Vise ID

[MarkFL]

I am trying to find some info on a vise that belonged to my father in law. Family lore says this vise belonged to his father but since he is no longer with us that claim can't be confirmed. The only marks I can find is the letter Y on each jaw and the number 44 on the swivel base. The jaws are 4 inch.

Thanks

 

[drivesitfar]

Mark, I can't see your vise very well on my cell and wont be able to get on laptop til tonight so start with looking up Yost and see if you find anything to match or close. Good luck

 

[MarkFL]

Since Yost was the only brand I knew with a Y I have been looking in that direction but no luck so far.

 

[kwoswalt99]

Looks like a Prentiss to me.

 

[notlob]

Here's a GJ thread about a Yost 44. Looks rather similar to yours, although yours would be much older.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=111371

 

[MarkFL]

Yes, it does look that Yost 44. I was wondering what that pin was on the top of the vise. It looked like it had something to do with the removal of the static jaw but I wasn't sure. Not sure if I could get that pin out as it looks tight. I did use some penetrating oil and that did loosen up the jaw but that pin didn't budge.

 

[jimreed2160]

Use your favorite penetrating oil on the pin and swivel joints. Tap the pin gently every day with a brass hammer. Use more solvent. Let it sit in the hot sun for a few hours. This whole process could take weeks.

Solvent, tapping, and patience will reward you with a swiveling jaw.

 

[drivesitfar]

Mark: if you take out the dynamic jaw you might be able to get to the pin that is holding the swivel jaw pin from below and push it up with a bolt. if it's rusted in place check out the VISE REPAIR 101 thread and look for a few more ideas. there have been several members making a little press out of a bolt and nut that you can make and try. here's the link that might help you to get started:

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

here's my Reed 404.5 taken apart so you'll have a few pictures of what your vise looks like after you work on it a bit. ask questions if you have any and that is a great looking swivel jaw vise and my guess is still a YOST just not sure of the model. is there any #'s on it anywhere?

good luck

 

[Craptain]

Yes, it does look that Yost 44. I was wondering what that pin was on the top of the vise. It looked like it had something to do with the removal of the static jaw but I wasn't sure. Not sure if I could get that pin out as it looks tight. I did use some penetrating oil and that did loosen up the jaw but that pin didn't budge.

I am 99% certain it is Yost, but I have no experience with them. However I believe that if you remove the dynamic jaw and the main screw nut you can get to the bottom of the pin and "jack" it out from below. This will involve some creative use of nuts and bolts but it has succeeded on other vises. From what you say, once the pin is out the jaw will be ready to swivel. The swivel jaw is to accommodate irregular shapes being clamped.

BTW Where are you located? In FL perhaps?

 

[MarkFL]

Yes, this is a Yost vise. I was cleaning the vise up a bit today when I noticed the Yost name right next to the raised letter Y on the static jaw. The lettering is incised instead of raised like the Y and was filled with gunk. Even with it cleaned off it is hard to read as the lettering is shallow. Thanks for the tip on using a bolt/coupling nut combo to push the pin out from the bottom. I think I can make that work. Until I make a trip to town I am using the oil/tap suggestion. If I didn't know that pin was supposed to come out I would swear that it was attached to the vise. I reloaded my pictures in my original post so they are a little bigger. I think they as a large as the board allows. Yes, I am living in Florida now over in the western panhandle.

 

[MarkFL]

Here is a picture of the Yost marking I found hiding under the gunk. The pin came out two days ago after soaking in some PB Blaster.

 

[jimreed2160]

Congrats on getting that stubborn pin out. Good luck with your refurb. If you ever travel east, let me know and stop by for a shop tour.

 

[MarkFL]

Here are my after pics. I just hit it with a wire brush and some oil. Thanks for all the help.

 

[tdcisco1]

Mark, I just aquired the big brother to your yost. 7 in jaws , swivel jaw and the same stuck pin ! The markings on mine are identical to yours with exception of the only number on it is under the dynamic jaw, #24 .Will be using everyones tips on removing the stuck pin . yours cleaned up nice !

 

[drivesitfar]

Mark: WELL DONE!! that looks like a great vise now. how do you like the swivel jaw?

TD: you need to post up a few pictures and i be Mark would like to see them to and keep his thread going?

 

[MarkFL]

Wow TD, that must be a big vise indeed. Mine is 58 pounds your must be pushing past 80. I would like to see some pictures to see the markings. Just now trying to see where to put my vise. I am using an old clothes dresser as a work bench. I put some casters on it so I can move it around. It is at a nice height for work and the drawers are great for storage. This vise might claim too much space and interfere with the operation of the drawers.

 

[MarkFL]

So, what is the proper way to adjust a swivel vise? It seems to me that the pin is only used to keep the swivel jaw straight and is not used when the jaw is adjusted out. I can only guess that the angle of the jaw stays in position due to pressure of the jaw pushing on the base as I see no method of locking jaw into position. I see lots of pictures of swivel vises but none in use. Probable a youtube video out there somewhere but I have not found it.

 

[meatsis]

 

[Craptain]

There is no adjusting them they are "self adjusting" as in the picture above. The pin keeps the jaws parallel for most normal use but for the non parallel use just pull the pin.

And don't lose it.

Sent from my LG-D801 using Tapatalk

 

[MarkFL]

Thanks for the picture. Puts everything into perspective. I guess it was better to have that pin stuck than loose and lost.