Value of a rusty post vice?

S

sirwilliamjr

Joined
Feb 2, 2004
Messages
44
I was checking out a scrap/junk yard today, and the guy had a post vice for sale. It was pretty rusty, and the post (I'm assuming thats what you call it) was a little bent, but the threads that opened and closed the jaws still had grease on them, so it worked fairly smoothly. He said he would take $100 (and he doesn't bargain- I offered $3 for a $5 cold chisel, and he wasn't too happy) which seems like a pretty good deal, but I wasn't sure enough to buy it on the spot. How does this price sound? Incredible, decent, average? Another reason I didn't buy it was that I wasn't sure how much I needed it. I'm relatively new to forging- how much do you experienced guys use a post vice? Is it considered neccesary (obviously not as important as a fire and two hard things to hit the metal between, but you know what I mean...) or just a nice thing to have every now and then? What kind of stuff is it used for. I know there have been times when a third hand would have been nice, but how much can you do with the vice? Sorry I couldn't stick with just one question, there's just too much I don't know :) . Thanks
-Will
 
Sounds like you need to go somewhere else. They aren't that hard to find for under $50.00.
 
I don't know about that Peter, I think it depends on where you live. Here in the Deep South they are getting pretty scarce and $75.00 to $100.00+ is pretty average. I think up North and in the Mid-Atlantic states they may still be common and fairly cheap. Mind you I bought both of mine on eBay for $55.00 and $65.00 respectively several years ago but shipping cranked their prices up a bit. The rust is no big deal but the bent leg should bring the price on that one down I would think.

Still I can't imagine a dealer like that not willing to wheel and deal! If there is a blacksmith group near you (check the ABANA website for the nearest group) you could contact someone to see what a postvice in your area should run.

Was the spring on the one you looked still intact? They are often broken or entirely missing. Also while the threads may have had lots of grease on them they may be worn down a lot, even if they are worn I imagine the average post vice still has a number of years of good hard use left in it.
 
OK,one of my pet peeves is the spelling of VISE.Both vise and vice have become common usage,but the actual word for the tool is VISE.It comes from the old English word 'vis' ,meaning screw.Vice has always meant loathsome or foul habit,or underling.It comes from old French word 'vice' ,meaning change or lower.In the case of some of us smiths,both spellings apply!
Back to the real question,A post vise is useful for lots of things.I would say it is the number four tool after the hammer , anvil,and tongs ,as far as forging tools go.If all the parts are there and in good shape,I would say $100 is an OK price.In the condition you describe,I would offer $50 and expect to pay no more than $75.Print out these threads and take them to the seller.Maybe he has an inflated idea of its worth.
SA
 
I picked up a really goodone this year for $50. Like I really needed another one. I hit at the right time. The owner of the place wasn't there when I bought it and he had some other fellow looking after things. There wasn't a price marked on it so he said make an offer. I said 50 bucks and he said it was mine. After I said that I wonder if he would have gone with 40 but I got a darn good postvise for 50 bucks. I was happy. I still need to set my other postvise up.....
 
bladsmth said:
OK,one of my pet peeves is the spelling of VISE.SA
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Yeah, I realized that not long after I posted. I was searching ebay and couldn't find hardly anything, started wondering why, and then realized I wasn't looking for a new vice.

Thanks everyone. Lucky for me I didn't have $100 in my pocket, cause I think I would have been ripped off. I didn't think about it at the time, but the vise didn't have a spring, and opening it while holding tongs with hot steel and unscrewing it could have been a pain. I would need another vise to hold my work while I opened my post vise. :)

-Will
 
This last one I bought doesn't have a spring either but I think there are some that don't need a spring. Mine works fine without one. I didn't notice that till after I bought it.
 
The lack of a spring really isn't a big deal. If you can forge a knife, forging out a new spring sholdn't be too hard.

Stacy, you are right, the spelling is "vise" and collecting them can be a vice! I have two perfectly serviceable vises and still I look around for more at swap meets and on eBay! I hate it when I use the wrong spellings for things, it means I'm not paying full attention!
 
While there's some excellent bargain hunters on this forum, $100 really isn't that bad. I know a couple people who paid that for a post vise in less then perfect condition. If you plan on doing twisted damascus, lots of upsetting for integrals, or other types of blacksmithing , then you'd probably find good use for it. For just typical bladesmithing I don't think it'd be especially useful which is why I haven't started hunting for one yet.
 
Anvils, post vises, and old tools in general that I can use are my vices. I picked up an old pipe vise a few weeks ago I also need to set up. I must have a magnetic personality since I'm attracted to old rusty steel........
 
Geez! I'vw got 8 or 9 out around the shop ad haven't paid more than $50 for any of them. The highest priced one was the smallest(3") but it is like new.I paid that much 'cause ya can still read the name stamped into it.
A couple need some work, springs, and a couple I got for free.
Can't hae too many vises, ya know:-) bruce
 
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