Grandpa's old bench vise

[OutdoorEnvy 1,420]

My grandpa passed a couple years ago in 2021.  One of the items I ended up with was his old bench vise.  Decided to put it back in service.  It's a nice size for a smaller shop, 3.5 inch.  Got it cleaned up and greased.  It'll kinda be like he's always giving a helping hand...

 

 

 

I'm sure some of you are using an old heirloom bench vise.  Post em up if you got em!  

[ri702bill 7,319]

I always get the feeling my Father-in-law is looking down from above with approval when I fire up his 702.....

 

[Pullstart 59,713]

I don’t remember my grandpa’s vice, so I used his bench instead.

 

I used some cedar fence posts and built our dining room table.

 

 

 

 

I even inlayed some tools from his shed and some casings from his 21 gun salute.

 

 

Edited January 17, 2023 by Pullstart

[ri702bill 7,319]

Always best to remember those now gone who helped hand work and shape the mold of who we are today......

I miss them so....

Bill

[formariz 11,849]

Probably more than most, I spend my life surrounded by,and using everyday such objects . It’s kind of hard to explain my exact feelings but they make me feel like I belong to them not the other way around. Rare is the item here that does not have a story or a face associated it. Even the ones created by me can be traced as to their origins by just looking around. Many times I ask myself why I deserve all of this. While I still don’t know the answer to that question, I have an do commit my life to honor them and their previous owners and ensure that they all will be passed on to the ones after me to share that commitment and keep it all alive and thriving.

Perhaps the best description of my feelings about all of it are summarized when the other day someone made a comment while looking at the yoke just completed. They said that I probably have an insane amount of time and work on it, and why would I do it? My answer was that I would not characterize it that way but rather that I have an insane amount of meditation, reflection, remembrance, peace , and inspiration while at it. Work, it was not. I don’t believe it was fully comprehended.

[Handy Don 10,596]

2 minutes ago, formariz said:

I don’t believe it was fully comprehended.

And the commenter is the lesser for it.

[davem1111 1,932]

Loving the comments here - trying to "downsize" before a move, still a bit in the future, but there are some things that I will drag along with me no matter what.  If my wife lives longer than me, she can give them away if she wants, hopefully to family or someone who will appreciate their sentimental value to some extent at least.

 

This is my Dad's bench vise, which I'm pretty sure was his Dad's, but might have belonged to my mother's grandpa:

 

[Jeff-C175 7,195]

The Treasurer and I live in the home she grew up in, that her Father built way back in the last century.

 

When I'm working out in the shop late at night when all is quiet I hear him moving around.  I feel him watching.  I've even caught a glimpse or two...

 

I have lots of his tools, and his Father's too.  Cas has some of them too!

 

[SylvanLakeWH 24,130]

My 95 year old Dad died early this morning... all good. He was a remarkable man.

 

As we were doing the mundane necessities of funeral preparations today one of my siblings commented that I was "just like Dad..." in a good natured kidding way... I sincerely said "thanks... I don't think so yet, but I certainly hope so in the future..."

 

So much of what my Dad taught me was never spoken or explained... he simply did the next right thing and we kids benefited from knowing that... he always did the right thing by us kids, Mom, his colleagues, neighbors, friends... always.

 

I now have a wide variety of his tools and knowing that he used them to make my life what it is by keeping everything in our house working is priceless. I hope to pass on that legacy...

 

What a gift... Thanks Dad!

[oldlineman 1,450]

That is something that no amount of money can buy. My dad was also very loving, I being oldest boy of six kids, I think I had the best opportunity to work (help) him with home repairs, car repairs and ode's an ends. These are the very things that in our lives can never be taken away. I pray that we all may learn these life lessons while we have the opportunity too. Bob  

[John2189 406]

I have my dads old machine vise. I always assumed that it was a sears craftsman vise, but it has no name, just a number stamped on it. Of course I didn’t get a picture of it. I will get pictures tomorrow.  Its a good heavy built vise. 
john

[c-series don 7,809]

@OutdoorEnvy A friend of mine has this vise laying around in his shop. I saw it and thought it was the same one you have. Not the exact same, but close!! 

 

[OutdoorEnvy 1,420]

@c-series don  very close indeed!  I had never heard of Columbian until getting that one.  Tell your friend to put it to work!  

[Wayne0 294]

I'm 68 years young. This was my Grand Dads vice.

[Wayne0 294]

My Dad had a big ass vice that had no name on it. That puppy weighed in at over 30Lbs! It was old when he got it! My nephew has it now.

Wilton's are a great vice, but I can't complain about the old Columbians.

[John2189 406]

On 1/29/2023 at 6:29 PM, John2189 said:

I have my dads old machine vise. I always assumed that it was a sears craftsman vise, but it has no name, just a number stamped on it. Of course I didn’t get a picture of it. I will get pictures tomorrow.  Its a good heavy built vise. 
john

Here is my dads vise. No name just the numbers 5168 or 3 stamped in it. Looks like it was painted blue. Has to be 60 plus years old. 

Edited March 3, 2023 by John2189

[John2189 406]

20 hours ago, John2189 said:

Here is my dads vise. No name just the numbers 5168 or 3 stamped in it. Looks like it was painted blue. Has to be 60 plus years old. 

Ok founed out on another site that this is a Craftsman vise made in October 44. Since it was made in the wartime, the didn’t cast the name on them. Don’t know why. 
john