Re: Nothing Special For You Guys, but it is metalworking

On 5/26/2025 7:24 AM, Jim Wilkins wrote:

"Snag"  wrote in message news:10106f7$1k4i2$1@dont-email.me...
    Mine's a shop made 2 1/2" made from mystery steel . Realized when I
was about 75% complete the plans called for aluminum .

I have an old Columbia or Columbian bench vise that came with a heavy steel work bench.  The guy who gave it to me long ago showed me some of the best soft jaws for it was either plywood or MDF cut the width of the jaws with with a notch cut to fit the square lower of the front jaw. Drop on and take off in a second.  For parts sensitive to marring, have one set of MDF drop ins with leather glued inside.
I tried the same thing with my Harbor Freight bench vise with the swivel head.  They they tend to swivel around the round part, and even if they don't when you turn the head over they fall off.  LOL.  I use the Columbian (just looked) preferentially.
Oddly it has smooth steel flat jaws, that I can't see how they are attached.  I never looked until just now, but I don't see any screws. There is a tight closed seam between the steel jaws and the cast body.
FYI:  I have some smaller vises (probably sell or give away) leftover from my dad's hardware store.  One says Columbia and the other says Columbian.
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Bob La Londe
CNC Molds N Stuff
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