Vise

[hades02]

So I was traveling around from garage sale to garage sale today and came upon this:




Give me your thoughts. What would you pay for it?

 

[espyking83]

$60.

 

[Fretters]

Thoughts as to what's reasonable is largely personal opinion, IMHO. Search for Versa Vise? Should give you an idea of prices.

 

[zkling]

How much did you pay? Why? They are a special application vise.

 

[drivesitfar]

spiffed up like new I just saw a couple sell for $250. nice find and yours will take some spiffing to get that kind of money. check the vise thread for pics of a nice one last month.

 

[hades02]

Thanks for the replies. Paid $25. My first vise. Wanted something vintage and Made in USA.

 

[Fretters]

Thanks for the replies. Paid $25. My first vise. Wanted something vintage and Made in USA.

I'd say you got a definite bargain then.

 

[hades02]

Any advice on restoring it?

 

[davesnothere]

$10ish

 

[drivesitfar]

I think they still make and sell that vise so maybe a manual online if you do a google search. or go on the vise thread and maybe PM one of the guys that did a restore if you have a specific question.

there are several videos I think on YouTube showing this vise in action and it's on my list of vises to own and I already own a couple nice old US made vises (or maybe a few more than a couple).

good luck

 

[ken w.]

The Brownell's gunsmith supply company sells this vise as their own gunsmithing vise for over $ 200.00. I personally have my own that I got some years ago and they are a very nice vise. Smooth jaws . you can flip the vise sideways if you want.Not that usefull in an auto garage setting tho. Nice fine. I'm going to give you a You **** for this one.

 

[ken w.]

I'd gladly trade you a Columbian vise for it.

 

[balane]

I refinished one of those recently and sold it on ebay for $280. The new ones have parts from China so people pay a lot for the old USA ones like you have.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/390752681187

 

[Outlawmws]

Good score, but as mentioned NOT a heavy duty beater, so respect it's limits. Definitely worth a lot more than you paid. I looked for YEARS before finding one used, and then I landed two.

 

[hades02]

Thank you for the responses everyone. I will be restoring it and keeping it. Will post pictures of my progress.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Any advice on restoring it?

Don't.

It's only original once.

 

[larryq]

Never seen one of these before, how do you mount them? Do you slide them through a pipe or something, then tighten down?

 

[drivesitfar]

here is a video showing the vise and there are a few more on Youtube if I remember correctly. very cool vise!!

 

[bczygan]

I think this deserves a YOU ****!

But don't think of "Restoring" it, if that means painting it.

When I first started gathering vises, I was enamored with the bling that a shiny new paint job gives.

But over time, I have come to realize that original condition, when usable, is far better.

Deal with rust, and stabilize it as best you can, but keep it as is!

 

[Provincial]

I would polish up the bare steel surfaces and wax them. I would not do anything to the painted surfaces. If you paint it you will lose that decal, which is one of the coolest features of these vises!

Here is the original instruction manual, courtesy of "tool scrounge":

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=193882&highlight=versa+vise

By the way, "balane" reproduced the decal for a versa-vise he restored. The post is here:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3677841&highlight=versa+vise#post3677841

Enjoy the vise, it was a good score!!!

 

[balane]

I did make a decal for it and it turned out OK. Here's a copy of it if you need to print one for yours. (It's large and you'll have to resize it for printing obviously.) I resized it to the dimensions I wanted it to print then I printed on white adhesive label stock, then put a piece of clear packing tape over the top for protection and a glossy look and cut it out.

.

 

[Fretters]

I'd definitely go with the others opinions regarding restoration, as in pretty much don't do anything. That seems in good condition as is. Clean the jaws and any bare metal with a green pan scourer and some paraffin if they're a bit greasy or have light surface rust, then just clean up the body and coat it to protect it, (linseed oil is a good choice).

Also, if you do a search for 'Parrot vi(c|s)e', that will bring up info about them too. Seems to have become the popular generic type name for that style of vice these days.

 

[hades02]

Thanks everyone for the information and advice. Looks like I will be cleaning up the bare surfaces and that's it.

 

[gm54210]

Nice score especially for the tall jaw version. I picked up a short version a while back for the same price - yours is a great deal.
Depending on your use, something to consider adding (buying or making) are a set of tilting jaw inserts. I have found them to be helpful when dealing with odd shaped parts.

Tilting jaw inserts

 

[Outlawmws]

I'd just gently clean the painted surfaces with WD-40. Kennedy tool box, recommends it for the exterior of their boxes, or used to. Reasonably mild and does a decent job.