Craftsman Vise Problem

[ScreechAwl]

Hello everyone, I am new to this forum. I recently acquired my late grandfather's Craftsman model 5176 vise manufactured around 1950. While taking it apart to clean it up, I noticed the swivel base is stuck. Is there any way to get the base off without damaging it? The lever on the side moves freely but the base doesn't budge. It would be nice to get the whole thing to come off in order to clean and lube it.

 

[Bobioz1]

Looks too clean to be rusted stuck. Take that big bolt out of the bottom and it should fall apart.

 

[exmaxima1]

My dad had the same vise when I was growing up, and I used it alot. It was a really cool looking vise in its day. You are lucky that the swivel is stuck, as I had to constantly tighten the swivel to keep it in place. I recall hitting that swivel lock with a hammer with nearly every use.

BTW, I can tell you that the vise is not ductile iron: my dad's vise had lots of chunks missing by the time I moved out.

 

[ScreechAwl]

Looks too clean to be rusted stuck. Take that big bolt out of the bottom and it should fall apart.

Thanks, frankly I wansn't sure that was bolt on the bottom because of the unusual looking head. I have to see if I can find some kind of offset wrench to get it off. This vice has no rust...it spent its entire life indoors.

 

[ScreechAwl]

My dad had the same vise when I was growing up, and I used it alot. It was a really cool looking vise in its day. You are lucky that the swivel is stuck, as I had to constantly tighten the swivel to keep it in place. I recall hitting that swivel lock with a hammer with nearly every use.

BTW, I can tell you that the vise is not ductile iron: my dad's vise had lots of chunks missing by the time I moved out.

Hmmm...that's a good point. I never thought about the swivel being deliberately stuck. I kind of figured it wasn't ductile iron. It's just a medium-duty all-around bench vise, not for heavy-duty use.

 

[ScreechAwl]

Does anyone know who made it? Is it a Columbian?