Showerthought: My old vise from a yard sale in Boise finally gave out after 12 years

Last week I was trying to hold a piece of 1/2 inch stock for some scroll work and the main screw just snapped clean through. I ended up welding a big nut onto the broken piece as a temporary fix, but it's not great. What's a solid vise brand you guys trust for heavy forging work?

4 comments

4 Comments

ryanm601mo ago

Saw a thread on a blacksmithing forum where a bunch of guys were swearing by old Columbian vises. They said the ones made in the 60s and 70s are basically indestructible if you can find one. Might be worth checking local flea markets or online listings for a used one.

sean_green441mo ago

Grabbed a used Wilton bullet vise at an estate sale and it handles my heavy projects like a champ.

roberts.leo1mo ago

Yeah @ryanm60 mentioned those old Columbian vises being indestructible. What kind of heavy work were those forum guys actually doing with them?

the_hayden1mo ago

Oh man, those old Columbian vises could probably hold up a pickup truck if you asked nicely. I saw a guy on that blacksmithing forum mention using his to straighten out a bent axle once, and @sean_green44's Wilton find just reminded me how serious those folks get with their heavy duty stuff. Probably doing some full on metal bending competitions or trying to crush walnuts with 50 pounds of pressure, who knows.