themechanic
Oklahoma is OK
- Local time
- 6:29 AM
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2012
- Messages
- 16,533
- Reaction score
- 19,520
- Location
- Moore, Oklahoma
I got this Swordfish 4" vise when Dad passed. He bought it about 40 years ago in Oklahoma. It weighs about 40 pounds and looks pretty good for its age. I was going to buy a new vise until I saw bad reviews for those I could afford ($50 and under). Since I didn't need a $150 vise I decided to just restore this one. All it really needed was rust removal, clean and lube.
I was surprised it was made in China. I didn't know the Chinese were selling us their junk 40 years ago. Some things never change, I guess. Anyway, it was a fun little project and a nice reminder of my Dad.
On a side note, I visited an older gentleman based on a Craig's List add for used bench vises he was selling. He told me he had been collecting tools for 35 years. He had them all cleaned and proudly displayed in a 2 car garage out back that looked like a museum inside. He said he preserved the bare metal with Briwax clear. The tools were not sticky or oily and didn't leave fingerprints when you touched them. One hand plane he had was dated in the 1850s. It was cool holding a Civil War era tool some guy used to build a house or school or maybe some furniture that still exists today. I looked at a nice bench vise he was selling. I forget the name of the manufacturer; it may have been Lee, but it was stamped 1903. He wanted $75; darn, more than I could afford. Anyway, it was worth the trip just to see that tool collection.
Here's Dad's Swordfish vise all cleaned and ready to go back together as soon as my Gibbs Brand Lubricant arrives in the post.
I was surprised it was made in China. I didn't know the Chinese were selling us their junk 40 years ago. Some things never change, I guess. Anyway, it was a fun little project and a nice reminder of my Dad.
On a side note, I visited an older gentleman based on a Craig's List add for used bench vises he was selling. He told me he had been collecting tools for 35 years. He had them all cleaned and proudly displayed in a 2 car garage out back that looked like a museum inside. He said he preserved the bare metal with Briwax clear. The tools were not sticky or oily and didn't leave fingerprints when you touched them. One hand plane he had was dated in the 1850s. It was cool holding a Civil War era tool some guy used to build a house or school or maybe some furniture that still exists today. I looked at a nice bench vise he was selling. I forget the name of the manufacturer; it may have been Lee, but it was stamped 1903. He wanted $75; darn, more than I could afford. Anyway, it was worth the trip just to see that tool collection.
Here's Dad's Swordfish vise all cleaned and ready to go back together as soon as my Gibbs Brand Lubricant arrives in the post.
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