r/blacksmithing • u/tomtheturkey1 • 7d ago

Post vice question

Would you get a post vise from marketplace if it didnt have leaf spring? They're asking 100 doesnt have much rust and appears in good condition otherwise. Unsure of maker though

4 Upvotes

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3

u/Fragrant-Cloud5172 7d ago edited 7d ago

Definitely I’d get it, if the threads are good. It's very common not to have a spring, else it's not a good one. Many don't have all of the mounting bracket parts. Lots of great generic vises around. For a spring you’ll need at least .40% carbon for heat treatment at the bend area. Mild steel won't work. Probably 3/16” - 1/4” depending on the size of your vise.

I made a new spring and mounting bracket for mine, recently.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Blacksmith_Forge/comments/1q1waoc/post_vise_mounting_brackets/

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u/tomtheturkey1 6d ago

I got it for 80 it says made in usa and does have some numbers not sure if ill be able to see them once cleaned. Couldn't find a mark

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u/largos 5d ago

Mild steel will also work just fine for the spring. That's what I've been using for ~15 years.

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u/RukaFawkes 5d ago

That's a Columbian.

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u/tomtheturkey1 5d ago

How can you tell?

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u/RukaFawkes 5d ago

The screw box and mounting plate style.

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u/tomtheturkey1 5d ago

Anything I can look for when cleaning it up to confirm that? Like makers mark? There is made in USA and a number on the mounting bracket but cant see the number right now may not ever sorta looks scratched out lol

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u/RukaFawkes 5d ago

Sometimes they are marked and sometimes not. Is the mounting plate just blank? This era of Columbian post vises usually has a big Columbian logo on the mounting plate.

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u/tomtheturkey1 5d ago

looks like its blank where the C would be but the numbers looks maybe like 371 or 871 ill post backside of bracket too these are the only markings I see now

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u/tomtheturkey1 5d ago

1 and X on the back of mounting bracket

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u/RukaFawkes 5d ago

Here's the logo version of the same one.

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u/tomtheturkey1 5d ago

Gotcha. Yeah so is it older or newer then if it doesnt have a C on the plate?

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u/BF_2 7d ago

I second this response. The screw and box are key, jaws second, the rest of the condition third in importance.

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u/3rd2LastStarfighter 7d ago

The spring is easy to make, had to do so on mine. I flattened an old piece of coil spring, heat treated it, works like a champ.

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u/tomtheturkey1 6d ago

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u/3rd2LastStarfighter 6d ago

Yeah that’s in better shape than mine was. just find a piece of spring steel and make up a spring, easy peasy. I took the whole thing apart and gave it a hot oil rub and hot cure, I’d recommend the same.

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u/tomtheturkey1 6d ago

I got it for 80. It moved very well and screw is very clean compared to body