Ever since I discovered GJ a week ago, I've been looking for an old, heavy, cast-iron American vise that I could restore. Everything I've come across has either been too small, a Wilton bullet (which I don't really care for), or ridiculously overpriced ($200+ for a beat to hell 4-incher). I just came across the perfect candidate, but dammit it's 2 am and I can't call the guy. I'm telling myself I'll call him at 10 am, but then I think to myself, "but what if someone else snatches it up at 9!?" This *****.
CL Waiting Game
- Thread starter Leadberry
- Start date
Zelatore
Well-known member
Weekdays I consider 8:00 AM starting time. On a weekend I'd wait until 9:00.
With my ads, I tend to get few people contacting me in the morning, but people don't seem to think a thing about calling or texting at 10 or 11 at night.
If you're really worried, I'd go for a text. Less intrusive than a phone call. You could just express your interest and say you'll call at 8 or 9 tomorrow.
With my ads, I tend to get few people contacting me in the morning, but people don't seem to think a thing about calling or texting at 10 or 11 at night.
If you're really worried, I'd go for a text. Less intrusive than a phone call. You could just express your interest and say you'll call at 8 or 9 tomorrow.
Zelatore
Well-known member
Heck, maybe you'll get lucky and find he's an F1 fan and he's up watching qualifying live... 
Yeah, that seems like a pretty good rule of thumb. I'm just gonna set my alarm for 9 am and cross my fingers.
Heck, maybe you'll get lucky and find he's an F1 fan and he's up watching qualifying live...
Voi
Well-known member
Any luck?
I was once up in the middle of the night with insomnia and found a small ATV frame advertised on CL. Had all four rims/tires and the rear brake assembly and foot pedal. He only wanted $40. Said no texts or emails so I got up early the next day and it was already gone.
I was once up in the middle of the night with insomnia and found a small ATV frame advertised on CL. Had all four rims/tires and the rear brake assembly and foot pedal. He only wanted $40. Said no texts or emails so I got up early the next day and it was already gone.
I'd call him at 6 am and if he doesn't answer repeat every hour. The early bird gets the worm.
The Ratchet Man
Well-known member
Look at it from the sellers point of view. When I post something for sale I want phone calls to pour in as soon as I hit the post button. They're looking for a buyer and you're looking for a seller. I sold a Ford 12 bolt rear-end at 3:00 am in the morning. He had cash, I made time for that cash.
Fordman7795
Well-known member
I sure as heck don't want someone calling me at 6 am. That's why i do emails only and tell them to leave me their number and the best time to call and i call back in order that the email me
evintho
Well-known member
It's 9:30 here on the west coast...............................what happened?
chris142
Well-known member
Vises are not big sellers here and the average consumer wont pay$100+ for a good vise when a new one from hf is cheaper.
Was a busy day today, so I haven't had a chance to post an update until now. I called the guy at 9 am and it went straight to voicemail. I left my contact info and waited to see what happened. He never returned my call, so I called a couple more times throughout the day, again going straight to voicemail. I finally got a hold of the guy around 7 pm and, you ready? The seller listed the wrong number.
This thing is a Ridgid No. 41 that looks pristine aside from mild surface rust, and the guy is asking $100. I sent him an email as soon as I got off the phone with the guy whose number is in the listing, but I have yet to get a reply.
This thing is a Ridgid No. 41 that looks pristine aside from mild surface rust, and the guy is asking $100. I sent him an email as soon as I got off the phone with the guy whose number is in the listing, but I have yet to get a reply.
hemifalcon
Well-known member
Where you at?? There's lotsa guys on here selling vises
uniballer
Well-known member
This whole time you could have sent an email????? I do that most of the time if I am worried about spam. But also might be those stupid pranks to deter people from deals on CL!
This whole time you could have sent an email????? I do that most of the time if I am worried about spam. But also might be those stupid pranks to deter people from deals on CL!
I know, I know. It's just the listing says to call, and I know that everyone is different, but when I spell out in a CL ad that I want someone to call or text me, I mean I want them to call or text me. I guess it's a lesson learned. Next time someone doesn't pick up the phone I'll text, email, pull a background check and get a hold of their wife, coworkers, dog...
Voi
Well-known member
Are you searching CL with both terms vise and vice? If you search using vice some interesting stuff comes up.
This one didn't even have vice or vise in the title. "Antique" workbench with a Reed vise (spelled Reid in the ad).
http://akroncanton.craigslist.org/tls/3707959596.html
There are also a couple of Columbians for sale up near Cleveland (Berea). A bit overpriced but maybe if you wait him out for a while you can get a deal on both.
I have a Columbian 505 and assuming the guys hands are around the same size as mine the one pictured might be a 6" vise. He says the other one around same size but smaller so it might also be a bigger vise.
http://cleveland.craigslist.org/tls/3718561596.html
I have two Columbians, a 504 and a 505 and I'm quite fond of them. But if I were still living in Ohio that old beat up workbench with that Reed would have me very intrigued. I'd go kick the tires at least.
[EDIT] Just saw your wanted ad and see you have a preference for Ridgid, Parker & Prentiss and am guessing you saw the above ads. Good luck.
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Kevin54
MEMBER EMERITUS
Leadberry....I hope you get the vise you want.But if you don't mind, could you put your location in your profile? You could just put it as N.E. Ohio or however, if you don't want people pinpointing what town you live in.
A location just makes it so much easier when other members try to help a member out.
Oops...I almost forgot. Welcome to GJ. We're always glad to have new members. When you get time, post up your toolbox, your garage, your rides.
Thanks for the advice. I have been searching for both spellings, and I did see the above ad. I don't know why I didn't think of it sooner, but there is a huge flea market near me in Hartville...I'm probably going to give that a try.
Leadberry....I hope you get the vise you want.But if you don't mind, could you put your location in your profile? You could just put it as N.E. Ohio or however, if you don't want people pinpointing what town you live in.
A location just makes it so much easier when other members try to help a member out.
Oops...I almost forgot. Welcome to GJ. We're always glad to have new members. When you get time, post up your toolbox, your garage, your rides.
Thanks for the welcome! I'll make sure to add my location to my bio...I don't mind people knowing what city I'm in. Also I've been meaning to post pics but man has it been a busy weekend!
Also as an update, the guy shot me the correct number via email. I called him and he's not willing to budge on the price. Factor in gas and I'll have close to $150 in this vise...double what I was hoping to pay. Opinions? Here's the listing:
http://dayton.craigslist.org/tls/3733870202.html
chris142
Well-known member
Too bad you don't want a bullit vise. http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/tls/3733104363.html
Kevin54
MEMBER EMERITUS
$100 does seem a little high for that Rigid. I have a Rigid 3 1/2" vise and I paid $20 for it last year.
As far as the Wiltons go, if you are a vise collector, they may not be for you, but if you're looking for a vise that is going to see a lot of use, then the Wilton Bullet Vise would be the vise to have. When I first started working at Grimes, I was to pick out a vise to order and I picked a Wilton. IIRC, back in '81 the vise was in the $400+ range. I had that vise for probably 25 years until they moved all of the departments around. I took off the serrated jaws and ground them smooth. Over the years, that vise had been beat on, heat on it, pounded some more, and I don't know how many times the handle had been beat on to either form a part or to straighten a part. In the 25 years I had that vise on my bench, it had been through hell and back numerous times, but was still as tight and precise as the day it was new. I highly recommend a Wilton over anything as far as a work vise goes.
Todd.Brock
Well-known member
If you find something on cincy CL let me know and if its not too far from me, I could pick it up and send it to you. Would cost about the same as gas/time etc from Akron. We get a decent deal on ups shipping at work. Probably would be 50-65 bucks to ship? Search for the word "vice" as well. Found some good deals like that too...
Searching CL forever tends to **** sometimes especailly when you find what you want only to have somebody else get it before you.
Since it's in your neck of the woods, I'd suggest checking out HGR also.
http://www.hgrinc.com/index.do
Since it's in your neck of the woods, I'd suggest checking out HGR also.
http://www.hgrinc.com/index.do
SouthCoastMudder
Well-known member
Seems like quite a few decent deals on vises on CL for you guys. I can't seem to find much of anything in Houston...
SouthCoastMudder
Well-known member
http://houston.craigslist.org/tls/3695591592.html
This seems like our best deal, and only Wilton Bullet I have seen in some time. How does the pricing of that compare to your regions?
This seems like our best deal, and only Wilton Bullet I have seen in some time. How does the pricing of that compare to your regions?
Fordman7795
Well-known member
Surprised he didnt mention the "professional restoration"
SouthCoastMudder
Well-known member
Good thing he didn't notice or the price would be even higher!
$100 does seem a little high for that Rigid. I have a Rigid 3 1/2" vise and I paid $20 for it last year.
As far as the Wiltons go, if you are a vise collector, they may not be for you, but if you're looking for a vise that is going to see a lot of use, then the Wilton Bullet Vise would be the vise to have. When I first started working at Grimes, I was to pick out a vise to order and I picked a Wilton. IIRC, back in '81 the vise was in the $400+ range. I had that vise for probably 25 years until they moved all of the departments around. I took off the serrated jaws and ground them smooth. Over the years, that vise had been beat on, heat on it, pounded some more, and I don't know how many times the handle had been beat on to either form a part or to straighten a part. In the 25 years I had that vise on my bench, it had been through hell and back numerous times, but was still as tight and precise as the day it was new. I highly recommend a Wilton over anything as far as a work vise goes.
Hrm...I'll have to start keeping an open mind moving out. I'll keep your recommendation in mind. Thanks!
Awesome, thank you. I'll keep your offer in mind. I don't mind spending money on gas to get around, but the time requirement really comes at a premium.
Yeah. I'm trying to control myself because I feel like the new kid on the block where everyone already has the cool toys! It's easy to just want to jump right into a purchase without being thorough. And I've bookmarked their site, thanks.
I think it probably helps that most of these vises I've found were made right here in Ohio. Columbians in Cleveland, Desmond-Stephans in Urbana, Ridgids in Elyria, etc. Even Erie, PA (Reed) is only a stone's throw away from me.
evintho
Well-known member
Patience, young grasshopper. I know you're anxious but I would pass on that Rigid. It's only a 4" and $100 is overpriced. Hold out for a quality 6". The first vise resto I did was this '56 Wilton 4". I paid $65 for it and overpaid. But, I was over anxious too.
I finally picked up this Reed 6" for $100 off of CL. It's a beast and doesn't let me down!
I finally picked up this Reed 6" for $100 off of CL. It's a beast and doesn't let me down!
