The VISES of Garage Journal

[demographic]

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..)

Aye.
Must admit that I don't think that method would work too well with my big Record number 6 or the Ajax cast steel vice that I recently bought either.

 

[Lump]

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

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.

Yes, I'm sure of it. There are little bits of red paint here and there, and the paint seems to be old and seasoned. Don't know why your red paint stayed on, and the one I have flaked off. Who knows?

Thanks for the info!

 

[Abington]

Here's a little fella I just picked up, no identifying markings, but came from home of a guy who hasn't bought anything like this since the 1950's.

 

[Lump]

Abington, I have one which is very similar, with "P,S, & W" stamped into the side. I'm fairly certain that this would stand for the famous "Peck, Stow, & Wilcox" tool company, who made so many tools...sometimes under the "Pexto" logo.

 

[forsaken82]

Looks like I'm starting on my Columbia 505 vice restore tonight!

 

[brianpgriset]

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?

The last time I did this vise up I didn't paint the handles. I didn't use it enough so the rusted up, especially in the gulf coast humidity. This time I figured paint it. Id rather deal with chipped paint than rust.

 

[Outlawmws]

The last time I did this vise up I didn't paint the handles. I didn't use it enough so the rusted up, especially in the gulf coast humidity. This time I figured paint it. Id rather deal with chipped paint than rust.

If you must paint, and don't want to keep them oiled, at least go with a clear sealer. Then the chipped paint won't show as much.

 

[johnnybentwrench]

geez... the REED 109 is gigantic

 

[Outlawmws]

geez... the REED 109 is gigantic

Yeah, not many people will say "Mine's bigger"...

 

[v7guy]

Ok, thanks that's good to know, would probably have sprayed it and waited 15 min before going to town in freeing it. Will now give it time to work its way trough all the rust.

Have you made any progress with this?

Is there a thread started on it I missed?

 

[illmatyk]

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.

Thanks guys, I appreciate the input..

The vise I have is just a small 3.5" Littlestown that I got from another member here. I am just using it to hold small pieces of metal that I form/cut. Right now, I just have it temporarily mounted on a small table that is pretty short until I finish my work table in a few weeks.

 

[Abington]

Ran across this one this morning, it is an old vise that is part of the table. I've never run across one of these before. We're cleaning out this garage, so if there is interest I'll probably sell it as I'd like it to go to someone who would be able to use it.

 

[demographic]

Ran across this one this morning, it is an old vise that is part of the table. I've never run across one of these before. We're cleaning out this garage, so if there is interest I'll probably sell it as I'd like it to go to someone who would be able to use it.

Looks very much like the Roubo bench vice

That's not a specific manufacturer but more of a type of European bench that's been much copied by woodworkers.

 

[arkracing]

When my buddy backed up to the garage door with this thing the other day, I just went and got the forklift

Price = Free, his company is doing the plumbing work in an old mill that is being converted to apartments. The vise was in there and they told him to take it.

 

[Outlawmws]

OK, you officially ****! a Chas. Parker, and it's a freaking monster, for free!

 

[Outlawmws]

Ran across this one this morning, it is an old vise that is part of the table. I've never run across one of these before. We're cleaning out this garage, so if there is interest I'll probably sell it as I'd like it to go to someone who would be able to use it.

It's a leg vise, used by wood workers as mentioned, and I'd bet there are a series of holes in the left/right front leg(s) for support as well.

You may find takers for the whole bench if it can be taken loose from the wall intact, not to mention all the tools on top of the bench. That thing clearly has some history.

 

[SweetD]

When my buddy backed up to the garage door with this thing the other day, I just went and got the forklift

Price = Free, his company is doing the plumbing work in an old mill that is being converted to apartments. The vise was in there and they told him to take it.

Possible You **** of The Year candidate, what a score!

What are your plans for it? Restore? Clean up? Keep? Sell?

Dave

 

[Abington]

Abington, I have one which is very similar, with "P,S, & W" stamped into the side. I'm fairly certain that this would stand for the famous "Peck, Stow, & Wilcox" tool company, who made so many tools...sometimes under the "Pexto" logo.

Thanks for that. I live only an hour from Southington CT where Pexto was headquartered, so that makes is even more likely that it is Pexto.

 

[Abington]

It's a leg vise, used by wood workers as mentioned, and I'd bet there are a series of holes in the left/right front leg(s) for support as well.

You may find takers for the whole bench if it can be taken loose from the wall intact, not to mention all the tools on top of the bench. That thing clearly has some history.

Thanks for your response, and 'demographic's' response too.
My thought is that the bench pre-dates the building as the garage is only 1920's or so and the house is circa 1880. I'm pretty sure the bench can be removed intact so it will probably hit the classified soon, as well as that bottle jack and some other old odds and ends.

 

[Rockbiter]

I just finished building a woodworking bench and have been toying with the idea of adding a leg vise to it. What would you have to have for the leg vise hardware, the vise screw and collar and the threaded part it threads into?
Mike in CO

 

[arkracing]

Possible You **** of The Year candidate, what a score!

What are your plans for it? Restore? Clean up? Keep? Sell?

Dave

Wow what an honor

It's actually his, not mine - I have 3 or 4 of them already. He shares some garage space with me. I guess he's going to use it. He is a plumber by trade so it will come in very useful for him.

We don't ususally "CLEAN or RESTORE" stuff like that. It will just get used as intended

 

[Outlawmws]

Wow what an honor

It's actually his, not mine - I have 3 or 4 of them already. He shares some garage space with me. I guess he's going to use it. He is a plumber by trade so it will come in very useful for him.

We don't ususally "CLEAN or RESTORE" stuff like that. It will just get used as intended

So what you do is when you know he's out of circulation for a couple of days, do it yourself and mount it, and when he asks where you got the new vise and where his is, you just go innocent on him!

 

[bgott]

You may find takers for the whole bench if it can be taken loose from the wall intact, not to mention all the tools on top of the bench. That thing clearly has some history

I just finished building a woodworking bench and have been toying with the idea of adding a leg vise to it.

http://www.workbenchdesign.net/rvises.html

You can buy that screw and make your own. Lotsa parts for woodworking benches here.

 

[ZRX61]

That looks exactly like Morgan Blue on that HUGE Parker...?

 

[Commando]

Have you made any progress with this?

Is there a thread started on it I missed?

Nothing yet, been spraying with PB blast every weekend though. Will start a thread when I make some progress, been thinking of attaching to engine crane to see if it will separate itself with the help of gravity and more spraying.

 

[buzzdex1]

Greetings all,

I ran across this site a year or so ago. It prompted me to go dig a couple of vises out of cardboard boxes in the garage. Now I have 8 vises including the most recently acquired Morgan Chicago 35 pictured here. I neglected to take a "before" picture when it had shabby paint, a bent handle, and was missing the dowel that holds the frog in place.

This site has been a Godsend. When SWMBO asks silly questions like " What are you going to do with all those vises?", I can point to distinguished members of this forum who have larger collections of larger vises when I tell her it could be worse.

I appreciate all the info, insights and pictures you have all shared. Very helpful!

Kevin

 

[forsaken82]

anyone know much about a columbian hardware co. 505 m1 vice? i know it is a machinist vice but that's about it. i inherited one and am in the process of restoring it ( or at least making it where i don't need a tetanus shot looking at it) i googled it but didn't come up with much.

 

[Outlawmws]

Greetings all,

I ran across this site a year or so ago. It prompted me to go dig a couple of vises out of cardboard boxes in the garage. Now I have 8 vises including the most recently acquired Morgan Chicago 35 pictured here. I neglected to take a "before" picture when it had shabby paint, a bent handle, and was missing the dowel that holds the frog in place.

This site has been a Godsend. When SWMBO asks silly questions like " What are you going to do with all those vises?", I can point to distinguished members of this forum who have larger collections of larger vises when I tell her it could be worse.

I appreciate all the info, insights and pictures you have all shared. Very helpful!

Kevin

Kevin, Somehow I doubt that when she see's how some of us collect vises, she doesn't think of us as "distinguished members"...



Nice restore on the Morgan BTW.

 

[Abington]

Help ID this vise

Can anyone ID this vise? It's another one found during the cleanout of the old garage, probably hasn't been used since the 60's if I had to guess. The only identifying marks I've found are V16 on the base and V17 on the slider

Here are some pics, it opens to 4"

Thanks for any help!

 

[RedVise]

Here's a little fella I just picked up, no identifying markings, but came from home of a guy who hasn't bought anything like this since the 1950's.

Very nice, I like those clamp on vises.

Brian L.

 

[Bigworm12]

Found out my vise is an old Wilton C3...Pretty cool vise. I posted pictures of it earlier in this thread....

 

[JSteinhoff]

Have brand new in box Wilton complete assembly swivel base fro your 600, part #2904150

 

[JSteinhoff]

$200.00, plus 20.00 to ship UPS from Oregon

 

[DynoDale]

Got a Prentiss #97. See catalog page here for specs. I'll post more photos after it's unloaded.

 

[bl00]

Got a Prentiss #97.

That's a beast! Nice score.

 

[Rockbiter]

Here's my vise. I just gave it a good cleaning and serviced it today. Took it all apart. Everything is working like new or close to it I would guess. It's a 324 1/2. In order to compress the spring with washers on the drive screw, I slid a 3' piece of 1" i.d. PVC down over the drive screw. Stood it up so it was standing on the PVC, then used a screwdriver to get in between the PVC and the first washer to open a gap up so I could insert the cotter pin. It worked great.

 

[ajchien]

Got a Prentiss #97. See catalog page here for specs. I'll post more photos after it's unloaded.

Did you say 97!?!?

As in ... 7 inch wide jaws. Holy cow.

 

[SweetD]

Got a Prentiss #97. See catalog page here for specs. I'll post more photos after it's unloaded.

Woah - awesome! Can't wait to see it assembled and something to show scale.

Here's my vise. I just gave it a good cleaning and serviced it today. Took it all apart. Everything is working like new or close to it I would guess. It's a 324 1/2. In order to compress the spring with washers on the drive screw, I slid a 3' piece of 1" i.d. PVC down over the drive screw. Stood it up so it was standing on the PVC, then used a screwdriver to get in between the PVC and the first washer to open a gap up so I could insert the cotter pin. It worked great. .

Looks really really nice! Never seen one like it - how about some more pics?

Dave

 

[ZRX61]

In order to compress the spring with washers on the drive screw, I slid a 3' piece of 1" i.d. PVC down over the drive screw. Stood it up so it was standing on the PVC, then used a screwdriver to get in between the PVC and the first washer to open a gap up so I could insert the cotter pin. It worked great.

I compress the spring in another vise, then wrap 2 twists of safety wire around it 180deg apart. Then just clip the safety wire once it's all assembled.

 

[Rockbiter]

Sorry about the dark picture last night. No flash and not much for light in the shop right now. More light in there this morning. Here's a better picture hopefully.