Locksmithjoe Posted December 2, 2015 Share Posted December 2, 2015 First, I have acquired four post vises. I only need one I think. three are complete. All have springs. I need to know what type of metal I should use to forge a key and keeper pins and should I leave them soft or harden? Also, what is a fair price for post vises in good shape? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted December 2, 2015 Share Posted December 2, 2015 I'll be making them for a vise I'm fixing out of whatever mild steel I have. I honestly see no need for hardening them. Far as price, it depends on your location, what condition/ brand, and what someone is willing to pay. I couldn't say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Locksmithjoe Posted December 2, 2015 Author Share Posted December 2, 2015 That's what I thought. Just double checking. I'll get some pics up soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted December 2, 2015 Share Posted December 2, 2015 I have 9 in current use: every work bench that has a 4" post vise gets an 8" postvise at the other end, (so that's 4) then I have two large ones fastened to telephone poles that support the roof of the shops I have, 1 loaned out to a student and 1 mounted at my church for when I do forging there and lastly a light 4" vise for my travelling set up. I'd think of keeping a couple even if you sell off the rest---backup is a nice thing to have! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Locksmithjoe Posted December 2, 2015 Author Share Posted December 2, 2015 Backup is good but since I have limited space and Bsmithin is a hobby the rest can find a good home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted December 2, 2015 Share Posted December 2, 2015 Price depends on how bad someone wants it. I just got a complete and excellent condition Columbian for $40, and I could have got it for less as it was headed to the thrift store if I had not bought it. mine were free to $50. Guys still find them for under $20 fairly regular as they are not rare, and were used by far more shops than blacksmiths. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matto Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 i have 37 postvise and 18 benchvise, most i have paid for any is $100. the average is $35. i have been through every one and repaired or replaced what has been needed. i use 4 in my teaching trailer (have 4 full forging stations) and 4 in shop, one main 3 on perimeter benches. one bench vise on a bench. one on a 2" receiver to go into multiple 2" points around the shop. rest on display. i like them almost as much as hammers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Locksmithjoe Posted December 3, 2015 Author Share Posted December 3, 2015 Sounds like we're a bunch of tool addicts. That's why I have a locksmith business. Just another excuse to by the coolest new tool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matto Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 And there is nothing wrong with that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Locksmithjoe Posted December 3, 2015 Author Share Posted December 3, 2015 Until the Mrs sees the charge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matto Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 hear ya there to, you a member of rms?? lot of great knowledge there. wish i was still in contact with alot of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Locksmithjoe Posted December 3, 2015 Author Share Posted December 3, 2015 Not a member yet. Used to be a part of coma years ago. I'll be checking into rms when the season is close to over. We're gearing up for a very busy season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matto Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 lot of great smiths around you!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shamus Blargostadt Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 I can't find one for under $80 around here. Most are over $100. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 I picked up a heavy duty one at Quad-State 2 years ago for US$40; I look for ones needing mounting plate and spring as they are cheaper and the missing parts are fast and easy to make. NM tends to be a tool poor region and I'm doing my part to change that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Locksmithjoe Posted December 3, 2015 Author Share Posted December 3, 2015 I 33 minutes ago, ThomasPowers said: I picked up a heavy duty one at Quad-State 2 years ago for US$40; I look for ones needing mounting plate and spring as they are cheaper and the missing parts are fast and easy to make. NM tends to be a tool poor region and I'm doing my part to change that! I'd send a couple your way but shipping would be brutal. Cant find one for under 100 on eBay. And shipping sends em over the top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 As I consider e-bay one of the more expensive methods of picking up smithing equipment; I am not surprised. I am glad I brought 11 postvises out here when I moved from Ohio where for many years US$20 was a decent price for a 4" vise---with the spring and mounting plate. $40 used to be a standard Quad-State price but one year I went and it looked like $75 was the new base price; so I decided to pick up a couple more before the prices rose again; so I picked up around a 6" vise for $50 and a 3" ancient vise for $20. The $40 vise was from 2 years ago and had a 1.25" diameter leg---at the thinnest... What does surprise me is all the folks who say (paraphrased) "I looked for jewelry at Tiffany's and all it was really expensive!"... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullwinkle71 Posted December 11, 2015 Share Posted December 11, 2015 I love old wrenches, farm implements, etc.Have got some from antique stores, & WOW ! I JUST REMEMBERED ANOTHER LEG VISE THAT WAS 4 SALE, 70-80 miles away 1 & 1/2 yrs ago. A good friend found an OLD hammer,while gardening the land he inherited from his grandmother, & knowing I always carry my old Snap-On, GAVE IT 2 ME.IT HAS BEEN MY "NEW"FAVORITE, 4 almost 4yrs now.It might B 100yrs old. Bullwinkle71 out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted December 11, 2015 Share Posted December 11, 2015 I pulled a hammer head out of the muck under a scrap pile in England on a trip there once; steeled face wrought iron body; I know it's over 100 years old but it still works fine... Even on my 1828 William Foster anvil... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullwinkle71 Posted December 11, 2015 Share Posted December 11, 2015 So kool. Would love 2 C it, the anvil 2 ofcourse. How big of post vises R U willing 2 let go ? How much $$ ? My old hammer's all steel also, I-beam-ish tire-iron handle.Thinkin it may B 4 a Chevy, or Dodge Brothers, have seen a Ford ,they're different,& marked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Locksmithjoe Posted December 11, 2015 Author Share Posted December 11, 2015 I just pulled two picks from an old mine. Think I'll test one and see how well they bend. If I can I'll probably round one out and build a horn or two that I could mount on a bench or block. As for the post vise not sure how much to charge for one. I will be selling one or two of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullwinkle71 Posted December 11, 2015 Share Posted December 11, 2015 So kool. Would love 2 C it, the anvil 2 ofcourse. How big of post vises R U willing 2 let go ? How much $$ ? My old hammer's all steel also, I-beam-ish tire-iron handle.Thinkin it may B 4 a Chevy, or Dodge Brothers, have seen a Ford ,they're different,& marked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Locksmithjoe Posted December 11, 2015 Author Share Posted December 11, 2015 Pops always said… "If you can't find it, buy it or steal it, build it!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Locksmithjoe Posted December 11, 2015 Author Share Posted December 11, 2015 Where are you located Bullwinkle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullwinkle71 Posted December 11, 2015 Share Posted December 11, 2015 AMEN. As much as I love antique iron, I also love 2 fabricate.Been savin a 4" x 4" x 3/16" ti plate, (w/correct filler wire) 4 15 yrs. Was plannin 2 have it h2o-jetted into maltese cross,&tig the cutouts, onto the back side, like a flower's back to it's stem. Would've been a cool mc mirror, but now I want 3" more 2 do a grizzly bear paw, 4 kickstand. Alamogordo,NM 88310 5 Southwind Dr. ,Alamogordo,NM 88310 is my actual address. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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