Littco #165 Bench Vise

[OilyRascal]

I've had this guy for a good while and stumbled across it today; a Littco #165 bench vise that clamps onto the bench.  It's not a big boy, having 5" jaws.  It is missing the foot on the on the clamp turn-screw that holds it to the bench.  I hadn't heard of Littco before seeing this.  Hope you enjoy.  I'd be interested in your experience, or creative thinking, with fixing the bench clamp - also welcome any discussion around Littco or the vise.

[Papaw]

Find a "cupped" washer- like used to space the shock bolts on a motorcycle- of appropriate size and place it there, then lightly peen the screw so it stays there but still rotates freely.

[Branson]

This style vise is the forerunner of the Stanley 700.  I've got one of these (stashed where  I can't get at it to see if the maker is the same).  Made by more than one company.   Every wood worker ought to have one -- when you need this vise, nothing else will quite do.  It will clamp two boards at right angles to each other,  It will clamp onto a saw horse, and nothing beats it for working on doors or wood sash.

[OilyRascal]

Thanks, Papaw!  That's a great idea and one I will be sure to try out.

Branson - I would have been a while thinking to use it to hold two boards at a 90 - versus having it clamped to a bench and using the one jaw set.  Thanks for that tip!

[Dakota Woodworker]

I've got one of these somewhere, mine is made of cast aluminum, probably a Craftsman since it was my Dads.  They are "the" vise for holding a door on edge for hand planning and such.

[mikeswrenches]

Littco may stand for the Littletown Vise Co.  I have one like yours but don't know who made it.

I never thought of using it to hold two boards at right angles.  Thanks for the tip.

Mike

[OilyRascal]

Founded in 1916 as "Littlestown Hardware and Foundry Company" using Littco as the brand.  Name is now Littlestown Foundry; still in business in LittleStown PA.

http://www.littlestownfoundry.com/history.htm

[oldtools]

for the vice clamp pads, I used fender washers with holes that just fit over the tip of the screw... (sometimes press-fit)

[mikeswrenches]

How do you put the cup in the washer so the pin on the end of the threads doesn't hit?

Mike

[Papaw]

You can buy cup washers. Otherwise ,I guess you could "cup" a fender washer with an arbor press.

[john k]

A pair of Littgo vises I've acquired, one with swivel, and the other has lost the swivel.   On the small side, but good for certain things.

[oldtools]

for the vice clamp pads, I used fender washers with holes that just fit over the tip of the screw... (sometimes press-fit)

I use several fender washers stacked to distribute the force, main thing is the hole fits on the tip & rest on the boss of the screw.
(can peen the tip to retain the washers.) easier to fit fender washers (drill), I find other washers holes too big to fit on boss.

[OilyRascal]

A pair of Littgo vises I've acquired, one with swivel, and the other has lost the swivel.   On the small side, but good for certain things.

I like them, and wish I had one.  Do you have a magic hat somewhere you pull this stuff from?  I believe you may have a few vices :)

[johnsironsanctuary]

I have never made them for a vice,but have repaired a number of C clamps by turning  bar stock down in the lathe to fit the end of the screw.  Turn the part nearest the threads down to about an 1/8 in wall around the hole. Clamp the new part, installed, to a steel plate, heat the collar red hot and peen it down so that it holds on the end of the threads. It looks like there is a slight undercut on the end for this purpose. If you are careful peening, it will swivel when you are done.

[RedVise]

Find a "cupped" washer- like used to space the shock bolts on a motorcycle- of appropriate size and place it there, then lightly peen the screw so it stays there but still rotates freely.

What he said!!  Here's a couple of pics of my #165. Looks like that is exactly what was done.

Brian L.