Bench Vise (any sugguestions?)

Here's another vote for tracking down an old used vise. I bought a 6" vise on clearance from Lowe's a few years back when I was working there. With my discount and the clearance price, it wound up being about $25. I still paid too much. Junk... I now have an old columbia I got from my grandfather.

 

I just purchased a new wilton tradesman vise last winter for about $450.00 It is far and away better than my asian import kick around vise, and it will not let go. You probably could get away with a cheap one, but once you have a nice vice life is so much better .

The trend here is that we have a hardware store that sells lots of cheap import stuff. People can go and by a large vice for $150.00, and probably never break it for general automotive use. They're large heavy, of poor steel, but since there is so much bulk to them the average user would be hard pressed to break it.

My old wilton was a small 4 inch vise. Made in USA circa early 90s. I have torqued and wrenched on that thing and it never whimpered, I still use it, and it will out live me.

 

Wilton....I have three of them in my shop, and one at home. All old as dirt. Every NEW vice I have bought in the last 10 years hasn't lasted more than a few months before it is in pieces on the shop floor. Old Skool or nothing IMHO.

 

My father always told me Wilton. I never found one so I ended up getting one at an antique store which is working out pretty well!

 

old made in the usa is the only way to go. there are many brands very comparable to wilton so don't limit yourself unless you want to.

one suggestion to look for especially if you do any welding, make sure it has a solid shaft, not a screw shaft (if that make's sense, i'm not sure the technical term for this). getting bits of metal out of the screw is a bitch...

i have a few different sizes, but i use my 6" the most. i got them all at barn sales or craigslist... never spent more than $100...

 

Monarch, have 3 of them.

 

I use an old RECORD vice.Just about indestructable.Gets plenty of abuse too!

 

I have a couple of OLD vices bought a flea markets and farm auctions never had a problem.

 

I bought a cheap vise,a big one,I was pounding a bracket into shape missed hit the vice,and a chunk of bondo fell out.the castings are so bad they have to bondo them .

 

I have about 9 in the shop. A couple are bolted to 1/4 steel plate with square tube welded to the bottom. I have the minnie trailer hitch slide in pieces welded to the trailer. flatbead truck . on the lift table and on a wheel base pipe stand so I can take the vises with me. I have the planishing hammer and hossfield type bender with the same size tube attachment so I can switch out the tool/vise I need

 

The reason you see Wilton mentioned so often is they are the Cadillac of the breed. I've had one for over 40 years and a "new" one that's only 20 years old. They both take a beating and keep coming back for more.

Frank

 

Wilton still makes vices made in the usa. I believe these are their industrial line. You can also buy cheaper import wilton vices from them. The american made wilton vices are very pricey, but are worth it.

Look for old american made vices at flea markets, etc. Wilton was the best from what I understand, but the other american made vices weren't very far behind. Even Craftsman was a good vice back then (made by Colombian, I believe).

One poster mentioned to avoid ones with an exposed screw. I agree, I'm not particularly found of those, but they still beat any import vices by miles.

 

I have a 5" Wilton that was my dad's dad's vice that has to go back to the 30's, except that it is a small 5" vice. I also have a huge Columbia that is sooo big that it is basically not very practical. The one I use the most is a cheapie 6" that I bought at Sams Club 19 years ago, and have been pounding on it ever since.

 

I use an old columbian that I got from a vintage machine shop that had opened up in the 20's. They closed down in the 80's and me and my buddy cleaned it out a couple years back. When we were charged with the task of cleaning out the old shop, the monster vice still had an old chevy inline 6 head clamped in it. (why would clamp a head in a vice???) I have no idea how old it is, but it is the best vise I have ever used, and its a monster. (Note: I have not used a wilton yet) I wanted a larger vice for doing ford 9" dropouts, and this thing is a freakin rock. Wish I could find out how old it is.

+++++++++++++++++++++1 to a used old vice all the way! -GothY-

 

if money is not an object or if you have the time to find a used wilton at a good price, than wilton is the way to go because you can still buy parts for them. but if you're on a budget, you will do just as well if not better with an old rock island, columbian,, etc. made in the usa (or england (record)for that matter)vise. and you'll save $100's.


here's a nive pic thread from our sister site....

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=44782&highlight=vise

 

I have an old Wilton machinists vise that a friend gave me. It has a big ass spring in the clamp mechanism that helps keep it from loosening up if you're pounding on it. The vise is probably 30+ years old but I took it apart, cleaned everything, painted the externals and put it back together. Looks like new. So I guess what I'm saying is a good used Wilton or something similar is the way to go. Certainly better than 99% of what you can buy new these days.

 

Wilton Industrial - recent purchase (yes, it was priced WELL above what I was expecting). My old Craftsman "gave up the ghost" with a recent "swing of the sledge hammer". Not much demand for a broken vice, except with the recycler.

 

Thanks for the replies, I'll start looking around for a used Wilton Vise.

Hopefully I can find something.

 

I've been given one of these recently, no idea how old it is, but these blacksmith's leg vises were designed to be hammered on and are super tough. Much better than my other import bench vise.

 

Be advised that while Wilton makes a bitchin' vise, they also make (and have for at least 50 years) a low priced vise that is little better than the HF stuff. I currently own one of the cheap Wiltons, purchased by dad at Tractor Supply in the '60's. Nothing to brag about, something to cuss once in a while. I've had cheap import's that are better. Sear's used to sell a machinest's vise that was made by one of the big name companies, it is very nice.

In gerneral, you can tell a good vise: it is very beefy for its jaw width and usually opens considerbly wider than jaw width.

Also, a really great vise that is worn out, is worn out. Pass it by.

Bill

 

We use one like "cymro's".The only difference is ours is bigger.Those things are indesructable.Mount it to the pipe and sink it in concrete right next to the bench.That way ,if you have to hammer on it,parts don't bounce all over the bench.

 

My.02, Wilton, I've got 8 of em, Kleenex=tissue, Coke=soft drink, Wilton=vice, you get the drift

 

Record of UK has been made overseas for a while. They're not what they used to be. I have a Record that's about 15 yrs old - even it isn't what it should be.

I have a couple ancient Columbians - the difference in the metal is amazing. They look forged whereas my Record looks cast....

 

I should have mentioned all but 1 of my Wiltons are from the 50's and very early 60's

 

Ive got a monster vice..but i have yet to make a stand that i feel will compliment it right..
i dont want to mount it on my work bench..and would like it somewhat mobile so i can move it from one end of my shop to the other..that way i dont always have to take my work to it..it can come to where i need it..

i have a heavy table with casters..im just not convinced its heavy enough..guess its time to bite the bullet and see

 

I put hitch receivers under my work bench. Then mounted my vice to square tubing. This way I can move the vice back and forth where I need it. You could mount differant tool when needed then remove when not needed. Welded big nut for a
place to tighten a bolt into keeps tool from wiggling

 

Sugestion? Yah, don't buy a Harbor Freight one!... I have a old Columbia I bought used in 1973. I used to try to destroy it. Now I know better and treat it like the gem it is.

 

I bought a cheap Japanese vice that looks like a Wilton wannabe over 20 years ago and I can't beleive it's still going strong. I don't show it any mercy. It's seen it's share of heat too!!!

 

Just put an old Wilton for sale in the classifieds.

FONZI

 

I just welded my shit Chink vise the other day to keep it from spinning on the bench; I did get a few years out of it, but I don't feel warm and fuzzy.