Good Bench Vise Recommendations

[DFB]

Have an older Reed 403 that I'm working on now

 

[GManBart]

Have an older Reed 403 that I'm working on now

Very nice! Reed is probably my favorite brand overall.

 

[GManBart]

Since much of this discussion has been about used vises, and people ask me about them all the time, I wrote an article about how to evaluate a used vise and put it on my website. I'm going to add pictures and probably a page dedicated to the anatomy of a vise, but the description should be pretty helpful as it is for folks considering buying a used vise:

Evaluating a used vise • MIVise

 

[CADplans]

This is a great thread to revive,, maybe with some "unblurred" pictures??

My used vise arrived today, now, I gotta figure out how to make a 9/16" T-slot nut,, with 1/2X20 threads,,
unless someone has a better recommendation on how to anchor it to a drill press??

 

[Ford850]

This is a great thread to revive,, maybe with some "unblurred" pictures??

My used vise arrived today, now, I gotta figure out how to make a 9/16" T-slot nut,, with 1/2X20 threads,,
unless someone has a better recommendation on how to anchor it to a drill press??

Like these only 1/2x20? Shop Tools and Machinery at Grizzly.com
If these 9/16 nuts with 3/8 hole will fit your press, maybe you could drill and tap to 1/2x20. Shop Tools and Machinery at Grizzly.com

 

[CADplans]

Like these only 1/2x20? Shop Tools and Machinery at Grizzly.com
If these 9/16 nuts with 3/8 hole will fit your press, maybe you could drill and tap to 1/2x20. Shop Tools and Machinery at Grizzly.com

Yes, exactly,, my concern is that the nuts are case hardened 1080 steel, which is the same stuff that many knife makers use to make steel knives,,
it is too hard for me to drill and tap,,

I did find a similar t-slot nut for a Toyota Tacoma bed rail, made out of stainless steel,,
that may not be hardened??

 

[the old grind]

Make 'em. They don't need to be much harder than say ~40 Rockwell C. (gun barrels/actions) The Ts won't coin out of shape as badly as the holes might get worn out from frequent adjustment of the vise on/to the table. (why they're so hard, cheap high carbon steels heat/quench easily, aren't drawn down. Threads last) For DIY, ask for 4140 but not PHT. Mill, heat to cherry red, dump in new/used motor oil. Chase thread when cool and tumble to remove scale if you must.

I mill from 1018 for mounting vises or other long-term setups. Threads can be hardened with Casenite on the bench. I'd just mill you an 8" long one with 6 holes, then chop to length and square up. Two hrs for that one. No charge, free shipping.

btw,Your bolt(s) will want to be the exact length (easy) to get a purchase on threads at the bottom of the T. Threads at the narrow top will be very thin-walled and would pull easily.

 

[CADplans]

How many did you say would be enough? Give us a few more dimensions, either of your slots or a T-nut that fits 'em snugly but freely already.

Could take a whole hour to make one, plus a spare. Your bolt(s) will want to be the exact length (easy) to get a purchase on threads at the bottom of the T. Threads at the top will be too thin-walled and would pull easily.

To D&T one to a larger thread size may cost a drill or tap. I've modded a few (bought with 1/2" hole, milled for my smaller slots), and the imports are often made of mysterium. I mill from 1018 b__ (AKA A36 b__. Gimme some shop time, will ya, guys? :laughing: Is free stuff all that awful?? I'll show you pics of my yard sale find Columbian.

The vise in the pic has a 1/2x20 thread on the "T" handled bolt, as part of the vise, it tightens the two piece clamp that holds the vise in place.
I will have to check the length of the threads, as compared to the depth of the slot on the drill press,,,

I have a T nut that is too wide, I may try drilling, and tapping that to see if it will work,, I probably have the right drill bit, and tap,,,[somewhere,,, :laughing: ]

 

[drivesitfar]

ALL: I own a few vises so wanted to mark this thread to follow it along and maybe help some of you that don't know which vises are any good. my preference would almost always be an big old vise not welded or broken from mis use that left the factory before WWII, but there are a few new ones that can do the job too.

my REED 4c is 178 pounds so maybe a bit overkill for my small home's garage, but since I own it and the steel bench can support it I use it just like I would a smaller one.

 

[goeduck]

ALL: I own a few vises so wanted to mark this thread to follow it along and maybe help some of you that don't know which vises are any good. my preference would almost always be an big old vise not welded or broken from mis use that left the factory before WWII, but there are a few new ones that can do the job too.

my REED 4c is 178 pounds so maybe a bit overkill for my small home's garage, but since I own it and the steel bench can support it I use it just like I would a smaller one.View attachment 637029

^^^ That is art. Nice.