SFC Snuffy Posted October 9, 2018 Share Posted October 9, 2018 I see! If the top of the spring is anchored properly, the bottom will kick out and press against the movable jaw. Thank you, gentlemen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwoCreative Forge Posted October 9, 2018 Share Posted October 9, 2018 This is one of two I have. It is my largest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 9, 2018 Share Posted October 9, 2018 It cleaned up nicely! Weight or jaw length? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelonian Posted October 12, 2018 Share Posted October 12, 2018 Here's mine. It's a 3.5in Wilton. Anyone know approximately when it was made? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted October 12, 2018 Share Posted October 12, 2018 Be advised your Wilton is a cast iron machinist vise, not made for heavy hammering like a blacksmith leg vise. If you hammer on it there is a good chance of it breaking (ask me how I know). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted October 12, 2018 Share Posted October 12, 2018 You can buy a brand new one just like it today and they're NOT cheap. Excellent bench vises just do NOT hammer on them, they are NOT anvils nor do they play one on TV. Seriously, the anvil and horn shape on the rear aren't one. They must be an heirloom shape from the days when catalog sales carried one tool does it all blacksmith shops in a box. A picture of one was posted here a couple days ago, well the "anvil" portion that is. Check out a Sears catalog from the beginning of the 20th. cent or earlier, every farm needed a blacksmith shop and Sears sold one that came in one multi purpose tool kit thingy. Anyway, please don't take chances of damaging that fine vise. Keep an eye open for a heavy block of steel we'll help you set it up and learn to use it as an anvil. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelonian Posted October 12, 2018 Share Posted October 12, 2018 I never hammer on it, I only use it for fairly light work like filing, sanding, or for bending rings for making chainmail. It's a joy to work with! The only thing I use the "anvil" section for is shaping thin copper sheets. Some owner before me must have hit the jaws a bit too hard and cracked off the casting supporting the rear jaw (you can see that it's missing in the photo). This is what I use as an anvil: It's a piece of rail (I don't think it's from a normal train, it seems too small), and, ironically, the back of a vise. I got it for 20 dollars because it's missing the whole front jaw. The vise says on the side "Patented Sept 22, 1914". Here's what it originally looked like: I use the rail piece for most stuff, and then the vise for bending things (because it has a horn). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hibby Posted October 16, 2018 Share Posted October 16, 2018 Here’s mine. I picked it up at Quad State 2018. It’s an Indian Chief from Columbus Forge & Tool in 1903. I built the stand but the vise was in good clean shape when I got it. There must have been over 100 of them to choose from. A great place to shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLAG Posted October 16, 2018 Share Posted October 16, 2018 Great, No weight No jaw size No length. No price, No nuttin' It's a mystery. SLAG. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swedefiddle Posted October 16, 2018 Share Posted October 16, 2018 No Problem with no facts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hibby Posted October 16, 2018 Share Posted October 16, 2018 Sorry, I thought this was ‘show me your vise’. 5-1/2” jaws 80 lb either 17.5” or 41” post (not sure where to measure) i paid $200 and think I did ok. In any event, I’m very pleased with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anachronist58 Posted December 24, 2018 Share Posted December 24, 2018 On 10/15/2018 at 6:07 PM, Hibby said: Here’s mine. Very Nice, Hibby. And by the way, very nice welds on that column splice, and the gussets - not your first rodeo, eh? Here is my little Rock Island 625. Jaws 3" wide x 3" opening, $45 on that list thing. one lug broken off and re-attached by some previous individual, with some sort of copper-based braze. Poor execution, but pretty tough joint - so far. One can see the braze there adjacent to the swivel lock. Anvil Face, Horn, and Pritchel all highly functional within their rated capacity. This tool really has to get around. Abrasive metal removal must be done out of doors - my call - and nothing to do with my love of working outside. The goezintas are borrowed from another modular system that I built some 20 years ago, for hauling trees. Indoors, the vise is secured well with those hammer-on clips. Limited space. Everything at this job must be mobile and convertible. Merry Christmas, Robert Taylor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLAG Posted December 24, 2018 Share Posted December 24, 2018 Robert, Nice set up. Marry Christmas for You, Sheila, & all the gang. SLAG, & Marg. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlpservicesinc Posted December 28, 2018 Share Posted December 28, 2018 Yes Robert, Love the portable setup for the truck and the work stand setup inside.. Well done.. The reverse lock down clamps.. Brilliant.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anachronist58 Posted December 28, 2018 Share Posted December 28, 2018 Thanks Slag and JLP - Happy New Year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donniev Posted January 27, 2019 Share Posted January 27, 2019 Well after over a year without being able to forge, I finally started doing some driveway forging, so I set up my smaller vise to be easily moved. 4" jaws Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vice Posted January 30, 2019 Share Posted January 30, 2019 Here is my vise. I recently got it set up and back in working order. She should have a whole lot of life left in her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlpservicesinc Posted January 30, 2019 Share Posted January 30, 2019 Love it.. If you can put a rock or a block of wood under that angle bracket on the bottom.. Few realize this, but the leg should be on the ground in a hole cut into the floor or on a special cast iron plate that was bolted to the floor.. The mounting bracket was to hold the vise, spring from twisting or rotating, but the leg/foot was to carry the weight of the vise and any force put onto it.. The mounting bracket was not designed to hold any weight or downward force.. On 12/28/2018 at 1:33 PM, Anachronist58 said: Thanks Slag and JLP - Happy New Year! Where did you find the slip fit tubing? Or what sizes did you order to get the fit? Happy New Year to you and the Mrs too.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcusb Posted January 30, 2019 Share Posted January 30, 2019 3 hours ago, jlpservicesinc said: Few realize this, but the leg should be on the ground in a hole cut into the floor or on a special cast iron plate that was bolted to the floor.. So true. I fabricated a stand out of some scraps I had to mount my post vise in my dirt floored shop. I'm only 6 feet tall and find post vises to high for comfortable hammering. I set them in the ground. Once the concrete cured I cut the leg pipe off at the ground and its as solid as a tree stump. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlpservicesinc Posted January 30, 2019 Share Posted January 30, 2019 Fantastic work... I like the way you think.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 30, 2019 Share Posted January 30, 2019 Vises were made with different heights and were mounted at different heights depending what they were used for. A filing vise is at a different height than a pounding vise. As I have several postvises in my shop they are at different heights. (Note that the heights are based on the person using it so asking someone else what height their vise is at is of little value unless you both have identical builds. ) You can of course use a vise that is a bit off proper height for a project; but it's amazing how much nicer it is working with a vise at the proper height for You and what You are doing. (I even have a small platform to stand on if I want to use one of my large vises for punching or drifting.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlpservicesinc Posted January 30, 2019 Share Posted January 30, 2019 Good points Thomas.. I too have a platform to stand on for vise work and for anvil work if I am sledging.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcusb Posted January 30, 2019 Share Posted January 30, 2019 You guys have better balance than I do! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 30, 2019 Share Posted January 30, 2019 Make it to suit yourself. Plywood over a pallet is fairly moveable . You generally don't need a lot, I use several wood 4x4" drops. More important is to remember that it's there when moving with the workpiece. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcusb Posted January 30, 2019 Share Posted January 30, 2019 I have tried that route at a previous shop. I have found one low and one high to be a much better solution for me. Since my typing finger is warmed up, here is a bench vise you can beat on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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