I need vise advise.......

[MotorSeven]

Hmmm, i'll have to think this one over.....It's either an "ELGrande" HF, or hunt around for an old Wilton, or other vintage american made vise.

LOL, thank goodness don't need vice advise...........wheewww!

 

[Spark_man]

I have an old Craftsman vise I got from my FIL. The thing is a monster and is every bit of 45 years old, but in perfect condition. I don't know who the original manufacturer was. I recently looked at getting a second vise for the barn and looked a new Wilton vise. I was stunned by the price (well over $350.00) and it did not look nearly as tough or well made as my old Craftsman which has stood the test of time.

 

[schmism]

i pick up old craftsman and wilton vise's at garage and estate sales.

they are a fraction of what you pay for new ones.

 

[SPIKER]

I agree with most others, I have a HF vice at home, use it a lot and even have beat on it a bit. over tightening them is a big killer and that is something I haven't yet had to do. I tighten up only enough to do what I need. I've fabed up sheet metal stuff over it, and even some 1/4" plate/bar bent on it using the hammer ove method. so far my 29 bucks was well spent, but I bought it as a 1/2 price sale at the local store like 4 years back now. built a bench afterwards which will fall over if I try & over doo it BUT it has worked for my repairs so far.

around here finding an OLD vice is more like mision impossable even if you have the $... not many are to be had.

mark M

 

[Kubotasrking]

I killed one cheap chinese vice - and got the biggest one from HD I could find. The one with pipe jaws on the bottom. It is chinese too, but so far it holds fine. It was $50 or so - and I would buy it again.

I have the HD version of the cheapo vise too, and it has worked fine. For pounding...I have an old Hay Budden anvil which helps prevent the vise from being abused. I'd much rather have a Wilton, but couldn't afford one.

 

[MrJimi]

This is a good thread, I bought an almost new Wilton vise from a friend of mine a long time ago, I gave him $15.00 for it and he was happy? I just looked these things up and I am surprised how much these go for. YIKES.
Its the one in my gallery on the 2 inch receiver mount.
Wilton Vises at Southern Tool Catalog

It has been a good vise and I do not abuse it at all
Jim

 

[Farmwithjunk]

This is a good thread, I bought an almost new Wilton vise from a friend of mine a long time ago, I gave him $15.00 for it and he was happy? I just looked these things up and I am surprised how much these go for. YIKES.
Its the one in my gallery on the 2 inch receiver mount.
Wilton Vises at Southern Tool Catalog

It has been a good vise and I do not abuse it at all
Jim

I noticed "RIGID" tools offers a pipe vice that has a reciever hitch mount. Handy for the plumbers and pipe fitters.

 

[Mith]

I dont know if you US guys have 'Record' vises, made in UK. I understand they are good. I have a 4" and a 6", and both are solid. The 4" is way older then me, and works great.

I wanted something a little bigger, and due to the cost a Record was out of the question. I've been building my own.There is more about the vise I'm building here

 

[MrJimi]

I dont know if you US guys have 'Record' vises, made in UK. I understand they are good. I have a 4" and a 6", and both are solid. The 4" is way older then me, and works great.

I wanted something a little bigger, and due to the cost a Record was out of the question. I've been building my own.There is more about the vise I'm building here

Jim, thats very impressive. What do you cut your metal with? It looks real nice and that will be a large vise your building
Jim from USA

 

[Mith]

Jim, I've got one of those 6" bandsaws that are quite common. It'll cut anything up to 6" wide, and 4" tall if youve got the time to wait.
Thanks
Jim from UK