Any Vise Collectors Here?

[ceylonfj40nut]

With @FARMAN33 advice went on the search for a vise to last for the shop. Landed on this 4 1/2” Athol. Going clean it up and BLO it. No paint. Thanks for making the time. Pic shows it adjacent to a vice I was using (no name) swivel sucked. Anyone know what it is?

 

[FARMAN33]

@ceylonfj40nut That is a fine Athol CD! It is one of the very late castings for Athol before they were reclaimed by Sterrett. Yours actually has the Sterrett swivel lock down. Definitely a "lifer" vise and glad you were able to get it (as I said, Dallas is a tough market for "deals").

 

[Goldbug]

Well, after watching this thread for a while and coveting all your vises, I finally upgraded from my made in china HD junk. A buddy had one he offered up, I said yes with only a vague idea of this size. Any tips on cleaning it up, what type of oil to use? Don't think I'll paint it. Stamping says Reed Mfg, with patents of 1912 and 1914. Would still like to find one of a somewhat more manageable size like @ceylonfj40nut found...

 

[RUSH55]

…a vice I was using (no name) swivel sucked. Anyone know what it is?

No idea who built the vise with the big “5” on it, but it looks plenty beefy. Maybe flip it over and see what’s going on with the swivel and fix it. I’d have a hard time stepping over that thing!

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

No idea who built the vise with the big “5” on it, but it looks plenty beefy. Maybe flip it over and see what’s going on with the swivel and fix it. I’d have a hard time stepping over that thing!

So swivel design is basic. Swivel bottom plate has a slotted plate which allows lockdown screw to bind. Relies on surface friction, does not have dentents for positive lockdown. Tents to move when trying to get things done.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

@ceylonfj40nut That is a fine Athol CD! It is one of the very late castings for Athol before they were reclaimed by Sterrett. Yours actually has the Sterrett swivel lock down. Definitely a "lifer" vise and glad you were able to get it (as I said, Dallas is a tough market for "deals").

Yea love the swivel lockdown design. Great design and built to last!! Overcomes issues I have with the one I am replacing.

 

[FARMAN33]

@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.

 

[FARMAN33]

@Goldbug @Str8Razor also has a Reed like yours. Again... Great vise!

 

[FARMAN33]

@ceylonfj40nut Your old vise is a typical Asian import. The size is somewhat misleading. A USA 6" vise is going to weigh at least 100 pounds. Your 6" is around 60 or so. I suspect your 4 1/2" is probably heavier than that 6. Big is cheaper than heavy and as such, imports are usually big but light thickness construction.

 

[RUSH55]

Estate sale find

Desmond Stephen
4”

 

[RHINO]

i like the mini anvil cone built into it

 

[RUSH55]

i like the mini anvil cone built into it

Me too! Pretty sweet

 

[FARMAN33]

Desmond Stephens are quality vises. Later became just Simplex. Great score!

 

[FARMAN33]

Fixing the swivel lockdown is an easy job (referenced a couple pages ago).

 

[TomH]

Always nice seeing these old vises. Here's a couple pictures of the Reed I have sitting on the shelf. I prefer mine painted.

 

[FARMAN33]

@TomH WOW! That is a first for me. I have never seen an "R" series in a swivel jaw before. It looks hardly used at all! I like painted vises too (they were all painted when new). I've had a number of R series Reeds and they are amongst my favorites.

 

[FARMAN33]

Speaking of the R series Reeds... Here is my 1940s "Reedsman" (Craftsman vise using the Reed casting). Also pictured is what makes them special. First is the oil port on the dynamic jaw and the (set screw pin) behind the main nut to take up the slack that develops over decades of use. WHO DOES THAT ANYMORE????

 

[Str8Razor]

@TomH WOW! That is a first for me. I have never seen an "R" series in a swivel jaw before. It looks hardly used at all! I like painted vises too (they were all painted when new). I've had a number of R series Reeds and they are amongst my favorites.

My Reid is a 403 1/2R series and it’s a swivel jaw as well…

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

In search of soft jaws for the 4.5” Athol.

1) Polymer - knurled type grip
2) Polymer - with various grooves for round tube, etc.
3) Copper

Does copper do all where I don’t need 1) and 2) above?

Any recommendations?

 

[PIP]

In search of soft jaws for the 4.5” Athol.

1) Polymer - knurled type grip
2) Polymer - with various grooves for round tube, etc.
3) Copper

Does copper do all where I don’t need 1) and 2) above?

Any recommendations?

From any metal supplier buy "architectural angle" 6061 aluminum. This form has no inside radius so it works excellent for vise jaw inserts. You drop them on and they stay put. Need the hard jaws? Take them off. This is the standard approach every real shop I know of uses. Any commercially sold soft jaws are overpriced or way too cheezy

In my machine shop the primary bench vise needs a new set about every 6 months. They are a consumable.