REALLY BIG broken VISE...what do you think?

[bad5x8]

This vise is for sale locally. What can you tell me about it? The guys says that the dynamic jaw is broken from the slider and it would need to be welded. The actual removable jaws themselves appear to be missing.

It says it is a "red seal 66" vise...
Google brings up that the company Red Seal is a fab shop of sorts.

http://kansascity.craigslist.org/tls/2161164519.html

What do you think? Worth $100?

 

[spongerich]

Vises are tricky to repair correctly. I'd be leery of using something that large that's been repaired. If that 100 lb chunk decides to break off again while you're clamping down on something you could lose a few toes or worse. If you know someone who can braze it correctly, offer the seller $50.

 

[A_Pmech]

That thing is scrap metal and the price is about what I would pay for an unbroken vise of that size.

Technically, it is repairable but the cost of the repair would buy several good vises of that size.

 

[Pug}{maN]

i seen that on the list, junk if you ask me !

 

[Joe B.]

I agree that it is worthless as a stand alone vise but I sure wish someone would save it for parts. If you wait long enough someone will come around on this board that is missing the swivel base or other component.

The world really need an old vise part registry / trading site so that as many of these old vises can be saved as possible.

Not worthless and not scrap metal.

 

[bad5x8]

Yes, I will pass on this one....

 

[autopts]

Its junk and his dark photo doesn't help..This Reed went for $75 +$35 shipping. Keep looking and have patience..

 

[ajchien]

I'm in agreement with autopts. If your need isn't immediate, patience will will find you a goog vise at a great price.

 

[spongerich]

Its junk and his dark photo doesn't help..This Reed went for $75 +$35 shipping. Keep looking and have patience..

My Reed 204 is one of my favorites, but you can't really compare it to a 200lb monster.

I got a slightly damaged but far from fatally wounded 150 lb Morgan at an auction a month ago for $40, so the big ones are definitely out there.

 

[myol50cal]

Hi,
I'm new here. I hope you'll excuse my two cents. I recently snagged a Columbian 108 that was pretty beaten up. As a matter of fact, both jaw inserts had been knocked out!! There were a few other minor issues that I've since taken care to fix. But you know what? I'm really happy with the way the old dog has responded to some TLC. As soon as I can figure out how to post them, I'll send some pix. Nice to meet everyone.

 

[v7guy]

I would say that it's generally garbage. if you can pick it up REAL cheap it might be worth it for the parts.
A major component being cracked on a vise is not good.

With that said if you know a VERY good welder it might be worth it.

 

[Packard V8]

if you know a VERY good welder it might be worth it.

If you know a very good welder who owes you several favors and will try to repair it for the cost of materials. If one walked into a commercial job shop with that vise, the bill would come to more than it is worth.

jack vines

 

[autopts]

Hi,
I'm new here. I hope you'll excuse my two cents. I recently snagged a Columbian 108 that was pretty beaten up. As a matter of fact, both jaw inserts had been knocked out!! There were a few other minor issues that I've since taken care to fix. But you know what? I'm really happy with the way the old dog has responded to some TLC. As soon as I can figure out how to post them, I'll send some pix. Nice to meet everyone.

Did you buy jaw inserts or have them made?

 

[Rickochet]

No matter who makes the repairs, I would always fear that the jaw will once again break free and fall on my foot! A trip to the ER will cost far more than a new vise---plus the cost of pain & suffering. A new Wilton from Grainger is about a grand.
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/WILTON-Bench-Vise-6Z394?Pid=search

 

[myol50cal]

I think I've figured out how to upload some before and after pix of my Columbian 108 repair.
This is how the vise looked when I first took it apart...
After cleaning out about 2 pounds of accumulated dirt, I cleaned off the parts with transmission cleaner. My first surprise came when I discovered that I couldn't pull the jackscrew from the front jaw. Seem like the set screw that locks the retaining collar to the shaft had been lost. It was fixed by dribbling some molten metal in back of the collar. Took me about a week of filing before I was able to pull the jackscrew free.
Next problem? The rear retaining pin had been broken off. Instead of simply knocking out the old piece and replacing it, the molten metal guy stuck again. He made a little puddle of the stuff and simply dropped a hex nut down into the puddle and that was the repair. Trouble is, thanks to these two repairs, this big old vise now had tons of slop--you had to turn the handle 3 or 4 times before anything moved, and you could pull the front jaw out about 2 inches.
Long story short, I fixed these problems and now, the 108 has no slop and the front jaw moves smoothly and quietly after about a half turn.
I'll save the bilateral jaw surgery for another post.

 

[myol50cal]

Okay, I'm on a roll. Here's the rest of the 108 story. There was a piece of square stock brazed onto the front jaw. In order to get this off, I spent another week, sawing and using a jackhammer chisel until I was able to peel it of the front jaw. Once this was done, I spent another few weeks, cutting and filing the front and back jaws down to healthy tissue. Since the front jaw had a huge dished out part, I decided to trim off the very top of the rear jaw, so both jaws would be the same height. And that's basically it. I think it turned out pretty well. Especially since I had to do all this work by hand. But it was worth it. I havent figured out what I'll do for jaws, but in the meantime, the old dog works great for holding stuff. If the piece I want to clamp is smaller than the gap, I shim it up in the jaws, tighten that big 'ole handle down, and as my old wrestling coach used to say, "That's all she wrote!!".

 

[myol50cal]

I've taken care of the jaw insert issue with my Columbian 108. Here's what I came up with:
Now, I admit, it's a rather low-tech solution, However, in situations like this, simple is the way to go. Or, as General Patton once said about warfare in general, "Simple, brutal, and direct." I made the new inserts from flat and square tool steel stock, with grade 8 bolts holding them together. They sit on the recut tops of the jaws. Although it may look funny, it's works great. I can hold anything in there. If I need to hold round or odd-shaped pieces, no problem. Just take the jaws out, put the piece in the lower jaw faces, shim, if necessary, and away I go. The only thing that would be helpful would be a handle detent. The way it is now, I've had to practice working the handle one-handed. For extra protection, I simply wear some gloves. That old handle is big and heavy, and can really put a big nip on my hand.
Guess that's it. Oh, BTW. One of the new pix shows the 108 and another of my vises, a Parker 69. I used to think the 69 was big. Believe me, the 108 completely dwarfs it!! Same thing with my Vanderman 3. I weighed the 108 parts and the total was 280 lbs. That's why I knew I had to bring this old-timer back to life.

 

[whelenfan]

great looking vise, welcome to the forum and very ingenious way of dealing with a problem like that. I can't get enough of these huge vises getting back to their working selves.

 

[TireTracks]

No matter who makes the repairs, I would always fear that the jaw will once again break free and fall on my foot! A trip to the ER will cost far more than a new vise---plus the cost of pain & suffering. A new Wilton from Grainger is about a grand.
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/WILTON-Bench-Vise-6Z394?Pid=search

Honly **** are those expencive.

and I thought a $60 HF was alot.