Columbian Vise

[whatamidoin]

Hi all

Long time, first time.

Have a question about an old vise I acquired .

It is a Columbian made in Cleveland O USA so I would like to press her back into service.

Thing is that jaws are open and when I spin it either way I get maybe 1-1.5 turns before it just stops spinning however the jaws never move. In other words it is frozen. Is this a common thing with old found vises? I took the swivel base off by removing the large screw at the bottom. Once I separated the bottom from the main part I spun the bar which allowed me to back out a metal "thing" which rides along the screw shaft.

It appears that once I move that, if it was not frozen I would be able to pull the jaws apart but I still cannot. Is it actually frozen? Or am I missing something? I do not have camera to take pictures so I apologize for my crude description.

What I really need is someone who has taken one of these apart before. If indeed it is stuck how should I free it?

Thanks ahead of time for the help and sorry for the long post.

Andy

 

[bgott]

It's frozen. That isn't uncommon on old vises that have been set out in the weather. Pictures would help use come up with a course of action.

 

[whatamidoin]

I will post some pictures tomorrow.

Thanks!

 

[Adam McLaughlin]

I love me some Columbian vises

Those are a pair that I keep on hand...

Adam

 

[whatamidoin]

Here are some pics that should help with the problem I am having..

The front jaw I believe is frozen to the main body. Any thoughts on how to to separate the two? Did I forget to do something (hidden bolt, or cotter pin).

Also what are the thoughts on this vise. Looks like a solid one to me comparable to a Wilton??

Thanks again.

 

[bgott]

I dunno. It doesn't look like its been attacked by the rust gremlins. You have the nut completely out of it, the moveable jaw should just slide right out. You usually just un- screw the handle until the screw comes out of the nut and then you are holding the jaw in your hand, the nut is usually still attached to the base. What is the broken looking part in the third picture? Right about now I would be whaling on it with a BFH.

On Edit: OK, I looked again and I can see that the third pic is the nut at a different angle with a wad of grease on it. If you look at that third pic it looks like someone used the top of the jaw slide for an anvil and tweeked it a bit, spreading the sides. I would take a BFH and try to beat the jaw closed, that should work it past the obstruction. Once it gets past the binding part you can grind the sides until it slides free again.

 

[whatamidoin]

I dunno. It doesn't look like its been attacked by the rust gremlins. You have the nut completely out of it, the moveable jaw should just slide right out. You usually just un- screw the handle until the screw comes out of the nut and then you are holding the jaw in your hand, the nut is usually still attached to the base. What is the broken looking part in the third picture? Right about now I would be whaling on it with a BFH.

Thanks Bgott. Yeah that is just grease on the nut.

On Edit: OK, I looked again and I can see that the third pic is the nut at a different angle with a wad of grease on it. If you look at that third pic it looks like someone used the top of the jaw slide for an anvil and tweeked it a bit, spreading the sides. I would take a BFH and try to beat the jaw closed, that should work it past the obstruction. Once it gets past the binding part you can grind the sides until it slides free again.

So I guess I will just smack the **** out of it with a 3lb hammer and a block of wood. Thanks for the advice.

I am guessing that this is a pretty solid vise since it looks pretty old and ways about 10 or 15 lbs it should withstand some hammer raps..

 

[gpstraub]

Adam,

What model of Columbian is that in the upper photo you posted? Nice looking vise!

 

[307WYLD]

That's not the Columbian Vice I was thinking of...

 

[crankshaftdan II]

Adam: Did you ever get your vise to work again? If not Pm me as I might have an answer for your problem! Dan

 

[bmwpower]

Not the beefiest Columbian, but a worthy competitor. Definiely better than any import today.

Does the screw look like it's damaged somewhere along the threads? Take a flashlight and take a look. If you can't remove the jaw, either the screw is messed up at some point on the thread or the jaw it's tweaked at the back enought to prevent it from pulling all the way out.

 

[Jared]

That's not the Columbian Vice I was thinking of...

I was waithing for someone to say that lol i was expecting a bag full of a white powder.

 

[Adam McLaughlin]

Adam,

What model of Columbian is that in the upper photo you posted? Nice looking vise!

I'll have to go out to the shop and look at it for you. I know that the one in the upper snapshot with the serrated jaws is WAY old, it has the T shaped vise jaws and I even got it with square headed bolts and square nuts. I treat it gingerly because I know that it is old school and I would have to make new pieces for it when it would need them.

I'm just another antique tool lover, in good company I suppose.

Adam