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Old Columbian Woodworking Vise
I have an ancient looking Columbian 7V-2 metal woodworking vise that my father gave me. He bought two of them at an auction. I think they came from a shop class. It seems to be in decent condition. It attaches to a bench by way of two holes, but the holes are not really holes, they are long u-shaped slots. Unfortunatley, I don't have a photograph that I can post. Is anyone out there familiar with this vise? Is there a good source for information on this vise? I couldn't find anything on the internet.
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(post #92580, reply #1 of 17)
I couldn't find anything on the internet. Me either!
You said something like .. by way of two holes, but the holes are not really holes, they are long u-shaped slots.
By the way I was in Columbia only once.. As a USA worker and I had a military guard? I was just there to repair a machine! I loved the people! I DO NOT SPEAK Spanish so my company provided a local interpreter! She was the greatest! I hope she really said what they were really saying to me...
My first thought was the 'U' shape? I have no idea. Maybe just a PEG like in a hardwood stick you drove into the hole with a BIG hammer!.
Are you sure the holes are for mounting? NOT in the Jaws for extending Iron extensions to hold something. Like in a Pattern Makers Vice.
Maybe nails or bolts were to expensive to use to mount it or was moved on occasion to another bench? I have no idea! Sure wish you had a picture!
I as you, wonder about the U shaped holes!
Have a great day.. Life is wonderful even if you are having a bad day!
(post #92580, reply #2 of 17)
Everything is not on the internet. Columbian vises is now Wilton.
What else do you need to know aobut ther vise before you can use it????
(post #92580, reply #5 of 17)
As you can see in my second post, I took a closer look at the vise and made some progress in figuring out how it works. I guess my initial hope was to find an illustration on how it is mounted. Thanks.
(post #92580, reply #3 of 17)
Quite a few vices have open ended slots for mounting. The one on my bench has two holes in the front and two slots in the back. I think the slots may be to alleviate excess pressure on the casting. It is a vice and the force that a large screw can put on things might break the mounting if it can't move. There may also be a couple of screw mounting holes in the face of the fixed jaw.
Typically a vice is mounted so it is just a little less than flush on the top. You don't want the metal sticking above the bench surface. The fixed jaw is often inset flush with the front of the bench. This is optional but it can be handy to have a continuous flush surface, especially with long skinny stock that wants to noodle on you. I should be a good medium duty vice. It may not be quick release or have a bench dog. I have an older 7" Columbian, made in Cleveland, Ohio on a general purpose bench and it's worked well and taken some abuse. It's made for a thicker bench than it's on, so I added a mounting board underneath the bench. Hope it works well for you.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
(post #92580, reply #4 of 17)
Thanks for your helpful comments. I have limited experience at woodworking and have never owned this type of vise before. I recently built a simple bench and used a 1.75-inch thick exterior door slab that I bought at Lowe's for the bench top.
I took a closer look at the vise, which appears very heavy duty, by the way. You are right, it does have holes in the stationary face. There are actually four holes. The lower two are threaded. The two at the top are not threaded, but are countersunk on the face side (not on the back). I haven't held it up to my bench yet, but I am guessing that the top two holes are for flat headed wood screws that screw into the edge of the bench top. I guess the lower screws are used to attach a wood pad to the face using machine screws and countersinking the heads in the wood. Does this sound correct to you? Also, in order to keep the whole thing flush with or slightly below the bench top, do I need to use flat headed machine screws through the top of the bench and through the mounting slots in the vise? My initial thought was to use stove bolts, but the round heads would be above the surface of the top. By the way, the vise does have a dog on the movable face. The only other thing I noticed about the vice, is that there is a steel plate that fits over the far end of the center screw and the two guide bars. I guess this is as it should be, but the fit seems kind of sloppy. I wonder if I am missing anything back there.
(post #92580, reply #6 of 17)
You can mount the vise with lag screws from underneath and not have to drill through the bench like you would with bolts. The rear bracket plate doesn't have to fit tightly, it just keeps the screw and slides in relation to each other. You are correct about the threaded holes being for adding jaw faces. You can use countersunk flathead machine screws for those. The dog is very useful. You drill a series of holes for bench dogs in the top, directly in line with the vise dog. Just remove the vise when drilling them or you will hit the vise. Great for holding large pieces beyond the vises capacity. I've replaced my metal vise dogs with wood. Just in case I whack it with my freshly sharpened plane. On some quick release vises, you just turn the screw counter clockwise 1/4 turn and pull on the moving jaw. You might have the feature and not know it. Good luck, sounds like you have a nice one.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
(post #92580, reply #7 of 17)
Thanks much for all your help. I wasn't sure whether the vise was worth fooling with versus more modern designs.
(post #92580, reply #11 of 17)
Could I ask you one more question? I will be mounting the vise on the front edge of my workbench, of course, but, should I mount it on the left end or the right end? I have two magazines with plans for building a bench, and one guy mounted it on the left end, and the other mounted his on the right end. The guy who mounted his on the left end is shown planing a long board that is bearing against a small board clamped in his vise. The guy with the vise on the right end drilled a series of dog holes from the vise to the back of his bench to use in conjunction with the dog that can be raised on his vise. Is there any rule of thumb here, or is it personal preference. I am right handed, if that matters.
(post #92580, reply #12 of 17)
Generally, if you are right handed, the vise is mounted so that when you are cutting a piece of wood you are holding the cutoff in your left hand and the saw in your right. (without crossing your arms :) )
(post #92580, reply #13 of 17)
Sounds like you're suggesting I mount it on the left end of the bench?
(post #92580, reply #14 of 17)
If you're right handed, that's where I'd put it.
(post #92580, reply #17 of 17)
Sounds like you're suggesting I mount it on the left end of the bench?
I think he did.. BUT if you are worried about it.. Just clamp it on something sort of sturdy (I'd suggest the bench) and try both ends or ANYPLACE on it.... I have mine on the END of the bench! I like it there! More room in a little shop! But then again my vice is a old Pattern Makers Vice! AND my bench does to tip or wobble!
Have a great day.. Life is wonderful even if you are having a bad day!
(post #92580, reply #15 of 17)
Hi Pwood. For most of us, a workbench is just a large vise. There are often two vises on a bench that accommodate the majority of what we need to hold, in the positions we need to perform various tasks. Generally a tail or shoulder vise goes on the right end while the face/front vise goes on the left. This is a right handed set up. There are different types of woodworking benches. I've used a traditional bench like the ones Lie Nielsen carries and I currently use a modern one like the Jacobsen. I prefer the modern style.
http://www.lie-nielsen.com/catalog.php?cat=535
http://woodirect.com/merchant2/?gclid=CJW1-qPmwJMCFQ5THgodzChTCw
The metal vises are often mounted on a top that extends beyond the legs. Mounting to the far left keeps it out of my travel range, no hip checks. I don't think a bench is that versatile without a tail vise, too. It always depends on what you want to do on the bench. I would not use a vise for crosscutting a board, for example. I would use it for cutting a joint. Everyone is different but these workbenches have evolved to solve common problems. The basic set up is difficult to improve on but typical uses include adding accessories like a bench hook, dog plates and hold downs. The left front vise works well for me.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
(post #92580, reply #16 of 17)
Thanks, that's very helpful. This will be my first bench, and fairly utilitarian. If there is a second one, it will have more features.
(post #92580, reply #8 of 17)
I would suspect the reason for slots rather than holes was to avoid needing to use a core in the casting process or needing to drill the holes after the casting was made. Makes for a less expensive pattern and definately a less expensive casting process.
Rich
The Professional Termite
The Professional Termite
(post #92580, reply #9 of 17)
Actually the slots are there to make the mounting easier. You can put two bolts in the underside of the bench and slip the slots over them to get the vise positioned and supported. If the slots weren't there you would have to hold the heavy assembly against the underside of the bench while you started the mounting bolts through the standard holes.
John White
John White Shop Manager for FWW Magazine, 1998 to 2007
(post #92580, reply #10 of 17)
John
Was just speculation on my part not knowing for sure what the vise looks like. Tried to find a picture of one but didn't come up with anything. Have mounted a few monsters so understand how the slots would help. Just didn't think a manufacturer would be that concernd seeing as the mounting is usually a one time deal.
Rich
The Professional Termite
The Professional Termite