Wilton Super Junior vises

[fishwatcher]

Wilton is best known for their high end bullet vises. On this forum there are literally thousands of posts about classic and baby Wilton Bullets, Cadets, Shop Kings, wood working vises and other models.

In this thread, I’d like to talk about Wilton’s most affordable bullet-like vise, the Super Junior series. They come in swivel and clamp-on models in 2.5” and 4” jaws. These are available to purchase new today from under $100 to $130, are made in Czech Republic by York (the original Bullet vise design came from York), and while quality may be spotty.. you get a solid light use (up to moderate use?) vise with a cool brand name and an iconic-ish look.

There are only a few videos and posts about this series.. but if you have one that you’ve restored, use regularly, or just want to show off.. post about it here!

I picked up this SBV-100 used for $50. I’ve used a wire wheel to knock off corrosion and polish the steel bits, picks to scrape, tooth brushes and a 3M radial brush to clean up some of the rougher spots as well as the jaws, anvil area, handle and swivel clamp lock downs. The screws on one of the jaws was stuck, and I thought I'd have to try harsher measures to remove it. I borrowed an impact wrench from contractors working at my house, and boom, they came out!

I’m debating whether I do a more complete restore (strip and repaint), or leave it as cleaned up as I’ve gotten it and keep the original chipped paint with red primer showing through. [Edit to add new info:] I just read from @Outlawmws and @Shiftless that BLO on top of the paint is an option and won't slow me down later if I strip and repaint.. so I'll probably do that.

Also.. would it be worth removing the front and rear pins, to really break down the vise for a full cleaning? I’m thinking it’s not worth it. The vise is fully functional, the action is a little tight at initial opening and final closing even though I’ve cleaned and lubed it. There is no side to side play. From final closing to initial opening .. there is a quarter turn before it moves.

Any restore tips, pictures or stories to share?

Thanks!


Models in their lineup today: CBV-65 CBV-100 SBV-65 SBV-100

 

[kbuhagiar]

I stumbled across this little beauty at a garage sale a few years ago - got it for $20, new and still in the box. I couldn't pass it up. It has more than earned its keep...



I have been in transition between homes/garages for the last eighteen months, so I 'installed' it in the new garage and it has saved my bacon more times than I can remember. It will stay as my main vise until I uncover and install my two full-size vises, at which point this one will be de-comissioned and retired to my my Tool Hall of Fame.

EDIT: To the Wilton enthusiasts out there - any idea of the vintage of this vise and its country of origin?

 

[fishwatcher]

I stumbled across this little beauty at a garage sale a few years ago - got it for $20, new and still in the box. I couldn't pass it up. It has more than earned its keep...



I have been in transition between homes/garages for the last eighteen months, so I 'installed' it in the new garage and it has saved my bacon more times than I can remember. It will stay as my main vise until I uncover and install my two full-size vises, at which point this one will be de-comissioned and retired to my my Tool Hall of Fame.

EDIT: To the Wilton enthusiasts out there - any idea of the vintage of this vise and its country of origin?

@kbuhagiar Nice. Thanks for sharing. $20 used a a fantastic deal for that Wilton!!

They are made in the Czech Republic by York. See their versions here. I’ve read the original Wilton bullet design was copied/inspired by a former York salesman, so I like that even though this Wilton isn’t made in the USA, there is a tie back to its origin.

 

[fishwatcher]

Any more stories to share about Wilton Super Junior vises? Has anybody broken one of these down fully, removing pins for a deep cleaning?

 

[fishwatcher]

A very similar vise to the Wilton Super Jr apparently also made by York, is offered by Yost: model RIA-4.

Reposting from the main vise thread.

Yost has sales every so often on their website and this little RIA-4 is on sale now for a great price. $36.98.

Has anybody here bought from them and/or used one for their smaller vise needs? I’ve seen a couple of posts on these from members who are no longer on this forum.

Yost Model RIA-4 Yost 4 Inch Compact Bench Vise with 360 Degree Swivel

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

I felt like I should contribute to this one. First, if you keep an eye on the Amazon resale tab, these come up frequently. I got mine for $40 with a damaged box. The quality is about what I’d have expected. I bought mine due to the astronomical price of baby bullets. I made a mount for my hydraulic pow-r-arm. It’s a very good match on the mount I made. Sorry this thread hasn’t got much action.

 

[fishwatcher]

I felt like I should contribute to this one. First, if you keep an eye on the Amazon resale tab, these come up frequently. I got mine for $40 with a damaged box. The quality is about what I’d have expected. I bought mine due to the astronomical price of baby bullets. I made a mount for my hydraulic pow-r-arm. It’s a very good match on the mount I made. Sorry this thread hasn’t got much action.

Nice! I’ve wondered if I could figure out a way to put mine on a Pow-R-Arm. I’d love a baby Bullet.. but for now a Super Junior will need to suffice.

 

[Dick Tracy]

Nothing special going on with my super junior. I’ve had it for around 5 years, I’m pretty sure I picked it up at Berland’s House Of Tools, it has infrequent use as it’s clamped to an odd bench in my basement I hardly use, either way I’m happy with it.

 

[Dick Tracy]

A very similar vise to the Wilton Super Jr apparently also made by York, is offered by Yost: model RIA-4.

Reposting from the main vise thread.

Yost has sales every so often on their website and this little RIA-4 is on sale now for a great price. $36.98.

Has anybody here bought from them and/or used one for their smaller vise needs? I’ve seen a couple of posts on these from members who are no longer on this forum.

Yost Model RIA-4 Yost 4 Inch Compact Bench Vise with 360 Degree Swivel

I actually thought about ordering one of those from yost the other day, but once you add the shipping and tax it was like an additional ~$25, I’d rather spend a bit more and just grab the Wilton from amazon as I’m not the biggest fan of the black and blue color of the yost.

 

[Dick Tracy]

Early in the post the op mentions taking the vise apart for cleaning, from the parts breakdown I found, it looks to be a straight forward process, but I have no experience with this myself on this vise.. ymmv.

 

[fishwatcher]

Early in the post the op mentions taking the vise apart for cleaning, from the parts breakdown I found, it looks to be a straight forward process, but I have no experience with this myself on this vise.. ymmv.

Excellent! Thank you @**** Tracy.

 

[pfbz]

I just scored this lovely Wilton at an estate sale for a ridiculous $12... Superb condition, though the jaws were swapped out for some custom made copper jaws. This works fine for me as I already have several larger Wilton bullets for more demanding work....

It sure looks like a Wilton Super Junior SBV-65, and has 2.5" jaws, but is cast "Wilton" on one side and "63L" on the other.

Very little info online about a Wilton 63L... Precursor to the SBV-65? I do see a few euro references to vintage York 63L, so I'm guessing it is the same as SBV-65 just pre-dates it. I didn't see any obvious date stampings on the slide nor any COO indications..

At any rate, I'm thrilled, great score for $12!

 

[fishwatcher]

Awesome! Great find. This provides a solid connection between York and Wilton besides their nearly identical designs. Copper jaws are a perfect compliment to this lower duty vise.

Congrats @pfbz and thanks for posting about your Super Junior in this thread.