Justin Topp Posted March 20, 2021 Share Posted March 20, 2021 So a few days ago when I got my 6.5” Columbian leg vise I was happy. Well, I’m even more happy now. I bought this 8” leg vise for 125$ today. It is heavy! I put a 4.75” vise next to it for scale Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Latticino Posted March 20, 2021 Share Posted March 20, 2021 Major score for the price. Wouldn't be surprised if it was worth that in wrought iron stock alone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Topp Posted March 20, 2021 Author Share Posted March 20, 2021 It’s around 250 lbs so probably for a lot of people! But wrought is common enough here so I doubt it’s worth scrap wrought value here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Latticino Posted March 20, 2021 Share Posted March 20, 2021 Round by me I've seen large wrought stock selling for $2/# pretty briskly, not that I would ever advocate cutting up a fine tool like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Topp Posted March 20, 2021 Author Share Posted March 20, 2021 Yea that’s true. Some places it’s super expensive. Around here there’s lots of old wrought iron. I’ve spent about 40$ on all my wrought iron. Which is around a ton. Old farms mean lots of scrap which often co contains iron. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Topp Posted March 21, 2021 Author Share Posted March 21, 2021 I can’t find any markings. Any ideas on maker? It’s different than any other I’ve seen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelonian Posted March 21, 2021 Share Posted March 21, 2021 Looks like a really nice vise for heavy work! I have no clue on the maker. The part the handle goes through looks a lot like the top of a screw jack, so the screw/screwbox may be a replacement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Topp Posted March 21, 2021 Author Share Posted March 21, 2021 Heavy enough for anything I intend to do haha! Possibly. The screw box hasn’t been welded or brazed it appears to be all original. but you never know. Works good and has a proper style acme thread for a leg vise so I’m not too concerned if it is a replacement Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted March 21, 2021 Share Posted March 21, 2021 What a beast! Has it come to it's happy thumping grounds? Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Topp Posted March 21, 2021 Author Share Posted March 21, 2021 Yep! It’s going to be put to work! first thing I’m going to do with it is twist one 1/4” bar stock haha. Than onto real work. I thought the 6.5” was big haha Turns out the threads were replaced. Probably with a screw jack as you said Chelonian. However they used all the original parts it looks like. They just brazed the threads into the original screw box. Looks like they cut the old threads out and trimmed down the nut from the vise on a lathe so they fit inside each other nicely. So it’s not original I guess but the repair is very nicely done. It works fantastic and looks normal still so I’m not too bothered Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BartW Posted March 22, 2021 Share Posted March 22, 2021 Nice chunky vise. It will serve you well; just make sure you tell the apprentice to not go hulk on the handle. tight is tight; and standing on the handle won't make it any tighter. And the heavier the vise, the more "inviting" to abuse it is. These vises are build heavy to handle direct hammer strikes; these guys are NOT presses Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Topp Posted March 22, 2021 Author Share Posted March 22, 2021 Yup, Once it stops turning without taking too much effort its done. Can’t wait to get this one into use Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted March 22, 2021 Share Posted March 22, 2021 Early vises had threads brazed into the screwbox and that is mentioned as a viable repair method in some of the old blacksmithing books; so if they were done properly then not an issue---especially at that price! If large old vises are frequent and cheap out there you might think of throwing a couple in your vehicle to sell if you make it to Quad-State some year! Help pay for the trip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Topp Posted March 22, 2021 Author Share Posted March 22, 2021 yea almost positive it’s a repair But you have to look hard for it. One of the better repairs I’ve seen and it works fantastic. Not fine thread screw like many replacements. So I’m not worried. Especially for the price of this monster That’s what I’ve started thinking about. Buying and reselling vises at a blacksmithing event like quad state. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted March 22, 2021 Share Posted March 22, 2021 Nice thing about Q-S is once you have paid the entry fee there isn't a charge to sell and you don't even have to be at the sales point. For little stuff I put it on a tarp PRICED and leave a can for the money. For big stuff folks leave it out PRICED with a cell phone number and a "call me". Lets you have more fun at the event! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted March 22, 2021 Share Posted March 22, 2021 I sold enough off my table at the last Q-S to cover a decent chunk of my own purchases AND the speeding ticket I got on the way there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted March 22, 2021 Share Posted March 22, 2021 It's sort of a "cleaning the shop" event for a lot of people and low on "dealers and flippers". Some of the best deals are when folks are packing up and don't want to take it back home---got a 6" Columbian post vise for US$50 once! Of course if they leave early you end up empty handed... (Or if someone is selling high alloy drops cheap and you go back to camp to get your money and find the fellow behind you bought ALL of them for a dirt cheap price...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Topp Posted March 22, 2021 Author Share Posted March 22, 2021 There are enough vises around here For cheap enough that it wouldn’t be too hard to at least make my money back for gas. If not some for buying stuff. Guess I better start collecting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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