VISE Identification

[Junebuggy]

Hi....new guy here!

I'd like to ask some of you vise experts if you can identify this vise (?). It was given to me and I can't seem to locate a maker name on it...most like it I've seen have the rotating gauge towards the front, this one is in the rear. It weighs in around 85 pounds. I thought about taking it down and bead blasting it since someone painted it. Any help on ID'ing this would be very much appreciated. Thanks!

 

[FMC1959]

I remember being at a Costco (Price Club back then) in the mid 80's first time I saw one of those, the ones they had were Altrade. They are a popular Asian model made by a couple of OEM's (I think Altrade is one of them) and then branded by maybe 100+ companies.

I have never owned one but others on the vise thread have stated that some of these have a lot of Bondo to smooth out the imperfections. If you are restoring for your own use, no problem, should be an OK vise. If you are restoring to sell it and make some money, don't bother. They can be found new in the $50-$60 range, maybe less with a good sale

 

[SweetD]

That's a Chi-Com import vise.

 

[Junebuggy]

Thank You FMC1959....with it not showing any markings on it had me thinking it was an import.....I might use it for a boat anchor but for sure it's not pushing my Prentiss vice out the door.

 

[SweetD]

Obligatory pic of your Prentiss please!



Dave

 

[toomanytoyzz]

As FMC1959 said some are poor, in regards to quality as poor can be.


I have seen a couple in person myself at flea markets and yard sales and they range from really crappy (aka bondo) to really good. A guy I work with had me over his buddy's shop last week to look at a 1970 Chevy Blazer he was selling and he had one. It was over 30 y/o and still worked great. You can tell that the guy took care of his tools looking at the shop, but it was definitely used and still going strong.

 

[PCO6]

Junebuggy - I purchased one just like yours back in the '80s and it has held up well. It lives outdoors in a covered work area behind my garage and saves me from running in and out to use my "better" vices.

After years of abuse I took it apart a month or so ago to freshen it up. They are very easy to work on and can be taken apart in about 10 minutes. I would just try to strip off the flaked paint as best as you can. As others have said, they DO have a thick coat of bondo on them and in my case I really didn't want to see how bad the casting would look without it.

As for the brand ... mine is an "IMA" which I believe stands for "I'm a vice".

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