Wilton Bullet help

[maverick302]

As I've posted before, I'm patiently waiting for a good deal on a nice vise. I've been eyeing this one for a little while, but the seller doesn't know anything about it. It's a 4 1/2", non-swivel, missing a jaw, and he's asking... way too much. Before I lowball him and try to haggle a reasonable number, can anyone tell me what it is and what it might be worth? It's a little rough looking but it's all about the price.

Thanks in advance guys. Pardon my lack of knowledge on the subject.

 

[maverick302]

FWIW I've been through the awesome Vises 101 and Drivesitfar's Wilton bullet info threads. Great info all over the site but I still feel under educated as of yet.

 

[drivesitfar]

Mav: it would depend if the missing jaw is just missing or if the threads in the holes are stripped or still have broken screws in them. it also is hard to say if there is any cracks or missing parts with that picture.

so for price let's just say that vise was perfect it would be probably worth $225 ish depending on where you live. then you discount the cost of a new pair of jaws that i think are in the $100 range if you can't build a one or a pair yourself.

so that might help you a little and if you can get more pictures that are clearer showing the face of the missing jaw and all sides we might help further.

i wouldn't pay over $75 for it but i don't need a vise.

good luck

 

[zkling]

I wouldn't pay half of that, especially with the missing jaw, bonus if the screws are broken off. Looks like it has had a HARD life.

 

[Buckgnarly]

I paid 100 for the same vise in 100% useable condition. They NEVER come up around here so for me that was a great price.

 

[maverick302]

I paid 100 for the same vise in 100% useable condition. They NEVER come up around here so for me that was a great price.

Yeah, this is why I'm interested. I'm not dead set on a Wilton, but the only ones I've seen come up were smaller and mint, going for a good chunk of change. I can CNC jaws if I need to, so there's that...

This is the only other pic I got from him. He's asking $175 but it's been up for 2 months.

 

[Buckgnarly]

Yeah, this is why I'm interested. I'm not dead set on a Wilton, but the only ones I've seen come up were smaller and mint, going for a good chunk of change. I can CNC jaws if I need to, so there's that...

This is the only other pic I got from him. He's asking $175 but it's been up for 2 months.

There are a ton of cheapasses, flippers, hoarders, polishers, and people who talk about deals being a dime a dozen on here, but you gotta ask yourself if you can get a quality vise new at that cost today. The answer for me was no, so I pulled the trigger. 20 bucks in spray cans, a little of my labor, and I had a vise that would last the rest of my life.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=255253

 

[maverick302]

There are a ton of cheapasses, flippers, hoarders, polishers, and people who talk about deals being a dime a dozen on here, but you gotta ask yourself if you can get a quality vise new at that cost today. The answer for me was no, so I pulled the trigger. 20 bucks in spray cans, a little of my labor, and I had a vise that would last the rest of my life.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=255253

That's a damn good looking vise.

 

[McBrownie]

Yeah, this is why I'm interested. I'm not dead set on a Wilton, but the only ones I've seen come up were smaller and mint, going for a good chunk of change. I can CNC jaws if I need to, so there's that...

This is the only other pic I got from him. He's asking $175 but it's been up for 2 months.

Mav,

I think you can do better for $175, especially if a swivel base is not important to you.

How are you planning on using it?

 

[Buckgnarly]

That's a damn good looking vise.

Thanks, it really is not a lot of work if you find a good shape vise. It looks almost as good today, but has been used like crazy, and has never let me down. Nothing beats old US tools like that!

 

[dkroth]

The handle isn't bent. The edges look pretty crisp in the second picture. If the action is smooth that's a solid deal in the $50-$70 range.

Get the age off it, add fresh paint and a set of Kevin's jaws and you're rockin'.

 

[drivesitfar]

Mav: you can definitely do better than $175 for that Wilton. ZK is maybe one of the most frugal members, but that vise has been abused. i'm sure if you have the talent and the machines you can fix that vise, but figure your time and machine as some value. I do nationwide searches a lot and see vises in your area that are a lot nicer for that amount of money. sure they might not be a Wilton Bullet, but there are other vises just as nice or nicer.

i've sold many members vises here on GJ either shipped or locally and sold this one to one locally a couple weeks ago for $175.

i probably have a few Wiltons left to sell farm fresh or spiffed up, but my guess is that if you look a little you'll find a much nicer one or a Reed, Parker, Athol, Rock Island or several other quality old vises.

good luck

 

[McBrownie]

The handle isn't bent. The edges look pretty crisp in the second picture. If the action is smooth that's a solid deal in the $50-$70 range.

Get the age off it, add fresh paint and a set of Kevin's jaws and you're rockin'.

Totally agree if a swivel base is not important. $50-$70 and a set of new jaws (which are running $55 - $65 and well worth it) and you have a great vise that will last for years.

http://www.wiltonviseparts.net/4-1-2-x-3-4-x-1-2-inch-serrated-wilton-vise-jaws/

http://www.wiltonviseparts.net/4-1-2-x-3-4-x-1-2-inch-smooth-wilton-vise-jaws/

 

[maverick302]

Mav,

I think you can do better for $175, especially if a swivel base is not important to you.

How are you planning on using it?

I was planning on standing firm at $100 if I got good feedback from this thread. Like I said, I have access to a CNC, lathe, prototrak, blast cabinet, etc... And I happen to have a few free days this week since the house we were supposed to close on mid-December is delayed more than a month.

I'd consider swivel less-important. I intend on keeping a smaller rotating/swiveling import unmounted, purely for the fact that I currently use one pretty often for light-duty holding - just yesterday for holding motorcycle fork legs on my bench while I wrestled with the spring and a wrench. So basically I want something stout for heavier use. The bigger the better - I think 4 1/2 is the smallest I'd want.

 

[maverick302]

Mav: you can definitely do better than $175 for that Wilton. ZK is maybe one of the most frugal members, but that vise has been abused. i'm sure if you have the talent and the machines you can fix that vise, but figure your time and machine as some value. I do nationwide searches a lot and see vises in your area that are a lot nicer for that amount of money. sure they might not be a Wilton Bullet, but there are other vises just as nice or nicer.

i've sold many members vises here on GJ either shipped or locally and sold this one to one locally a couple weeks ago for $175.

i probably have a few Wiltons left to sell farm fresh or spiffed up, but my guess is that if you look a little you'll find a much nicer one or a Reed, Parker, Athol, Rock Island or several other quality old vises.

good luck

I'd be interested if you had a Wilton to sell. And like I said in my previous post, I have a few days off and can't work on the new (to me) house until mid-Jan, so I'd be willing to pay a few extra bucks to get something decent this week. Great information so far, I didn't even think to ask about the jaw screw holes being boogered up.

 

[drivesitfar]

Mav: good luck either with the Wilton or the vise you find. I was just looking back in your area a few weeks ago and thought i saw some bargains at $200. here's a much better option for $100 if it doesn't have any welds or cracks and i'm guessing you might be able to get it for $80 but its a 5 inch old Yost so easily worth the benjamin if in good shape under the dirt and grease.

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/tls/5322402306.html

sorry i don't know what city you are next to so this might not be close, but only did a 5 minute search.

 

[drivesitfar]

Mav: i'll try to check tomorrow when i'm at my shop to see what i'd be willing to sell and let you know and i'll PM you. you might have heard i do have a few vises (vices), but i tend to like some of them like my kids and i've got many benches and stands to use them on.

you can also PM me if you find another vise and have a quick question about it.

McB: out of all those you found i do like the Reed 104 the most. did you see the yost i posted?

 

[McBrownie]

Mav: good luck either with the Wilton or the vise you find. I was just looking back in your area a few weeks ago and thought i saw some bargains at $200. here's a much better option for $100 if it doesn't have any welds or cracks and i'm guessing you might be able to get it for $80 but its a 5 inch old Yost so easily worth the benjamin if in good shape under the dirt and grease.

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/tls/5322402306.html

sorry i don't know what city you are next to so this might not be close, but only did a 5 minute search.

How about these?

https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/tls/5376312730.html
https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/tls/5356219300.html
https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/tls/5300711085.html
https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/tls/5300676683.html

Really nice alternatives.

 

[McBrownie]

Mav: i'll try to check tomorrow when i'm at my shop to see what i'd be willing to sell and let you know and i'll PM you. you might have heard i do have a few vises (vices), but i tend to like some of them like my kids and i've got many benches and stands to use them on.

you can also PM me if you find another vise and have a quick question about it.

McB: out of all those you found i do like the Reed 104 the most. did you see the yost i posted?

Toss up between the Reed and Morgan! By the way, I also think a square slide is better for "heavy lifting" like motorcycle forks.

 

[drivesitfar]

McB: i agree the Wiltons are more for precision than heft. a good 4.5 or 5 inch old Reed, Prentiss, Rock Island, Parker, Athol, Morgan and many others will usually out perform. i've seen a lot of Wilton vises abused that have failed, but their only design flaw to mention would be the swivel bases on their 6 inch and bigger vises that would break. Wilton might have re designed that on the newer big vises and i don't know much about their vises after 1980's because i like the older styles so much better.

 

[Bobioz1]

Picture #1 shows the handle is bent bad on one end. No jaw. Save your money.

 

[Outlawmws]

I think the guys have covered the tech aspects. If you want to make an offer for the vise, I'd strongly urge you to DO IT IN PERSON. Low-ballers in Email are a dime a dozen, and not worth even that. Go look it over. Make sure the jaws are parallel, and as was mentioned, the jaw bolt holes don't need work. Ensure the screw goes in and out all the way. See how much backlash/wear on on the guide/shoulder, look for cracks EVERYWHERE.

Any defect point it out. to the seller. point out he still has it after 2 months... (Maybe save that for the inevitable counter offer...)


THEN make your offer. Maybe low-ball your top line a bit ($80-90?) so if he comes back you may get it, or may counter again.

People that Low-ball me in Email get a "No" automatically. I don't negotiate sight unseen either buying or selling...

 

[maintenancemike]

I paid 100 for this one. I put a little bit of work into it since then.

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