Wilton 450N Value

[Gregg]

I'm looking for a Wilton and have seen one locally. The seller is looking for 125 for the vise.

The paint is a little rough on it, but otherwise it's in decent shape. Is this a decent price? I understand it's not a steal like i see posted, but I just want to make sure it was decent otherwise.

These are the pictures that were listed.

Thanks,
Gregg

 

[autopts]

The machinist 450 is an excellent vise. If its not far I would check it out and take a small flashlight. Straight handle, no busted jaw supports, amount of wear on the jaws, check the top of the channel bar for any excessive dings and how the jaws align up after you open it 7 or so inches and close it. If everything checks good and its just surface rust, a cleaned up 450 at $125 would make a nice addition on anyones bench. Serious jaw wear, bent handle or the like then becomes an issue on his asking price.
Looking at the one photo, make sure that jaw support on the Dynamic side is not cracked or missing. That's not a good photo of either.

 

[Gregg]

Thanks for the advice - It was a little on the farther side, but I wound up taking a ride to take a look. Looked at the items you mentioned - everything checked out just fine. The seller had emailed me the full size version of above, those small ons make it look a lot worse than it was. Even the large ones he sent made it out to be in worse shape than it is. I wound up taking it home - Handle isn't bent, the jaws look new with just light surface rust, and no cracks anywhere. Dynamic jaw support is there as well - no cracks. The paint is **** and I plan on cleaning it up. The end cap has a slight dent in it, but nothing that affects function. I might try to pop it out if I feel really ambitious and it bothers me.

It looks good on the bench and will look even better once I get it cleaned up. I have a feeling another one will get added at some point - unless I manage to find a swivel base for it.

Time to look over every thread I can find on cleaning up the vise. Once it's all done I'll get a post up with before and after pics.

 

[autopts]

Thanks for the advice - It was a little on the farther side, but I wound up taking a ride to take a look. Looked at the items you mentioned - everything checked out just fine. The seller had emailed me the full size version of above, those small ons make it look a lot worse than it was. Even the large ones he sent made it out to be in worse shape than it is. I wound up taking it home - Handle isn't bent, the jaws look new with just light surface rust, and no cracks anywhere. Dynamic jaw support is there as well - no cracks. The paint is **** and I plan on cleaning it up. The end cap has a slight dent in it, but nothing that affects function. I might try to pop it out if I feel really ambitious and it bothers me.

It looks good on the bench and will look even better once I get it cleaned up. I have a feeling another one will get added at some point - unless I manage to find a swivel base for it.

Time to look over every thread I can find on cleaning up the vise. Once it's all done I'll get a post up with before and after pics.

I bought a 450N about 6 months ago. The jaws were real nice so I completely stripped it, I had a swivel base assy. laying around which I put on, and sold it on Ebay for $325. Like I said, thats a great vise. Its beefy!!

 

[Gregg]

Got any more of those swivel bases?

I've seen a couple real nice looking ones on ebay - it may have been the same one you just sold. I would have loved to have it, just more than I was looking to spend.

 

[Gregg]

I bought a 450N about 6 months ago. The jaws were real nice so I completely stripped it, I had a swivel base assy. laying around which I put on, and sold it on Ebay for $325. Like I said, thats a great vise. Its beefy!!

What did you use to strip it? I've some pictures you have posted and they look great. I was thinking about a wire wheel, but I didn't know what type so that I don't scratch anything up.

Any recommendations?

 

[autopts]

What did you use to strip it? I've some pictures you have posted and they look great. I was thinking about a wire wheel, but I didn't know what type so that I don't scratch anything up.

Any recommendations?

When they are painted heavily, I use paint stripper in a spray can. Menards works the best. Then I hand brush off the scaled paint with a steel brush. Then I wire wheel it. Then I spray it down with Deep Creep or any rust preventive type oil. Thats about it..

 

[Gregg]

What type of wire wheel? Something coarser or more on the fine side and a softer metal?

 

[autopts]

What type of wire wheel? Something coarser or more on the fine side and a softer metal?

I use a fine 7" wire wheel on my 5000 rpm angle grinder. I clean the handle and knob also by holding the handle in a vise by the threads. It will look great!

 

[Gregg]

Thanks for the tip. I had started to tackle it and went with a paint stripper....there were a couple layers of paint on there....Found two or three shades of blue and some green as well.

I'm using my drill and a fine wire wheel, but it's slow going. I think this project is going to be the excuse that gets me to invest in an angle grinder.

I had also thought about painting it, but the more I look at the bare ones the more I like it. Plus, as you have stated, I won't have to worry about chipping the paint during use!

 

[autopts]

Thanks for the tip. the more I look at the bare ones the more I like it. Plus, as you have stated, I won't have to worry about chipping the paint during use!

There's nothing like a naked lady!!

 

[Gregg]

I think that bare finish it just GORGEOUS!

 

[autopts]

This was that 450 I told you about.

 

[Gregg]

The more I see that, the more I feel that is the way to go. Won't have to worry about masking and painting either. Did you just synthetic grease to lube it all up? I see some red grease poking out there.

 

[autopts]

The more I see that, the more I feel that is the way to go. Won't have to worry about masking and painting either. Did you just synthetic grease to lube it all up? I see some red grease poking out there.

I just use that multi purpose grease which happens to be red. There is no heat build up or high rpm issues. Alot of the wear take place at the front collar, you primarly want to reduce most of the friction there.

 

[Gregg]

I just use that multi purpose grease which happens to be red. There is no heat build up or high rpm issues. Alot of the wear take place at the front collar, you primarly want to redue most of the friction there.

Got it. Thanks for the tip about that friction point. I'll probably just use some multi purpose / wheel bearing grease that I have lying around.