Vises

Now the fun begins-got to try to get something loose (it’s definitely stuck-every moving part). I’m looking forward to this restoration project and would love any advice on the approximate age if anyone has any insights. From the look of the jaws, and some of the details I’m thinking maybe hand forged? Any idea how old? No visible makers mark yet (maybe under all that rust). Any suggestions as to where to look? Thanks in advance!

I have this unique spring loaded hand vise. I guess it is for removing pins from roller chain? Does anybody have any info on it? A web search came up empty except for another like it on Fleabay.

I recently picked up my first post vise on eBay, and cleaned it up before fabricating a stand for it. After disassembling and wire brushing it, I applied a thin coat of boiled linseed oil. I left it sit outside in the sun for most of a day to speed up drying. The rear spindle box collar was missing. This was probably because the heavy spring made it hard to close it enough to engage the spindle box threads. Someone in the distant past chose to just get rid of the collar, which made it easier. I fabricated a replacement collar out of a 2" ID one piece shaft collar. With some effort, I managed to get it all back together. I've had this 150 lb. press plate sitting arou…

Got "me" self two new toys : A hornless anvil (45 kg) and a heavy blacksmith vice. Both of them arrived from Germany last week. Measurements are metric. The thread is a bit used but there is still some life in it. It was exposed outdoors for some time, probably leg was casted in concrete. Leg was cut not long ago, shinny metal exposed no corrosion. I just have to clean it and use it

Hello, this is my latest find. I got it for pretty good money ($120), it's a European (French) vise that's over 100 years old as far as I've seen. If anyone recognizes from the picture, I would appreciate any further information. There is a yt video of someone restoring the exact same but slightly smaller one. This one weighs 52kg (115lb) and the jaw width is 165mm (6.5"). The problem is with the jaw. It looks like the jaws are forge welded on it. One is cracked in that spot. I have no idea what the material is, but jaws must be some carbon steel. How to fix it? If fix it at all. You know the saying: if it works, don't fix it. This thing can be quite critical for welding…

TL;DT- I have vise, no work, long time, grandpa, welding attempts to fix. When I was attempting a couple different electrical welding styles since my TIG is down a few more days, I had a ARC jump at the start and then a little spatter damage right at the edge of my screw box. Now, I could cut the broken tab back off, then carefully attempt to remove a little material on the box with a bandsaw possibly, but I'll be back to possibly getting a different rod type tomorrow and having to re weld the pieces, build a cage around it that eliminates the tab for now until my TIG is up, or bevel the material and use JB Weld like machinable material I use for body restoration and…

Hello guys I hope I’m posting this in the right place I did some searching on here and didn’t find any post about this so I thought I’d start one. Hopefully I didn’t look over any other post talking about these. This is my original Trenton post vise i tried to get clear pictures so y’all can see it. It’s stamped original Trenton and then under that is stamped 1902 and then has a number 1 stamped under that. It’s a little over 6/1/2” wide jaws and it weighed 128 pounds on my wife’s bathroom scale. Which I thought was odd most 6” and 6/1/2” I’ve found this size were quite a bit lighter? Anyways I was wondering if original Trenton was it’s own company or was this made by so…

Finally found a good deal on a post vise. Been looking for a few months, but around here, people regularly ask 2-300 for a beat up 4" vise that is usually missing parts. I found this iron city vise for $60 about an hour drive from home. Soon as the add popped up I jumped on it. Turns out the guy I bought from does stock removal knives and didn't have a use for it. When I got it, it was covered in rust and seized up tight. I started cleaning it up today, and it works great and all the parts are accounted for. Bonus pic of the chas parker 975 I picked up at a garage sale the day prior for $40.

I've had this old attwood Stourbridge vise for a while now and have always had problems with it not holding work that I am upsetting, like riveting pieces together. I pulled it out 2day and on looking at it, I have noticed that the back leg seems to be bend backwards. I'm wondering if this would affect the gripping power, and if I should heat it and bend it forwards? Though at the same time, the jaws seem to be flat to each other with no gap.. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Just finished a stand for my Rock Island vise. Total weight for the vise and the stand is around 300 lbs. including several 25 lb. barbell plates secured inside the wheel

Why you put wooden block under vise? So you can protect floor is that reason?

This works good for now. I'm adding a larger table. Also fetching ideas to keep it from moving. Anchoring the floor is not an option. I move it to our summer home.

I recently got an old post vice for cheap but part of the jaw is chipped off. I’ll post pictures here in a bit but I was wondering if I could just weld in the broken off part, build it up and grind it flat or not. Would normal welding rods be fine ir would it need to be a hard face?

Picked up my first leg vise last Sunday. Got around to taking it apart and cleaning it up today. I don't know much about these but the threads looked ok and the handle was only slightly bent. I wire wheeled as much of the rust off as I could, greased the screw box and threads and its working great. Rubbed it down in some WD40 so it doesn't rust up on me right away. I can kind of see what looks like a manufacturer name but most of its worn off, had an EN in it. 2 dates from what I can see. July 1866 and I think June 1867.

Hi there I have a blacksmith leg vice with the stamped words WILLIAM WRIGHT DUDLEY on it. It is the only identifying marks on it that I can see. The only name I can find on these vices online are with Peter Wright from Dudley in England. Is William Wright the same as Peter Wright timewise? I am trying to find out the age of my vice as well if anyone can give me an estimate please. Cheers, Regards, Marty63

Not so good with this. Wrote out detailed post and it disappeared so will try and post a picture.

Picked up a new vise today, missing the spring and mounting plate. I'm wondering what type of vise it is. It's jaws are probably 4 3/4" wide and on each jaw just underneath the screw there are 4 center punch marks in a line. I cannot find any other markings. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

I wanted to repair vise so i took it apart , bit to my wonder I don't know how this spring is attached.

This was in a garden and I got it cheap, I couldn't leave it, its got nice wide jaws and is not worn out, I have already made a spring, I can copy the mount from one of my other vices, I would like to find some Iron to forge it from so everything matches.

A few weeks ago I decided to rejuvenate an old B. B. Noyes farrier’s foot vise and construct a movable base for it. I’ve included lots of details and photos, so I hope no one gets bored. I picked up the vise a while back for an even hundred bucks (US). Even though the vise needed some TLC, it had good “bones.” In other words, there were no breaks, repairs, cracks, or deeply rusted areas, and the jaw faces were still in good shape, so I thought it might be worth some effort to put it back into operation. It was missing the adjustable-height upsetting block (which would also make an excellent depth stop), but from what I’ve seen, they are usually missing that part, and…

Hi guys i have machinist vise wich is not good for blacksmithing, and by it own way its not good anymore. It look like this But i want to buy post vise /blacksmithing vise. What are most concern and issues to be taken about when buying new vise? Thread is it good?Jaws , or is leg long enaugh. What should i look for and should i buy vise from internet is it good thing to do blindly by looking at picture without touchign it. I wanted to buy this vise but leg look to much short i think.

Hello I have this leg vise tant I bought yesterday for 80$ CAD. Perfect condition, nothing is missing, 4" jaws. I was able to read St-Paul Works and there is a crown logo. There is also S&W beneath the crown. I would like to get more info about this company. Around what years did they make these. I think it comes from Minnesota but I'm not sure. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks

Bought this off a coworker sight unseen, regretted it when he first showed it to me, felt better when he named his price of $5 Clearly the screw and nut are from a different vice, and the mount should be flattened and it has no spring BUT it clamps, so I have an outside vice now. I think I'll try to sleeve the threads with some plumbing pipe that fits to protect it a bit from the elements and mount it on the edge of my outside table and call it good

Hoping one of you fine people might recognize the makers mark on this tennon style mount bench vise I recently found. Looks like PW with 7 stars but I have been unable to find anything on it. Unfortunately missing the screw and screw box but I couldn't leave it. I know I will probably never know but these things keep me up at night. Thanks yall

Fisher & Norris #4 Bench Vise recently added to the Fisher & Norris Factory Museum collection. This #4 is the largest of the bench vises produced by F&N. It has 6" jaws, and weighs about 130 lbs. These vise are very rare. The Museum has 2, and I have only seen one more. I am sure there are others out there. This vise was made around 1920. F&N actually made about 30 different styles of the bench vises during this era. More information can be found in my book. Details in my profile.