Columbian Vise Nut

[PoodleBruce]

Hello,

I am a newbie to this forum, and man is there a ton of information here. I spent last night researching and came up with really no practical options for my issue.

I have a date unknown Columbian vise with a bad main nut. I have about 3/4 of a turn of backlash. I was initially excited when I decided to take it apart and drifted out the main nut, and then not as excited to struggle to find the part or find similar vise nuts that run for over 200 dollars.

I learned that Wilton owns the Columbian tool company. I did shoot their parts department an email.

I like the medium duty vise for my garage, but I picked the thing up for $40, and spending more than that is too much. I would rather save up for a new-to-me vise. I would love to find a replacement nut, I think it is hard cast lead, but if I can't I would also be happy to pass along the parts I now have.

I don't know if the swivel base would work on a another vise. The jaws are in decent shape as well.

Vise Markings:
CLEVELAND, O. MADE IN USA
COLUMBIAN
D44 M2

Nut Markings:
25
D4X

In Short: I am looking for a new Columbian D44 Vise Nut. If I can't find one, I will have D44 vise parts (minus the nut) to give away.

 

[exmaxima1]

Looks like a pretty common nut, and most likely the same as the old red Craftsman (506 prefix) vises as they were made by Columbian as well.

 

[chrisnazzy]

It's not clear in the pictures. What's actually wrong with the nut? Is is stripped or broken?

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

[PoodleBruce]

The nut has almost razor thin threads left in it. It still works, but there is not a lot of life left. I would bet that one really strong tightening would pull the threads right out.

Any tips for finding the correct Craftsman part?

 

[Dumber than lumber]

I wonder if that could be fixed with some pieces of copper wire. Or maybe strips from a copper strap, etc.
There are lots of old-timers here who might have actually solved this problem.
Let us know what you do.

 

[PoodleBruce]

I thought about trying to wind a copper wire into the nut. I wondered if I would need to retain it in some way. Maybe tying the loose ends together on top of the nut would do a good enough job?

That would take the slop out of the screw, but I don't think it would give me any more strength. That would be fine. I don't use this vise for anything too serious.

 

[PoodleBruce]

I threaded a 16 AWG copper wire into the nut and that certainly tightened things up. I don't know how tight these vises where brand new, but it is much better than before.

I would still be interested in a replacement part if possible.

 

[VocaTexas]

Find somebody with a home machine shop. They could either make you a new nut or bore that one out and sleeve it with brass.

 

[Indexmill]

Find somebody with a home machine shop. They could either make you a new nut or bore that one out and sleeve it with brass.

Exactly, not a really hard item to make. Perhaps get an Acme hex nut and fit it to the original machined nut or to a newly machined base.

 

[ClappedOutBport]

Bruce, what's the thread pitch on that vise. Easy part to make if I have the tap.

 

[exmaxima1]

Bruce, what's the thread pitch on that vise. Easy part to make if I have the tap.

It would still take a few hours to blank the nut even if you have the tap. And it's not like you are adding any value to the vise, as it would still sell for less than the $40 the op paid for it. I would look for another vise...

 

[matt_i]

I would look in Mcmaster carr or Roton and see if you can find a steel Acme nut which fits the OD and thread pitch. Weld to an equivalent steel base that matches the cast original closely.

Tapping/internal threading Acme isn't trivial....one can single point them on the lathe but you are asking a lot of the tool/needs a heavy boring bar and a lathe with the mass to hold it. Ideal would be to thread mill on CNC but the $200 repair part starts looking pretty good quickly.

Imo the copper wire takes up the backlash but does not do much for the low strength sharp-pitched Acme threads...also its going to get crushed quickly if the vise is tightened up smartly.

 

[PoodleBruce]

Thanks for the discussion!

I will try to take some thread measurements just for curiosity. I like the thought of finding an acme nut.

My copper wire bodge job certainly is not a long term solution. I mainly use the vise for work holding and light duty jobs, so it might last for a bit.

Right now I don't have access to a machine shop, but single point threading a brass nut would be an awesomely extravagant repair on this old cheap vise.

Is the original part hard cast lead?

 

[exmaxima1]

I would look in Mcmaster carr or Roton and see if you can find a steel Acme nut which fits the OD and thread pitch. Weld to an equivalent steel base that matches the cast original closely....

Very good idea. McMaster sells Acme coupling nuts for around $20. I don't know the op's thread size, but maybe he could be lucky with a standard size.

 

[PoodleBruce]

Thread form looks to be 3/4-4 square (maybe stub square?)

I don't think I will find a coupling nut for that!

 

[bigwheelpdx]

Is this what you're looking for, Poodle Bruce?

Columbian D44 Vise Leadscrew Nut | eBay

Vise nut for a Columbian D44 vise in perfect working condition.

www.ebay.com

 

[alfadan]

2019

 

[bigwheelpdx]

@alfadan You never know. PoodleBruce may still be looking for the nut. I've been hunting for a Craftsman 506-5188 spindle nut for a couple of years now.

 

[alfadan]

I put that out there in case you or others wonder why there's no response.

 

[RTM]

@alfadan You never know. PoodleBruce may still be looking for the nut. I've been hunting for a Craftsman 506-5188 spindle nut for a couple of years now.

Nice of you to bring it to his attention, but he hasn't been here since Feb 2020. Hope he moved on to something by now.