Smithc11369 Posted December 23, 2011 Share Posted December 23, 2011 A buddy of my Dad's sent me a picture of this vice today and said he was sending it home with my Dad so that I can use it for knife making. I don't know why it looks so different from any other vice I'm used to but it was free and if there's one thing I know, it's not to turn down anything free. Especially a vice! Any thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WayneCoeArtistBlacksmith Posted December 23, 2011 Share Posted December 23, 2011 That is a Cole vice. It was used as a field vise. There is a 1" diameter hole in the bottom. You can stick a 1" rod in the ground and mount the vise. Actually you only have the vice portion of the tool. There is also a hand cranked, auto advance dril that mounts in the top grove of the vise jaws. You can also clamp it to a place tht you can't get your drill press to and drill holes (like in a car or truck frame). The small handle on the right allows the vice to be rotated. The jaws move like in a post vise. It is cast iron so will not take the heavy hammering like a post vise but the impact does not transfer to the screw as in a machinest vise. I have one mounted on each of my lay out tables and would not be without them. Good score. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted December 24, 2011 Share Posted December 24, 2011 I found one of those on the side of the road a couple of years ago. I believe that mine has a hole on the bottom that is threaded for a chunk of pipe for the leg. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MLMartin Posted December 24, 2011 Share Posted December 24, 2011 On the odd occasion I have seen some one stick a pipe in the hole then take the whole vise to a pipe or some other part and use it like you would a vise grip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithc11369 Posted December 26, 2011 Author Share Posted December 26, 2011 Thanks for your help guys I appreciate it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted December 27, 2011 Share Posted December 27, 2011 I have had one for 20+ years and I'd rate it as not so good for smithing; but handy for knifemaking with the rotation feature. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithc11369 Posted December 28, 2011 Author Share Posted December 28, 2011 Yeah I'll probably end up just using it mainly for knife making. I have a couple other types of vices that I'll use too. This is just one that I picked up. With that rotation feature, I couldn't pass it up for free... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted December 29, 2011 Share Posted December 29, 2011 Hard to have too many vises in a shop! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 Got one of those for $20 two years ago. Great vise to have in the shop! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FieryFurnace Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 Our antique store had one of those a while back. It had about 4-inch jaws, and was very heavy built. He wanted like $100 for it though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigred1o1 Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 just came across one of these for sale on ebay and they show a bit of how its mounted i hope it helps http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-BLACKSMITHS-MACHINSTS-MECHANICS-COLE-BENCH-VISE-Anvil-lot-400-/110811244906?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19ccdd696a Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 Well I'd guess that less than one in a thousand were mounted on a stakeplate! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigred1o1 Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 lol yeah i realise that i was thinking more just that it gives a bit of a idea of it in for lack of a better word in action i am searusly lusting after that swivil action but then i am quick to lust after old tools Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin K Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 They were being sold new up until a few years ago... I can't find the website anymore, and suspect they stopped making them. As I recall, the retail price was around $250, and the Cole drill was another $250. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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