Show me your Machinist Vise

[Glenn]

Show me your Machinist Vise

We are looking for the vises that sit on the edge of the table or on a stand bolted to the floor, usually found in a machine shop, garage, or fabricators work area.

We would also like the manufacture, jaw width, weight of the vise, and any details you can provide as to the history of the vise.

[Glenn]

This is an old Reed vise, 8 inch jaws, and weighs about all I want to pick up (guessing at 50-70#).

I found it in the back of an open shed and rained on for who knows how long. The poor thing was encrusted in rust and nothing moved. A lot of TLC and it started moving and was wire brushed and put into service.

A year or more later the rotation plate broke loose. It was again disassembled and cleaned, only this time it was mounted as a mobile vise that would sit INTO the holes on the acorn platten, could be moved to anywhere on the platten or even removed.

See IForgeIron.com > Blueprint > BP0422 Mounting a Vise

[metalmaster1766]

i have an old Wilton vise, i haven't weighed it, but id guess its over 150 lbs, the jaws are 8" wide and it opens up to almost 10", i don't have a picture of it since it has been mounted, but it is on a cast iron base (from an unknown machine) and looks right at home

Ron

[RainsFire]

you're pretty into these Show me your "-----" posts.. Ill slap up a picture and description of ours when I find my stupid camera..

[IronPuppet]

This is a good vice stand as it has a pipe vice on it as well.

Christopher

[Dodge]

This is my Wilton. Only has 4" jaws but weighing in at near 100# it really can put some pressure on those 4" The base starts on a 16" diam x 1/2" plate with a 13" diam x 3ga tube 24" tall that tapers to about 12.5" at the top. On top of that is a 13" diam x 3/8" plate topped with a 6.5" diam x 4" x 7ga (I seem to remember)pipe. Vice finally sits on a 1/2" thick plate cut to the shape of the vise base. Second pic shows (I hope) the 1/4" rod I put on to hang hammers and tongs. "One of these days" I will paint it. .....along with my power hammer and belt grinder. LOL

[Glenn]

You have any fill material in the base? Is the base bolted down to the floor?

[Dodge]

No fill. Not bolted down. Needs to be able to be moved semi-frequently. Anticipating the next question; It may be top heavy but the weight and diameter of the base seem to make this a moot point. Also, its just a guess, but I believe the base weighs at least as much the vise. Except tasks involving heavy twisting or removal of u-joints from drive shafts, I have never experienced a tippage problem While not issued evenly, common sense must be utilized uniformly

[irnsrgn]

I have an 8 inch jaw width, I think Columbian on my welding bench. My father and Uncle got it a RR shop Auction many, many years ago, each one carried a piece to their vehicle which was a city block away. One piece at a time was enough for me to handle.
No Picture at this time.

[Conan_568]

This is my Wilton C2 5 inch jaw vise.
It weighs over 100 lbs.
I bought it on ebay for $250.
I think they sell for around $700 new.