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Wilton vise

Greg4734

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Mar 27, 2016
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I just bought a 137 lb 9-600 vintage wilton vise for $120.00. It is seized. The size makes it very difficult to work with. Any suggestions in terms of how to un-seize it? Perhaps it's value?
 
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thehorse13

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Let's get a look at that vise and see what we can do for you.
 

Southern Forester

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Mar 27, 2017
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Southern Mississippi
Photos are helpful. I just got a monster Reed 408. The dynamic jaw operated perfectly when I got it, but the vise wouldn't swivel on the base and the swivel jaw pin was frozen in place. Using alternating carb cleaner followed by penetrating oil followed by carb cleaner followed by penetrating oil, I was able to get the base freed so that it will spin. Now I have to get the swivel jaw freed.

I wonder if you could get the whole thing into a 5 gallon bucket and then immerse it in kerosene or diesel for a week or two if that would penetrate enough to loosen things up.
 

Davefr

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I'd get a large tote and fill it with 80-90% water and 10-20% feed grade Molasses and then completely submerse the vise and attach the lid.

Come back in a couple weeks and it should be rust free. If not, change the solution and give it another couple weeks.

It will eventually get the vise rust free assuming the rust is causing it to be seized.

This method is not the quickest rust removal method but it works great and is cheap and easy.
 
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My Old Tools

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Is it rusted or just seized from dried grease and dirt. Soaking with any penetrating oil should get it going eventually. Try dropping it in a tub of diesel for awhile. I have a 5 inch that was locked up. I stood it on end and sprayed plain old WD-40 down the barrel every evening for awhile, then tapped it with a dead blow a few good raps every night. After a couple of weeks it gave up and started moving. Once it moved at all, the screw would move it. Worked it in and out until I had full travel, then disassembled and cleaned it good.
 

G-ManBart

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I just bought a 137 lb 9-600 vintage wilton vise for $120.00. It is seized. The size makes it very difficult to work with. Any suggestions in terms of how to un-seize it? Perhaps it's value?

Depending upon the condition (after you get it freed up) anywhere from $300-500 is pretty common if it doesn't have a swivel base. With a swivel base add another $50-100.

Remove the front collar and then unscrew the spindle completely. Take a dowel, slide it through the nut, and knock out the dust cover from the back of the vise. Remove the pins holding the nut in place. Then remove the nut and tail cap assembly. That will give you easy access to the inside of vise. Point it nose down and put a bunch of penetrating fluid in it and let it sit for a couple of days.

After it's soaked for a few days, secure it to a bench, or something else that won't move and then use a block of wood and a hammer to hit the back of the slide to see if it will free up. If not, mount it vertically again, soak it in penetrating fluid longer, and try the block of wood/hammer technique again. If you have a piece of flat stock steel that will fill the hole you could use that on the back of the slide as well....you just want to distribute the force around the entire back of the slide and protect it from the actual impact.

People run into problems removing the pins because they try to drive one inwards, hoping it will push the one on the other side outwards. Frequently they don't line up and you wind up with a pin half in, half out, and no easy way to remove it. This method is easy, quick and essentially foolproof:


Let us know how it works out!
 
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6PTsocket

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I'd get a large tote and fill it with 80-90% water and 10-20% feed grade Molasses and then completely submerse the vise and attach the lid.

Come back in a couple weeks and it should be rust free. If not, change the solution and give it another couple weeks.

It will eventually get the vise rust free assuming the rust is causing it to be seized.

This method is not the quickest rust removal method but it works great and is cheap and easy.
That is DIY Evaporust. A lot slower but a whole lot cheaper.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
 

Swingpress

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Mar 16, 2017
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50/50 acetone and atf. That stuff works miracles!!!! I had a thread on here where I used it as a last resort when nothing else worked!
 

va.grouseman

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Sothern Forester, let's see some pics of that #408 to.:eyecrazy:


Greg, if all that's wrong with your #600 is just some seizing, then you got a real deal.---Congrats.:thumbup:
 

RG Rude

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Florida
50/50 acetone and atf. That stuff works miracles!!!! I had a thread on here where I used it as a last resort when nothing else worked!

Neat idea. I've never tried it but I am a big believer in ATF use in this manner for autoparts.
 

CNGsaves

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KS and OK
+1 for soaking in a tub. If you can find it, just get Red Dyed diesel fuel which is cheaper.

Also OP (original poster). . . Welcome to GJ . . nice snag on a big vise !! :thumbup:
 

Shiftless

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East Bay SFO
Greg:
These are all excellent suggestions. I had a very badly stuck 4 inch bullet where I followed the advice posted by GmanBart and it finally worked.
Post some pics, ok?

Swingpress is right about the ATF/acetone mixture. I have used it with success.
I have never tried soaking in a tub like 6PT and Dave suggested.

If that seems to be too much work, just bring it over to my house and I will cash you out for the $120 you spent. Or trade you a smaller wilton bullet that isn't stuck at all! :evil:
 
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