Wilton vise

[tylerlayne]

I would like to start by saying hello as this is my first post. From what I have seen this is a really great site. I was referred to this site by a fellow member at nastyz28.com which is a second generation camaro owners website. A buddy of mine recently gave me a wilton vise. He had been carrying it around in the back of his work truck for some time. When he first gave it to me it opened and closed pretty easy but I noticed while closing it a little water was seeping from the shaft while I was closing it. The vise has just been sitting in my garage for about the past month while I was looking for a place to mount it. Yesterday I was going to mount it but before I did was going to open it. The first inch it was very hard to turn but got easier the further I opened it. Once open all the way the shaft has surface rust on it. I need some help as to what I need to do to get the vise back in tip top shape. I imagine I need to put grease on it someplace but have no idea how it comes apart or what the best way is to get it working good again. The vice will be mounted in my garage and will not be exposed to weather at all. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[JUNK-MAN]

Just take some sandpaper an knock the surface rust off and grease the main shaft and also turn it over and grease the adjusting screw then run it in and out a couple of times and it should be fine. Good luck and nice score.

 

[Fugio]

First, that's a really great old vise! One of the best!

Step one would be to take it all apart and clean it REALLY good. Just keep opening the jaws and eventually you should be able to pull it apart.

When I first start cleaning, I use a 3 or 4 inch COPPER wire wheel (usually in my electric drill) to clean off the dirt and surface rust. The copper will get rid of the rust really fast without messing up any of the smooth surfaces.

From there it's really up to you how far you want to take it.

Oh, and you can still find pipe jaws and most other parts for the 1760 online.

 

[franzdom]

When it pulls apart don't let it fall!!!

 

[drivesitfar]

Tyler: your Wilton 1760 is also the same vise Wilton made for Snap On in case you want to paint it red and see if you can locate a Snap on sticker.

i agree that you need to just keep unscrewing the vise and take it all the way out and don't drop it. another way to take these bigger Wilton vises apart is to remove the 3 screws around the horseshoe holding the screw in and then the screw with handle comes completely out of the vise. then you can just pull out the dynamic jaw (front 1/2 of vise).

there are several Wiltons restored on the vise repair 101 thread if you want to read more and the link is in my signature.

good luck and here's a couple of the member's who took 1760's that looked similar to yours and made them a little better looking.

also welcome to the forum and hope you stick around to read and learn and teach us what you know.

 

[jakemac]

It sounds like water got into the barrel while it was sitting in the back of your friend's truck. You need to make sure that all the water is gone by opening up the vise and airing it out. Otherwise the rust will come back quickly.

Once you have the vise opened you can clean up the rust and coat the inside with oil or grease to prevent this happening again.

One of the wilton guru's here can tell you how to take it apart, or direct you to one of the many threads about restoring your vise.

 

[tylerlayne]

Thanks for all the help in the responses. I took the vise apart and used a wire wheel on the shaft. It cleaned up nicely.Has a couple of scars on the top but I don't think they will effect anything. There was some moisture inside the hollowed part the shaft fits into. I sprayed some PB Blaster inside of it and turned it upside down to drain overnight.

 

[jakemac]

There should be a date stamped on the keyway on the bottom of the slide. Drivesitfar is going to ask what the date is, and if it says GUAR or EXP on it as well. He's taking a census.

 

[balane]

IF you want to clean the inside get some Simple Green and the longest toothbrush you can find. Squirt it all down and then start scrubbing as much and as deep as you can, get everywhere. Then jam a rag around inside there using a 1/4 socket extension to get some reach. Repeat until you get it clean. You'll be surprised at the results.

 

[tylerlayne]

There should be a date stamped on the keyway on the bottom of the slide. Drivesitfar is going to ask what the date is, and if it says GUAR or EXP on it as well. He's taking a census.

I will check tomorrow

 

[tylerlayne]

IF you want to clean the inside get some Simple Green and the longest toothbrush you can find. Squirt it all down and then start scrubbing as much and as deep as you can, get everywhere. Then jam a rag around inside there using a 1/4 socket extension to get some reach. Repeat until you get it clean. You'll be surprised at the results.

I will do that. I need to get some simple green anyway to clean seats I am going to dye.

 

[Catamount]

Cool, I've got a 1760 too. Before and after.

 

[oldldh]

Snap-on Red equals...

Arrest-Me-Red!!!

I like it...

 

[KMScott]

Cool, I've got a 1760 too. Before and after.

Nice job on that 1760 Catamount. Where do you get the Snapon labels?

 

[balane]

I print mine on foil decal sheet.

1996 1760

.

 

[Catamount]

Nice job on that 1760 Catamount. Where do you get the Snapon labels?

SnapOn sent me a pair!

 

[tylerlayne]

Very nice.

 

[thieltech]

wow that red looks awesome !

 

[tylerlayne]

Finally got the vise barrel all cleaned up greased and back together. It works like a dream now. I can spin it all the way open and all the way shut now with 1 finger. The only numbers I saw on guide key on the bottom was the number 11 stamped. This vise looks a lot more used than one should made in 2011.