The VISES of Garage Journal

[Smitty]

Smitty, meant to comment on your collection of clamp ons the other day when you posted the photo of the Parker on your work bench. Nice to see them all lined up on the shelf above the bench. Productbob

Thanks Bob, they’re starting to add up fast. It started out as a single Stanley.


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[Maui]

I picked up this Athol 623 1/2 two days ago for $25. It was mounted to a work bench when I came across it and though it would swivel fine, the vise could not be held in position once you tightened down the swivel lock bolt. When I got it home I wire brushed the lock down bolt threads to clean all of the gunk out of them, and added a washer. It took maybe 10 minutes of my time, and now the vise works perfectly.

Maui

 

[joe.striper]

While we’re on the topic of small vises...
Here is my smallest Athol...102 1/4

2 1/4 inch wide jaws

It’s on a one inch thick piece of redwood with the rest of my clamp ons.

Here is an Athol 622 1/4, samesizecas your clamp on but with a swivel base

 

[kenc184]

Kenc, piggybacking on what Mike said: Both of my Athol's have a pin and washer on the screw. Took mine off when I cleaned them up and it's not fun reinstalling them. Not much room to work and ended up making a homemade "tool" to help the process. In hindsight I would have left the in place and cleaned around them.
Productbob

Thanks Mike and Bob for the heads up on the screw. I was hoping to strip mine because I like to put vises into my blast cabinet to clean them up, but I am having second thoughts on this one......

 

[kenc184]

Can we get a hint?

Smitty, you referring to me?

Just in case you were, they are an athol combination vise, Ridgid combination vise and Prentiss 56. Missed out on a Reed 1C.

I was determined to own a decent combo vise......

 

[mikeswrenches]

In the spirit of small vises, I’ll post my two smallest, again.



Wilton Hobby w/ KMSCOTT’s awesome jaws and newly acquired base.



Stanley Clamp-On

I checked a couple of mine and they just have a round pin like most vises use.

Mike

 

[mikeswrenches]

By the way can anybody lend a helping hand in identifying the missing piece on the Stanley clamp-on. It’s missing something to hold the main nut while going open on the vise. So technically it doesn’t open unless you pull on it since there is nothing pushing or holding the main nut.

Any suggestions?

Svt_ivan, sorry I got my reply in the wrong place.
A round pin of the correct length is all it takes. Something soft like a nail would probably be best, as it needs to be bent over to touch the back of the nut.

Mike

 

[PacificaVette]

Smitty, you referring to me?

Just in case you were, they are an athol combination vise, Ridgid combination vise and Prentiss 56. Missed out on a Reed 1C.

I was determined to own a decent combo vise......

You outbid me on those. I was surprised at how much the vises were going for.

 

[kenc184]

You outbid me on those. I was surprised at how much the vises were going for.

The small Parkers and other 3-1/2" vises went pretty cheaply, but you're right, anything interesting was expensive. The only one I feel I overpaid for was the Athol combo.....but I really wanted it. Of course, if it's not as good as it seemed to be from the very limited pictures then it's money down the drain.

Well done on the double grinder stand though, I thought about bidding but I had spent more than a sensible amount at that point.

 

[Productbob]

Maui, nice pickup. have a couple of those and they're great vises. amazing how many times a little elbow grease turns a vise that 'doesn't work anymore' into a great addition to a workshop!

 

[Maui]

Productbob that is certainly true! It amazes me how little effort it takes sometimes to bring a tool or machine back to working condition. Thanks.

Maui

 

[Svt_ivan]

Svt_ivan, sorry I got my reply in the wrong place.

A round pin of the correct length is all it takes. Something soft like a nail would probably be best, as it needs to be bent over to touch the back of the nut.



Mike

Thanks Mike.
Yeah I was thinking of maybe using a roll pin, but I won’t be able to bend that. I’ll have to get a little more creative.

 

[chrisnazzy]

The small Parkers and other 3-1/2" vises went pretty cheaply, but you're right, anything interesting was expensive. The only one I feel I overpaid for was the Athol combo.....but I really wanted it. Of course, if it's not as good as it seemed to be from the very limited pictures then it's money down the drain.

Well done on the double grinder stand though, I thought about bidding but I had spent more than a sensible amount at that point.

Is it bad form to ask what auction website or venue you're bidding for these on? I'm probably not a bidder on these as I'm generally a bargain hunter vise collector. I haven't paid over $100 yet for a vise but that's part of the thrill for me and I have zero guilt about it because I'm collecting and restoring for me, not to resell.

In that light, other than eBay I've never really checked out any online auctions for old tools and equipment so for me it would more than likely be for entertainment. Im also available by PM if you'd prefer not to divulge your source publicly.

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[AndrewH]

My cast aluminum Parker 973 (salesman sample I believe) showed up today, it’s soo light weight, the only cast iron items are the collar, main nut and the handle is made out of steel. They used a bronze bushing on the handle so that it wouldn’t wear the aluminum casting and it hasn’t, it’s pristine in that area.

I think I’m going to mirror polish the entire vise and have a bronze collar for contrast with the aluminum. I bought this vise to collect, not for use as I have plenty of ‘common’ cast iron ones for that!

 

[Fierljeppen]

I was admiring all the smaller vises everyone was posting when I realized I had an Athol 622-1/8 that I haven't seen posted anywhere here before. I've haven't been able to find this model in a catalog yet.

jaws 2-1/8"
opening 2"
weight 7 lbs. 2 oz.

The photos are from an hour ago in Chicagoland. Yesterday I worked outside all day in a tee-shirt.

 

[Smitty]

Nice find, that’s a rare bird indeed. The weather looks better suited for Bears rather than Cubs.

 

[KMScott]

Love that Athol you posted Fierljeppen.

 

[Smitty]

A little Saturday R&R. These are two Wilton’s that I got last year, a C1 and a 500S. They were both painted an awful bluish green color. I did the stripping last weekend and and the final cleanup today. There seemed to be an aged patina under the paint so I just oiled.


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[kenc184]

Well the auction report is a mixed bag. This was one of those bankruptcy type auctions where you bid on line but then have to go pick up in person. The pictures were very poor and nearly always just from one side. Strangely enough always the "good" side.
There was a 14% buyers premium and 9.75% sales tax so a 25% add on to the final bid price.

The Ridgid 45cpn combo vise is very nice, the jaws are like new, but there is one pipe jaw missing which is a pita. At least I have two originals to copy I suppose. Cost me about $105 or so with the add on. Bay Area pricing........







Next is an Athol 324-1/2X. This one is nice, I can find no major fault with it, the jaws are prisitine like the Ridgid. This is likely going to become my new daily driver, replacing the Morgan. Downside is I paid WAAAYY too much for this vise, cost me about $195 with the add ons, but I really wanted a nice combo vise and I think I've got it. Hey, I don't smoke, don't go with women except my wife, and average maybe 2 drinks a week so.....







On to the next post as this BBS only allows 7 pics per post it seems.

 

[kenc184]

And lastly the Prentiss 56 is beat to hell. Looks like it was run over by a bulldozer. The jaws have a huge chunk missing from the bottom half on one side, there are beat marks all over it. A huge gouge on the top of the slide - at least it isn't cracked I guess. I paid about $95 with the add ons for this.

Moral of the story: don't be too lazy to go to the auction preview!

I will have to perform some KMScott like miracle on the jaws I guess. Oh well, that'll be fun but I got well and truly taken on this one.

 

[Vise]

Hi all,

Wanted to share a few pics of a vise I picked up yesterday: a Hollands 16.

Haven’t gotten it on a scale, but I’d guess it weighs close to 150lb. Small chip on the top of one of the jaws and someone cut a knob off one end of the handle. Otherwise, it’s in really great shape and turns silky smooth after some light degunking/regreasing. I also picked up a heavy duty pedestal to mount it on.


Will try to save the handle, but may have to replace. I’ll visit the repair thread later for that.

 

[Myronbuddy]

Does anybody know how old a reed vise 134 1/2 would be?

 

[Smitty]

Well the auction report is a mixed bag. This was one of those bankruptcy type auctions where you bid on line but then have to go pick up in person. The pictures were very poor and nearly always just from one side. Strangely enough always the "good" side.
There was a 14% buyers premium and 9.75% sales tax so a 25% add on to the final bid price.

The Ridgid 45cpn combo vise is very nice, the jaws are like new, but there is one pipe jaw missing which is a pita. At least I have two originals to copy I suppose. Cost me about $105 or so with the add on. Bay Area pricing........







Next is an Athol 324-1/2X. This one is nice, I can find no major fault with it, the jaws are prisitine like the Ridgid. This is likely going to become my new daily driver, replacing the Morgan. Downside is I paid WAAAYY too much for this vise, cost me about $195 with the add ons, but I really wanted a nice combo vise and I think I've got it. Hey, I don't smoke, don't go with women except my wife, and average maybe 2 drinks a week so.....







On to the next post as this BBS only allows 7 pics per post it seems.

Re: Kenc184
Those combo vises look like they’re in great shape, I think you did pretty well.

 

[mikeswrenches]

For those lovers of Prentiss Vises, here is the smallest one they made(that I know of). Jaws are just 1 1/4 inches wide.

Patent no. 703,376 on July 1,1902.

Mike

 

[rusty65]

For those lovers of Prentiss Vises, here is the smallest one they made(that I know of). Jaws are just 1 1/4 inches wide.



Patent no. 703,376 on July 1,1902.



Mike

Beautiful prentiss vise ****. They also made a swivel base attachment.



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[kenc184]

Re: Kenc184
Those combo vises look like they’re in great shape, I think you did pretty well.

Smitty,

Yes, the Ridgid has barely a mark on it, so it's strange the swivel base rod and one pipe jaw is missing and the handle is like a pretzel. The slide and jaws are perfect.
The Athol is not quite as pristine, but is complete and except for a few dings on the jaws is super clean. It'll refurb really well.

The Prentiss on the other hand.....well, you diplomatically avoided comment.

 

[Ryan_340]

Grabbed this Reed 205 at an estate sale this morning for $60. Anyone know an approximate age on it?

 

[trijeff]

Two nice pickups there Ken. I also can't wait to refurb my Athol combo, mine is a slightly later transition model with different base but still cast in jaws.

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[Smitty]

Smitty,

Yes, the Ridgid has barely a mark on it, so it's strange the swivel base rod and one pipe jaw is missing and the handle is like a pretzel. The slide and jaws are perfect.
The Athol is not quite as pristine, but is complete and except for a few dings on the jaws is super clean. It'll refurb really well.

The Prentiss on the other hand.....well, you diplomatically avoided comment.

Here’s a Ridge Tool co. Vise that I cleaned up last year. Combo vises really appeal to me and they look great on the bench.



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[mikeswrenches]

Beautiful prentiss vise ****. They also made a swivel base attachment.



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Rusty, thanks! I was not aware of the swivel base. Finding one of them would be like finding the proverbial "hens teeth".

Mike

 

[honza.vosalik]

Grabbed this Reed 205 at an estate sale this morning for $60. Anyone know an approximate age on it?

Congrats, what a great deal!
It's most likely 1940s, but many times they have a stamp on the side of the moving piece.

 

[Mike W.]

Here’s a Ridge Tool co. Vise that I cleaned up last year. Combo vises really appeal to me and they look great on the bench.



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Gorgeous restore

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[Smitty]

Thanks Mike, nice find on the Prentiss.

 

[kenc184]

Two nice pickups there Ken. I also can't wait to refurb my Athol combo, mine is a slightly later transition model with different base but still cast in jaws.

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Nice looker you have there, and I thought they were quite rare - hence me paying over the top for mine!

 

[kenc184]

Here’s a Ridge Tool co. Vise that I cleaned up last year. Combo vises really appeal to me and they look great on the bench.



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Wow, and I was thinking of leaving mine as is: fantastic refurb Smitty, now I know what colors to use!

Don't have a spare pipe jaw do yah?

 

[LesserSon]

I was digging around my basement, looking for something else, and found this Toledo No00 single-side pipe vise, marked 1469 near the base. It was among my grandfather’s stuff. 1940s, ‘50s, maybe? I don’t know why he had it, since no-one in the family was a plumber.

 

[KMScott]

Nice job on the Ridge Smitty. You have a nice collection.

 

[bedn0009]

BLO and Lubrication

All,

This pic is live. One week in simple green, wire brush wheel to grind it and then onto the grill (yes) to steam off any water and heat it up for the Boiled Linseed oil.

Am I missing any steps?

After im done, what should I use to lube everything? Silicone spray?

 

[Shiftless]

Re: BLO and Lubrication

All,

This pic is live. One week in simple green, wire brush wheel to grind it and then onto the grill (yes) to steam off any water and heat it up for the Boiled Linseed oil.

Am I missing any steps?

After im done, what should I use to lube everything? Silicone spray?

My favorite grease and the favorite of many around here is red Mobil One synthetic. But just about any grease is fine. I like the Mobil 1 because it doesn’t stain things black. I just smear it on moving parts with my finger. It only takes a tiny bit.

Smitty:. I agree! Great job on that Ridge

kenC:
That Athol will make a great user and will look great on your bench as well. Are you planning a repaint or strip it down and leave it bare or ???
At least for now, your search for a decent combo vise is over. You can ignore my offer of my Reed 3C.

 

[HotWire]

Just snagged another Wilton and Colombian. They were included with a steel work bench I bought for $75. They are tiny versions of vises I already had. [emoji3]






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