Columbian vise restoration

[Speedway]

I thought I'd post about what I had to do to make this POS Columbian 43 1/2 vise into something that can be used.

Here it is as given to me.

Blown apart. That lead screw clip is pretty cheesy!

After about 45 minutes at the wire wheel and a little file work.

The dynamic jaw on this thing must have suffered some core shift for the lead screw hole. The machinist/machine that finished the bore didn't help it out any either.
I set it up in the mill and cut the bore on the same plane as the slide, then I cut an oilite bushing for a press fit in the bore.

This is the start of the swivel base lock nut I am making from hex brass stock.

This is where I am at on it now. I need to come up with a better lock ring for the lead screw

 

[ChevyZ71]

Looks good! Nice job.

 

[Speedway]

Thanks Chevy

I'm calling this one done.

 

[Outlawmws]

Nice job!

A bearing shaft collar should work for the lead screw.

 

[Catalyze]

Very nice work! The core shift you mentioned reminds me of the cam bore on a small block Chevy sometimes. Look at a boss and where the bore is at and you may shake your head. On the collar, I agree with Outlawmws for a bearing collar. I use them a lot on the smaller "clip" retainer vises.
Craig

 

[WhiteLightning]

Did you end up re-using the lead screw clip? I was fighting mine the other night and was afraid to destroy it.

Also, did you buy new vise pads/jaws or just refinish the originals?

 

[Speedway]

Thanks guys. I thought about a split collar but didn't think they made them that small.
I ended up reusing the original clip, I wouldn't worry about breaking it, mine was not hardened. The jaws are the originals, I just hit them with the wire wheel.

 

[nine4gmc]

nice job, looks great!

 

[hobie1dog]

what paint did you use?

 

[Slip_Kid]

Sweet!!!

 

[Speedway]

The paint is cherry red enamel from a spray bomb,will have to check on the brand.

Thanks for the kind comments, it's not as nice as some on here but it does look and perform pretty good now. It was unusable before the bore repair.

 

[NissanTechWill]

I hope Columbian vices are not collectible, bc I just destroyed one...will post pics tomorrow.

-Will

 

[Speedway]

what paint did you use?

Finally got out to the shop, here is what I used.

 

[Speedway]

I hope Columbian vices are not collectible, bc I just destroyed one...will post pics tomorrow.

-Will

I don't know if they are or not, where are we at on those pics??

 

[NissanTechWill]

I forgot to take them, I will take them on monday. I found a broken one at my shop, ripped of the bottom part that allows it to rotate, drilled holes in the base, and bolted it to my work bench!

-Will

 

[thejudges69]

Man looks good, we have a Columbian vice that's beat to **** maybe I'll try to revive it instead of scrapping it, it still works its just hammered, you have to unscrew the vice and pull the jaws apart by hand, never figured out why but we use it

 

[Speedway]

you have to unscrew the vice and pull the jaws apart by hand, never figured out why but we use it

Because it is missing the clip in this picture that goes in the groove on the lead screw.

 

[thejudges69]

Hmmm never looked, I should take it apart, the holes that hold the jaws are junk but repairable, its a good vice just a pain in the *** when the jaws always fall out

 

[thejudges69]

Because it is missing the clip in this picture that goes in the groove on the lead screw.

What is that clip? Is this the one everyone's asking what you replaced it with? What's a good candidate for a repair on this?

 

[WhiteLightning]

What is that clip? Is this the one everyone's asking what you replaced it with? What's a good candidate for a repair on this?

I broke my lead screw clip. You said you re-used the old clip. Does anyone else have an alternate solution? My vise has a covered screw, so its more of a pain to 'squeeze' the clip (even if I found a replacement) on to the screw.


Screw removed, broken retaining ring by Andrew J. Donovan, on Flickr


Bead blasted by Andrew J. Donovan, on Flickr

Thanks

 

[thejudges69]

Mine is covered as well so I'm curious too.

 

[dirtydogintex]

shaft collar w/one or more set screw?

 

[Outlawmws]

shaft collar w/one or more set screw?

This ^^^

Some Reeds come this way from the factory.

 

[gilbo]

very nicely done, something about a red vise

here a pic of my very 1st resto

COLUMBIAN C43