Jeepster - No More Title Excuse! and Wilton Vise Distraction - May 23, 2021

Title:

When I bought the Jeepster, it came with just a Bill of Sale - no title.  In this situation, in Texas, you get a "bonded title". 

The process is something like this:

  1. Get a special inspection in your county to make sure that it isn't stolen
  2. Go to the state DMV office (this will likely take 2-3 trips)
  3. Buy a "bond" - basically an insurance policy
  4. Go to the County Tax office (this will likely take 2-3 trips) and request the title
  5. Get "Bonded" Title
  6. Wait 3 years (yes, 3 years!)
  7. Call the state DMV office (this will likely take 2-3 calls) to get the "Bonded" remark removed from the title
  8. Go to the County Tax office, pay $33, and request the updated title

After all this time and effort, you are rewarded with:


I should note that anytime during that 3 year waiting period, someone with a valid title could hypothetically take back your vehicle.  And hypothetically, you would be out whatever you spent on the vehicle, upgrades, etc.  It would be very unlikely for that to happen, but it was definitely a consideration for me.  I didn't want to put a lot of expensive parts or time into the Jeepster during that 3 years.  

I got the "real" title earlier this week...I can no longer use the bonded title as an excuse for my slow progress!

1961 Wilton Lives Again:

I purchased this Wilton vise back in December 2019.  It was in an earlier email and also here:


I cleaned it up, and painted it right after I purchased it:


Then I decided the wear was pretty bad, and that I could improve it.  I designed up the parts in Solidworks and did drawings, of course:


Since then, it has sat around my garage disassembled for about 1.5 years. Over that time, I even considered just putting it back together and selling it. Finally, earlier this month, I made a couple of parts on the lathe to take up the slop - an internal brass bushing and a new shaft retainer:




New shaft retainer:

On the lathe

On the mill for the 3 holes and counterbores

New (thicker) retainer is on the left.  Old is on the right.



I (mostly) straightened out the handle with some heat from a MAPP torch, and a big hammer.  


After a trip to Lowes to buy some longer bolts, it was mounted to the bench:



There's almost no slop in the movement, so it has a great feel.  Not bad for a 60 year old vise!


Next up: NP241c SYE, etc