I picked up this old Columbian 4-1/2" vise, cheap, the other day. Everything checked out okay, except the lead screw has been welded where the threaded section meets the nonthreaded section. The guy at the welding shop says it looks like a decent repair, and should hold up fine as long as I use it, keeping the repair in mind, as in, no pipes on handle, using it as a press, etc. i have been using it for a few weeks and it works great. Anyone have long term experience using a vise with this type of repair? Thanks.
Vise with repaired lead screw usefullness?
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Depends on the quality of the weld. I'd weld and use if needed, no problem. 
If it breaks, weld it again. You could always put out a feeler for WTB, maybe someone has a good screw they are parting out.
Just for reference, when I repair broken shafts like that I cut a ~60° chamfer about half way though on each piece, support with V blocks and then weld up solid. The hardest part is keeping the heat even across the piece to prevent warpage.
If it breaks, weld it again. You could always put out a feeler for WTB, maybe someone has a good screw they are parting out.
Just for reference, when I repair broken shafts like that I cut a ~60° chamfer about half way though on each piece, support with V blocks and then weld up solid. The hardest part is keeping the heat even across the piece to prevent warpage.
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Depends on the quality of the weld. I'd weld and use if needed, no problem.
If it breaks, weld it again. You could always put out a feeler for WTB, maybe someone has a good screw they are parting out.
Just for reference, when I repair broken shafts like that I cut a ~60° chamfer about half way though on each piece, support with V blocks and then weld up solid. The hardest part is keeping the heat even across the piece to prevent warpage.
no way to really answer your question because every weld would have a bunch of unknown variables, etc. Do what Zkling says
