Filling gouges in hardened steel jaws

[Everett_45]

Hi guys, just joined the forum. I bought an old Columbian D44 vise a couple days ago. I've seen them around this forum a few times. I'm in the process of restoring it, and I'm looking for some ad'vice'.

The tops of the jaws have some very heavy gouging, presumably from sawing carelessly on your work-piece for years on end. I would like to fill those with a MIG welder. I'm confident that I can do that with no issues on the cast iron, but the hardened jaws are a different story. It's not the process of welding that I'm worried about. I am worried that the softer weld material will not hold up to regular use of the vise jaws. They are in very rough shape, and while still functional, the whole point of me doing this is to make it look nice again while maintaining function.

What would you do in my position? I want to keep the old jaws for sake of staying original, but maybe I need to buy new ones? Have new ones machined $$$? Check out the picture below, let me know what you guys think.

 

[PugetDude]

Those aren't that deep.
Close the vise up tight, get out the 4.5" disc grinder.
Finish with a 120Grit flapper wheel.

 

[PugetDude]

What I would personally do is just use the vise. So what if someone has used it before? The cut marks affect the practical usability of the vise not one bit.

"Only old guns are interesting"
~Colonel Charles Askins

The same can be said about your vise. It speaks with experience.

Enjoy it whichever way you go.

 

[larry_g]

The scars of life tell a story. Listen to them and enjoy the history. Put the vise to work and enjoy the results that it helps you achieve.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[chrisnazzy]

I agree the scars on the vise body itself don't look bad. Definitely not deep enough to need welding. If they bother you that much belt sand as mentioned or apply a little JB weld, let cure and sand smooth prior to painting.

As far as the jaws go, check your bolt spacing measurement against these (I know your D44 is 4" and these are 4.5")
The eBay seller is "autopts" who is a member here as well. You could also contact him through either site and ask if he could get his hands on some 4" jaws if the 4.5" jaws won't work. Good luck on your restoration and post some pics when done.
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/401667065037

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

 

[xkvator]

don't put that much heat into that vise, and a MIG isn't the way to weld it, if its Cast Iron...theres 95 or 99 nickel rod for that...and tool steel rod for hardened steel...
probly done with cutoff wheels on a die grinder...
you may be able to flip the jaws...

 

[aburkhardt]

i'm in the camp of leaving the scars, and cleaning up as best you can. Not sure what type of work you have planned for it, but some new copper jaw caps would all but hid the hardened jaws if you were so inclined

 

[davethorik]

A Columbian D44 isn't worth putting much money into fixing up. Slap some paint on it and use it. New jaws probably cost 4x what that vise is worth.

 

[xkvator]

on the casting, if you want it to look pretty, fill the grooves with 2 part epoxy...file and sand...paint...
see if you can flip the jaws top to bottom...

 

[Wamsutta]

I am worried that the softer weld material will not hold up to regular use of the vise jaws.

How soft do you think weld material is?

 

[eyeball]

Those aren't that deep.
Close the vise up tight, get out the 4.5" disc grinder.
Finish with a 120Grit flapper wheel.

This and a can of paint will yield really nice results.

 

[Everett_45]

It may be hard to tell in the picture, but a couple of the cuts are at least an 1/8" deep, which is why I decided not to flap disk it. I would have to take of loads of material to remove the cuts without filling anything. I know I could have JB/epoxied it in, but then the jaws would look out of place. I ended up leaving it as is, as many of you suggested. The paint is drying as we speak. I think it looks great, despite what I feared. I'll put up pictures of the completed vise in a couple days once it's cured. Thanks all for the input!

 

[gtsgarage]

It may be hard to tell in the picture, but a couple of the cuts are at least an 1/8" deep, which is why I decided not to flap disk it. I would have to take of loads of material to remove the cuts without filling anything. I know I could have JB/epoxied it in, but then the jaws would look out of place. I ended up leaving it as is, as many of you suggested. The paint is drying as we speak. I think it looks great, despite what I feared. I'll put up pictures of the completed vise in a couple days once it's cured. Thanks all for the input!

Good choice. Look forward to pics. I have vise envy. I want a vintage vice, bench grinder and drill press. Something definitely wrong with me.