11b30b4’s Columbian 203 ½ M2 rebuild

I picked this up today for $40.00. This vise was mounted to a metal plate that was welded to a 10” piece of 2” rectangle tube. The mounting bolts were welded to the plate and the nuts were welded on top.

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Overall, the vise is in very good shape. I used an angle grinder to remove the welds from the nuts then removed the vise from the plate. The vise is missing one swivel lock but other than that, everything else is present. No cracks or welds on the vise and the jaws look to be in good shape. I disassembled the vise then placed everything in a simple green bath for the next day or so. I was able to remove one of the pipe jaws but the other two set screws are firmly rusted into the head. I will see if they are more willing to move after the simple green bath. I do not plan on removing the jaws which are held in place with pins.

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Thanks for the interest.

I finished soaking all the parts in citric acid. Starting with a wire wheel on my angle grinder and finishing with a media blast to the interior parts, I cleaned up both the back and front jaws.

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Removing the two set screws for the rear jaw pipe jaws took a little effort. I was able to remove one with the aid of a torch to the casting only after the first soak in the simple green. The second set screw was a bit harder and would not budge until after the citric acid bath and again the use of a torch. I have been told many times that rusted parts require two things, heat and force. Thank god the hex heads in the set screws did not strip out.

The cleanup continues.

You have a lot of vise there. 40 bucks is a great deal and I would have dragged that iron home with me for that price.

Well done.

Thehorse13, thank you. I was lucky to get that price down here.

So the vise restore is on hold until Thursday, I gave a bunch of old tools to my sister over the weekend and one was the wire wheel and buffer wheel for the grinder so until the new ones land on Wednesday, I am unable to proceed.

More to come later in the week.

Ok, the wire wheel arrived, and I got back into this rebuild. First, I took all the other parts to the wheel and cleaned them up.

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Next, I cleaned up the rails inside the body with 120 grit – 600 grit sandpaper (400 and 600 wet sanded),

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Next, I masked off the body, front jaw slide, and the swivel base. Once masked, I applied a metal etching primer.

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Next, I took the pipe jaws to the sander and cleaned them up.

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So that is as far as I got tonight. I need to decide on the paint color and apply the paint Saturday.

Thanks for the interest.

That’s looking great so far.

Shiftless, thank you.

Ok, I decided on a satin black spray paint and painted the vise. Once the paint was dry it was time to remove the masking.

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Next, I purchased some silver enamel paint pens and traced all the lettering. Lastly, I lubed and assembled the vise. I am happy with the results. I realize, I could have cleaned up the handle a bit more but I did not want to take too much material.

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Thanks for the interest.

Another one saved and put back to use. Well done and welcome to the vise addiction. This will not be your last.

Thehorse13, thank you and yes, I am looking for other targets of opportunity.