No Paint Restoration: Littlestown Bench Vise No 25

[@johnnydutcher208]

Very cool! Like that you left it bare.

[@PowerForgeWorkshop]

Thanks Johnny! I liked it so much I have it decorating my office.

[@rawbacon]

I like the no paint look, it reminds me of making things in the foundry in junior high metal shop about 35 years ago.

[@davepower7449]

Fantastic! Really enjoyed watching your work.

[@crazypenguinman]

He used a littleton vise to fix a littleton vise. made me smile.

[@garyjones7198]

Very nicely done.. Love the bare look...

[@lightning4871]

You made that look easy. Good job!

[@patriciamueller6892]

Put your hands up!!! This is the vise squad!!!!!!

[@Dreemwever]

Good Job!

[@jkay6612]

great job with the wood jig

[@patriciamueller6892]

Just gorgeous perfection!!!!!

[@tshusker]

Linseed/flax oil on bare, unpainted tool - right on!

[@TheThriftyWoodworker]

Love it.

[@M.A.S.8513]

Awesome dude

[@M.A.S.8513]

@@PowerForgeWorkshop I wish I cud leave a picture comment. I was given the same by an older man when I stopped by his house to pick up some lumber that he was throwing out. He told me to keep it. But I told him I was gonna restore it and give it back to him for a newer yet crappier he had.

[@КошмарКошмар-й2б]

Good restoration bro 👍👍👍👍

[@heydoyourhomework]

Read your blog post as well. My Grandfather was Army in WWI. Dad was Navy in WWII. If your Dad was in the Pacific, he might have gotten a "Taxi Ride" on Dad's troop transport. Anyway, I have a Littlestown No 400 from Grandfather that is due for a refurbishment. To do the boiled linseed, you said heated the thing up to 450. I'm looking at the kitchen oven right now and my wife is staring at me with a raised eyebrow. How'd you heat yours?

[@PowerForgeWorkshop]

Les, I think I heated the vice with a torch to the linseed oil's smoking point. I often use linseed oil when I blacksmith to seal and finish the parts. Too hot and it will burn. Too cool and it won't smoke. The hotter the temperature, the darker the finish. I was going for a gunmetal grey finish so I sealed the vice on the cooler side. I suppose you could use an oven to heat the metal, but the smell of the oil is quite pungent when applied. You could heat the vice then take it outside and apply the oil. This would be similar to re-seasoning a cast iron pan. By the way, I don't use the vice. It's a show piece in my office and still looks like the day I finished. My shop-vice is a work horse, also no paint. I use a metal protectant on the body on occasion to keep surface rust from forming. I live in a humid climate so oiling metal surfaces is just part of my battle rhythm. Hope this helps. Good luck!

[@livingsurvival]

What sanding disc did you use?

[@PowerForgeWorkshop]

I used an Irwin wire-wheel.

[@scroungasworkshop4663]

Good work. Scout Crafter has just done the same vice.

[@patdennis3202]

Thoughts on when this vice was cast? Working on a similar one and having trouble dating it

[@patdennis3202]

@@PowerForgeWorkshop Thanks for your help!

[@heydoyourhomework]

The BLOG post mentions a heavy duty rust inhibitor and lubricant. How has it worked over the last couple years? I'm seeing various ones out there. Do you have a recommendation?

[@PowerForgeWorkshop]

The vice is a showpiece in my office and it looks a good as the day I finished the project. I used a can of heavy duty metal protectant from Amsoil. As far as my shop vice goes, and other bare metal equipment in my shop, I oil and/or spray the surfaces a few times a year. I live in a humid climate and left untreated surface rust develops quickly.

[@cmcc1971]

Saw on another post where someone mentioned using Tung oil on the vise. Any thoughts on Tung vs Linseed?

[@GT_Racer347]

Definitely cool.

[@kenparnell4297]

Just a clean and rejaw.

[@blacknight1003]

Sorry, but the jaws are not very straight. I would have liked to have seen more attention to the sharing up of the jaws. I do like the “no paint” finish.

[@PowerForgeWorkshop]

Yep, you're absolutely right. That was my first time making Soft Jaws and I could have done a better job. Thanks for watching 👍

[@bobwhelk2118]

Mehaaaa