Finally got a Wilton Bullet, lots of questions.

BHH · Jul 12, 2012

Well I bit the bullet and bought this vise last night. I am not sure if I over-paid or not but ($160) it looked to be in pretty great shape. The Jaws appear to line up almost perfectly and appear to be a nice tight fit.

What really sold me was how old it was. According to my reading the original ones were stamped 5 years in the future for when the guarantee would run out. If this is true that dates this vise to February 1940? Which I think has to be wrong since I thought they didn't start making these till 1941? It is stamped Pat. Pending so it is before 1942.

I am going to restore this and need to know a few things:

• What is the best way to remove the paint?
• How should I clean up the minor surface rust?
• What sort of prep should be done before I repaint?
• Is it possible to get a matching swivel base?

I found this thread which I am hoping is the same instructions to dismantle the vise. http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=93250

Here are the pics, I didn't scale them down thinking detail may help with questions.

canuckian · Jul 12, 2012

I cant see the pics (blocked at work) but congrats! did you get it locally?

BHH · Jul 12, 2012

canuckian said:
I cant see the pics (blocked at work) but congrats! did you get it locally?

Got it from Ontario, shipping was $40 but after 2 years of searching it is the only one even remotely close and the only in Canada I have been able to find.

franzdom · Jul 12, 2012

So, is it a 4.5"?

BHH · Jul 12, 2012

It is a 3"

canuckian · Jul 12, 2012

BHH said:
Got it from Ontario, shipping was $40 but after 2 years of searching it is the only one even remotely close and the only in Canada I have been able to find.

yeah unfortunately not many of them seem to have made it across the border over the years. I had to get both of mine from the US. Picked the 4 inch up on our way back through NY state on vacation and with the 5 inch the guy used a commercial fed ex account and got it shiped for about the same as you paid from Ontario. theyre great vises though. Have a feeling you'll be posting pictures of it painted in extreme green before too long?? :bounce:

BHH · Jul 12, 2012

canuckian said:
yeah unfortunately not many of them seem to have made it across the border over the years. I had to get both of mine from the US. Picked the 4 inch up on our way back through NY state on vacation and with the 5 inch the guy used a commercial fed ex account and got it shiped for about the same as you paid from Ontario. theyre great vises though. Have a feeling you'll be posting pictures of it painted in extreme green before too long??

haha I am not sure the color yet, but lets say I am leaning that way. Is it possible to get the actual extreme green pain Snappy uses?

canuckian · Jul 12, 2012

BHH said:
haha I am not sure the color yet, but lets say I am leaning that way. Is it possible to get the actual extreme green pain Snappy uses?

i've heard some people say that it's impossible to find the paint Snap On uses while others have said that they can get it but I've never seen a source to buy it. I think Snap On sells touch up paint but in what sizes I have no idea. Any good paint shop should be able to match the green on something like one of the drawers of your cart if you brought it in to them. they could even probably fill up a few spray cans with it.

Slip_Kid · Jul 12, 2012

Did it come with the swivel base? It looks in nice shape.

BHH · Jul 12, 2012

Slip_Kid said:
Did it come with the swivel base? It looks in nice shape.

No it didn't I am looking to buy one! Got on? haha.

BHH · Jul 12, 2012

According to my somewhat lacklust search skills there is only one other member on here (that has posted) that has a vise with the same date code. Am I correct to assume that it is from the first year of production?

mryyc · Jul 13, 2012

BHH said:
Got it from Ontario, shipping was $40 but after 2 years of searching it is the only one even remotely close and the only in Canada I have been able to find.

Dangit - it was you who sniped it on me

I was watching that one, not often you see them come up north of the border. Congrats!

BHH · Jul 13, 2012

mryyc said:
Dangit - it was you who sniped it on me I was watching that one, not often you see them come up north of the border. Congrats!

haha sorry man, I saw it and just had to jump on it. I was debating waiting and trying the bidding option or if I should just buy it now and I was afraid that it would just be bought by someone else. This is the first one that wasn't in terrible shape that I have seen in Canada that I can remember.

bluebolt · Jul 13, 2012

That's a nice early vice, not all beat up or welded on like mine LOL. If you are happy with it the price is fine.

fatfillup · Jul 13, 2012

As far as the paint code, most of the late model snap on boxes I have bought and sold had a sticker on the inside of the box with a paint code and paint manufacturer name on them. You need to remove the drawers to see it, but it should be easy to get once you have the number.

Nice vise. I am not in love with swivel bases though they can be handy. Too often they just don't seem to lock down that well, but I haven't had a Wilton to try so I could be wrong.

BHH · Jul 13, 2012

bluebolt said:
That's a nice early vice, not all beat up or welded on like mine LOL. If you are happy with it the price is fine.

Yeah I based the price on the condition and age. If it had weld **** on it or lots of grinder marks I would have passed. Everything looks, key work here looks in really good shape. I just have to wait till it is in hand to see for myself.

Jack Olsen · Jul 13, 2012

Garage Journal member autopts is the authority on parts for these. He can probably tell you if the swivel base for a later model would be interchangeable with yours. He also can get new jaws, finger savers, etc. He's great guy.

When I cleaned up mine, the rust-and-paint removal was straightforward. I took it apart, pulled the jaws, and hit it with a wire brush on a 4-1/2" angle grinder. Then I maked it off, primed it, and painted it. Pretty simple.

If that's the original grease, you might want to clean up the guts of the thing and give it some new stuff. Am I right in that the code means 1945? That vise has been around longer than most of us.

BHH · Jul 13, 2012

fatfillup said:
As far as the paint code, most of the late model snap on boxes I have bought and sold had a sticker on the inside of the box with a paint code and paint manufacturer name on them. You need to remove the drawers to see it, but it should be easy to get once you have the number.

Nice vise. I am not in love with swivel bases though they can be handy. Too often they just don't seem to lock down that well, but I haven't had a Wilton to try so I could be wrong.

I think I am going to go with this color scheme, it has family sentiment and it is an old company so it is only fitting. Vise will be the orange, and lettering the black. I will bring in the actual oil can to get color matched.

BHH · Jul 13, 2012

Jack Olsen said:
Garage Journal member autopts is the authority on parts for these. He can probably tell you if the swivel base for a later model would be interchangeable with yours. He also can get new jaws, finger savers, etc. He's great guy.

When I cleaned up mine, the rust-and-paint removal was straightforward. I took it apart, pulled the jaws, and hit it with a wire brush on a 4-1/2" angle grinder. Then I maked it off, primed it, and painted it. Pretty simple.

If that's the original grease, you might want to clean up the guts of the thing and give it some new stuff. Am I right in that the code means 1945? That vise has been around longer than most of us.

Thank you, I have been in contact with him thanks to Canuckian. He is indead a great resource and has been truly helpful.

A question I am waiting on is bead blasting or chemical stripping is not the way to go here?

Yes according to autopts it is from 1945, I thought it would be from 41 since it is marked "Pat Pend" but he believes it is from 45. None the less damn old and looking better than most things I know that are nearly 70 years old.

I am thinking I want to powdercoat it over painting it because it will be stronger. Any reason not to do this? (other than cost increase).

BHH · Jul 14, 2012

After seeing the super bright glossy orange Wilton posted by a member today I am thinking maybe not going that route. The orange and black may look a bit too halloweeny. It might look totally different with a powder coat and not a super glossy paint though.

I just want this thing to get here so I can take it apart! haha

Did the originals have the anvil painted or just bare? And if just bare what is the best way to prevent that from rusting?

canuckian · Jul 14, 2012

The anvil on my 4" bullet is bare(got it with the original paint). All I do to keep rust at bay is wipe it with an oily rag or mist a little oil on it from time to time.

BHH · Jul 14, 2012

canuckian said:
The anvil on my 4" bullet is bare(got it with the original paint). All I do to keep rust at bay is wipe it with an oily rag or mist a little oil on it from time to time.

I have an anvil so I won't be using the one on the vise at all. Really don't need to beat on a 70 Year old haha. So can I have it bare and then just hit it with a coat of clear when I do the rest of the vise?

canuckian · Jul 14, 2012

BHH said:
I have an anvil so I won't be using the one on the vise at all. Really don't need to beat on a 70 Year old haha. So can I have it bare and then just hit it with a coat of clear when I do the rest of the vise?

I don't use the anvil on mine much and when i do it's only to straighten a nail or something light. As far as I can tell by the design of these, the anvil part wasn't designed to take a lot of abuse, kinda thin.
As for the clear coat part, if you never plan on anything metal making contact with the anvil, clear coat "should" work. I'm sure someone who knows more about clear coat will chime in and give some better advice than I can give on that subject.

cypherzion751 · Jul 15, 2012

if you want to go the green route, you can always use the Dupli-Color Grabber Green Engine Enamel. I know that you won't need high heat for the vise, but it's definitely green

BHH · Jul 15, 2012

canuckian said:
I don't use the anvil on mine much and when i do it's only to straighten a nail or something light. As far as I can tell by the design of these, the anvil part wasn't designed to take a lot of abuse, kinda thin.
As for the clear coat part, if you never plan on anything metal making contact with the anvil, clear coat "should" work. I'm sure someone who knows more about clear coat will chime in and give some better advice than I can give on that subject.

Ok cool thanks, I will probably give it a shot.

BHH · Jul 15, 2012

cypherzion751 said:
if you want to go the green route, you can always use the Dupli-Color Grabber Green Engine Enamel. I know that you won't need high heat for the vise, but it's definitely green

Thanks, I think whatever I do I am leaning toward powder coating it though.

Still wish I could nail down a more precise date of make though.

twincam00 · Jul 15, 2012

wow that thing is in great shape

BHH · Jul 15, 2012

twincam00 said:
wow that thing is in great shape

Fingers crossed that the internals are as good as the outside looks. I will check it out and post pics as soon as I get it.

I am kinda shocked the end dust cap appears to be in perfect shape, those always seems to be dented if not pushed in. Must have been in a good home!

BHH · Jul 16, 2012

Well I got her home and had to immediately start taking her apart.

I was pleased to see that under her red coat she still had her original dress on. It looks like there is piece of a sticker, which I am assuming is not original since it appears to be above the red.

Her insides look great, no cracks that I can see.

I wanted to make sure that the date stamp was the original and that there wasn't a second very faint one, looks like there is just the very prominent original one.

Now the problem I am having is she clearly doesn't want any dental work done, I can't for the life of me get her jaws off. I think these are the original jaws and possibly never taken off. They are on there and refusing to come off. Does anyone have any tips on removing the screws? I really do not want to drill them out or use a hand impact driver just out of caution for damage to the vise. This is what she is doing to my tools.

I also am afraid to whack the dowel too hard to get the dust cap off, any tips for getting this off? I was thinking using a mini pick to go around the entire outside and spraying some penetrating fluid in the gap and letting it stew for a little bit.

I am really kinda shocked how good everything looks on her for being as old as she is. It almost seems like she was barley used.

canuckian · Jul 16, 2012

Looking good! I had to use an impact with a bit socket to get the jaws of my 6" record. Sprayed some penetrating liquid at it and left it overnight. Came right out with the impact.

BHH · Jul 16, 2012

canuckian said:
Looking good! I had to use an impact with a bit socket to get the jaws of my 6" record. Sprayed some penetrating liquid at it and left it overnight. Came right out with the impact.

Actual im pact gun or one of those hand impact drivers that you smack with the hammer?

canuckian · Jul 16, 2012

I used a battery impact (cheap 14v Mastercraft iirc)

BHH · Jul 16, 2012

canuckian said:
I used a battery impact (cheap 14v Mastercraft iirc)

Ok so I shouldn't have a problem then with the snappy 18V. Do you know if Canadian Tire sells those 1/2" flat head driver sockets?

I am going to replace the screws since they are a little bit chewed up already.

BHH · Jul 16, 2012

autopts Strongly recommended not taking the back off and the inside long "nut" but this thing is loaded with generations of grease sludge, the first thing I noticed when I opened the box was the smell of ancient grease. What is the best way to get this thing glistening clean without removing the nut and back part?

I can't see spraying break cleaner in there doing a whole lot.

NCCheesehead · Jul 16, 2012

I used a hand impact to get my jaws off. I started with softer taps and worked up to medium hits. Second medium hit broke the only 2 stubborn bolts free. I left the end cap on in fear of breaking or damaging the pin. I used brake cleaner and it cleaned right up.

canuckian · Jul 16, 2012

BHH said:
Ok so I shouldn't have a problem then with the snappy 18V. Do you know if Canadian Tire sells those 1/2" flat head driver sockets?

I am going to replace the screws since they are a little bit chewed up already.

Yep, they usually put a full set of bit sockets on sale for $9.99 every few weeks. They're actually not too bad. I haven't broken or bent one yet and I show those no mercy.

thejudges69 · Jul 16, 2012

Not to hijack but I don't understand these threads we have a Wilton bullet I got for free 5 or 6 inch jaws and works great I use it all the time how come people want to restore these? Is it just because or do they not intend on using them again. I personally never intend to restore mine they just don't make vices like that and I'm not looking to baby it. Sorry don't want to hijack I'm just curious why everyeone restores these instead of using them.

BHH · Jul 16, 2012

thejudges69 said:
Not to hijack but I don't understand these threads we have a Wilton bullet I got for free 5 or 6 inch jaws and works great I use it all the time how come people want to restore these? Is it just because or do they not intend on using them again. I personally never intend to restore mine they just don't make vices like that and I'm not looking to baby it. Sorry don't want to hijack I'm just curious why everyeone restores these instead of using them.

Oh I will be using it, it will be my main bench vise. I just look at it as a nice project to do. If it was all original paint I probably would leave it if it was in good shape, but this has been repainted an ugly red and it is flaking off.
The only thing I won't be doing is using the anvil. I have a dedicated anvil and plus no need to whack on a senior citizen.

thejudges69 · Jul 16, 2012

Makes sense I just assumed you were restoring it to put on the shelf to show off. I use mine for everything even the anvil. It maybe old but there tough.

BHH · Jul 16, 2012

NCCheesehead said:
I used a hand impact to get my jaws off. I started with softer taps and worked up to medium hits. Second medium hit broke the only 2 stubborn bolts free. I left the end cap on in fear of breaking or damaging the pin. I used brake cleaner and it cleaned right up.

I have never used brake cleaner so excuse my ignorance, but I just spray the stuff in and it kinda dissolves the crud?

Finally got a Wilton Bullet, lots of questions.

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