Your thoughts on this vise?

[bams50]

I was cleaning out a barn I have and had forgotten about this vise. It looks substantial, but then I scraped off the tag and say 'Made in China', which was a turnoff.

Anyone know anything about these? Like how old? I know it's not scrap, but is it especially valuable?

[/IMG]

 

[toolchaser]

I had the same vise years ago, the entire top of the dynamic jaw sheared off while tightening with moderate pressure. I would not bother with it other than dragging it to the scrap man.

 

[Mickey O]

Small boat anchor.

 

[barcalo]

My dad has two of these and beats the hell out of them and loves them. I hate them. They still sell these under different brand names. I bet that one is from the 80's

 

[SweetD]

Even if it was a higher-quality, USA-Made vise, it would still be pretty crusty. Looks like the jaws are banged up pretty badly, and you've got some serious rust going on around the swivel base.

I wouldn't bother, but I'm not you, so - good luck!

Dave

 

[pipsters]

It would probably clean up but why? It's not worth it. You can buy ones similar at Harbor Freight for something like $60. I wouldn't bother with a used cheap vise. Those I would buy new.

 

[91bronc300]

Put it on C-list as a barn find for $100

 

[TwoInch]

i found a monster 6" allied, the thing is ridiculously beefy. but it shows its inferior origins in the fit of the parts, the jaws line up, etc.. it takes a beating tho.. cant find anything on the allied vises really online...

 

[Dustin Echoes]

I'd take it apart, wire wheel it, and oil the whole thing. Use it on a welding bench, make it your beater. At least until in gives up.

 

[ken w.]

You could get a large American made vise on Craigslist fir under $50.00.

 

[pipsters]

You could get a large American made vise on Craigslist fir under $50.00.

You could, but depending on the area they are pretty rare. Most times folks want $100 or more, and you can buy a reconditioned vise on ebay for that or not much more shipped to your door.

Check out raleigh.craigslist.com, or greensboro.craigslist.com, or charlotte.craigslist.com. No cheap US made vises and the ones that are there are in the middle of nowhere and expensive. 1+ hour travel time each way for those who live in the major cities.

 

[bobcatdan]

Sounds like you own it for nothing, I would lube it so it moves free use it until something better comes along. Other clean it up some and throw it on CL for $25.

 

[ajchien]

Getting a new pair of jaws and a swivel base handle for it will probably cost you about the same as buying one new.

 

[Zeke]

I bought one for 10 bucks. The thing I hate about it is that the rotation frees up when you back off the jaw. The thing is never where you want it and it's hard to tighten up on your work.

POS.

 

[bobadame]

I have a broken one just like that one. The round casting at the back end contains the nut that takes a tensile load when the vise is tightened. It's an L shaped casting. That's the weak link in the vise.

 

[Journaler]

Put it on C-list as a barn find for $100

Funny you should say that because I just found an antique industrial vise:

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/wat/tls/3320860287.html

 

[Davefr]

I hate those damn things. Whenever I see a CL ad that says, "large old machinist vise" it almost always turns out to be one of those boat anchors

 

[fatfillup]

I buy and sell a lot of tools and rarely can I find a big US made vise for $50. I have found them but not often.

 

[Outlawmws]

I bought one for 10 bucks. The thing I hate about it is that the rotation frees up when you back off the jaw. The thing is never where you want it and it's hard to tighten up on your work.

POS.

Drill and tap a hole in the side and put in a Tee bolt to add tension most of the time... (You have nothing to lose)


To the OP; don't spend an inordinate amount of time on that thing, as said repeatedly, it's not worth much at all.

 

[bams50]

Wow, you guys are on it!

I got it in a pile of stuff at an auction I bought for $20 maybe 15 years ago. I forgot whay I bought the pile but I didn't know this was even in there. I threw it in the barn back then without even looking at it and forgot it was there. So it's not like I was in love with it or anything.

Even in this state all the moving parts move. So I'll probably do as has been suggested, give it a quick clean and lube and stick it on a bench. I have three other good vises, so it's not like I need it; I'm just not thinking scrapyard. Yet.

Thanks for the info everyone. I didn't want to toss it if it was an especially good item.

 

[davesnothere]

Id sell it on CL, wouldn't want someone to see that in my home and judge me.

 

[bams50]

Id sell it on CL, wouldn't want someone to see that in my home and judge me.

Don't worry. I have a long-standing policy of keeping all vises in the garage, far away from the house.

 

[gatewaysysop]

Id sell it on CL, wouldn't want someone to see that in my home and judge me.

That's solid gold right there. Belongs in someone's sig line or something!

 

[Dustin Echoes]

Good call! Never let a servicable tool end up as scrap. At least use it until it breaks. Nothing to lose!

 

[El Barto]

I buy and sell a lot of tools and rarely can I find a big US made vise for $50. I have found them but not often.

They can be found. I have 2 Craftsman, 1 Columbian, 1 Ridge, and another that I paid $40-$50 each for. I also found a nice Wilton bullet vise for $30 at the swapmeet. It shows very little signs of wear. I couldn't get my wallet out fast enough.

The most I paid was $100 for an Athol 614 1/2. I only paid that much because I wanted it. I'm sure if I waited I could have found one for less.

 

[joshmodelskidoo]

dad and i both had one like that. used them for years but mine broke after 6 or 8 years. use it till it breaks or sell it for $35-40 on craigslist. i now own an older wilton

 

[Zeke]

Drill and tap a hole in the side and put in a Tee bolt to add tension most of the time... (You have nothing to lose)

If I tighten that T bolt you suggest to keep a long part from rotating while snugging up, it won't allow the shaft to move. So what's the point of that?

Not being sarcastic.

 

[Outlawmws]

If I tighten that T bolt you suggest to keep a long part from rotating while snugging up, it won't allow the shaft to move. So what's the point of that?

Not being sarcastic.

Isn't there an outer sleeve on the inner jaw assembly that fits inside the main casting? You should be able to tighten on that, and not interfere with the main screw.

 

[Outlawmws]

Like this:

I've also seen some pick where they had a sliding pin from the back flange to give it positive lock for a given location.