Torque and Steel

Spotted a massive cast-iron bench vise bolted to the edge of the workbench leg above. From the floor, its threaded steel screw rod stuck straight down, ending in a thick tommy bar. Solid iron mechanism. I squared my stance, jumped, and caught the cold steel bar with both hands. Hung my full bulk from the arm. The screw groaned against dried grease. One hard jerk downward. The threaded rod rotated a quarter turn with a heavy, satisfying metallic scrape, locking tight against the collar. Held the tension with my boots dangling above the concrete. Unyielding iron. It took the strain without a rattle.