Any Vise Collectors Here?

[RUSH55]

One of my questions as well was where Fireball was doing the casting, hoping it wasn’t China. Foundries I’ve dealt with specialize in bronze work (fine art) which is a bit of a different animal, and even dealing with them can be tricky. And yes, even most of those facilities are repurposed old buildings (churches, meat processors, etc..), dark, dingy, and dirty.
I think what interested me the most in the build of his original welded mild steel vise is that he was able to produce like 18,000 psi of clamping force with the handle alone where most of the other production vises could only muster 5,000 - 8,000. I’m not sure why you’d need a whole lot more than that, but a guy was able to squeeze 33,000 out of the new Fireball vise using only the handle (and his ability to deadlift somewhere in the 500 pound range). That is a ton of clamping power.

 

[TomH]

Anybody else buy a vise today?

 

[FARMAN33]

@TomH I believe that is a pre-war "Reedsman" Craftsman branded Reed vise. These are great tools. There is a lot of information on them at garagejournal.com

@PIP WOW! Fascinating stuff there. I'll have some questions about the vise I just bought. It is a small run batch that is cast. I'll post it and tag you in it when it gets here next week.

 

[RUSH55]

A buddy of mine has this monster outside of his shop. 8” Desmond Stephan that opens to 13-1/2”! Had to share some pics.

 

[TomH]

@TomH I believe that is a pre-war "Reedsman" Craftsman branded Reed vise. These are great tools. There is a lot of information on them at garagejournal.com

Consensus is Rock Island 571. Should match the one I have on my shelf.

 

[Skniper]

@Goldbug Your friend just "helped you out" to a fantastic vise. Swivel jaw Reeds of that size are very rare (I am guessing it is a 406). To give you an idea, I had a 407 in MUCH worse condition that I sold for $700!

The trick is going to be freeing up the top swivel. SLOW is the name of the game here. Swivel jaw vises are so rare because when they are not used regularly, they get stuck. Then, some clown with a sledge tries to free it and cracks the casting ruining it for all time.

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Wow, this Reed swivel is a beaut! That thing has some serious battle scars, almost looks to be made of soft lead with some of those gouges. Awesome.
I need to get my little Reed that oil patina’d finish.

 

[MrMikeyG]

@TomH another Dawn 5sp was just posted las week. Guy said $100 obo in the ad. I was trying to trade some extra stuff for it, but couldn't come up with anything equitable for us both fast enough.
I feel like there are always 2-3 Wilton bullet vises in the Seattle craigslist. I haven't felt like driving to one of them yet though.

That big Desmond needs some oil on it at least.

 

[RUSH55]

That big Desmond needs some oil on it at least.

You’re telling me. I mentioned that the main screw was pretty dry so he broke out with some spray lube.
I think @FARMAN33 said it best that vises are one of the most abused tools, and I will add that they are also one of the most ignored. Since hopping onto this thread and learning about vises, I’m now kinda over-conscientious about them, and now it seems every one I’ve come across is just this neglected table ornament that nobody cares about. I guess unless you’ve forked out the money to buy one because you had to have one, you don’t really appreciate what it is they do.

 

[FARMAN33]

@RUSH55 They last for generations so there are thousands of very “desirable” amazing pieces that are just passed along because they are so well made.

Found a 190 pound Wilton C3 today. It’s pretty stiff overall but workable. Going to start on it tomorrow!

 

[TomH]

@TomH another Dawn 5sp was just posted las week. Guy said $100 obo in the ad. I was trying to trade some extra stuff for it, but couldn't come up with anything equitable for us both fast enough.
I feel like there are always 2-3 Wilton bullet vises in the Seattle craigslist. I haven't felt like driving to one of them yet though.

That big Desmond needs some oil on it at least.

Mike

It wasn't another one, I was the seller. If I'd known you wanted it I would have held it for you. Saturday was kind of a wash for me, sold the Dawn and then bought the Craftsman. I think the Wiltons around here are overpriced, actually I think most vises around here are overpriced, I sold the Dawn for $80 and thought that was a good deal.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

@RUSH55 They last for generations so there are thousands of very “desirable” amazing pieces that are just passed along because they are so well made.

Found a 190 pound Wilton C3 today. It’s pretty stiff overall but workable. Going to start on it tomorrow!

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@FARMAN33 great find!!! You seem to know all the deals. Little trick I use small heavy stuff when transporting in a pick up. Get an old small rim tire. Throw object in it. Grips to the bed and nestles it. No need for straps. That’s how I got my vice home. People always ask me what I am doing with an old crushed tire in my bed… the most versatile thing I carry. Many uses. I have transported many cruiser transmissions and transfer cases this way.

 

[FARMAN33]

Went from big to small today. A machinist guy I know makes these. Cast iron with machined parts. To give you an idea of how small it is… that’s a 2” baby bullet holding it. Jaws are 7/8” wide!

Absolutely not a toy. Fully functioning tool that is surprisingly heavy!

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

Went from big to small today. A machinist guy I know makes these. Cast iron with machined parts. To give you an idea of how small it is… that’s a 2” baby bullet holding it. Jaws are 7/8” wide!View attachment 2933820

Absolutely not a toy. Fully functioning tool that is surprisingly heavy!

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Absolutely stunning. Genius machinist. Perhaps we should know who he is. Might help the Mud community a ton.

 

[e9999]

wow wow wow... ! there is still hope for this country...


dang, won't ever look at my tiny pot metal desk vises the same way...

 

[FARMAN33]

@ceylonfj40nut His name is Tom Deverna in Michigan. He does small batch projects from time to time. This was his 12th bullet vise. I can't stop playing with this thing!

 

[PIP]

That is way too cool! Are they made to order or does he sell them as he makes them?

 

[FARMAN33]

He makes them then sells them on the (Bench Vises Forever) FB page. If any of you are on Facebook, this page is a staggering wealth of knowledge!

*on the FB thing... generally, I am not a fan BUT, the Land Cruiser and tool specific pages are very valuable to me and worth most of the other bull**** that comes with it.

 

[FARMAN33]

The C3 was in better shape than I thought. Was going to take it down to bare metal and repaint. Started wire wheeling it and there was a lot of factory blue under the gray respray. Switched to a softer brass wheel to preserve as much as I could. Completely disassembled and lubricated all the moving pieces. Really happy with how it turned out!

 

[RUSH55]

Beautiful! Love that look of a Wilton

 

[KT40]

I just stumbled across this thread and thought I’d share some pictures of my junk(treasures)!
This is my go to vise. Got it from my aunts sisters husband after he passed.