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Zyliss Vise

keakap

I think this may predate widespread use of electronic instructions. d.[/quote]

LOL! Got to thinkin, and realized my Zyliss predated the INTERNET!

keakap

JPG wrote
claimdude wroteI just picked one up off ebay and it is an original Zyless Vice in original box with manual in english and sweedish never used for $64 shipped.

Jack
???????

???????--- Aw, c'mon, we all have our little vices, but at least his are without zy!

dgreen810

This thread is a little strange in the fact that no one except Roy in OKC has mentioned, or at least I think he mentioned that his came with all the accessories including the "adjustable do hickey". There are "Two distinct or possibly more original Zyliss vises. If you look at my previous post, that shows the jaws mounted up side down, the left jaw has a brass insert in bottom. This is the "Adjustable do hickey" Roy was referring to I think.

It has a button on top that you depress to release the left jaw so it can be adjusted to the work piece without cranking it over. It's a super modification that eliminates a lot of cranking. The ones you see on eBay sometimes don't show which model you are bidding on. The only reason I point this out is if there are some members contemplating buying one, take this in to account to determine what it is worth. I think the later model is much more desirable and worth more cash.

Don G

dusty

dgreen810 wroteThis thread is a little strange in the fact that no one except Roy in OKC has mentioned, or at least I think he mentioned that his came with all the accessories including the "adjustable do hickey". There are "Two distinct or possibly more original Zyliss vises. If you look at my previous post, that shows the jaws mounted up side down, the left jaw has a brass insert in bottom. This is the "Adjustable do hickey" Roy was referring to I think.

It has a button on top that you depress to release the left jaw so it can be adjusted to the work piece without cranking it over. It's a super modification that eliminates a lot of cranking. The ones you see on eBay sometimes don't show which model you are bidding on. The only reason I point this out is if there are some members contemplating buying one, take this in to account to determine what it is worth. I think the later model is much more desirable and worth more cash.

Don G

I am uncertain as to what constitutes "a later model". I have had mine for many, many years and mine has the quick disconnect that you refer to. Yes, that quick disconnect is very convenient and it significantly reduces the amount of cranking required (if you make use of it).

BuckeyeDennis

dgreen810 wroteThis thread is a little strange in the fact that no one except Roy in OKC has mentioned, or at least I think he mentioned that his came with all the accessories including the "adjustable do hickey". There are "Two distinct or possibly more original Zyliss vises. If you look at my previous post, that shows the jaws mounted up side down, the left jaw has a brass insert in bottom. This is the "Adjustable do hickey" Roy was referring to I think.

It has a button on top that you depress to release the left jaw so it can be adjusted to the work piece without cranking it over. It's a super modification that eliminates a lot of cranking. The ones you see on eBay sometimes don't show which model you are bidding on. The only reason I point this out is if there are some members contemplating buying one, take this in to account to determine what it is worth. I think the later model is much more desirable and worth more cash.

Don G

I got lucky on mine. :) (But not as lucky as the guy in your carving! ;))

roy_okc

dgreen810 wrote This is the "Adjustable do hickey" Roy was referring to I think.

Don G

I was referring to the turntable as a do hickey. I had to go look at the current manual, https://www.advmachinery.com/manuals/Zvise.pdf, to figure out what it was called. Mine came with everything mentioned in this PDF except the metal jaws and not sure about the tube clamping jaws.

While I was watching eBay, I found that there were a few different combinations sold over the years, looking like there had been a basic kit and an expanded kit or two during its lifetime.

robinson46176

I knew that mine was a different brand but couldn't recall what. I just looked and it says Work Shops'. They called it a "Vunder Vise". I tried taking a picture but there was so much clutter (what... me with clutter :rolleyes: ) it didn't show up well so I Goggled it for a better picture. I bought mine from an older friend about 40 years ago when he was selling his house and going into a condo. He had a garage sale and he sold it to me for $20. I've used it for all of those years, sometimes pretty heavy and it has held up well. It has the stuff in the picture except for the thingy in the front that looks like a putty knife. Mine also came with another set of plastic jaws that are like "V" blocks for round stuff.

At that same sale I bought a "new in box" Shopsmith Maxi Clamp system for around $10 or $20... I still have it and it is still complete.

dgreen810

I have had a need for the lower "Soft" jaws for my vises for several years and just never pursued trying to locate any until this thread got my attention. The only ones I have been able to locate were at Advance Machinery. I ordered some and found that they would not fit the vises. I called them and found these were the only ones available. Option one was to return them, with postage eating up half of the purchase price or making them work. I am sure there must be others out there with the same problem.

I milled 4 slots in the aluminum jaws to accept the locking tabs on the new jaws. They now snap into place as they should. One of these vises I know is the latest model, one would think there jaws would fit, but they don't.

Don G

robinson46176

I'm doing some more work on my old bench and one of the things I will do is make two attachments for the bench so I have more places that I can attach this vise. I can currently mount it on the right end and the front edge but I am adding an apron to the front and it will not allow mounting the vise there. One attachment will be a removable front rail that will hold the vise mounts.

I am also building a full length recessed tool tray across the back (I never could mount the vise on the back) and that will allow mounting the vise there.

The apron (but not the bench :rolleyes: 🙂 ) will look like this. (Picture is from Pintrest)

Wood bench apron.jpg

WmZiggy

Great bench!

paulrussell

Five years ago this thread got me interested in the Zyliss vise. I finally got around to buying one. The aluminum was heavily oxidized and there was significant rust on the rails, but it showed no signs of real use. Lots of elbow grease later and it is like new.

I also modeled and 3D printed the upper and lower soft jaws.

Then I went down a rabbit hole of looking at all sorts of Zyliss variations. Some have the quick release as mentioned in this thread. Some have horizontal slots on the jaw bases, and some have a lower slot for mounting to an optional pivot plate. The table clamps had at least three minor variations. Various sources claim the vise was developed sometime in the 50s or 60s as a portable tool for the Swiss Army. It was later mass marketed as a hobbyist vise.

And that is only is the Zyliss branded version. There are/were countless clones and/or licensees with various extra parts or features. So far I've found Grip Master, Vunder Vise, Z-Vise, Z-Vise 2, OZ Vice, Extra Pair of Hands VIce, and SwissRex. SwissRex later produced a functionally similar, but different looking version.

claimdude

Very nice job Paul!!

jsburger

An absolutely beautiful job on the restore!

paulrussell

The original vise patent was filed by Zyliss (Zylyss) founder Karl Zysset in 1957. Karl, originally a bicycle mechanic, is most famous for having invented the garlic press.

https://patents.google.com/patent/CH354399A/

rlkeeney

I have one of the clones. It has been in constant use for several years. I don't remember ever using any of the attachments. I'm amazed at how well the claps hold it to my bench.

Thomschuck

Great review/topic by Dusty!

I have an original Zyliss Vice. It was gifted to me two years back in the original box with the instructions, plus a quick review card for on the fly mounting. Here is what I know...

Mine was bought in 1979. They were really big at county fairs and that sort of thing. I have the original receipt for $289.00. That was in 1979.... Fast Forward! The distribution guy now lives in New Zealand. The ones being sold now are not nearly as strong/good as the originals that were Swiss made. Back in the day the Zyliss Vice was King. I read an article several years back where a motorcyclist had one and convinced his buddy to buy one. They busted the new one right out of the box. From what he said they were really cranking on the new one. These dudes did a side by side comparison and found multiple differences in the castings. They had cut Manufacturing details that made them prone to breakage. The new Zyliss Vices are sold in a blown molded plastic case. The newer models also came with additional accessories so the vice could be set up as a drill press among other things. Since the jaws are made of aluminum one needs to be mindful so you don’t damage the face of the jaws. Mine has a set of plastic jaw covers the I always use. The new model comes with a set of plastic jaw covers as well as sheet metal jaw covers that snap on. I fabricated 3 sets of metal jaw covers for now and future needs. I tried to buy just the new case from the dude in New Zealand. With shipping it was insanely priced. I ended up storing mine in an older Hip Roof Craftsman tool box. It fits perfectly. The originals are excellent tools. The crank arm on the vice is most excellent. How can you know the difference? I do not know. Other than the one I own I have never seen another one. They are VERY expensive but worth every penny (so I am told). I don’t know how to post up a photo or two. SORRY!

Thom Schuck

Portland, Oregon

thunderbirdbat

I have an original Zyliss vice that I bought at one time. It had a set of plastic jaws and a set of metal jaws for the upper jaws. I almost want to say that there were two sets of plastic jaws, one was flat the other had V cuts for holding round items. They also had a lathe set up that used a drill. The workbench my husband bought me one year is too thick to attach the vice to so I had to add a strip on the sides to use it. Mine has been through several moves, both in and out of the military. I am not sure where all of the parts are now for the lathe or the jaw covers. I know that one of the plastic jaws was broken. Even though the last move was a few years ago now, I still come across items that someone just stuck in a drawer someplace that should be in a different area of the house. Unfortunately most of these items were things for the shop that no one else knew what they were or where they should be so just stuck them someplace and forgot about them.

paulrussell

I continued my fascination with the Zyliss vice and its history by buying an original wood-handled model branded with earlier "Zylyss" spelling.

Lots of minor differences such as the design of the handle arm, lack of quick-release, and lack of notches in the base for mounting accessories such as "lower soft jaws". There are also spring pins holding the way bars to the right jaw.

The table clamps have a smaller mouth and the springs are much weaker. Once I got past the dirt, paint, and corrosion I found the overall original finish was not as refined as my later model. I smoothed some of that with progressive grits before polishing.

When this arrived nothing moved. It took me hours just to get it to move, and a few more to disassemble.

bainin

Paul- can you list the steps you take to clean up those surfaces? Your results are great and I'd like to

give it a try myself !

b

JPG

Hmmmmm. Typewriter, slide rule, zylyss vise.

Starting a museum?

Yes how did you get that shiney finish.

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