Wilton Model 656 6" Vise

My wife and I were staying at a "Boondockers Welcome" site in our camper this past week. The host, Jack, is also a metalworker who makes a wide assortment of yard art items. He and I were talking about his new-to-him vise to replace the one he'd been using for many years. Here's a photo of the old vise:

This vise had a lot of slack in the screw and the jaws were not lining up, and Jack happened to acquire a better vise from a friend, so he said this Wilton vise was going on the scrap metal pile unless I wanted it..... Hmm, let me think on that. Yep, I'll take it.

This photo shows the gap at the near end of the jaws. Something must be tweaked but I don't know what.

The vise screw had also lost a keeper so a piece of wire was in its place, but was not doing a very good job of things. It took 2-1/2 turns before the movable jaw started sliding out when loosening the vise handle. Here's the piece of wire:

My first job with this vise was to make a new keeper. I found an old lock washer (middle in the photo) that was about the right size.

The washer was a little too thick so I ground down the sides until it fit the groove.

I then cut one end of the split washer off so it had room to close, then heated it red to anneal (soften) it.

The washer was slid onto the screw and down to the groove, then crimped together to clamp in place. I think it will hold quite well.

The next issue to solve was the gap at one end of the vise jaws. After some heat, penetrating oil and an impact driver, I got the four screws out that were securing the two replaceable jaws. I measured the gap at each end of the jaw slots and it was only about .010" difference between the two measurements, which didn't seem enough to mess with so I cleaned things up and reinstalled the jaws.

There is still a small gap at one end of the jaws but I think I can live with that.

The locking nut was also missing, so a nut welded to a piece of all-thread was being used as a swivel clamp. I ground the nut down some to make it fit the grooved profile better but may someday make a better locking device. It works for now.

I can also buy a new locking nut and clamp for $20...

Thank you Jack for your gift. This vise has a lot of years left in it. Below is a photo I found online of Jack bending some rebar a few years back with this vise. You can see he didn't baby the vise...