Watch this auction video where I purchase the VERSA VISE----- ANOTHER FANTASTIC Hoarder TOOL AUCTION #972 tubalcain • ANOTHER FANTASTIC Hoar... #will-burt
Very nice restoration! Don't concern yourself with the lost video - it does not detract from the quality of the information provided. Each section is kept to very sensible time amounts and it's a joy to watch. Cheers!
I have 3 of these vises-- all long jaw models. Two of my vises didn't have bases, so they were almost useless. Then I found that these vises are still being made in Ohio, just a few miles from Orville. The company also sells parts, so for $25, I was able to purchase another three footed base. Match-up is perfect! A Google search will get you there. I also purchased the cross-bar mount, but that replacement is aluminum, so I'm sure it will not be very durable... BTW.... None of my long jawed models are drilled for the rear locking screw.
I've never heard of a Versa-Vise, but I'd also never heard of Bernard pliers until watching one of Mr. Pete's older videos. Now, I have seven or eight pairs of them (just got another set yesterday) and I love those little S.O.B.s! Hopefully I have a Versa-Vise in my near future.
Sir, I inherited my dad's versa vice and use it often. He got it in the early 50s and I remember watching him use it. Thank you for some very good memories!!!
Same here! My Dad’s Versa•Vise was purchased in the early 1960’s and came to me after his passing. I will see if I can submit a picture to show the steel plate on which the base was mounted; the plate was attached to his woodworking bench. Roy Lewis Buffalo, NY
Be careful for the vice squad will be coming for you. Neat little vice. Orville is just down the road from me. So I now I need to do a little research. Since this from an area from Amish country, this company probably had a good market with the handcrafting of the Amish workers and farmers.
The original 2 1/2 inch jaw design was discontinued because the web of the fixed jaw was not strong enough resulting in frequent cracks about at the anvil level. (or it was just frequent abuse). This was one of the reasons Wil-Burt went out of business. I still have and use one of the original tall design, and several of the shorter 3 1/2 inch wide jaws. Several companies made vises of this design, the China made ones were sold by Brownells, Midway, Grizzley, Woodworkers Supply, Garret Wade and probably others. Some later models had replaceable jaws. It is important to adjust the screw so the swivel function locks at the same time the vice closes.
I have a Wil-Burt Versa Vise but the next size smaller than yours, I was always told they were GUNSMITHING vises? Mine is a nice Hammered Light blue metallic color - Restoration Decals are still very much available from eBay - is where I bought mine
I gladly give you the original purchase price of $10.95 for that vice. The inflation calculator tell me that is a $141 in todays money. Beautiful job Mr. Pete.
Great video, sir, as are many of you others. I always enjoy your channel. I have two Versa Vice. I have the tall flat jaws that I assumed were for woodworking and the shorter jaws which I thought were metalworking jaws. I have a base mounted on top of my bench and one mounted on the side. Love this tool.
I don’t know what Mr Pete uses but 24 hours in white apple vinegar works for me. A little scrubbing followed by rinsing in cold water finishes the job.
They are great tools, I use mine for gun work. Beware of the new copies, the screw strips out of them. you can still find the vintage ones that will still be around after the new blue ones are scrapped
Beautiful vice Mr Pete!! Please don't be so hard on yourself...we all make mistakes in life...thats how we learn right?? Just laugh about it and move on...cya in the next one!!
I don’t know why, but I have always and I mean all of us been hard on myself. I am also hard on other people. I mean, bad people, wiitch is 18% of the population.
Mr. Pete. Two things. 1. I didn't know AMF was a "real" company, my planer is an AMF and I have a LARGE quanity of AMF shaper bits, router bits, awls, etc. 2. I'm sure you've done this already, but how do you find these tool auctions? Is it just that I'm on the east coast and we don't have them?
Nice vice. You know we think of old tools that were made in the USA but there are now old tools that were imported that were great quality that today you have a hard time finding something in reasonable price of comparable quality. In late 70's I bought a Vice, bench grinder, and drill press from harbor freight (well before they had retail stores). They were made in China and Taiwan. I use them every day and recently went to their store to buy another vice and was very disappointed in the quality so I left with out a vice. I actually bough one from Vevor based on reviews. Well see how it does.
Lyle, A seller on Fleabay has the decals/stickers for the Versa Vice. I believe they are not originals from Will-Burt but reproductions made from vinyl. They look good. If there is a recess for them to fit into, I know nothing about the dimensions.
I bought one from Woodcraft and before I even used it-- I buffed the chrome plating on the screw -- then found out that the "cap"end needs to be re-fastened to the body. ended up with SIX 10 - 32 set screws radiley , to hold the tension.😢 (a Lot of BS).
I was learned it to be called “parrot” vise. And it was used by stock makers to hold rifle and shotgun stocks for shaping, inletting, and checkering. It is also used by stringed instruments makers to hold instruments. There is a pretty broad selection of magnetic jaws available through luthiers and hunsmithing sources. If you run it through it’s paces you’ll see that it has all the motions of a pattern makers vise, in a smaller form factor, which is all above the bench. I have always assumed that some where back in the industrial revolution it was invented/manufactured by a person or company named Parrot, and the name stuck, similar to “Crescent” and Monkee wrenches. I always knew Crescent and Monkee wrenches were made by specific companies because Dad, and Grandpa both had the genuine article in there shops. 😊
great re-build on the vise. Flush mount or side mount is easy, longer tube and mount the surface mount under the bench. For side mount, design a side mounted tube for the longer tube, and mount it at the edge of work bench. I’m on the look out for a vise like this now. Thanks Mrpete222.
I've always known these by another name. A "Parrot Vise". Not sure if that is already mentioned below but a quick scan of about 2/3's of the replies so far doesn't seem to show that anyone else already mentioned it. I've got one and yes, they are incredibly handy to wood working. Particularly when holding items for carving or shaping with a spoke shave. Looking at pictures of "Parrot vise" found online shows all of the standard blue versions with holes. I'm surprised that your version does not have these holes.
❤ I have 2 of these on my stock making bench. Love them. But now I have to find 2 of the angle adapters, didn't know about them. Probably seen 20 over the years and had no clue what there were. I love the dare at the end, glad it wasn't a Triple DOG Dare. 😊 Thanks for your time Mr. Pete
I have one and use it infrequently, but when its needed it does a good job, didn't realize it goes that far back, I ended up mounting to a block of 4x6 which I then tighten up in my Record woodworking vice
Great vise. Would be a good addition to any woodworker's shop, I wish I had one. Nice job on the restoration, too. Thanks Mr. Pete for all the info on where you can still get these.
I inherited one dad had after he passed. I have known about them for years. I have never seen the attachment you showed. I will be on the hunt for one of those. Sadly, i lack the bench space to mount mine. I really like your mention of mounting vises too far back from the edge of the bench. I am always amazed how often that is seen. Or, when swivel base vise are not closely mounted to the edges of the corner of a bench. Are you familiar with, or do you perhaps own a Cole vise? Another amazing and versatile vise, espcially with the drill attachment and crotch center. I have one of those too that i desperately want to see mounted.
Hi Mr. Pete, thank you for some memories. My Grandfather had one of the versua vice.He built his last house in 1953 which is when I arrived. I don't remember exactly when he bought it but I remember him showing it to me. He was some proud of it and taught me all about it. He taught me more than anybody else and I spent an awful lot of time in his shop when I was just alittle kid. He had the pipe jaws but I don't remember any other accessories. BTW I have a mallet just like yours that came with a 1961 MG I had. It was for the knock off hubs, was made in England by Thor. I also have a Bernard pliers for doing clockwork. Thanks again.
Nice vise. I’m a gunsmith and after trying one of the cheap Chinese knockoffs and breaking it, I got a Wilbert and rebuilt it. I also got a gyro ( also a Wilbert) vise and rebuilt it. I’ve used them everyday for 10 years and still working great!
Hello Mr Pete Columbian Gyro-Vise was made at the same time as the Wil-Burt Verda-Vise, both had licenses from the inventor. Both companies built the tall and short jaw versions, so you have three more to complete the collection. I had to have the center pivot section built for mine. I have a small star knob with a brass tip for the lock instead of using an Allen wrench. I purchased replacement decals on ETSY.
Happy Fathers Day Mr Pete. You sharing your video today made my Father's Day that much more pleasant. I have misplaced/lost more digital assets then I care to remember and I do tech for a living so I wouldn't worry about it. Enjoyed what you had left though.
Mr Pete, Thank you for featuring the VersaVise! I have quite a few of them and given some away as gifts to family. They are very handy and like you mentioned gunsmiths love them. Guitar makers too!
Funny, I just bought a Parrot Vise. There was a rendition of the Versa Vise available, but it was twice the price, just for the added swivel attachment.
I wanted one for years but they were bringing more money than I was wanting to pay so I bought one of the Parrot vise's quite a few years ago and I must say that the quality is quite good. I do not have the accessory that you have but might make one someday.
The electrolysis process you use to de-rust the vise and other items can be used to electroplate items as well, by reversing the leads and using the appropriate plating solution you can silver plate and copper as well as nickel plate items. I silvered plated some pennies by using an acid and some old electrical contacts. Just a side note use cation.
It's ok Mr. Pete. I would be crying for losing the footage. Glad you still uploaded though. But I can't believe u restored it so well, especially the even paint job. But man, where are you getting all of those old tools?
