Vice Finish Preference - Original, Repainted or Bare?

[Sheriff Roscoe]

I've seen some beautifully restored vintage vices on this forum. Obviously plenty of originals and some bare ones too (paint removed).

At this moment, there's an Ebay auction about to end for a beautifully restored Littlestown 112 and no bids yet. The price seems right...not sure why I don't bid...but I digress.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/331124968962?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

So what is your preference and why? Some like high maintenance trailer queens, some like the honest working vise look (original worn paint i.e has character) and then there's the **** look...no doubt there MUST be appeal for this look....just because

And there's probably a fourth category known as "don't care what it looks like".

 

[Filson]

Totally depends on the vise. Each one has its own "feel".

 

[jakemac]

I agree. The vise will let you know how it wants to be dressed.

 

[X1 Mike]

Totally depends on the vise. Each one has its own "feel".

+1 I just picked up a new vise today and was planning on painting but it may stay the way it is.

Side note: Holy **** Filson, that 8" Reed you have is a monster!!!!

 

[EOC_Jason]

^^^ They said it... When you are looking at the vise, it will talk to you...

Like my Reed 4C I stripped everything and completely restored... Except for the handle, I left that how it was with its dark patina.

The "****" vises usually you will see on ones that don't have many dents, dings, or cuts. Also it just depends on once you get the paint stripped off, sometimes the bare metal just has that right tint that you want to preserve.

I have one that has the factory original paint. It was in some old guy's garage that passed away and I guess hardly ever used. I just wiped it down with oil and it looks nice like that.

I've seen some that are daily beaters. Hardly any paint, what's there is covered by grease and grime anyhow. But usually the handles are clean (from the constant use). Nothing wrong with those either.

Finally... It's a piece of metal... if you don't like the color you can strip it off and try something different.

 

[LandR]

My little columbian is painted safety red.

My bigger yost is painted with SC Johnson paste wax

 

[fivespdcat]

I left my vise original and worn down. I thought about refurbishing it, but then figured that this look took a lot of work to achieve. So I left it and sometimes think about what it took to get that way. I appreciate the past and the great look of true patina.

 

[Exceller8]

Personally, I like mine in "as found" condition unless it's really bad. I have an original Wilton "baby Bullet" that is basically unfinished and it looks really cool!

 

[PCO6]

I've redone several Record vices to basically look like they did when they were new. They were not that well finished in the first place. I use them as intended. I rarely have to take a torch to something clamped in a vice and if I ever hit one with a hammer it would be because I missed what I was aiming for. That doesn't happen very often. If I feel like freshening a vice up every once in a while I will. I prefer to have them look original but well and properly used.

 

[bobcatdan]

My perfered finish is the one the vise came with new and has 70 years worth of wear on it.

 

[wrenchguy]

there ain't no rules, just like "we don't need any badges"!