Another one for the vise gurus!

[Swingpress]

So I was browsing the letgo app and I am "supposed" to have this bought and pick it up today. I know it's obviously a Columbian but which one? This is the only photo I have to go off of. Took a $40 gamble on this one. Did I do ok or **** out?

 

[Swingpress]

The silence....... has me concerned......

 

[thehorse13]

I'm not sure of the model but it appears to be a pipe vise model and the jaws are not there. They are usually right below the jaw pads.

There used to be a number of vise spreadsheets around but I've long since lost the links. Someone here will surely have them though. You'll be able to look up your vise.

All of that said, no matter what it is, you have to be careful. It appears as if it has lived outside for a long time. If it has no welds, cracks or additional missing/broken parts, 40 bucks is a nice deal for that vise.

Pay particular attention to the main nut. Remove the dynamic jaw and inspect it. There's nothing worse than getting a seemingly good vise home only to find that the main nut is compromised.

Good luck and report back with additional pics.

 

[Swingpress]

Thanks for the info! I'll check it over. Is the nut something that is replaceable?

 

[Tonellin]

Looks pretty big. Would you estimate it weighing about 100lbs? If so I'd guess it's a Columbian 606.

This is based strictly off the vise google sheet filtered by Columbian, no anvil, no pipe jaw, swivel base, no swivel jaw, and covered screw. That left about 15 options and I made my best guess from there. Either way for $40 that looks like a great purchase

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...YI7UKRpUd3aheAE86KBQRBGb9s/edit#gid=666157805

Edit: Thehorse is probably right it might be a pipe jaw just missing the jaws which would narrow it down less

 

[thehorse13]

The nut is replaceable but finding one is your issue. They are no longer made and if you want one you'll have to pay premium pricing on FleaBay. People ask 30-50 bucks for them if you're lucky enough to find one.

Some people repair broken main nuts but I'm not a believer in that approach. I have never had success with the process but again, this is just my experience.

 

[Swingpress]

The nut is replaceable but finding one is your issue. They are no longer made and if you want one you'll have to pay premium pricing on FleaBay. People ask 30-50 bucks for them if you're lucky enough to find one.

Some people repair broken main nuts but I'm not a believer in that approach. I have never had success with the process but again, this is just my experience.

Sounds like I would be better off having one made at that rate!

 

[thehorse13]

There are places out there who cast new parts. Finding a place is my current issue. I have a Prentiss #21 with a broken main nut and I'm currently trying to get an Amish blacksmith to forge me a new one.

Hopefully you won't have to worry about this.

 

[Swingpress]

There are places out there who cast new parts. Finding a place is my current issue. I have a Prentiss #21 with a broken main nut and I'm currently trying to get an Amish blacksmith to forge me a new one.

Hopefully you won't have to worry about this.

Any idea what material it is?

 

[Shiftless]

Swing:
My Columbian 505 1/2 has all those features but no swivel base. It was outdoors for 30+ years and wasn't too hard to get moving once again. Just as an aside, it was salvaged from the Kaiser shipyards that built Liberty ships for WWII.

 

[thehorse13]

Likely grey iron.

 

[davethorik]

Those Columbians with tall jaw towers dont have pipe jaws. The model will be 60x with x being jaw width. For $40 dont see how you could go wrong.

 

[1982fxr]

To know the model number, does it have cavities where pipe jaws would go?

If not, the number will be on the side on a small raised pad, 506, 505, etc.

 

[1982fxr]

Those Columbians with tall jaw towers dont have pipe jaws. The model will be 60x with x being jaw width. For $40 dont see how you could go wrong.

The combination series has huge jaw towers and pipe jaws, but I agree it looks like the tall tower machinist line which had no pipe jaws.

Op the rust etc isn't worrying. Handle straightness is a good indicator of other damage/problems. Is it straight? Can you post better pics?

 

[crguy]

Why didn't you wait until you had it home and looked it over carefully before posting? Not much to be learned from that single crappy picture.

 

[exmaxima1]

I'm not sure of the model but it appears to be a pipe vise model and the jaws are not there. They are usually right below the jaw pads.

Agreed. It does look like there are setscrews for pipe jaws like on my Columbian 203 1/2

 

[Swingpress]

Why didn't you wait until you had it home and looked it over carefully before posting? Not much to be learned from that single crappy picture.

So that I was a little better armed with information.

 

[Swingpress]

Well, I owe y'all an apology.., wait a sec.... No! (Beginning of rant) I showed up! I struck a deal, set a time, and showed up! Flakey people ****! Not 5 minutes after I let the seller know I'm where I ought to be I see him list the vise as sold, then...... nothing! No replies, no "hey sorry but F@€k You!", nothing! So I waste 2hrs of my life chasing a ghost. And this jackass has positive reviews!?!? Bet my lunch he sold it out from under me not an hour after making an agreement with me!

 

[thehorse13]

That ***** but this sort of thing happens all the time. I've been down the same road a couple of times myself.

Whenever you find, "too good to be true" pricing, never wait. Go that minute. I've found that the chances of being snaked go down significantly if you go immediately.

 

[Swingpress]

Yeah, I've calmed down a lot about it. Just disappointing you can't take someone at their word.

 

[Rileysan]

Likely grey iron.

I don't think so.

IIRC, Columbian used ductile iron. The jaws are partially hollow but extremely durable. I have seen pictures of horrific abuse of Columbian vises that were still fully functional, including holes in the static jaw that were peened, but not cracked. Grey iron would crack and break.

Brian