So i found this vise on Facebook Market place. I didn't know what it was at first, i am not familiar with the starrett vises, although i am a bit of a starrett freak as well, mostly freakish about the pre 1895 stuff.
The picture supplied of the vise was poor, and blurry, and was of the "back" side of the vise, so i did not see the manufacturer. I bought it anyway for 25 dollars, thinking any vise is worth at last 50 bucks. I went there, and as i was walking it back to my car, i saw that it was a starrett vise, and this excited me because I know they are fairly uncommon, and I never thought I'd ever be able to have one. When is this vise from? I havent been able to totally figure that out.
Getting it home, it seems that the vise was in very good condition. Although the paint is a bit messed up, the jaws seem to show its really only been clamped down on something maybe 3 or 4 times.
One of the threaded lever things (sot sure the name) for locking down the swivel is missing, along with the threaded post. What is the best plan of action to replace this or have it functioning? it does work with just one side locked down, but not optimal. I would have no problem making the female threaded part with the lever, but the threaded post part has some strange geometry i wouldnt have the easiest time replicating.
Here is the vise before and after i did a big of cleaning of the surface rust. Have i gone too far? should I go further? Is this the original paint? It looks to be original, but i have heard that from the factory, these were just bare cast iron as well. I dont think this is true.
All i did so far was just to polish the bearing surfaces, handle and ball, jaws and the anvil, with a scotch brite pad, to take of the surface rust. there was no pitting, and everything seems nice a sharp and square, seems very good condition. Here are some picture of before and after.
I still have a bunch of questions regarding the vise, I lubricated the bearing surfaces and screw with the only thing that i had that was even close to semi appropriate, which was way lube that i have, SHELL TONNA 32.
The screw still seems kinda tight, and i cant do the "one finger vice jaw in and out" easily that i can do on my record, or Canadian vice. What kind of lubrication can you recommend? I am looking for the absolutely proper thing, I want to dedicate my life to this vise. I heard white lithium grease is alright for this application.
So for the bearing surfaces, I used Shell Tonna 32, but for the rest of the vise, such as the jaws, the handle, the ball, and the anvil, (anywhere there wasnt paint, and wasnt a bearing surface) I applied Starrett Tool and Instrument oil. It's probably a bit overkill, given that i think this oil is designed for micrometers and such, I'm just using it to stave off the rust.
Is there something better to use rather than the Way lube (shell tonna 32) that i have been using? I kind of use this on all my vises, but im reading now there are much better things. I know for sure the screw should probably have something else on it, but what about just the bearing surfaces?
The only reason the second swivel nut and screw are not missing is because it was rusted siezed, and the lever was stuck in such a position as to not allow rotation of the swivel nut, therefore it stayed with the vise. I sprayed it with some penetrating oil till it freed up, then i soaked it in Evaporust overnight. Worked great, looks new!
Okay finally here are some pictures. Might be quite a few of them. Here is when I first got the vise.
And finally, here it is after i got my hands on it. Yes, i know, i got really lucky with this vise. I will never be so lucky again, probably.
I was only able to get off one of the vise jaws, so instead of evaporusting both, which was the plan, I just used a brass wire brush to get the surface rust mostly off, and used the scotch bright pad where I could.
See, this is the part i think I will have trouble replicating. Is there a simpler geometry i can use to serve the funtion of the threaded part at the bottom of the photo?
This is the other part I will need to make, but I think i will have less trouble with this one. Look at the slot that has been machined (broached?) it still has the burr left over.
The picture supplied of the vise was poor, and blurry, and was of the "back" side of the vise, so i did not see the manufacturer. I bought it anyway for 25 dollars, thinking any vise is worth at last 50 bucks. I went there, and as i was walking it back to my car, i saw that it was a starrett vise, and this excited me because I know they are fairly uncommon, and I never thought I'd ever be able to have one. When is this vise from? I havent been able to totally figure that out.
Getting it home, it seems that the vise was in very good condition. Although the paint is a bit messed up, the jaws seem to show its really only been clamped down on something maybe 3 or 4 times.
One of the threaded lever things (sot sure the name) for locking down the swivel is missing, along with the threaded post. What is the best plan of action to replace this or have it functioning? it does work with just one side locked down, but not optimal. I would have no problem making the female threaded part with the lever, but the threaded post part has some strange geometry i wouldnt have the easiest time replicating.
Here is the vise before and after i did a big of cleaning of the surface rust. Have i gone too far? should I go further? Is this the original paint? It looks to be original, but i have heard that from the factory, these were just bare cast iron as well. I dont think this is true.
All i did so far was just to polish the bearing surfaces, handle and ball, jaws and the anvil, with a scotch brite pad, to take of the surface rust. there was no pitting, and everything seems nice a sharp and square, seems very good condition. Here are some picture of before and after.
I still have a bunch of questions regarding the vise, I lubricated the bearing surfaces and screw with the only thing that i had that was even close to semi appropriate, which was way lube that i have, SHELL TONNA 32.
The screw still seems kinda tight, and i cant do the "one finger vice jaw in and out" easily that i can do on my record, or Canadian vice. What kind of lubrication can you recommend? I am looking for the absolutely proper thing, I want to dedicate my life to this vise. I heard white lithium grease is alright for this application.
So for the bearing surfaces, I used Shell Tonna 32, but for the rest of the vise, such as the jaws, the handle, the ball, and the anvil, (anywhere there wasnt paint, and wasnt a bearing surface) I applied Starrett Tool and Instrument oil. It's probably a bit overkill, given that i think this oil is designed for micrometers and such, I'm just using it to stave off the rust.
Is there something better to use rather than the Way lube (shell tonna 32) that i have been using? I kind of use this on all my vises, but im reading now there are much better things. I know for sure the screw should probably have something else on it, but what about just the bearing surfaces?
The only reason the second swivel nut and screw are not missing is because it was rusted siezed, and the lever was stuck in such a position as to not allow rotation of the swivel nut, therefore it stayed with the vise. I sprayed it with some penetrating oil till it freed up, then i soaked it in Evaporust overnight. Worked great, looks new!
Okay finally here are some pictures. Might be quite a few of them. Here is when I first got the vise.
And finally, here it is after i got my hands on it. Yes, i know, i got really lucky with this vise. I will never be so lucky again, probably.
I was only able to get off one of the vise jaws, so instead of evaporusting both, which was the plan, I just used a brass wire brush to get the surface rust mostly off, and used the scotch bright pad where I could.
See, this is the part i think I will have trouble replicating. Is there a simpler geometry i can use to serve the funtion of the threaded part at the bottom of the photo?
This is the other part I will need to make, but I think i will have less trouble with this one. Look at the slot that has been machined (broached?) it still has the burr left over.
It's in pristine shape because its been sitting in my house for its entire life. Anyway it came with only one clamp down. The swivel base fit is tight and a 2nd clamp is not needed. You scored a complete vise.
