My Vice for Vises

[Lewill2]

I saw a local Craigslist ad for vises for sale, not much description in the ad but a few far away pictures led me to believe some of them were Wilton Bullet style. I finally got ahold of the guy and went to see them yesterday afternoon, bottom line I walked away with a 5 inch wide jaw combination bullet with double swivel locks close to a current C2 type that weighs around 120 lbs and a 6 inch wide jaw combination bullet with double swivel locks that kind of resembles the 600 style with the jaw inserts bolted in from the back side of the jaws. The 6 inch must weigh close to 200 lbs. They loaded both in my truck and I had to take them apart before I could unload them at the house. So estimating the total weight of around 300 plus lbs, I paid roughly $2 a lb. I don't think I made out to bad. Both are in good condition no cracks the usual jaw wear and dirty paint but they are sound older Wilton big boys. No pictures to post yet.

One is in the basement on the work bench and one is in the upstairs of the garage on the work bench. I guess I'm covered as far as big vises for now. They both still have the rubber washers on the handles.

[bill300d]

You need to go back and get the other three. There going to be lonesome

[Lewill2]

The 5 inch opens to about 8 inches and is 20 inches long from front of the main screw to the rear end cap.

The 6 inch opens to about 10 inches and is 22 inches long from front of the main screw to the rear end cap.

I'm having problems loading pictures, I'll try again later.

[mikeswrenches]

Nice score on the vises. 

I had trouble uploading the pictures of the little brass wrench last night.  The connection timed out.  This has never happened with my iPad before(happens all the time with my PC).  I logged off and restarted my iPad and everything worked fine again.  Might be worth a try.

Mike

[Lewill2]

Another view of the 6 inch wide.

[john k]

I hope your bench is stout enough for that big blue one.   Those are pretty impressive pieces.  Very much worth the price.

[OilyRascal]

That Wilton has class!

[Lewill2]

I built both benches and I doubt either one will leave their current place unless they are cut apart. The one upstairs in the garage is an island type so I  can have access around the whole thing if I keep the area clear. The one upstairs in the garage might need some reinforcement in the floor before the bench falls apart.

[Nolatoolguy]

Very nice score.

The question becomes, do you have a place sturdy enough to mount them?

[Lewill2]

Both are mounted as shown in the pictures. Wooden hand built work benches.

After doing some research I found that the Wilton bullet style vises are date stamped. The round main bar that the moveable jaw mounts to has a key pinned to it on the bottom. The key keeps the jaws aligned since the main bar is round. The key has a month and 2 digit year code stamped into it. the year is the year that the 5 year warranty expires. My 6 inch big one is stamped 6 75 so it was made in June 1970. The 5 inch is stamped 12 90 so it was made in December 1985. The articles also stated that the first area that usually wears is the slot on the main screw where the "C" washer rides that allows the screw to pull the moveable jaw back. These are both nice and tight in this area. 

[HeelSpur]

Both are mounted as shown in the pictures. Wooden hand built work benches.

After doing some research I found that the Wilton bullet style vises are date stamped. The round main bar that the moveable jaw mounts to has a key pinned to it on the bottom. The key keeps the jaws aligned since the main bar is round. The key has a month and 2 digit year code stamped into it. the year is the year that the 5 year warranty expires. My 6 inch big one is stamped 6 75 so it was made in June 1970. The 5 inch is stamped 12 90 so it was made in December 1985. The articles also stated that the first area that usually wears is the slot on the main screw where the "C" washer rides that allows the screw to pull the moveable jaw back. These are both nice and tight in this area.

How did you get made in Dec. 85 when its stamped 12 90? Mistake in typing or code?

[Lewill2]

Date stamp is the date the warranty ends not the date of manufacture. Warranty is/was 5 years. 90 - 5 = 85 in old PA math.

[HeelSpur]

Date stamp is the date the warranty ends not the date of manufacture. Warranty is/was 5 years. 90 - 5 = 85 in old PA math.

:-) gotcha.