Mechanic's vise

[MESSMAKER]

I need one to put on the back of the truck(hitch) for big jobs. I have had no luck with Craigslist or flea markets. Where can I get one that is sturdy, I can handle getting it off the truck by myself(under 75lbs) and will not break the bank?

 

[grsthegreat]

I need one to put on the back of the truck(hitch) for big jobs. I have had no luck with Craigslist or flea markets. Where can I get one that is sturdy, I can handle getting it off the truck by myself(under 75lbs) and will not break the bank?

Have you searched ebay? i see some there for $65.00, but I'm sure there Chinese. My farrier has one that hooks into his receiver hitch. pretty cool.

 

[SandburRanch]

I need one to put on the back of the truck(hitch) for big jobs. I have had no luck with Craigslist or flea markets. Where can I get one that is sturdy, I can handle getting it off the truck by myself(under 75lbs) and will not break the bank?

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E Bay has a couple of nice looking pre-owned 4 inch Wiltons. I had one mounted on the tail gate of my work pick-up. Very handy.

 

[kebo]

Have you searched ebay? i see some there for $65.00, but I'm sure there Chinese. My farrier has one that hooks into his receiver hitch. pretty cool.

I saw one like that the other day. The vise was mounted on a plate that was welded to the 2 inch sq. tube, which obviously slid into the receiver on the hitch. It was neat, but this one was mounted with the jaws sideways, rather than the normal upright position (jaws on the top). I am sure it could have been rotated in 90deg increments, but the jaws would never be on the top. I guess it worked for the guy driving the truck though! :laughing:

 

[Hooked_on_HP]

The jaws on the 6" Wilton I have on my service truck will rotate 360deg and has pipe jaws on the other side. The Wilton came on the truck. It is a great vice . So far I havent been able to brake it. After looking up the price of it it should be indestructable.
Bill

 

[tcreeley]

Farrier supply houses are a good place. Harbor freight just sells the cast iron/cheap steel ones that are brittle and can't take a hammer blow without cracking. Try old tool auctions.

 

[sldva00]

I have a 6" Craftsman. Don't know if its "professional" quality. It serves my needs. I basically used it to hold stuff while I grind or weld and on occasion replace u-joints.

I had it mounted on my work table, but discovered being portable was more beneficial. I cut out the base from 3/8" steel using the vise as a templet and welded a 2" square tube to it.

 

[Short Game]

The jaws on the 6" Wilton I have on my service truck will rotate 360deg and has pipe jaws on the other side. The Wilton came on the truck. It is a great vice . So far I havent been able to brake it. After looking up the price of it it should be indestructable.
Bill

I have an old 5 inch one like that with the name, "Olympia," that I rescued from a scrapper friend. The round slide was broken near the jaws. I welded it back with nickel rod and I really love that vice.

About 35 years ago, I got a Prentiss Bulldog that opens 12 inches. I stole that for $100 back then. The guy was getting wiped out in a divorce and I was lucky to get a bunch of his stuff.

 

[LD1]

I bought a 6" one from harbor freight a few years ago when they still had the pittsburg brand with "lifetime" warrenty. It was $60. I like it and havent been able to break it yet. And that includes beating on things with a 3lb sledge, and holding things in it and using a 2' pipewrench and 4' bar on that. It is oe tough vise.

Unfortunatally, I wanted another and they no longer have the pittsburg ones. They are central forge, only 1 yr warrenty, and dont look nearly as stout, and dont have the pipe jaws inside the main jaws


Whatever you do, dont get HF's "multi-purpose" vise. They are junk. The casting of the jaws is hollow inside and wont handle much torque without snapping the casting.

Something like this might be what you are looking for?? Wilton Multipurpose Vise — 5in., Model# 69999 | Bench Vises | Northern Tool + Equipment

2 year warrenty, and tons of good reviews.

 

[tcreeley]

I have 3 leg vices I use. -different sizes, in different locations. My "portable" one is a small one with the leg folded upwards so I could mout it onto a hemlock stump that held my anvil- travelling forge set up.
I like leg vices because the are made by forging, not cast and are super tough. I could use a sledge on one, dent it and it would still work. They are all used and probably over a 100 years old. 25 was the most I paid. -also called blacksmiths vice. - If you see casting marks and casting rough edges- it is going to be brittle- don't hit it with a hammer. -Learned the hard way.

 

[Short Game]

I got a leg vice from that divorce guy too, along with his forge, anvil, tongs, etc. Someone stole the ring anvil that fit in the hardy hole and took the leg vice at the same time. Bummer of a loss. Leg vices can take some pounding because they are supported from the floor.

 

[Bird]

Thirteen or fourteen years ago, my brother and I each bought identical 4" vises from the Homier traveling tool sale. His broke the first time he used, less than a week later. Mine was still good and used regularly 5 years later when we sold the place.

I currently have a 4" one mounted a workbench and now I can't remember whether I got it at Northern Tool or at Sears. I can't find any brand name on it, but it does still have the little sticker on the side that says "Made in China".:laughing: However, so far it's been a good one for nearly 6 years.

 

[Short Game]

Here's that Olympia vice that I repaired. You can see where I welded the slide.

Here's the 6"X12" Prentiss Bull Dog that I got used for $100:

These two were gifts from friends:

 

[tcreeley]

Some pretty nice vices there!:thumbsup:

 

[LD1]

That last on on the bottom (the NTC), sure looks like it could take some blows:thumbsup:

 

[Short Game]

Some pretty nice vices there!:thumbsup:

Yes, a man has to have some vices.


Someday I hope I have a real shop so I don't have to keep de-rusting them.

 

[Short Game]

That last on on the bottom (the NTC), sure looks like it could take some blows:thumbsup:

The Bull Dog is the real honker. I have to take the slide out to even move it around. My ex-best friend and business partner had it for about 15 years. I was really glad to get it back after my neighbor's kid married his daughter.

Nice shop walls, eh? If I ever get some walls, I'll hook up that furnace for a shop heater.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Shortgame: It doesnt look like welding smoke/fumes would be a problem in your shop. I would Love to have any of those vises that you have in my shop.

 

[Short Game]

Shortgame: It doesnt look like welding smoke/fumes would be a problem in your shop. I would Love to have any of those vises that you have in my shop.

Yeah, it's pretty amazing that I have $100 in all four of them (plus a few sticks of nickel rod in the Olympia).

 

[Jim in ICT]

Seems as if all the farm auctions around here always have an old vise or two up for sale. Sometimes you have to buy the workbench to get the vise.