What did I just buy?

[slowTA]

I've been looking for a cool old vise for the past few months, but I'm cheap and busy.

Today I stumbled across an estate sale and bought this vise and Kennedy 520 tool box. I'm kinda of kicking myself since a guy there pointed out a pipe jaw that he thought went with this vise, but it didn't look right to me so I left it, but now I think it may go in the stationary jaw.

A quick search says it might be a foreign made Wilton. It's 4" wide and relatively solid feeling, opens past 5" but is really sloppy at that point.

I'll probably clean it up a bit, maybe paint it, and bolt it down. Hopefully I don't get too obsessed with making it look perfect!

I paid $60 for both, so even if the vise ***** I think I made out OKish.

 

[MattT]

The Kennedy box is easy worth $60 so you definitely did OK.

The vise looks like one of the type that were US made then transitioned to china several years back. Either way it's just homeowner grade so nothing special. Looks to be in good mechanical shape though just going by the jaws.

 

[chrisnazzy]

I think you did fine. Other than the missing pipe jaw the vise looks like it's in good condition. While it isn't a Wilton bullet or a vintage USA vise, it is still a far more desirable vise than the majority of the Chinese options widely available today.

My recommendation would be to simply disassemble the entire vise and soak all the parts for a few days in a tub of Simple Green (1:1 w/ water works fine). This will loosen any dirt, crud, old grease and will actually lift any paint too. It will be super easy to clean down to bare metal at this point, just chuck up a wire wheel in a drill and go to town. Once stripped, prime and paint it a color of your choice and maybe shine up the hardware a bit, grease it up and reassemble and you've got a good usable vise that should serve you well.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

[Shadowdog500]

That vise kind of looks like my dads old Wilton swivel vise. His is missing the one stamped pipe jaw as well. His was made in the USA and has Wilton cast in the side and is probably from the late 50s or early 60s. The 1644 and the 110008 look familiar as well. I believe my dads Wilton was a model 1644.

Can you take more photos of that vise that aren’t so close up or as far away as the ones you posted.

 

[Shadowdog500]

That is a Wilton 1644 vice, but was made after they moved production of the 1644 offshore.

Here is a quote from a thread where a guy restored his grandfathers. Click on the blue arrow near the top of the quote and it will take you to the thread. I’d just link the thread, but I don’t know how.

My grandfather was a mechanic and owned a small-engine repair shop until he passed in 1998. My father and I took some of his tools, but I didn't have room for all that many at the time, and my dad had plenty of his own. Looking back, I would have benefited greatly from just putting most of the stuff in storage for later, but hindsight blah, blah, blah.

I have this vice from his shop that I've used fairly regularly. It's always functioned as I needed, so I've never really maintained it. Joining GJ and seeing all the inspiration around here, I figured it was time to restore the old thing and make it look nice.

Quick Google searches have linked the numbers on the vice with Wilton, so I will assume it's at least related, though there are no brand names anywhere on the piece

These numbers read "N", "2", "110008", "111937"

These both read "1644"

I disassembled the vise yesterday and put the small parts in some vinegar to soak overnight. I brushed them off this morning, and they turned out pretty nice. I had to drill out the original jaw face screws, so I bought new ones last night and ground the heads down to the correct diameter.

The snap ring for the spindle did not cooperate when coming out. I'm hoping this is a fairly common size and is easily replaced. I'll start with a trip to HD or Lowes today and hope for the best.

The rest of the parts are set, ready for an overnight soak. 2 gallons of vinegar should do it.

My plan is to clean up, get it lubricated, and paint it. I'm thinking hammertone grey or red. I scored into the jaw face on one side trying to get the screw out, so I may replace that if I can find the right part.

While this seems a fairly straightforward project, feel free to pass along any ideas or insight, especially with identification info, that may help me along.

 

[slowTA]

Here are some more pics of mine. It looks a hair different than other 1644s as mine has 2 locking blocks to prevent it from rotating while others have 1 friction screw. Mine also goes a full 360 degrees. Also, I didn't find an E clip.

 

[Shadowdog500]

Here are some more pics of mine. It looks a hair different than other 1644s as mine has 2 locking blocks to prevent it from rotating while others have 1 friction screw. Mine also goes a full 360 degrees. Also, I didn't find an E clip.

To me the 360° swivel is even better. I also like that it has the indents on the swivel so it doesn’t budge when you lock it down. (That feature is a Wilton thing) Clean it up and use it. See if Wilton will send you the stickers for the side like the guy did in the other thread.

The nut section in the vise should come out as well. I believe you push it back and up to get it out.

 

[slowTA]

The nut section in the vise should nome out as well. I believe you push it back and up to get it out.

It looks like there is a post that goes through the base of the vise. I hammered on it lightly with minimal movement.

 

[Shadowdog500]

It looks like there is a post that goes through the base of the vise. I hammered on it lightly with minimal movement.

I’d leave it alone then.

 

[SunsetsAndFriends]

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