Help me identify this Craftsman vise please.

[unclerandy]

Can anyone possibly tell me more about this vise? Its says Made in USA on the vise. Guy thats selling it says it hasn't been painted. I tried to ask about a model number but he isn't to patient and seems to get bothered easily. Its 5".

 

[jakemac]

Made by Columbian in the mid-late 90's(????).
I have an earlier 5-1/2" version of that vise from 1989 and used it a lot for 20yrs before I moved. It still looks like new.

A good vise for general medium shop use. Should be able to handle some heavy work, but not daily. The jaw inserts should be reversible. Serrated/Smooth. If it isn't broken I'd value it in the $40-$50 range depending on your area. Some areas it might go for up to $100, but that would be an extreme stretch.

 

[kwoswalt99]

How could it go for $100, they sell for $70 new?

 

[unclerandy]

How could it go for $100, they sell for $70 new?

Where can you find a new Made in the USA Craftsman vise?

 

[Super Sport]

I have one like this, but I think mine is a 3" or 4". It's just a little guy, but it's pretty sloppy. I think these were the last of the American made Craftsman vises and the quality isn't on par with the older models. I even have an old Japanese-made Craftsman that feels like it is higher quality.

How could it go for $100, they sell for $70 new?

New ones are made in China.

 

[unclerandy]

How could it go for $100, they sell for $70 new?

Also if your saying they can be bought new, do you know the model #?

 

[unclerandy]

Made by Columbian in the mid-late 90's(????).
I have an earlier 5-1/2" version of that vise from 1989 and used it a lot for 20yrs before I moved. It still looks like new.

A good vise for general medium shop use. Should be able to handle some heavy work, but not daily. The jaw inserts should be reversible. Serrated/Smooth. If it isn't broken I'd value it in the $40-$50 range depending on your area. Some areas it might go for up to $100, but that would be an extreme stretch.

Any idea on a model #?

 

[kwoswalt99]

I dunno, they look identical, I figured they were still made in USA.

 

[1950mercury]

I dunno, they look identical, I figured they were still made in USA.

Smrt

 

[kwoswalt99]

Smrt

My parents said I was special.

 

[unclerandy]

Made by Columbian in the mid-late 90's(????).
I have an earlier 5-1/2" version of that vise from 1989 and used it a lot for 20yrs before I moved. It still looks like new.

A good vise for general medium shop use. Should be able to handle some heavy work, but not daily. The jaw inserts should be reversible. Serrated/Smooth. If it isn't broken I'd value it in the $40-$50 range depending on your area. Some areas it might go for up to $100, but that would be an extreme stretch.

Will a model number help with more background on the vise?

 

[jakemac]

I really don't know what the model number would be. You'd have to do a catalog search to figure it out. It should be cast somewhere on the vise.

My earlier 5-1/2" is model #51871
So a WAG would be that the 5" would be 51870, but the numbering could have changed by the time that one was built.


For those that question the $100, note that I did point out that that number was extreme. Sometimes sh.. [crazy prices] happens.

 

[unclerandy]

I picked up the vise today. Seller had the details wrong. It is a 4" 51854 but Made in the USA. Any further info you guys can provide would be great. Maybe who made it and when, what the PSI is, etc. Thanks

 

[davethorik]

The maker already provided in this thread. Psi? you're overthinking this a tad I think...if you were THAT worried you would have bought a forged slide machinist vise. Bolt it to the bench, use it, next thread...

 

[fatfillup]

The maker already provided in this thread. Psi? you're overthinking this a tad I think...if you were THAT worried you would have bought a forged slide machinist vise. Bolt it to the bench, use it, next thread...

well said

 

[unclerandy]

The maker already provided in this thread. Psi? you're overthinking this a tad I think...if you were THAT worried you would have bought a forged slide machinist vise. Bolt it to the bench, use it, next thread...

So you can confirm that this vise was made by Columbian? I thought that maybe the -03 on the bottom could be the year. jacmac stated mid-late 90's. If it was made in 03 would that indicate it might have been made by someone else? I'm not over thinking anything. I'd like to know the specs on my vise.

 

[kwoswalt99]

PSI would be under 30k. Can't say I've seen many forged slide machinist's vises.

 

[unclerandy]

PSI would be under 30k. Can't say I've seen many forged slide machinist's vises.

Is there someplace to find these details? I'm just trying to learn and not "questioning" anyone. Just curious! How would you know that the PSI would be under 30k? The Chinese Craftsman Professional is listed at 60k. Are those Chinese models better than this Made in USA?

 

[Cope]

Is there someplace to find these details? I'm just trying to learn and not "questioning" anyone. Just curious! How would you know that the PSI would be under 30k? The Chinese Craftsman Professional is listed at 60k. Are those Chinese models better than this Made in USA?

Your vise is much lower quality than the Craftsman Professional.

 

[1982fxr]

Those were originally made by Columbian in the US as stated. Sears currently sells a Chinese copy of that vise. They've shrunken and cheapened it to the point hat there's no more "unnecessary" quality to be trimmed.

But it looks identical to the untrained eye except for USA in the casting.

Pay no attention to any Chinese specs. It's catalog and web page window dressing to help sell their Chinese pieces of **** to unknowing consumers.

 

[1982fxr]

Your vise is much lower quality than the Craftsman Professional.

I disagree but neither of us can prove it unless we sit around and break a few hundred of them in a scientific manner.

 

[davethorik]

PSI would be under 30k. Can't say I've seen many forged slide machinist's vises.

Cant say ive seen many of these usa made vises on the shelf either. You know what i meant.

 

[Joe Mamma]

Can anyone possibly tell me more about this vise? Its says Made in USA on the vise. Guy thats selling it says it hasn't been painted. I tried to ask about a model number but he isn't to patient and seems to get bothered easily. Its 5".

Judging from this picture, I know that exact model vise. I am 100% sure it was sold in Sears at some point between 1999-2001. Maybe earlier or later too, but definitely at some point between 1999-2001 because I know someone who bought it during that time frame. It is the exact same design, color, and says "Made in USA" and "Craftsman" in the same locations and letter styles.

Those jaw inserts look original to it. If you look at the top edge of one of the jaw inserts, it probably says "4 IN. REVERSIBLE JAW" or something similar. Actually, the other insert may say it too if you remove it and flip it over. You can use a hex wrench and loosen the 2 screws on the face of each jaw insert, then reverse them so you have a smooth surface facing whatever you are holding in the vise.

The other pictures you posted (with the numbers on the side) do not match up with one I saw (which has numbers in the same location). So I assume they are some type of lot number. I cannot speak to the numbers on the bottom of the vise. I couldn't check.

It's a decent vise, but not great one. At the time this was sold, there were definitely cheaper and lower quality vises. But there were also much better quality ones. To get a better quality one, I think you would have had to go with something like a quality Wilton (lower end) which would have cost at least double what this one went for. I'm not a vise expert. I'm just going off of my imperfect memory.

As someone may have mentioned, I think the next generation (and maybe current) Craftsman vises were made in China and look VERY similar to this. But they do not say "Made is USA" where yours does. So you should feel pretty good that you got one of the last made in USA Craftsman vises, even though that might be a bit of a stretch.

Let me know if you want to know anything else. I'm not sure why simple questions like yours bring out a--holes.

Joe Mamma

 

[LB-1911]

I picked up the vise today. Seller had the details wrong. It is a 4" 51854 but Made in the USA. Any further info you guys can provide would be great. Maybe who made it and when, what the PSI is, etc. Thanks

Cut from a previous thread -
05-07-2012

I picked it up this evening. On the side under where it says Craftsman, is also a raised cast in number "51854". Underneath is the number 76653-03

Be honest with you, this is one of those tools that proves not all things "made in the USA" are top quality. This vice is not a complete POS but it's pretty cheap compared to my Wilton. Then again, that's probably not a fair comparison either?

It should work for what I need it for and was cheap and not Chinese so I guess I won't complain.

Anyway if any of you have any more info about it, I'd appreciate it. My guess is this vice is around 15 years old?

Apples and oranges. A Wilton is by any definition a pro vise (excepting their import non-bullets...) and the Craftsman you picked up is aimed at the homeowner market. Within its class, its probably a decent vise. Outside that and into the heavyweights...

I have the same vise only a six inch, I assume from the model number this is a four inch. I agree not a total POS but close.

The holes to secure the reversible jaw are really low to the bottom edge. My son has some how managed to break two sets. I went to sears after the first set broke but they didn't have them and had no clue if they could get them. So off to the web I went. Found them and was floored at the price, $45 plus shipping. I bit and in two days hd them in the mail. These were not from sears and looked like they were made better. Lasted three weeks! After that I had my neighbor, who is a machinist make a set out of cold rolled steel. So far these have held up, I just don't let my son hammer at it!

Craftsman Vise made in the USA?
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2304695#post2304695

 

[unclerandy]

I called Wilton this afternoon. I guess they made or were somehow affiliated with Columbian. The woman I spoke with said that the 76653-03 on the bottom was a Wilton part number for the swivel base on a Columbian 643. She said she would do some more digging and would get back to me Monday.

 

[jakemac]

My original estimate of its age was based on the single picture provided. Now that closeups have been posted, I agree that this vise was made later. These vise's were never high end products, they were primarily aimed at the homeowner. Don't expect the tight tolerances of a higher quality vise, but I still stand by my assessment that this is a decent medium duty vise.

As for the question of psi, I don't have a clue.
If you plan on using the vise as a press for bearings and such - DON'T. That is not what a vise is for, and NO vise is built to handle that kind of load. You may get away with it occasionally, but each time you do its a game of Russian Roulette. The way that the slide is attached to the dynamic jaw tower is not designed for this on any vise, nor is the main nut for the spindle. This, and using the vise as an anvil are the two leading causes of failure by abuse.

A vise is a holding fixture, nothing more. It's not a press, anvil, leverage point, or counterweight.
There are other purpose built objects for those jobs.

EDIT -
This post ended up sounding crankier than I intended. It was not written to offend, but as a warning and teachable moment. Apologies offered, if needed.

 

[1982fxr]

I called Wilton this afternoon. I guess they made or were somehow affiliated with Columbian. The woman I spoke with said that the 76653-03 on the bottom was a Wilton part number for the swivel base on a Columbian 643. She said she would do some more digging and would get back to me Monday.

I think Wilton bought Columbian in like 1971 ish?

On their low and medium level vises they sometimes switch back and forth over the years on who's name goes on a particular style of vise. Right now there is a Wilton named import that is kind of like the current model of the old USA branded Columbian you have.

They used to sell a Columbian branded multi purpose vise, but I think now they are all coming out branded as wiltons. I think it's the same vise they just switched who's name is on it.

On the USA style you have, the older ones had bigger bodies. They shrank as time went on. Still same jaw width but smaller overall. Some of the older ones were also cast and sold as Ridgid, but it's a Columbian.

 

[1982fxr]

Op, I resent my phone number I think the first time I sent it, it had a typo