Wilton 645 vise

[scale]

I picked up a Wilton 645 recently. It isnt one of the bullet models......its more of a mechanics style with anvil on the rear. Are these on par with columbian, reed and others of the same style? How sought after are they? I know ppl love the bullet models but they are hard to find and this one should suit my needs.

I also have a smaller Columbian made Craftman 506 model that i use.

Id like to date both vises........decades are fine. I Dont need the exact year.

 

[drivesitfar]

Scale: post up some pictures if you are able and if you need help just ask. your Wilton 645 is on par with the Columbian that looks similar to it. the # you listed i think is for a much bigger vise so another reason for pictures. i think Reed is a pretty big step above these because they are the lower quality lines of both companies. of course it would depend on which reed too because Reed did have a few open screw versions.

welcome to the forum BTW

 

[Rileysan]

I picked up a Wilton 645 recently. It isnt one of the bullet models......its more of a mechanics style with anvil on the rear. Are these on par with columbian, reed and others of the same style? How sought after are they? I know ppl love the bullet models but they are hard to find and this one should suit my needs.

I also have a smaller Columbian made Craftman 506 model that i use.

Id like to date both vises........decades are fine. I Dont need the exact year.

This style of vise is a good one, but not all that sought after by collectors. At some point during their history, Wilton started making these overseas. You can date your vise by flipping it over and looking for the stamped numbers on the bottom of the dynamic vise slide.

Best of luck!

Brian

 

[drivesitfar]

Riley: pretty sure Wilton only dated the bullet and tradesman line so would be interesting to see or know if they dated the 64x's. i think you might still own one so take a look and let me (us) know if it's dated?

Scale: post pictures when you can of all 4 sides and top and bottom of each vise if you have time and we'll help you if we can.

 

[Rileysan]

Riley: pretty sure Wilton only dated the bullet and tradesman line so would be interesting to see or know if they dated the 64x's. i think you might still own one so take a look and let me (us) know if it's dated?

Scale: post pictures when you can of all 4 sides and top and bottom of each vise if you have time and we'll help you if we can.

My 645 has a date code on the bottom of the slide. I don't know how long they did that, but it was certainly done at some point. I have a photo somewhere ...

Brian

 

[Will561]

Here is mine just fixed and painted and love it...Solid vise with 5" jaws and very smooth as expected from Wilton. I actually changed the jaw size to a bit thicker since Wilton didn't make the original size anymore and the price was right for this everyday vise. Enjoy your vise and post pictures.

Will

 

[Will561]

Here is the original brochure for the 645 from Wilton...not sure the dates when these were made (anyone)? Mine has no date code. Wilton customer service couldn't pin down dates either but had this brochure. Again enjoy

Not sure if you can see the attachment...I don't see it in "preview" If you want the Flyer/brochure sent me a PM with your email address and I will forward to you.

 

[Rileysan]

Here are some pix of my 645 745 with the date code highlighted on the slide underneath. It's visible through the bottom of the swivel base.

Edit: Dangit! I had the model # all wrong. Sorry!

Brian

 

[OCD1]

In search of answers about Wilton vise dating I finally ran across this very informative article.

http://mivise.com/wilton-vise-date-stamping/

 

[bubinga]

Here is mine just fixed and painted and love it...Solid vise with 5" jaws and very smooth as expected from Wilton. I actually changed the jaw size to a bit thicker since Wilton didn't make the original size anymore and the price was right for this everyday vise. Enjoy your vise and post pictures.

Will

Real Nice Job!!

 

[jacobdm]

I am restoring (what I think to be) a Wilton 645 vise. I would like to replace the jaws (4") but I don't know which set of jaws from the Wilton website (or other) would fit my vise. Below are pics of my project. Can someone confirm the model vise I have and point me to some replacement jaws? Thanks in advance!

 

[paulsomlo]

I am restoring (what I think to be) a Wilton 645 vise. I would like to replace the jaws (4") but I don't know which set of jaws from the Wilton website (or other) would fit my vise. Below are pics of my project. Can someone confirm the model vise I have and point me to some replacement jaws? Thanks in advance!

I replaced mine with aluminum bar stock, 1/2" x 3/4". You may find that soft jaws are adequate for most of what you do.

 

[jacobdm]

I replaced mine with aluminum bar stock, 1/2" x 3/4". You may find that soft jaws are adequate for most of what you do.

Good to know, thanks! I am actually just starting my workshop so I have limited tools (no drill press), so I was hoping to buy a set of pre made jaws. Any insight as to what set would fit my vise?

 

[paulsomlo]

About Us

www.wiltonviseparts.net

 

[TheRealZeus]

Met a local tool guy and he is restoring a Wilton he found. There is a stamped number across the spindle nut, vertically, as I hope you can see in pictures.
I am fairly certain this part numbering, although I cannot seem to find it’s equal, nor any resolve with the numbers.

Then dawned on my it may have been frankinsteined.. Stopped researching to ask if anyone know the number? When in doubt, ask..

easy on his paint job, now! He is getting MUCH better! I am glad I got him off the fast & furious car paints…. Dang proud the vise doesn’t have ground effects, honestly. He needs more patience, and thinner passes with his rattle can. He showed me the dynamic on his first attempt and it wrinkled pretty badly. I said; “strip it… don’t stare at it. You’ll just get more upset.”.. practice practice practice.

He has a thing for Wiltons, pretty young for a salvage/flipper, but he is motivated, and learning… good stuff, right there.

Thanks again for any resolve to numbers on nut.. be they part, date, or indicative of another brand. I need to sort my database ‘O bookmarks.

 

[Fierljeppen]

Met a local tool guy and he is restoring a Wilton he found. There is a stamped number across the spindle nut, vertically, as I hope you can see in pictures.
I am fairly certain this part numbering, although I cannot seem to find it’s equal, nor any resolve with the numbers.

Then dawned on my it may have been frankinsteined.. Stopped researching to ask if anyone know the number? When in doubt, ask..

easy on his paint job, now! He is getting MUCH better! I am glad I got him off the fast & furious car paints…. Dang proud the vise doesn’t have ground effects, honestly. He needs more patience, and thinner passes with his rattle can. He showed me the dynamic on his first attempt and it wrinkled pretty badly. I said; “strip it… don’t stare at it. You’ll just get more upset.”.. practice practice practice.

He has a thing for Wiltons, pretty young for a salvage/flipper, but he is motivated, and learning… good stuff, right there.

Thanks again for any resolve to numbers on nut.. be they part, date, or indicative of another brand. I need to sort my database ‘O bookmarks.

The stamped number on the nut is an ID #, but I really can't say if it's OEM or not. If it's a good fit, I'd bet it's original.

That particular Wilton no. 645 vise is the original model, first offered in 1961 and continued into the early 1970's before Wilton introduced a new style casting for the "640" series vises.



I don't flip vises, but if I did, I'd probably specialize in "made in USA" Wilton vises. Their name recognition and perceived quality is truly amazing, even with the most novice tool consumers.

I don't know how much he'll get for that light duty vise, but I guarantee it will sell.

 

[TheRealZeus]

Appreciate the knowledge. he enjoys picking, and the save, but needs to make his money. As far as cutting teeth on a restoration, it is pretty good to start with. Although it is not a collector demand vise, he is In a generally good area, to find a buyer who could mount, & run her.