English you speak) there's loads of picture hits on Google directing me here.

 

[Outlawmws]

THIS page might interest you if you haven't already seen it.
I can't give a direct link but if you go on that Brockhaus Heuer vice page then click on the part on the left that says Collapsible Lift it will show an animation about how they do it.

This thread must be generating a lot of hits for Garage Journal cos every time I search for almost any type of vice/vise (depending on what variety of English you speak) there's loads of picture hits on Google directing me here.

That will work for smaller vises, but for the really big heavy ones, you will need something to assist with the lift. I don't care much for the bench mount lift, It would never last a year and still be attached to my bench the vise is bolted to. My bench top (Laminated 2X4's in the vertical position with a Formica kitchen top on top of the 2X4's) is anchored solidly to the garage wall (For the second time, I ripped it loose once...), and gets a LOT of strain put on it. (4" Parker vise..)