11b30b4’s Craftsman 506.51930 Vise

[11b30b4]

I found this vise on Facebook Marketplace for $75.00. Its not listed on the spreadsheet and I am not sure what year it was manufactured but I will be rebuilding it in the coming weeks.

The lady selling the vise has a shed full of stuff (mostly black smith stuff) her father has collected for a long time. There were at least 4 pole vises, 17+ anvils, piles of hammers etc… There was a small Athol vise but it has been repaired. Several other small vises and just a really cool collection. Here are some pics I took. If anyone is local to North GA and is interested in any of this stuff, PM me for here contact information.

Oh and that Craftsman Emerson Commercial Drill Press is no longer available, I purchased it as well.

More to come.

Thanks for the interest.

 

[11b30b4]

After some catalog searching, I was able to locate this vise.

Apparently, this vise was sold by Sears for only one year, 1972. It was available with 4” and 4 ½” Jaws with the following model numbers:

506.51930 – 4”

506.51940 – 4 ½”

The vise was marketed as the Craftsman Commercial Machinists’ Vise and was likely manufactured by Columbian in the USA. The Jaws were pinned T slot replaceable jaws and the vise incorporated a self-lubricating bronze bearing. The spindle screw was cold-rolled steel, and the handle and end balls were forged from solid handle stock. The vise met federal specifications GGG-V-410A for strength and precision and the vise sold for $60.55 in 1972.

My Vise 506.51930 has the following specifications:

Weight: 39 pounds

Jaw width: 4”

Jaw opening width: 6”

Anvil: Yes

Replaceable jaw face: Yes

Pipe jaws: No

Base Type: Stationary (Swivel available)

Swivel jaw: No

Screw: Covered

Quick Release: No

Category: Machinists

The 1971 catalog shows a similar machinist vise: however, with the Crown Logo and double chevrons on the dynamic jaw. This vise was available with 3 jaw sizes and model numbers:

506.51820 – 3 ½”

506.51830 – 4”

506.51840 – 4 ½”

The 1973 catalog shows that Craftsman dropped the 4” jaw version and only sold this vise in the 4 ½” version until 1974. In 1975 the model number changed to 391.5197 but was also only available in the 4 ½” jaw version.

Well, that’s it for now, more to come.

Thanks for the interest.

 

[Roberts210]

That's a great vise 11B. The jaws look to have never been abused.

 

[1982fxr]

I think I the mid 70s that vise switched to Japanese. Kept the same look as yours.

 

[11b30b4]

Roberts210, thank you and yes, the jaws look great. I am eager to get it rebuilt and put to work.

1982fxr, you are correct.

Retailers are required by law to disclose if a product is imported or the country of origin. This based on the 16 CFR, 19 CFR, 1930 Tariff Act, and the NAFTA. Although there are some exceptions, (ex. Made in Canada or Mexico re. NAFTA) Craftsman is required to state if an item is imported or where it was made in their catalogs.

This is a taken from the 1975 Craftsman Power Tool Catalog and it clearly states that starting in 1975 the 4 ½” Machinists Vise was manufactured in Japan. Also note that the model number was changed to 5197.

Additionally, not only was the model number changed but the prefix was also changed so this 4 1/2" vise made in Japan was now 391.5197.

Although, the throat look deeper to me than the 506 vise. In fact, this 391 vise looks more like the 604 1/2 M2 vise IMO.

According to VM

“Columbian Hardware Co. acquired or succeeded Van Wagoner & Williams Hardware Co. about 1905. In 1921, they were Columbian Hardware Division of Consolidated Iron-Steel Manufacturing Co., and changed their name to Columbian Vise & Manufacturing Co. about 1927. Columbian was acquired by Warren Tool Corp. in 1965 or 1966, and Warren was sold to Wilton Corp. in 1994.”

So, there are two likely possibilities for the 1975 machinists vise:

• The vise was manufactured by Columbian in Japan. We do know that once Wilton acquired Columbian several of the vises were manufactured in Asia including the 604 1/2 M3.
• The vise was manufactured by a different company (possibly Fuller) in Japan.

I actually believe that once the vise manufacturing was moved to Japan that Fuller made them or that Fuller and Columbian were both acquired by Wilton?

It is obvious that my Craftsman 506.51930 is a rebranded Columbian 504-M2.

When we look at the 1975 manufacturing being moved to Japan, consider this 5” Craftsman 506.51810 vise.

And this Fuller brand “Made in Japan” 5” vise that is almost exactly alike.

Although, it is also just as likely that Craftsman used more than one manufacturer for vises during this time but given that Fuller was being produced in Japan, I suspect they simply took over production of all vises for Craftsman at this time.

Anyway, that’s me going down a rabbit hole….

Back to the rebuild. Last night I disassembled the vise and placed it in a simple green bath. Once its been degreased, I will place it in a citric acid bath to remove the rust.

Thanks for the interest.

 

[Terry D]

Your vise is defiantly made by Columbian in the USA

 

[11b30b4]

Terry D, thank you. I am aware that my vise was made in the US and that Columbian was the manufacturer. Most of the previous post was about the machinists vises produced in Japan (starting in 1975) and who was making them. I apologies if I was unclear about my vise vs the later vises.

Update,

I pulled the vise and parts out of the simple green bath and rinsed everything off.

I forgot to take any additional pics but I removed the taper pins and jaws. Those center taper pins are a real pain to remove. I also cleaned up a lot of the dings in the vise with an angle grinder.

Next, I wire wheeled the vise and placed all the parts in a citric acid bath. This weekend I will be cleaning up the vise further and polishing the guide rails and anvil. I hope to prime and paint the vise this weekend as well. I need to order some replacement taper pins later today and figure out how I will clean up the spindle and handle.

Normally, I would just cut off and replace the handle (and I may still do this) but the end balls and the vise handle were formed from a solid piece of handle stock. I am not in any hurry to change that if I can clean up the handle enough.

The rest of the vise is in really good condition and the jaws are in excellent shape.

More to come.

Thanks for the interest.

 

[11b30b4]

Update,

I polished the anvil, sides of the jaws, rails, and main slide then masked them. In this pic I have begun to apply the metal etching primer.

The paint I ordered is not getting delivered until Tuesday and I ordered a few sizes of taper pins from McMaster Carr, they have arrived.

That’s it for the update, thanks for the interest.

 

[11b30b4]

Final update,

The paint arrived and I was not happy with the color but decided to run with it. I ordered Krylon Tough Coat Dark Machinery Gray, and this is not dark at all. It looks almost exactly like the Ace machinery gray I used on my Delta grinder. I was expecting something closer to a charcoal gray.

Anyway, I decided to replace the handle. This would allow me to clean up the spindle. Once I cut the original handle off, I chucked the spindle in the lathe and turned the head of the spindle to clean it up. Next, I cut a piece of 5/8” 1144 carbon steel bar to 9 ¾” and turned down 5/8” on each end to ½”. Next, bored a ½” inside a piece of ¾” 1144 carbon steel then turned bevels on each end of ¾” pieces for end balls. I welded these on the handle and cleaned everything up. My welding is not anything to be proud of, but the overall finished piece is good enough for me.

Next, came the “dark machinery gray” paint.

I removed the masking and cleaned up the polished surfaces.

Next, I lightly sanded the tops of all raised cast in lettering and stamping then I used a permanent acrylic black paint pen to paint the lettering.

While all this was happening, I soaked the spindle nut and collar in an oil bath for a few days. I wiped them down and installed them.

Next, I decided to paint the jaw caps. I used a ceramic based metal coating I use on firearms. Unfortunately, I only have the black in flat and I think a gloss would have looked better. Regardless this is a baked-on coating and will keep these jaws from ever rusting. I installed the jaws and used all new taper pins. I used #2 x 1 ¼” taper pins from McMaster and they worked perfectly.

With the jaw caps installed, I assembled the vise, and the project was finished.

Thanks for the interest.

 

[Ricky Joe]

I kind of like the gray.

 

[Jayman17]

11b, great job on this vise. I am in the process of taking apart a CM vise and was wondering how you removed the pin that holds the spindle nut in place. Did you drive it through from the outside to the inside of the body or is there some way to back it out.
I drove mine through not realizing that the pin was deformed on the end to make it stay in place. I thought it was just a friction fit. Seems like I can reuse it but was wondering the preferred way to deal with it was. Thanks for any tips you might have.

Jay

 

[11b30b4]

Ricky Joe, thank you. The gray is kind of growing on me but I would have preferred a much darker shade.
Jayman17, I believe the correct method and the way I drove the pin out was from the inside towards the bottom of the vise. My pin was slightly splined so it would wedge in the hole in the bottom of the vise tighter.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Beautiful job, Jeff.

 

[Jayman17]

11b, what technique do you use to punch that out from the inside?

Jay

 

[11b30b4]

Jay, I use a punch and small hammer like this guy does in this video.

If the pin is deep inside the vise and I can not get a good angle to drive it with a punch, I may try to grasp the pin with a vise grip then hammer on the vise grip to pus the pin down and out the bottom. If this fails or I can not get a good grip on the pin, I use a 6" x 1" x 1/8" piece of bar stock to sit on top of the pin and rest the other end of the bar on a block of wood then I hammer the bar stock to drive the pin out. I have not come across a vise I could not get the pin out of with one of these three methods.
The guy who made video I link above has a lot of video on vise restorations he has done and although I do not agree with all of his methods, his videos have been a great resource.
I hope that helps, if not pm me and I will see what I can do to help you out.

 

[Jayman17]

Thank you 11b, I will check him out. I think the method with bar stock and block of wood would have worked for my situation. I will make a mental note of that method.

Jay

 

[Hoorn]

11b, great job! You've been quite busy lately churning out resto's. What technique did you use to polish the slide and anvil?

 

[11b30b4]

Jay, thank you and I really like the swivel jaw vise he rebuilt, although the McDonald's colors are not what I would gone with.
Hoorn, that big 6 x 48" belt sander to rough clean then hand sand 100-1000 grits (wet 400-1000), then Mothers Mag & Aluminum Polish.

 

[Allstar394]

I realize this is quite an old thread but I’ve come across the same 1972 Craftsman 506.51930 and restored her (my first vise restoration). Still need to paint the lettering and reassemble. I am seeking advice on two items:
1> I’m seeking info on where to find a replacement for the base handle nut. The vise was using a standard nut. I understand that Wilton has parts but I don’t see this specific item referenced anywhere on their site. Are you aware of any other source that might have a matching thread, even if it’s not OEM? It’s just for personal use so I don’t need machine shop heavy duty (or expensive). Base did have a model no stamped on the bottom 604-1/2 - 3
2> where can I find replacement jaws? These are the T shape and I haven’t seen those offered online anywhere.
Thanks!

 

[Allstar394]

 

[11b30b4]

Allstar, I do not have any leads for the jaws or the nuts. I recommend you post in the Vises of Garage Journal thread. I know that there are some people who make replacement jaws for various hard to find vise jaws but I do not have any links atm. Someone in that thread should be able to help. Sorry and good luck.