Is ju this vise worth buying?
- Thread starter Rewind97
- Start date
3baygarage
Well-known member
My opinion is no at that price, the handles are so abused.
cowboy73
Well-known member
Professional Tool User
Well-known member
No. The bent handles show obvious signs of abuse. If it opened up to more than 6" and didn't look abused, I would be willing to buy it.
davethorik
Well-known member
The swivel base lockdowns on these stamped steel slide Columbians (and the Craftsman versions) are a weak link. They will handle some abuse, but are a sloppy fit up on the slide to body. I'd pass.
SeisMec
Well-known member
The seller only posted those 2 pics? Even if those looked good, you'd have to wonder what the other side looked like.
Any of you experts care to comment on the between the handle end of the screw and the movable jaw? Am I correct in thinking it's a negative indicator?
Any of you experts care to comment on the between the handle end of the screw and the movable jaw? Am I correct in thinking it's a negative indicator?
The spindle on that model is retained with a circlip. The nose sticking out like that is an indicator that the clip is broken, and most likely from trying to open the jaws after they were frozen with rust. The bent handles shows that the vise has been overstressed, and could have a cracked or stripped nut.
Nothing special about that vise, so just pass. My guess is that the seller found it in the dump or on the side of the road.
58Yeoman
Well-known member
drivesitfar
Well-known member
Rewind: not sure what brands are available to you, but I know other members that used to post on the big vise thread from your part of the USA that would post up some pretty nice old vises.
that little columbian can be a decent user vise, but like ExMax mentioned the clip is probably broken holding the main screw to the dynamic. like other members mentioned with the handles being bent more than likely there is damage to your main screw and vise nut. sure it can be saved and repaired, but not worth the time or money when you can buy one in great shape for $75 or less if you look around cause they are fairly common.
keep looking and if you can buy an old pre WWII vise for maybe a bit more that is a REED, ROCK ISLAND, ATHOL, STARRETT, PARKER, YOST, PRENTISS, CRAFTSMAN and several others it will be money well spent cause it should last you the rest of your life.
I've got more than a few good old vises I'd sell for about $100 +- if you were closer and shipping costs wouldn't double the costs so maybe one of the members here can help you with a vise they no longer use.
good luck and ask questions if you have any.
that little columbian can be a decent user vise, but like ExMax mentioned the clip is probably broken holding the main screw to the dynamic. like other members mentioned with the handles being bent more than likely there is damage to your main screw and vise nut. sure it can be saved and repaired, but not worth the time or money when you can buy one in great shape for $75 or less if you look around cause they are fairly common.
keep looking and if you can buy an old pre WWII vise for maybe a bit more that is a REED, ROCK ISLAND, ATHOL, STARRETT, PARKER, YOST, PRENTISS, CRAFTSMAN and several others it will be money well spent cause it should last you the rest of your life.
I've got more than a few good old vises I'd sell for about $100 +- if you were closer and shipping costs wouldn't double the costs so maybe one of the members here can help you with a vise they no longer use.
good luck and ask questions if you have any.
Packard V8
Well-known member
Agree, that one in the OP's photo has been beaten within an inch of being junk. There are much better units out there.
FWIW, I just sold one of that model Columbian in good condition with new shop-made smooth jaws for $80. They're a solid Made-in USA user.
jack vines
FWIW, I just sold one of that model Columbian in good condition with new shop-made smooth jaws for $80. They're a solid Made-in USA user.
jack vines
Sorry, but not even half price day at an estate sale. If it were $5 I probably couldn't resist, but the amount of work it would take just to get it usable makes it a losing proposition unless you just enjoy bringing rusty lumps back to life.
And as others have pointed out, in its current condition you can't even tell whether the vise nut is intact - that's usually the kiss of death.
And as others have pointed out, in its current condition you can't even tell whether the vise nut is intact - that's usually the kiss of death.