Vise Restoration - Page 1

Site Notices

Posted: 10/13/2017 2:23:31 PM EDT

A buddy said "take this POS if you want it."

Happy to oblige, I brought it home, did a quick wire brush treatment with a hand brush to get the worst of the rust and crud off. Then decided it really needed a complete redo.

Got out the bench grinder with a wire wheel and went to work. After first course of brushing:

Then after completed bench grinder brushing:

Then masking and primer:

First coat of enamel:

Then after second coat all done and waiting for a final cure period:

Should have spent more time on brushing up the handle, but I'm pleased at the overall results.

Posted: 10/13/2017 2:27:54 PM EDT

[#1]

Nice Work

Posted: 10/13/2017 2:29:53 PM EDT

[#2]

I also wish I had the original swivel handle and nut. Tried to find one online, HAHA. The thing probably dates to the early 1900's.

Posted: 10/13/2017 3:21:37 PM EDT

[#3]

Nice work!

Posted: 10/13/2017 3:43:42 PM EDT

[#4]

I need to find a deal like this!

Good job OP!

Posted: 10/13/2017 4:25:40 PM EDT

[#5]

Outstanding resto there. Ya never want to make it too perfect

.....always needs a little of its original character remaining.

Posted: 10/13/2017 4:31:00 PM EDT

[#6]

Quote History

Quoted:
Outstanding resto there. Ya never want to make it too perfect

.....always needs a little of its original character remaining.

View Quote

Yeah, I gotta agree with this. I was thinking I might paint the letters and numbers with white or black, as others have done, but I kinda like it this way AND I have no fine motor skills for artist's paint brushes.

Posted: 10/13/2017 9:34:54 PM EDT

[#7]

Looks good

Posted: 10/14/2017 4:07:08 PM EDT

[#8]

Do you get good paint adhesion using only the brush to remove the rust?

I have a vise that needs to be restored.

Posted: 10/14/2017 5:08:07 PM EDT

[#9]

So far I'd have to say yes.

I powered that wire wheel brush for a long time to get almost everything off. I'm counting on the primer layer to aid in the paint adhesion.

Posted: 10/14/2017 7:06:58 PM EDT

[#10]

Maybe a local blacksmith could do the swivel and nut.

Posted: 10/14/2017 7:15:23 PM EDT

[#11]

I've got a carriage bolt with a socket-like steel tube with a nut on the end that is working fine for now. I only found one photo of the original handle (which I haven't been able to find again

). It does look like a specialty item.

Posted: 10/14/2017 8:02:54 PM EDT

[#12]

Very nice job, it looks great. Also looks like it'll go another hundred years easily.

You going to keep and use it?

Posted: 10/14/2017 8:18:31 PM EDT

[#13]

Gonna keep this one. It's replacing a smaller one that I'll be working on next

ETA: My old one has an anvil rear/plate on it which this one doesn't. The old one also has removable pipe jaws. I'll miss both of those features, so I'm trying to figure out how to mount the both vises. Unfortunately, bench space is already compromised with 3 reloading machines.

Posted: 10/15/2017 12:09:57 AM EDT

[#14]

Quote History

Quoted:
Gonna keep this one. It's replacing a smaller one that I'll be working on next

ETA: My old one has an anvil rear/plate on it which this one doesn't. The old one also has removable pipe jaws. I'll miss both of those features, so I'm trying to figure out how to mount the both vises. Unfortunately, bench space is already compromised with 3 reloading machines.

View Quote

I never realized how important having 2 vises can be until I found myself with 2 vises. A Prentiss 525 is on the bench, and then I scored an old Yost 32C which I put on my table. I need to tear them down and really restore them.

Posted: 10/15/2017 11:29:53 AM EDT

[#15]

Cool, the fact you're going to keep and use it is a nice little bonus on top of the restoration.

This thread makes me want to find an old vise and make it look like yours, thanks for posting the before and afters.

Posted: 10/15/2017 11:33:44 PM EDT

[#16]

Nice work--it's always great to see an old piece of American iron restored.

Posted: 10/15/2017 11:46:14 PM EDT

[#17]

Thanks.

Vise #2 is now in progress. I could get addicted to this

:

Posted: 10/15/2017 11:52:43 PM EDT

[#18]

Quote History

Quoted:
Thanks.

Vise #2 is now in progress. I could get addicted to this

:

http://i.imgur.com/8DKVvybl.jpg http://i.imgur.com/ObtzPp0l.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/wecBYoIl.jpg

View Quote

My vise is very similar to this and in similar condition.

Posted: 10/15/2017 11:54:49 PM EDT

[#19]

If you decide to restore, advice: Buy two steel wire wheels for your grinder

Posted: 10/15/2017 11:58:23 PM EDT

[#20]

Have you thought of a blast cabinet from Harbor Freight? MUCH easier to make it a nice "frosty silver" which takes paint nicely.

Posted: 10/16/2017 12:04:25 AM EDT

[#21]

I'd love to have the space. I'm debating where the hell I'll mount my original vise I just started. My work space is extremely limited. I've been debating purchasing an annealer, but hesitate because of space issues. I'd like a table saw and a drill press too. Just plain out of room

Posted: 10/16/2017 2:39:11 PM EDT

[#22]

Put either t track or standardized base plate on the tools so you can easily switch them off you bench

Posted: 10/16/2017 3:05:45 PM EDT

[#23]

Those are great vises! Nice job on the resto.

Here a old Hollands I did last year

Posted: 10/16/2017 3:05:46 PM EDT

[#24]

NAV223 - Very nice! I may yet try to paint the numbers and letters, but I'm skeptical of my steadiness.

Orion - My son is using T-tracks in his woodshop/reloading room. I like the idea and they function well for him.

For me, the standardized base plate has more appeal. I've seen them online before and thought about them. I'll have to do some research on those and see what I can find.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Got the primer done on vise 2:

Posted: 10/16/2017 8:14:18 PM EDT

[#25]

Nice!

I actually like the patina of the handle and screw/bar.

I restored a Wilton 300S that I got for free. The problem is it was missing one of the jaw inserts and the jaw insert base was beat the fuck up. Had to do a lot of filing to clean it up. In doing so the inserts don't line up and sit flat. May need a machinist to work on it and modify the jaw inserts to allow them to sit properly.

Looks pretty for now, though.

Posted: 10/16/2017 8:26:25 PM EDT

[#26]

You gotta wonder why the hell someone would f'up a vise by dogging up the jaw base

It takes all kinds, don't it. I may misuse tools from time to time, but I don't damage them.

Posted: 10/16/2017 8:45:43 PM EDT

[#27]

You're not kidding, especially a Wilton bullet vise.

That little Columbian is coming along nice.

My dad has a very similar looking and sized vise, US made, which I'll be taking for myself once I get some things squared away here.

I used a wire brush on the Wilton too, but on an angle grinder. The full cable twist style scours the metal a little, giving a nice base for the primer. I wanted to bead blast it, but that's a pain because I don't have a blaster and because I'd have to use a parts washer to get ALL of the glass beads out of and off if the vise.

I sprayed everything down with brake cleaner then used Rustoleum self etching primer, then regular primer, and finally a hammered finish paint. I know the paint job I did will chip/wear once the vise is used, but for the most part it's about as good a job as one can do at home.

Posted: 10/22/2017 4:38:35 PM EDT

[#28]

Well, I finished the 2nd vise. I just gotta figure out where I'm gonna mount the thing.

From this:

To this:

Posted: 11/19/2017 9:34:59 PM EDT

[#29]

I like it. I was looking at mine just this morning thinking it needed some love and then I see this thread...

Posted: 11/20/2017 12:15:43 AM EDT

[#30]

If you take on the job, don't forget to take before and after pix and post em up. There's a great deal of satisfaction in the completion.

Posted: 11/20/2017 11:26:48 AM EDT

[#31]

Nice work!

I'm starting on a couple restorations today too.

Thank you for showing these.

Posted: 11/29/2017 7:19:46 AM EDT

[#32]

Posted: 11/29/2017 3:38:03 PM EDT

[#33]

I gotta find me another project!

Posted: 12/4/2017 2:17:28 AM EDT

[#34]

Quote History

Quoted: I gotta find me another project!

View Quote

Do you post in the Vises of Garage Journal thread?

Posted: 12/4/2017 2:19:50 AM EDT

[#35]

Yes. I posted some of this there. Quite an impressive thread.

Posted: 12/4/2017 4:24:55 PM EDT

[#36]

Nice job on both of those.

Now finish them off with O rings under the balls on the ends of the handles so they dont clank when you drop them.

Posted: 12/4/2017 8:42:24 PM EDT

[#37]

I never would have thought of that. Thanks for a great idea.

Posted: 12/4/2017 11:43:16 PM EDT

[#38]

Quote History

Quoted: I gotta find me another project!

View Quote

My FIL gave me a little green and red clamping vise today when we arrived at my in-laws house. It looks very similar to a Vindex and he says will clamp to the edge of a piece of 3/4" material. It even has 2 countersunk bores for some screws to install 90° to the clamping mechanism.

Jokingly I noted that his FIL, my wife's grandfather, has a Wilton vise, and so does my FIL. He's got a Wilton bullet and I didn't pay much attention to which model but it is pretty cool.

I suppose that means that I'm supposed to continue the trend of the son-in-law having a Wilton.

Your restorations are pretty cool.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Vise Restoration

General » Do It Yourself

Warning

Confirm Action

About AR15.COM

Stay Connected

Newsletter

Contact Us