@@christophwjones /thank you chris...have an old craftsman vise that is well over 60 years old left behind by in-law when we bought their house...i was going to buy a new but a nice one costs around $100...i will try to rebuild...thanks a million...great video..
OMG! You got all the rust off you filed off the flash from the foundry, you used multiple coats of primer then paint. God Bless you! So many guys do a terrible restoration and then get upset when people call them on it. This is top drawer. Excellent job!
Ken! Thanks for watching & the kind comment. I certainly learned a lot on this project. I'm happy to report that after several years, doing the resto the right way has paid off - the vice is holding up super well.
I've used the degreaser that Harbor freight sells on stuff like this, when mixed with hot water and soaked overnight it actually removes any dirt and grease along with the paint.
Bought the same vise at an estate sale yesterday, just did a cleanup. Gonna pass on the filing and wire brush after watching this, don’t have the time. Great job
Enjoy the vise, I still love mine. I've made some really simple upgrades to it that has improved it's functions, maybe I'll make an updated video. Thanks for watching.
I use Simple Green (concentrated) in my ultrasonic cleaner, for cleaning knives, so I had plenty of it. A site I came across suggested soaking these vises in Simple Green for 24-48 hours in order to remove paint. I've heard of this stuff being used for many things, but not paint removal. I didn't have 24-48 hours. I didn't even have 12 hours. I soaked it overnight just to see what would happen and holy crap! It almost removed all the paint off the entire vise. It made light work out of my wire wheel on a drill this morning. I'm convinced it would have removed all of it if I had soaked it for 24 hours. I know this video is 3 years old at this point, and you may have tried this by now, but I thought I'd mention it.
Gives you an appreciation for the way things used to be made. To last for a lifetime. Glad you put in the work. Rescue the good stuff. And filing and tapping are addictive. Lol. Great work bud.
I bought a 5 gallon bucket from Home Depot with a screw on lid. Filled it with simple green degreaser and soaked my vise for a few days. It came out clean as new. Almost. It works miracles for sure.
My new favorite quote "4 different stages of crap" hahaha! Great video thanks! I plan on restoring 3 of these things for Christmas gifts so wish me luck!
I have the exact same vise that I inherited from my father-in-laws garage along with a Wilton #2 vise. I just went straight in with the wire wheel on my angle grinder. stripped everything right off. Now struggling with getting that damn lead screw retaining clip back on. Great video.
Funny, I just got one of these from my Dad yesterday. Just happened to do a TH-cam search while I've been working on it today. Luckily, I have access to a media blaster. Great video, thanks!
I did a “restoration “ on my Craftsman 3 1/2” vise, #391.5180 over a year ago. Mine was cleaner than yours, so I did the disassembly, wash, and paint. Most of mine had original paint intact and solid, so there was no need to strip. Nice job, looks great!
Thanks for this video, wow so much detail. I have the same vise and about to start on it. But I don't have a cotter pin on the main screw, just a collar that doesn't seem to be removable. Can't move forward until I figure out how to remove it. Thanks again!
Appreciate you watching. Good luck on your vise restoration. You'll enjoy the project and a fun one. On your collar - that may not be factory & my best guess would be a set screw keeping it held in place. I'm considering a part 2 showing some of the easy upgrades that actually improve the vise. Keep an eye out for that video (eventually) coming out.
I just bought this exact vice for $10.00. It's a little rusty but not dirty. I think I might try to bead blast it, then paint. The jaws look like they have never been used. I blew up the picture in the add and saw that it was USA made Craftsman, so I knew it had to be an older quality vice. Someone on Ebay is trying to sell this reconditioned for $150.00. Thanks for the video.
A sand-blaster would have saved me hours! It's the right way to do it. Glad you found one for so cheap. I'm really surprised how many folks are finding and fixing up. I'd love to see your vise when you are done with it.
A little tip. When putting heat to a stuck bolt or screw, don't heat the screw. Heat the material around the screw. We are using the expansion of the metal to loosen the screw. When the metal around the screw expands it allows the removal of the screw.
I have re done my vise with a new paint job of the factory red with both handles getting gun metal blue to turn them black with paint the printing black with a paint pen looking good
Suggestion: When you have a chance - no hurry - unscrew the four screws holding the jaw inserts and put a bit of grease on the screw threads and on the back and bottom sides of the inserts (where they contact the jaw castings). That will make future removal easier, whether by you or some subsequent owner.
Good evening, you are very good and finished compliments for the cleaning of the live iron and for all the finishing work. I use a translator, congratulations and a greeting from an Italian (I hope my message has been understood)👋🏻👌🏻
Interesting this poppped up on my feed I have the same exact vise and I just restored mine almost exactly like you did same color, but I made some solid copper jaws for mine. Mine on the bottom says made in Japan though, I wonder what years they did that ?
Solid copper jaws? That's genius. I definitely love that idea. I believe mine is from the 70s but I'm not totally sure. My copy was made by Columbia according to the model number.
Little scary present.... awesome,you have a calming , interesting voice.Could listen for a good while,really enjoyed your video cuz I myself just finished restoration on my Craftsman vice.We r brothas from anotha motha
I believe I have that exact same bench vice. And when I get to it, I am going to refurbish mine and powder coat it. That way maybe it will not get as scratched up and marked as quickly. Thumbs Up!
Gary - you are right! I'd like to try some DIY powder coating at some point. It would be perfect for something like this. Although, I'm pretty happy with the results after a few months of solid use.
have the same model and will be doing this same thing. need an impact screwdriver to get the soft jaw off. so hyped for how its going to turn out, nice video
Thanks for watching. I used a Rustoleum metallic red paint over a self etching primer. I primed with 3-4 coats and same for the red. It's held up extremely well and I do not baby the finish. I also used danish oil on the whole thing to help prevent rust.
You did a beatiful job with that. I will admit i am lazier. I would have ran all the cast parts through a bead blaster then painted them. In fact, i would not even remove the jaws, just tape them off, then paint around them. If you tape cover the jaws and raw steel surfaces before bead blasting those surfaces could be wire wheeled after blasting the rest and prior to paint. The white lettering was a very nice detail too.
Nice work, it turned out amazing, paint job and detailing is 1st class, I would suggest using an oven/hob cleaner(that's what we call it in the UK) they are sold as aerosol or atomiser spray. I haven't used the aerosol form but used the atomiser spray on various projects and it is perfect for built-up dirt, grime, grease/oil, muck and dirt, I got good results. I would say it is tougher than engine degreaser, white(mineral) spirits and carburettor cleaner, especially rinsed by hot water afterwards.
Hey Arn. I used a 2nd cut triangle file and a finish file thats flexible (looks like nail file & is super thin). My threads were damaged but not bad enough I needed to replace.
Just did the exact same vise. Mine started on the bench a little more beat up, and haven't reassembled yet but it is identical. Doing the letters with a Markal pen was the funnest part!! I can't find replacement soft jaws, if anyone has a source please let me know. Mine are just okay, cleaned up well, but aren't that grippy. Good job, saved another tool!!
I recommend a stiff crimped wire wheel to save time and sanity! Weiler® Bench Grinder Wheels, Medium Face Wheel this is an example but have a wire wheel that cuts just passed the pitina has worked Wonders in my shop and retained a bit of my sanity lol just a thought
I haven't tried a crimped wire wheel, I've been afraid it would be too aggressive but on this vise it would have went a long way to save time like you said. I just got a proper angle grinder so I should pick one up. I'm about to work on an old Post vise and it's crusty.
@@christophwjones if you can find a bench grinder it allows you more control over the situation versus an angle grinder. I learned to work an angle grinder at a navy ship yard for 7.5 years straight every work and I can do things with an angle grinder that most men can't yet I tell you the truth the bench grinder allows more control over the whole situation by reversing the process of machine and object motion. Also I also recommend adding a finding a means of speed control such as additional a belt pulley system or variable frequency drive. I haven't got to attempt the vfd yet but plans are in the making. Once I do aquire it I want to set it up so any rational tools I use are accessable for experiments in this area. Also as much as I use the bench grinder one can't negate the awesome power of a good angle grinder. Especially combined with the 250 400 And 600 grit wheels. They work miracle's.
Thanks for the info! I really want to add a bench grinder to my shop. Definitely on the list. The drill press wire wheel is alright but far from perfect.
Beautiful job... I have several of these... Two restored (somewhat) and 1 in original condition. Unfortunately I found when disassembling one of the restored ones (I got it at a yard sale) it has the wrong main nut and it is to narrow and lets the jaw screw flop around inside and it hangs up when tightened. It didn't do that when I bought it so the seller mush have somehow solved that issue temporally and it took over a year for the issue to show up... I did get it at a super low price, but without the proper main nut that jaw will never work right. I am at a loss where i can find a replacement. Any ideas?
Thank you! A great resource for odd bits is McMaster-Carr. You may be able to find a nut that is the right size with the correct thread spacing for the lead screw. Finding exact parts for this model isn't easy. You will likely find another vise to scavenge from before finding the main nut. I know that's not an exact answer but I haven't found many good resources for parts for old vises such as these.
Hey Jeff. I didn't find a super reliable source. I looked at variations of the castings to figure out an approximate date. As far as better years, you want the models made in the USA. Some where manufactured by Columbia (like this one).
I believe the "506" means it was made by Columbia in the USA. This would be a great vise. The price seems a bit high to me but it's all about condition.
I found one in almost the same used state as this one locally for $60. Is that worth it or would you spring and get the new Doyle 4in (I’ve heard good things about the new Doyle from hf)
$60 is a bit much for me, however, I don't see them for sale as often as I used to. This specific vise was made by Columbia and I'd trust that brand over a lot of others. I have no experience with the Doyle. This craftsman has stood up to a lot of punishment from me (not to mention all the years before I had it) and there's no cracks, the jaws line up perfect, and it has acceptable slop.
Thank you! I used Sem brand self etching primer and for the red I used Rust-Oleum "Metallic Apple Red." The paint has held up pretty well considering it's pretty run of the mill and I don't treat the vise like anything special.
Great video! I have the same vice since the 1970's and recently it doesn't work right anymore. It does not want to "turn in" or "turn out" at a certain spot. Do you know if parts are available or if a machinist could fix? what did you say was the manufacturer?
Hey there! From my understanding, there are two versions - one manufactured by Columbia and another is made in Japan. If it's a getting stuck in it's rotation it could be a couple of simple fixes. The main bolt at the bottom that holds the vice to the base could be too tight, the adjustment screw could be worn or there could be something like rust or shavings keeping it from rotating completely. At worst you could likely find a replacement main bolt if needed or the adjustment screw and level cap. Craftsman had really great back-log of parts for years. The best bet would be eBay. Let me know what you find out! Cheers friend.
@@christophwjones thank you very much! I took the vice apart and cleaned/wire brushed it and the main screw. You were right, the bolt on the bottom was completely out of the vice. I believe the bolt may be worn. Should it be threaded all of the way? The threads on mine do not go all the way up the bolt. Anyway, I put the bolt back in and tightened, the vice worked but it turned very hard. Then I loosened it. The vice works as it should and goes easy for about the first three inches then it works but it get harder to continue to open it or if you do open it all the way it is hard to take it back until you get to the about bottom 3 inches then it goes easy the rest of the way. Any suggestions are appreciated. I think it's all in that bolt
Michael - the main bolt should only be threaded for about 1/3 of it. The un-threaded bit actually holds the acme screw receiver in the base of the set jaw. I'd recommend greasing the swivel base, that helps a ton as well. The swivel base has a nut and lock bolt that can also be an issue. It can catch in the groove it slides in. The base of the nut might need some TLC. That could be another culprit. Worst case, it may be bent. If that's the case, either straighten it or replace at worst. Hope that helps! Thanks for watching.
Hate the Citrus strip, I went back to the bad chemical stuff. I wanted to be more eco friendly, but time is money and as you proved, exercises of insanity is just not worth it. Thanks for the video.
@@christophwjones mine as well. I bought a blast cabinet a few months back and haven’t unboxed it yet. Hoping to getting into doing restorations like these myself
Awesome! I certainly enjoy this hobby. I have a building on my property I plan on turning into a shop when we finish our house. So many tools I want to stock it with. Also, I can finally work on bigger projects.
I have pretty much the same Vise I just picked up and am cleaning. When I took the screw out of the bottom I noticed some of the threads are crushed. Does anyone have an idea of where I could find a new one? I feel like it’s not a standard size or bolt for some reason
Anybody know the difference between this one (the 801) and the 506-51800? They seem to be almost the same, but there has to be some difference since 1 digit model number difference.
Me recordó a los videos de Bob Ross.... parece que es más importante los diálogos que el contenido del video. Demasiado cansado escucharlo, tuve que eliminar la voz para realmente disfrutar este video.
I just bought one at an estate sell today. Mine is not that dirty but I want to restore just like you did. I also had the idea of painting the letters white. What type of paint did you use for Biden and letters?
Awesome! I used Rust-Oleum Red Metallic for the body of the vise. I'd recommend a self-etching primer as well, I used SEM brand in gray. The letters were done with paint pens, don't remember the brand. I think I got all of the paint online but it's readily available at my home stores.
I completely disagree. His voice is soothing and enjoyable. Him describing his process is very enhancing. Honestly João, your comment is rude and I imagine you are not well liked where you live.
All you needed to do was degrease it, then drop it in a bath of muriatic acid for 20 minutes, then rinse, then phosphoric acid for 10 to help prevent rusting. It would've cleaned absolutely every single pit, groove, and corner in it. No wire brushing whatsoever. Amateurs I tell ya lol. But nice job!
@@christophwjones We all learn the hard way sometimes. I have two very worn-out shoulders from years of construction and fabrication to prove it. I highly recommend things like evapo-rust and muriatic acid (which you can buy at Home Depot) I keep it in a 4" x 36" ABS plastic tube (bottom glued on) as a dip tank for rod,angle,bar and use a 5 gallon bucket for other stuff. You have to wear good nitrile gloves, goggles, and NIOSH mask but the good thing is you can reuse the stuff many times, like for 6 months and it cleans to bare metal better than anything. Phosphoric is also good as it etches a layer on for rust prevention. Muriatic also works extremely well to clean slow-flush toilets. It eats away all the limescale in ~45 minutes. There's some TH-cam vids on it.
I found one in almost the same used state as this one locally for $60. Is that worth it or would you spring and get the new Doyle 4in (I’ve heard good things about the new Doyle from hf)
Great video, great commentary and great results! 👍👍
Thank you! Appreciate the kind words
@@christophwjones /thank you chris...have an old craftsman vise that is well over 60 years old left behind by in-law when we bought their house...i was going to buy a new but a nice one costs around $100...i will try to rebuild...thanks a million...great video..
Thank you! You've got a great vise with those old Craftsmans. Enjoy my friend.
OMG! You got all the rust off you filed off the flash from the foundry, you used multiple coats of primer then paint. God Bless you! So many guys do a terrible restoration and then get upset when people call them on it. This is top drawer. Excellent job!
Ken! Thanks for watching & the kind comment. I certainly learned a lot on this project. I'm happy to report that after several years, doing the resto the right way has paid off - the vice is holding up super well.
I've used the degreaser that Harbor freight sells on stuff like this, when mixed with hot water and soaked overnight it actually removes any dirt and grease along with the paint.
I love the commentary its so down to earth
Thank you.
This is the vise we all grew up seeing in our dad's garages.
I completely agree!
There’s something about old vises that’s just cool. Well done!
Agreed my friend and thank you!
Bought the same vise at an estate sale yesterday, just did a cleanup. Gonna pass on the filing and wire brush after watching this, don’t have the time. Great job
Enjoy the vise, I still love mine. I've made some really simple upgrades to it that has improved it's functions, maybe I'll make an updated video. Thanks for watching.
I use Simple Green (concentrated) in my ultrasonic cleaner, for cleaning knives, so I had plenty of it. A site I came across suggested soaking these vises in Simple Green for 24-48 hours in order to remove paint. I've heard of this stuff being used for many things, but not paint removal. I didn't have 24-48 hours. I didn't even have 12 hours. I soaked it overnight just to see what would happen and holy crap! It almost removed all the paint off the entire vise. It made light work out of my wire wheel on a drill this morning. I'm convinced it would have removed all of it if I had soaked it for 24 hours. I know this video is 3 years old at this point, and you may have tried this by now, but I thought I'd mention it.
Woah! Great to know. I don't have an ultrasonic cleaner but I have tons of tubs. I'm 100% going to give that a try. Thanks for the tip!
Gives you an appreciation for the way things used to be made. To last for a lifetime. Glad you put in the work. Rescue the good stuff. And filing and tapping are addictive. Lol. Great work bud.
Definitely. I imagine my kid could be using this after I'm gone.
I have the same vise omg. I have to renovate mine now after watching. Thank you very much lol
Thanks for watching! Worth the resto for sure!
Excellent video 👍 I recently came into owning one of these and found your channel while researching the No. 506-51801.
thank you! It's been almost a year since I restored this little guy and I use it daily. Your vise will serve you well.
@@christophwjones Great to hear - thank you 👍
I bought a 5 gallon bucket from Home Depot with a screw on lid. Filled it with simple green degreaser and soaked my vise for a few days. It came out clean as new. Almost. It works miracles for sure.
That's a great idea. Love it because simple green is powerful and easy to work with. I'm going to steal that idea!
My new favorite quote "4 different stages of crap" hahaha! Great video thanks! I plan on restoring 3 of these things for Christmas gifts so wish me luck!
Thanks! Enjoy - they are fun to fool around with. I'd like to do another some time.
I have the exact same vise that I inherited from my father-in-laws garage along with a Wilton #2 vise.
I just went straight in with the wire wheel on my angle grinder. stripped everything right off. Now struggling with getting that damn lead screw retaining clip back on.
Great video.
Wow! Great score, especially that Wilton. That retaining clip is probably the hardest thing to deal with. I'm lucky I didn't lose mine.
Thorough job I like your work and I probably would have washed it down good and probably some sanding and wire brush and paint it 😊
I definitely over did it! Haha. Years later, it was worth it though. I have learned a lot and it would take 1/2 the time now. Good ol' hindsight.
Great job. Looks beautiful.
Thanks!
Funny, I just got one of these from my Dad yesterday. Just happened to do a TH-cam search while I've been working on it today. Luckily, I have access to a media blaster. Great video, thanks!
That's awesome. Great little vises. I sure wish I had media blaster. Definitely something I need to invest in. Thanks for watching.
This is the vise I use most often, works well and has a nice Art Deco style to it.
I gotta say, it's my favorite as well. Love the style and function. I'd like to find some of the larger versions too.
It's not even Art Deco
I did a “restoration “ on my Craftsman 3 1/2” vise, #391.5180 over a year ago. Mine was cleaner than yours, so I did the disassembly, wash, and paint. Most of mine had original paint intact and solid, so there was no need to strip. Nice job, looks great!
Nice! Love these vises and I'm glad to h at folks like yourself are running them and getting them back to working order.
Thanks for this video, wow so much detail. I have the same vise and about to start on it. But I don't have a cotter pin on the main screw, just a collar that doesn't seem to be removable. Can't move forward until I figure out how to remove it. Thanks again!
Appreciate you watching. Good luck on your vise restoration. You'll enjoy the project and a fun one. On your collar - that may not be factory & my best guess would be a set screw keeping it held in place. I'm considering a part 2 showing some of the easy upgrades that actually improve the vise. Keep an eye out for that video (eventually) coming out.
@@christophwjones I uploaded a video it is a collar like a circlip that has to be spread apart. th-cam.com/video/ghKWMYk_fVY/w-d-xo.html
I just bought this exact vice for $10.00. It's a little rusty but not dirty. I think I might try to bead blast it, then paint. The jaws look like they have never been used. I blew up the picture in the add and saw that it was USA made Craftsman, so I knew it had to be an older quality vice. Someone on Ebay is trying to sell this reconditioned for $150.00. Thanks for the video.
A sand-blaster would have saved me hours! It's the right way to do it. Glad you found one for so cheap. I'm really surprised how many folks are finding and fixing up. I'd love to see your vise when you are done with it.
A little tip. When putting heat to a stuck bolt or screw, don't heat the screw. Heat the material around the screw. We are using the expansion of the metal to loosen the screw. When the metal around the screw expands it allows the removal of the screw.
Great tip! Thank you!
I have re done my vise with a new paint job of the factory red with both handles getting gun metal blue to turn them black with paint the printing black with a paint pen looking good
Great work !!!
Thanks!
Looks good funny cuz I was googling my model a 60s version and your resto popped up. Now I'm gonna do the same
Enjoy! It's a fun project. Great little vises.
Suggestion: When you have a chance - no hurry - unscrew the four screws holding the jaw inserts and put a bit of grease on the screw threads and on the back and bottom sides of the inserts (where they contact the jaw castings). That will make future removal easier, whether by you or some subsequent owner.
Great call! I'll be doing that this week. Appreciate it.
I did a restoration on almost the exact same vice in the same condition. It required a lot of work and a lot of wire wheels, but it was worth it.
Awesome. I use mine nearly every day. I agree that it was worth the work.
I'm a filing junkie ALSO, great work.
Thanks!
Good evening, you are very good and finished compliments for the cleaning of the live iron and for all the finishing work. I use a translator, congratulations and a greeting from an Italian (I hope my message has been understood)👋🏻👌🏻
Thank you so much!
@@christophwjones 👍🏻
Nice practical restoration without making the vise too pretty to use. Good work.
I use it every day. Almost a year since the restoration, it's held up great but I don't baby the vise. Thanks for the comment.
You have done it in a very nice way, looks perfect. Congratulations!
Thank you!
Interesting this poppped up on my feed I have the same exact vise and I just restored mine almost exactly like you did same color, but I made some solid copper jaws for mine.
Mine on the bottom says made in Japan though, I wonder what years they did that ?
Solid copper jaws? That's genius. I definitely love that idea. I believe mine is from the 70s but I'm not totally sure. My copy was made by Columbia according to the model number.
Little scary present.... awesome,you have a calming , interesting voice.Could listen for a good while,really enjoyed your video cuz I myself just finished restoration on my Craftsman vice.We r brothas from anotha motha
Thanks for watching! Love these Craftsman vises.
I believe I have that exact same bench vice. And when I get to it, I am going to refurbish mine and powder coat it. That way maybe it will not get as scratched up and marked as quickly. Thumbs Up!
Gary - you are right! I'd like to try some DIY powder coating at some point. It would be perfect for something like this. Although, I'm pretty happy with the results after a few months of solid use.
That Evaporust is NO JOKE!!!!!!!!! I love it!!!!!
You ain't kidding! It's my favorite thing to use. It's magic.
And your commentary is pretty d@mn funny! Hand tool rescue would be proud!
Thank you so much! HTR is a huge inspiration.
And dare I say, one of the funniest guys on 'DA TUBE'!!
Same thing happened to me. Never filed anything. All of a sudden I’m a filing fool. Great video. Dial the whining back just a little 😂😂
Addictions are a funny thing.
have the same model and will be doing this same thing. need an impact screwdriver to get the soft jaw off. so hyped for how its going to turn out, nice video
Nice! Definitely a great project. I'd like to do another some time. Thanks for watching
Great video. I have the same vise and going to do a restoration. What paint did you use?
Thanks for watching. I used a Rustoleum metallic red paint over a self etching primer. I primed with 3-4 coats and same for the red. It's held up extremely well and I do not baby the finish. I also used danish oil on the whole thing to help prevent rust.
Great job buddy 👍
Well done
Thank you Mark
I've found nothing gets the paint off like the real harsh chems!
You are completely correct. Haven't had much luck weigh anything safe.
A vise you would find on the star ship NC-1701. Scotty would have been proud.
🙌🏻
You did a beatiful job with that. I will admit i am lazier. I would have ran all the cast parts through a bead blaster then painted them. In fact, i would not even remove the jaws, just tape them off, then paint around them. If you tape cover the jaws and raw steel surfaces before bead blasting those surfaces could be wire wheeled after blasting the rest and prior to paint. The white lettering was a very nice detail too.
Excelente video !!!
Thank you!
Nice job, looks great
Thanks! I sure love using it.
Nice work, it turned out amazing, paint job and detailing is 1st class, I would suggest using an oven/hob cleaner(that's what we call it in the UK) they are sold as aerosol or atomiser spray. I haven't used the aerosol form but used the atomiser spray on various projects and it is perfect for built-up dirt, grime, grease/oil, muck and dirt, I got good results. I would say it is tougher than engine degreaser, white(mineral) spirits and carburettor cleaner, especially rinsed by hot water afterwards.
Thank you and good call! I really needed something stronger than I thought. I learned my lesson!
Do you use a fine cut like a 2nd cut file to fix that bottom bolt?
Hey Arn. I used a 2nd cut triangle file and a finish file thats flexible (looks like nail file & is super thin). My threads were damaged but not bad enough I needed to replace.
Just did the exact same vise. Mine started on the bench a little more beat up, and haven't reassembled yet but it is identical. Doing the letters with a Markal pen was the funnest part!! I can't find replacement soft jaws, if anyone has a source please let me know. Mine are just okay, cleaned up well, but aren't that grippy. Good job, saved another tool!!
Thanks Rob! Great vises. Glad you saved one too. Fun project, hope you can find jaws. I wonder if there's any aftermarket ones that would fit.
"Grippy??"
Vice porn!!! Very clean and practical! Houston!! We have a vice!!! Bye bye shipmate!!!
Btw ,i also changed those flathead jaw screws from hell with 4 stainless allen screws.
I painted my letters too! Black like an african police officer
Genius! Do you know the size you used? I think I'd like to do that too
I too suffer from the same file anxiety. Nothing like smooth!
Totally agree
I recommend a stiff crimped wire wheel to save time and sanity! Weiler® Bench Grinder Wheels, Medium Face Wheel this is an example but have a wire wheel that cuts just passed the pitina has worked Wonders in my shop and retained a bit of my sanity lol just a thought
I haven't tried a crimped wire wheel, I've been afraid it would be too aggressive but on this vise it would have went a long way to save time like you said. I just got a proper angle grinder so I should pick one up. I'm about to work on an old Post vise and it's crusty.
@@christophwjones if you can find a bench grinder it allows you more control over the situation versus an angle grinder. I learned to work an angle grinder at a navy ship yard for 7.5 years straight every work and I can do things with an angle grinder that most men can't yet I tell you the truth the bench grinder allows more control over the whole situation by reversing the process of machine and object motion. Also I also recommend adding a finding a means of speed control such as additional a belt pulley system or variable frequency drive. I haven't got to attempt the vfd yet but plans are in the making. Once I do aquire it I want to set it up so any rational tools I use are accessable for experiments in this area. Also as much as I use the bench grinder one can't negate the awesome power of a good angle grinder. Especially combined with the 250 400 And 600 grit wheels. They work miracle's.
matthewcalvert2017@gmail.com if you would like to see some of my works
Thanks for the info! I really want to add a bench grinder to my shop. Definitely on the list. The drill press wire wheel is alright but far from perfect.
@@christophwjones I here you brother my list is a mile long of things I want to add to the shop.
saw a 3 1/2 with reversible jaw in a yard sale.....asking is $10 and i did not buy it...will check it again tomorrow hope it is still there :D
That's a steal! Go back & get it and enjoy a lifelong vise my friend.
White vinegar and soda
I cant wait to see that irl Chris :3
Nice video! I’ve got the same Vice. What red did you use? I feel like the red I used is too bright. Thanks
Thanks! I used Rust-Oleum metallic red code: 7256830. I love this paint and use it on a lot of projects. I had bought it from Amazon.
Nice restoration sir 👍👍
Thank you!
Beautiful job... I have several of these... Two restored (somewhat) and 1 in original condition. Unfortunately I found when disassembling one of the restored ones (I got it at a yard sale) it has the wrong main nut and it is to narrow and lets the jaw screw flop around inside and it hangs up when tightened. It didn't do that when I bought it so the seller mush have somehow solved that issue temporally and it took over a year for the issue to show up... I did get it at a super low price, but without the proper main nut that jaw will never work right. I am at a loss where i can find a replacement. Any ideas?
Thank you!
A great resource for odd bits is McMaster-Carr. You may be able to find a nut that is the right size with the correct thread spacing for the lead screw. Finding exact parts for this model isn't easy. You will likely find another vise to scavenge from before finding the main nut.
I know that's not an exact answer but I haven't found many good resources for parts for old vises such as these.
I am looking at one right now that is a 5" 506-51811. Any advice on what I should look for?
They are selling it for $160. They say it is 40 lbs
Do you know how to tell when they were built and whether their were different levels of quality over the years?
Hey Jeff. I didn't find a super reliable source. I looked at variations of the castings to figure out an approximate date. As far as better years, you want the models made in the USA. Some where manufactured by Columbia (like this one).
I believe the "506" means it was made by Columbia in the USA. This would be a great vise. The price seems a bit high to me but it's all about condition.
I found one in almost the same used state as this one locally for $60. Is that worth it or would you spring and get the new Doyle 4in (I’ve heard good things about the new Doyle from hf)
$60 is a bit much for me, however, I don't see them for sale as often as I used to. This specific vise was made by Columbia and I'd trust that brand over a lot of others. I have no experience with the Doyle. This craftsman has stood up to a lot of punishment from me (not to mention all the years before I had it) and there's no cracks, the jaws line up perfect, and it has acceptable slop.
On your bare metal parts put Penetrol on them it dries in 48 hours and leaves a deep sheen
Great tip! Never tried Penetrol, I'll pick some up on my next run to the store.
Great video, I have the same vise in a similar condition and will be following your lead. What brand and color paint did you use?
Thank you! I used Sem brand self etching primer and for the red I used Rust-Oleum "Metallic Apple Red." The paint has held up pretty well considering it's pretty run of the mill and I don't treat the vise like anything special.
Great video! I have the same vice since the 1970's and recently it doesn't work right anymore. It does not want to "turn in" or "turn out" at a certain spot. Do you know if parts are available or if a machinist could fix? what did you say was the manufacturer?
Hey there! From my understanding, there are two versions - one manufactured by Columbia and another is made in Japan. If it's a getting stuck in it's rotation it could be a couple of simple fixes. The main bolt at the bottom that holds the vice to the base could be too tight, the adjustment screw could be worn or there could be something like rust or shavings keeping it from rotating completely. At worst you could likely find a replacement main bolt if needed or the adjustment screw and level cap. Craftsman had really great back-log of parts for years. The best bet would be eBay.
Let me know what you find out! Cheers friend.
@@christophwjones thank you very much! I took the vice apart and cleaned/wire brushed it and the main screw. You were right, the bolt on the bottom was completely out of the vice. I believe the bolt may be worn. Should it be threaded all of the way? The threads on mine do not go all the way up the bolt. Anyway, I put the bolt back in and tightened, the vice worked but it turned very hard. Then I loosened it. The vice works as it should and goes easy for about the first three inches then it works but it get harder to continue to open it or if you do open it all the way it is hard to take it back until you get to the about bottom 3 inches then it goes easy the rest of the way. Any suggestions are appreciated. I think it's all in that bolt
Michael - the main bolt should only be threaded for about 1/3 of it. The un-threaded bit actually holds the acme screw receiver in the base of the set jaw. I'd recommend greasing the swivel base, that helps a ton as well.
The swivel base has a nut and lock bolt that can also be an issue. It can catch in the groove it slides in. The base of the nut might need some TLC. That could be another culprit. Worst case, it may be bent. If that's the case, either straighten it or replace at worst.
Hope that helps! Thanks for watching.
anyone know where to get replacement soft jaws for this vise?
eBay is about the only place I know of. You might get lucky with some generic ones vs OEM. Wish I had a good source.
Hate the Citrus strip, I went back to the bad chemical stuff. I wanted to be more eco friendly, but time is money and as you proved, exercises of insanity is just not worth it. Thanks for the video.
I'm with you. Been trying to finish the bottle before I move on. Thanks for watching!
Looks great Christoph. What rust remover do you use?
Hey there - it's called Evaporust. It's awesome. Thanks for watching
@@christophwjones Thank you! I’ve used that before. Try a different brand. Meh! Going back to EvapoRust!! Picking it up tomorrow!
Some of the best. I'm about to try the gel version.
You need an ultrasonic cleaner bro
and power tools and a sandblaster
Agreed! Especially on the sandblaster. It's on my list. I just don't have space right now. My workshop is tiny unfortunately.
@@christophwjones mine as well. I bought a blast cabinet a few months back and haven’t unboxed it yet. Hoping to getting into doing restorations like these myself
Awesome! I certainly enjoy this hobby. I have a building on my property I plan on turning into a shop when we finish our house. So many tools I want to stock it with. Also, I can finally work on bigger projects.
I have pretty much the same Vise I just picked up and am cleaning. When I took the screw out of the bottom I noticed some of the threads are crushed. Does anyone have an idea of where I could find a new one? I feel like it’s not a standard size or bolt for some reason
I wish I had a resource for you to go to. It's an odd size with 1/2 threads and 1/2 no threads. eBay might yield some results.
You might try gently running a die down the threads to straighten them out.
sandblasting would have done the trick
You ain't kidding! That will be a quick purchase when I move to a bigger space. I'm researching now
You missed a spot.
Humanity is a real bummer, always missing something
Anybody know the difference between this one (the 801) and the 506-51800? They seem to be almost the same, but there has to be some difference since 1 digit model number difference.
I recall reading that those indicate the jaw length. The 801 is 3.5"
I also believe they indicated where the vise was made and by who.
Me recordó a los videos de Bob Ross.... parece que es más importante los diálogos que el contenido del video. Demasiado cansado escucharlo, tuve que eliminar la voz para realmente disfrutar este video.
If you were going to use a wire wheel anyway why did you waste your time with a toothbrush?
Great question. I don't have good answer except that it didn't feel like a waste of time then or now. Sometimes to ponder for the next time.
I just bought one at an estate sell today. Mine is not that dirty but I want to restore just like you did. I also had the idea of painting the letters white. What type of paint did you use for Biden and letters?
Awesome! I used Rust-Oleum Red Metallic for the body of the vise. I'd recommend a self-etching primer as well, I used SEM brand in gray. The letters were done with paint pens, don't remember the brand. I think I got all of the paint online but it's readily available at my home stores.
I also sprayed 3 coats of primer and paint. After everything dried I also rubbed in paste wax. Boiled linseed oil works great too.
Please let me know when you finish! I'd love to see it
Wow that’s awesome! Thanks for the info. I’m glad to meet another filer 😅
It's a fun sickness.
gloves and glasses first
-Harvik-
Satıkmi
*hard-jaws
Why do you talk? These videos are so much better with no speak at all.
My recommendation would be to turn off the sound and listen to your favorite Black Sabbath song on repeat.
I completely disagree. His voice is soothing and enjoyable. Him describing his process is very enhancing. Honestly João, your comment is rude and I imagine you are not well liked where you live.
@@matthewdobsson3883 I was rude, but he gave a ❤️ yo my comment. Do really whant to know what is being rude, I wouldn't if I we you.
@@joaovtaveira What?
@@CH-pv2rz what what?
😂😂😂
All you needed to do was degrease it, then drop it in a bath of muriatic acid for 20 minutes, then rinse, then phosphoric acid for 10 to help prevent rusting. It would've cleaned absolutely every single pit, groove, and corner in it. No wire brushing whatsoever. Amateurs I tell ya lol. But nice job!
I'm a literal amateur. Good thing there's multiple ways to arrive at a destination.
@@christophwjones We all learn the hard way sometimes. I have two very worn-out shoulders from years of construction and fabrication to prove it. I highly recommend things like evapo-rust and muriatic acid (which you can buy at Home Depot) I keep it in a 4" x 36" ABS plastic tube (bottom glued on) as a dip tank for rod,angle,bar and use a 5 gallon bucket for other stuff. You have to wear good nitrile gloves, goggles, and NIOSH mask but the good thing is you can reuse the stuff many times, like for 6 months and it cleans to bare metal better than anything. Phosphoric is also good as it etches a layer on for rust prevention. Muriatic also works extremely well to clean slow-flush toilets. It eats away all the limescale in ~45 minutes. There's some TH-cam vids on it.
I found one in almost the same used state as this one locally for $60. Is that worth it or would you spring and get the new Doyle 4in (I’ve heard good things about the new Doyle from hf)