Behemoth Vise Restoration

[Brad54]

No suggestions for the handle? I'm kind of clueless... Any insight would be very helpful!

McMaster-Carr. Buy a length of hot-rolled or cold-rolled steel bar stock.
I used to have a note somewhere as to what the difference is between hot- and cold-rolled, but can't find it. Google would tell you.

You can also buy spheres/balls from McMaster, and drill the appropriate sized hole in them and sink them onto the handle. Or, have a machine-shop mill a hole slightly undersized to the handle shaft, and then press the balls on the end of the new handle. It'd look factory that way.


I love the spring tensioner behind the handle on yours! It'd keep the slop out of the handle/screw assembly. I want to see about adding that to my 4-inch columbian, and my 93-pound Reed.
-Brad

 

[demoman]

Kole - What did this big columbian end up weighing? I remember seeing it on craigslist as well. Have you scored any big ones lately?
Brad

 

[autopts]

Kole - What did this big columbian end up weighing? I remember seeing it on craigslist as well. Have you scored any big ones lately?
Brad

Kole got married and I think she made GJ a no no.

 

[mjozefow]

He'll be back...

 

[demoman]

Here's a suggestion for a good vise handle. Use a torsion bar out of any old Mopar or some old datsuns used smaller ones. Some trucks used them as well. I have a friend that heated up the end and welded it up with a mig welder then turned it down in a lathe to look like a ball on that end. Than he made a ball for the other end, drilled it for a press fit then heated the ball and slipped it on the handle. Once it cools it is not coming off. It looks good and NO bent handle again. These torsion bars a very tuff. I have seen lots of them made into pry bars. I have seen 2 vises he did this too. Just an idea.

 

[blue dog]

Does anyone have an idea what the vise sitting on the forklift that banjo posted would tip the scale at? I have never seen a vise that large in person before, that thing is impressive beyond belief. The downside is that you need a forklift to move it around.

 

[Carla]

Hello, Banjo,

I just found this web-site a little bit ago, and found your vice story........yes, thats quite a vice.....

I looked it up in a 1920 catalogue.

The catalogue listing was.....

'A careful study of conditions in railroad shops and steel mills has led to the design of this vise for extra heavy work It is practically indestructible The screw is a solid drop-forging. The handle and balls are forged from one piece of steel'

'This vise is strongly recommended for use where the work is especially heavy'.

Catalogue specs:

No 108-1/2 Width, jaw, inches 8-1/2 Jaws open, inches 13 Weight, pounds 268 Price (in 1920) $50.00

I have to admit that I'm rather grimly impressed with the sort of men who could break up a vise like that......they had to be some rough, tough men, indeed.......

Good job on tackling the restoration project.....I'd suspect vices like that are ever so rare, these days.

cheers

Carla

 

[reddog289]

Damn while the weather is rusting my vices, I,d better take some pics so I can restore them.

 

[Handiest1]

That thing IS huge! In your second picture it's sitting on a full 4x8' sheet of plywood, right? tee hee,, better than LOL...

 

[phy6]

Arise from the dead, oh ye thread. Any news since last year?

 

[oldldh]

Some of us are old...we cannot wait...

WE NEED UPDATES!!!

 

[BFBOB]

2013 stumbles nearer its close, and still no update. Don't keep us in suspense!

 

[coolreed]

Wow! I would have scrapped that big ol'vise. My compliments on the repair.
I restored a 6" Charley Parker recently that had been repaired due to abuse.
I purchased a 1.25 diameter ACME screw years ago and there were many manufacturers out there. I don't think Fastenal would be my first choice for buying one as they are just a another middle man.

I initially thought it was a Prentiss also. The screw even had some features that made me think Prentiss also. I will be waiting to see the finished product. Thanks for the post and your other posts also.

Best of Luck.