Vise Restoration questions....

[jeepnut24]

Ive got a rusty Columbian vise on its way to my house. Got a good deal on a smaller Mechanics Vise. I would have preferred a Machinists vise, but this will work for 90% of what I need. That said, it has seen some better days and has old paint and a good bit of rust on it but its a solid vise. What should I do first? Should I try and tear it down, let it sit in evaporust overnight, or penetrating oil???

 

[BanjoSavesTheDay]

What I do when there is a lot of old paint is take it to my local radiator shop and have the guy dip it in the hot tank. He does it for $10 a vise and it works VERY well. I think you will be very pleased if you decide to go that route.

 

[Mickey O]

What I do when there is a lot of old paint is take it to my local radiator shop and have the guy dip it in the hot tank. He does it for $10 a vise and it works VERY well. I think you will be very pleased if you decide to go that route.

That's a great idea. I was thinking about seeing how much it would cost to get a vise powder coated and how well it would hold up.

 

[BanjoSavesTheDay]

That would be awesome if you got one powder coated. I have no idea how well it would hold up, but it sure would be pretty. I'm really curious to know what you find out about price.

 

[jeepnut24]

What about freeing up the various mechanisms and the ACME? screw? It looks pretty rusty. How clean does it need to be?

 

[mjozefow]

What about freeing up the various mechanisms and the ACME? screw? It looks pretty rusty. How clean does it need to be?

Clean as you can get it. Any of the big parts can be hit with a wire wheel. Oven cleaner is a great heavy duty degreaser. Hot tanking seems to be an excellent way to go. I have done it with good results without a hot tank.

Don't cut corners, and this vise will outlast you.

 

[BanjoSavesTheDay]

+1 on wire wheel. A wire brush and PB blaster do well on the ACME threads.

 

[Kevin54]

If feasible, how about derusting some of the parts in some vinegar and reporting back on it? I'd be curious to see how it works out.

I went thru the "Vise" thread again this morning and I think I am going to have to be on the lookout for some. It seems like vises never went for much around here so maybe I can ****** up on one or two good one.

 

[jeepnut24]

If feasible, how about derusting some of the parts in some vinegar and reporting back on it? I'd be curious to see how it works out.

I went thru the "Vise" thread again this morning and I think I am going to have to be on the lookout for some. It seems like vises never went for much around here so maybe I can ****** up on one or two good one.

I plan to create a thread when the vise gets here. Its in shipping. Im just trying to figure out what supplies Im going to need. Working out a game plan.

 

[BanjoSavesTheDay]

Do you have any pictures of it?

 

[mepilotunot]

I just used a wire wheel on a vise I picked up this weekend at a buddys barn that he knocked down. Its a very old Rock Island in great shape. I cleaned it and primed it tonight. It will be getting the Cornwell Blue paintjob 2morow and then I am mounting it in my Cornwell Truck. I am painting the lettering silver. I will try to get a pic of it after I mount it in my truck.

 

[strnge]

 

[mjozefow]

+1