Columbian 3 1/2 Bench Vise Question

[Bloodclot]

I bought a small Columbian bench vise 63-3. It's swivels and has 3 1/2" jaws.

When I tighten the swivel there is still some play in the vise between the base plate and upper part of the vise. I took the vise apart and tried to tighten the center bolt but it still moved when I really horsed on the vise. The bolt hole doesn't appear to be worn out and the center bolt looks like it's original but the bolt shaft is narrower than the hole.

My question is, is there supposed to be a little play between the vise and the base plate when the swivel is tightened?

Thanks for the help!

 

[dumper]

there are 2 things you can try. Place a washer under the head of the bolt- this will take up any slop in this direction. Then, make a sleeve to go around the bolt to take up the extra space in the casting. I have used a strip of thin galv wrapped around the bolt, then squeezed into the hole. It helps a bit, but you have just discovered the weak link of vises with only one hold down clamp. Since I have never really needed to swivel my vises, I have switched to a fixed base vise- what a difference!

 

[oldldh]

I kid everyone on the "Vises of GJ" thread about "Swivelin' B@#tards"...

We all get a laugh out of it, but...

Non-swiveling vises are a whole lot more rigid...

If you clamp something in a 100 pound non-swiveler, it stays there...

And...

It doesn't think about moving...

 

[Mark in Indiana]

I'm gathering from your question that the locking screw isn't clamping the vise to the base. You can put a washer on the screw to add a thread for clamping power.
You can also add a bushing the center base screw to help tighten the movement. But I'm afraid that adding a washer the the center screw will inhibit the swivel movement.

On a side note: Most swivel base vises don't hold position all that great with only one or two clamping points. However, the swivel base locking mechanism on a Chas Parker vise is like a drum brake. It would take an act of God to break it loose.