Worst Vise Repair Ever ...

[91bronc300]

It's called crowd mentality.

 

[EOC_Jason]

It's one thing if it's your own, and you need to continue to use it, or don't have the means to replace it.

It's a totally different story when you try to pass it off as "new and improved" and want to sell it more than a mint condition of the same exact model would go for....

 

[Jarhead0408]

It looks like a red headed step child.
SOMEBODY'S got to love it.

I personally wouldn't like it but if it's all I could afford I'd use it as best as possible.
What are the chances of it showing up on GJ multiple times?
Like a cockroach, it's a survivor.

 

[kald]

Somebody wasted an entire box or two of welding rod on that monstrosity....

That was my thought as well. $20-$30 down the drain. I hate to think how much $$ if that is done with nickel rods.

 

[nine4gmc]

looks like it's dressed up as Frankenvise for halloween...early

 

[Bret888]

It is not pretty, but this concept of "pretty garages" is kind of a recent concept, relative to the age of that vise. I think Carla named a likely scenario, but it could be one of many, that involved spending your weeks take home pay on a new vise. I think a heavy sledge was involved in the original break, which would have been higher up on the static jaw. The guy cut it down to the sides, to get the longest grip on the cast iron he could. There is no way to tell what he used, preheat, or anything else, but it looks like the jaw has seen use, since the repair. I wish one of you guys that think it is weak, would buy it, and put a 4' cheater on it. I bet you either wrap the handle around the screw, or break the dynamic off at the box.

 

[Larwyn]

I never intended to defend the sale of the vise, only the logic of the person who had the need or reason to repair it. If I had a similar broken vise I would very likely attempt a repair, but probably not have high hopes that it would hold. If the repair fails not much has been lost, if it holds much has been gained. I would certainly not go out and buy such an item (or try to sell it) unless I personally knew the quality of work done by the person who made the repairs.

 

[sometoyotaguy]

But that vise could tell a story. Maybe someone on a farm, miles from anywhere, struggling to get by, and no time or money to buy a new one.

Improvise, adapt, overcome.

^ This. It was probably some farmer, or non pro welder that needed a vise.

I'd use it if it was all I had.

 

[tylerae40]

Improvise, adapt, overcome + 1

I'd actually say as a metal worker and farmhand that that is not a bad repair considering it's probably been used for decades after it was welded and it hasn't broken.
I also agree that the price is stupid. most of my vices like that have been free from the tip.

 

[dandan111]

It would have fit right in at my grandpas farm. He painted everything puke green though.

 

[plinker]

That type of repair is common around here, an old farming area. What broke could not always be replaced (hard times), so there's a "do what it takes fix it or make it work" mentality up here (or used to be anyway).

Nothing wrong with that.

 

[juiced10]

Once again tear down somebody for getting the job done. Is it still ripping somebody off if nobody buys it?

 

[taumac]

Hell, Whats wrong with that. I have 2 5 1/2 Craftsman and one had broken screw and one had 2 cracks along sides. I swap all good parts to one and rewelded another one. Its works fine and use it use my welding vise. Not all of use can afford nice wilton or altols etc. Sometimes we stuck fixing what we have.

 

[toomanytoyzz]

Not trying to stir the pot, but I'm gonna side with the "use what you got" mentality on this one. For starters, NO ONE on this board will argue that this thing isn't an ugly basterization of a once beloved vise. It certainly is, but like the others said maybe it was all he/she had available at the time. I am more baffled that someone would put a vise like this on ebay for $100 over the current state of it.

I own about twelve vises of all different brands, sizes and conditions. I've restored a few that I sold, but I'm sort of getting out of putting the time into it. My current philosophy is I HOPE it's gonna be used on a bench appropriately. I'll lube it up and get it working good, but leaving the patina on is my mindset....function over fashion.

 

[dirtydogintex]

...
It's a totally different story when you try to pass it off as "new and improved" and want to sell it more than a mint condition of the same exact model would go for....

Shades of Madison Avenue and other con artists sales folk?

 

[Dustin Echoes]

You know? If I had that thing, I would use it as my primary welding vise. It looks like the jaws close square, and it can't get any uglier. That's a great tool right there!

 

[countryroad82]

.

You guys don't want to see my vise then........ I may or may not have done a similar thing to it. Cracked the housing, put it back together, welded the snot out of it, cracked it again, ground v grooves in it and welded the **** out of it. It ain't pretty, but it's functional. I have no regrets other than the danged thing failed me when I needed it and in my eyes I cussed the vise for giving up when I needed it. To be honest its an old Kobalt that I got on sale, if were anything nicer I would probably be a little better to it, but not much.