Need help with a columbian 204-1/2

[1957fiat500]

Hello, everyone this is my very first post, the amount of knowledge here is crazy!!! Lately I find myself spending all my free time on here On to my question I just purchased a Columbian 204-1/2 vise. The vise works flawless but once I got it home I noticed someone used the slide as an anvil! I'm restoring the vise and would like it to look pretty mounted on my bench. At least for a little while. The damage is on the top of the slide that sticks out the back when the vise is closed. I payed $75 for the vise and I will post a picture from my phone once I learn how, I don't own a regular computer. Thanks

 

[McBrownie]

Hello, everyone this is my very first post, the amount of knowledge here is crazy!!! Lately I find myself spending all my free time on here On to my question I just purchased a Columbian 204-1/2 vise. The vise works flawless but once I got it home I noticed someone used the slide as an anvil! I'm restoring the vise and would like it to look pretty mounted on my bench. At least for a little while. The damage is on the top of the slide that sticks out the back when the vise is closed. I payed $75 for the vise and I will post a picture from my phone once I learn how, I don't own a regular computer. Thanks

Can you take the dynamic slide all of the way out? If so, using a wire wheel on a bench grinder or a hand drill is the way to go. If you can't get it apart, then a hand file or a an angle grinder is needed. Of course, if you use an angle grinder , be careful not to take too much off. Here are a couple of threads that should help:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=252830

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=44782

Post up some pictures on either or both of those and you'll get tons of advise.

 

[drivesitfar]

Fiat: some of the guys that only have cell phones say that Tapatalk makes it easier to post pictures. i use the paperclip above where you are making the posts sort of like attaching a picture to an email and you can post one picture at a time up to 7 pictures per posts.

not sure what to tell you until you post a few pictures. also welcome to the forum and happy to hear another lurker has joined to ask questions and share their knowledge.

cheers

 

[1957fiat500]

This is the slide after some work on the wire wheel looks worse in the picture

 

[1957fiat500]

Sorry for the first pic, trying to figure this thing out.

 

[1957fiat500]

Drivesit, thank you very much the paper icon worked great!

 

[1957fiat500]

Here is the vise after glass bead blasting. It's starting to look a little nicer,next up painting it

 

[1957fiat500]

One more picture to look at.

 

[drivesitfar]

Fiat: while you had the main screw out of the dynamic jaw did you take a peak on the underside of the hammered marks on your slide? if that isn't an old weld your vise looks pretty decent. i was thinking you had one of the cracked ones because yes a lot of the prior owners used the back of those bigger slides as their anvil.

good luck and it looks great.

PS: i also hear if you are posting of a phone and maybe an Ipad that Tapatalk is what some of the guys use. glad to help and find a good spot to mount that Wee Beastie.

 

[sz0k30]

This singular post along with the new split off "Vintage Tools Forum" is really screwing up and confusing the "Vises" and putting them all over the damned place. From all the activity and number of posts and pages it seems what there should be is a "Vise Forum".

 

[OctoMan]

Fiat, you can buy parts for that vise. I have one as well and plan to buy the pipe jaws for it. Do a web search for bench vise parts using the make and model.

 

[drivesitfar]

SZ: you'll get used to it. just think if something is pre 1970's that you might check this forum. it doesn't move nearly as fast as the other one so we do need a few more good threads like the block grinder thread here. we probably should move the vise thread over here since 99% of the vises we talk about are vintage, but don't want to start a revolt from a few of those members that might not know how to check to forums.

good luck with the switch

 

[1957fiat500]

Did I post this in the wrong section? I figured since the vise was so old this was the place, this is my first time posting so I will get the hang of it.
I did inspect the under side and has never been repaired and no cracks, so looks extremely solid just ugly. Looks like the vise had been apart before and lubed and cleaned but I think it has the wrong washer for the handle, I also think the washer was on the wrong side. So just to clearify does the washer show from the outside? or is it inside next to the bushing that keeps the screw secure?

 

[drivesitfar]

Fiat: you did fine and some members (SZ in this case) haven't seen the forum's change to have a vintage section. as i said the vise thread should be over here and probably the garage sale one too since about 95% of the stuff they talk about is older than i am and i remember seeing the news the day that JFK was shot on our only Black and White TV.

not sure about the washer, but my guess it was an prior owners attempt to take out a little slop. probably on the outside of the dynamic if you even need it. is there any slop in the vise nut or is it solid inside the static?

 

[bluebolt]

Fiat, the washer should go on the outside between the spindle and the front of the vise. If buying parts be sure they fit, some of the parts available don't fit the older Columbians.

I checked my parts Columbian but it was a 203 1/2.

 

[1957fiat500]

Bluebolt,
I figured that was the correct way, thank you!! Painting the columbian today once I find the right color.

 

[1957fiat500]

It's primered just needs to dry, I have some dark green automotive paint laying around, I think that will make it look vintage. If I don't like it I have some other colors laying around.

 

[1982fxr]

nothing beats a red columbian. just sayin'

 

[1957fiat500]

 

[1957fiat500]

 

[1957fiat500]

Got everything painted and reassembled. So what do you guys think?

 

[McBrownie]

That came out really nice. I like the color choice. Please share the details. You have to straighten out that swivel clamp handle, though. It's making my OCD go nuts.

 

[Fretters]

Got everything painted and reassembled. So what do you guys think?

That you've made a nice job of it.