Columbian 505-M2 question

[R_Holiday]

How old is this columbian vise? Found it on the marketplace and thinking about buying it.

 

[Oil leak]

I have one just like it, also a 505 M3. My M2 was bought in the early mid 80's.

 

[1982fxr]

Relatively modern, I think.

I believe those scripts were on them up until they killed Columbian a year or two ago.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

How much are they asking out of curiosity?

 

[R_Holiday]

Thanks for the replies. They’re asking $75.

 

[Shiftless]

What’s going on with the jaws?
Is one of the inserts badly damaged or missing altogether?

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

That's not bad for my area. I paid $100 for my 205-M2.

 

[Oil leak]

The jaws in the M2 were pinned in. The M3 were bolted. Looks like it might be missing one jaw.

 

[R_Holiday]

I saw the missing jaw as well. Figured it wouldn’t be hard to source or have a replacement made.

 

[Shiftless]

I saw the missing jaw as well. Figured it wouldn’t be hard to source or have a replacement made.

Do you know any machinists?
If that vise was used while missing a jaw insert, it might very well have suffered damage to the jaw tower which might require machining to straighten out in order to accept a new jaw.

If it’s good enough for you, you could just get some aluminum bar stock and cut a piece to fit and drill holes in the right place. That’s assuming there’s not much damage to the area on the jaw towers where you’ll attached your home made jaws.

 

[R_Holiday]

Do you know any machinists?
If that vise was used while missing a jaw insert, it might very well have suffered damage to the jaw tower which might require machining to straighten out in order to accept a new jaw.

If it’s good enough for you, you could just get some aluminum bar stock and cut a piece to fit and drill holes in the right place. That’s assuming there’s not much damage to the area on the jaw towers where you’ll attached your home made jaws.

I haven’t seen the vise in person yet to fully inspect it. I’m probably gonna check it out this weekend. I’ll keep what you said in mind when doing so

 

[Shiftless]

That’s a good price for a decent vise. Hopefully it’s not so damaged that you won’t be able to fit on a new pair of jaws.

Around here, a good condition 505 like that would sell for about $200 so it seems worth it to put some money into it if it’s not too far gone.

Generally, I advise people to get a good condition vise to begin with because the costs of repair generally exceed the imagined savings in buying a low priced fixer upper.

Are there any other vises in your area for $150 that are in nice useable shape as is?

Do you enjoy working on old tools to get them into better working condition? If so, the challenge of that project and seeing your success will be its own reward.

 

[1982fxr]

Even if you have to put an aluminum jaw on that's a great deal. That's a monster compared to what $75 gets you new.

 

[Shiftless]

Even if you have to put an aluminum jaw on that's a great deal. That's a monster compared to what $75 gets you new.

to that!

I have the Reed labeled version of that Columbian. I fixed it up earlier this year.
(Those are custom swivel locks made by master machinist (now retired) KMScott.

 

[R_Holiday]

That’s a good price for a decent vise. Hopefully it’s not so damaged that you won’t be able to fit on a new pair of jaws.

Around here, a good condition 505 like that would sell for about $200 so it seems worth it to put some money into it if it’s not too far gone.

Generally, I advise people to get a good condition vise to begin with because the costs of repair generally exceed the imagined savings in buying a low priced fixer upper.

Are there any other vises in your area for $150 that are in nice useable shape as is?

Do you enjoy working on old tools to get them into better working condition? If so, the challenge of that project and seeing your success will be its own reward.

I do enjoy the project of having to fix up things. I have a craftsman 5186 that I plan on fully restoring; a Morgan 35 and littlestown 450 as well. The best vises I’ve seen are mad far from me like this one. It just happens that it’s close to my sisters place where I’m going this wknd. Your Reed vise looks damn good. I wanna get the craftsman vise looking that good.

 

[Shiftless]

Thanks
Here’s another pic I just now found of that vise. It’s painted with Rustoleum Soft Cast Iron

Expand the thumbnail and look at the before pic and notice why I had to source some new swivel hold downs.

That pimple like lump on the right hand jaw tower was just a big weld booger. Using a cold chisel, it popped right off.
The old swivel locks were made by somebody using a 3/4-11 threaded coupling and a big nut just welded on. Certainly functional but somewhat lacking in aesthetics.

 

[R_Holiday]

Someone beat me to the vise. Downfalls of living far away from a good deal and having to work.

 

[Shiftless]

Someone beat me to the vise. Downfalls of living far away from a good deal and having to work.

Don’t stress over that. There will be others. Considering the condition, that one certainly wasn’t a fantastic deal anyway. Keep your money handy and be on the lookout for something that doesn’t need jaws. And don’t buy anything that’s cracked or has had past repairs.

 

[R_Holiday]

Don’t stress over that. There will be others. Considering the condition, that one certainly wasn’t a fantastic deal anyway. Keep your money handy and be on the lookout for something that doesn’t need jaws. And don’t buy anything that’s cracked or has had past repairs.

Thanks for the stellar advice. My eyes are always looking. I’m hoping to come across a a big 6” vise someday.