Good Bench Vise Recommendations

[IslandTractor]

I think that the imported Yost vises are made in Taiwan, rather than mainland China, going off things I've read elsewhere. Not that it's a big distinction, but some people claim generally higher quality for similar items made in Taiwan.

Agree. Frankly, Taiwan has made high quality products for decades and the mainland Chinese put a man in space so either is fully capable of making a decent vise. It all boils down to what the US marketing company (Yost in this case) specifies and what company they contract with.

 

[California]

Another vote here for looking on Craigslist.

I just looked in our region and saw quite a few made back when steel (or forged iron) from a quality American company was pretty much a guarantee the thing is unbreakable.

This is one instance where newer isn't necessarily better, because the quality of imports varies all over the range.

 

[dirt ditch]

Several years ago I inherited my great grandfather's 3" Wilton bullet vise. I'm sure someday my great grandson will inherit it from me and it will still be a great vise.

 

[powerscol]

No luck on Craigslist - Ill look through the garage sales

 

[woodlandfarms]

Its an incredibly popular item. Keep on craigslist and those garage sales.

 

[IslandTractor]

Its an incredibly popular item. Keep on craigslist and those garage sales.

You can also set CL or Search Tempest to search within a given radius you are willing to drive.

 

[ovrszd]

You can also set CL or Search Tempest to search within a given radius you are willing to drive.

Yep, I use Search Tempest with a 150 mile radius, encompasses Des Moines and Kansas City without me having to do two searches for those cities.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I don't know where my dad bought this one?? BUT, I'm sure it was used when he got it!

We've had it as long as I can remember, surely more than 50 years! Dad is gone now, and I'm still putting that vise to good use, in fact I used it today and it made me think of this thread!

SR

 

[MinnesotaEric]

Was not sure where to put this. I did do a search, but not much came up.

My 30 year old 4" vice is showing its age. I keep finding I wish I had a bigger one sometimes. I do use the anvil and pipe holding jaws under the main vice, but was hoping to find something more versatile. Harbor freight is out, at least for this size as one I got my son lasted 3 years before striping out. I dont want to spend a lot of $$$, just wanting something that is good and has worked for folks. I'm guessing I need and 8" model. I have access to Lowe's, Home Depot, TSC. and Harbor Freight as well as ACE and TRU Value. Online is OK if shipping is reasonable.

Can folks recommend what has worked for them? Pictures would help too.

I use Wilton pipe vises.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200334217_200334217

20 years ago they cost $50.00 and didn't offer the fancy degree gauge or the angle lock as the angle locks when the vise gets tight.

 

[newbury]

I don't know where my dad bought this one?? BUT, I'm sure it was used when he got it!



We've had it as long as I can remember, surely more than 50 years! Dad is gone now, and I'm still putting that vise to good use, in fact I used it today and it made me think of this thread!

SR

I've two vises that were my Grandfather's, and I first used them about 1960. Still being put to good use and I think of my Grandfather every time I use them.

 

[ovrszd]

I don't know where my dad bought this one?? BUT, I'm sure it was used when he got it!

We've had it as long as I can remember, surely more than 50 years! Dad is gone now, and I'm still putting that vise to good use, in fact I used it today and it made me think of this thread!

SR

Mine is a simpler version that doesn't rotate. As I said earlier, I love their personality. Definitely my brand of choice.

 

[varmint]

Yet another "ditto" for Craig's List. Killing time, I checked the Baltimore area CL, and found two old Wilton 8" "bullet" vises- one for $200, one for $525 that had been cleaned up and painted. Both looked serviceable. You'd want to pick it up, rather than pay shipping, unless it was a steal. Like someone said, "I think of my Dad every time I use it..." which makes the right vise worth the money, eh?

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Here's a guy that does GREAT vids, and he has a really good two part series of restoring a bullet vise...

Wilton Vise Restoration Part 1: Disassembly and Cleaning - YouTube

SR

 

[powerscol]

No luck with Search Tempest either....well nothing of interest.

There are a couple of farm auctions coming up, one advertised with a shop and tools. What is a fair auction price on a good Wilton vice, say 6" jaws?

 

[Kernopelli]

I have a Yost 33C I picked up at a yard sale for $25. A truly excellent old vise that after owning it, see it would have been a bargain if I had paid 10 times more for it. The only thing that would make it better is a larger anvil area. We have 1960's vintage Wilton and Columbian vises at work and they are great vises as well.

 

[LD1]

I also like the wilton bullet vises. Really smooth to operate. But just because one says wilton, dont mean its any good. Wilton also makes some low quality import stuff no different than harbor freight but cost more.

I also have a pittsburg 6" from harbor freight back before they switched to central forge brand. The pittsburg is tough, and has a lifetime warranty, allthough the new central forge ones dont. I cannot break this vise. Allthough last time I was in at harbor freight, the central forge vises they went to have hollow castings. They arent a solid piece where where the jaws attach. The pittsburg is. But in either case, for a $70 vise, it wont break the bank and is good for 99% of what most people do.

Heres my two



You can see the harbor freight is solid under the jaws.....thats a good thing. Even if you look underneath up past the main screw, its solid up in there. Thats what you want. Some of the cheap vises will look like solid pieces from the outside, but look underneath up beyond the screw and make certain it aint hollow.

 

[LD1]

Did a search for wilton bullet vise on ebay and saw this

New 8" Bullet or Machinist Bench Vise Nopl NOBO Fits Wilton Tradesman Inv 14628 | eBay

Anyone heard of them and if they are any good? Nice price for the size, and says cast steel instead of cast iron......

 

[California]

Did a search for wilton bullet vise on ebay and saw this

New 8" Bullet or Machinist Bench Vise Nopl NOBO Fits Wilton Tradesman Inv 14628 | eBay

Anyone heard of them and if they are any good? Nice price for the size, and says cast steel instead of cast iron......

Google provides a little info searching on '8" round channel bench vise', the carton label shown in his listing.

First hit is Wilton's bullet vises, these have a closed back end. Their 'bullet' feature. They describe advantages of this. The Ebay vise doesn't have this closed bullet.

Also: Looks like the Ebay seller's quality may be excellent but it looks like the vise got a little too close to cloning a name brand on a prior batch ...
LDS Industries, LLC | Vises/Tools for Canada/Mexico Markets lots

Here's Palmgren's site:
About Palmgren . Dealer locator shows Palmgren is sold at Grainger, McMaster-Carr etc.

Maybe Mr Powerboater bought a pallet of those patent-dispute vises to sell on Ebay?? Its interesting his photos and description show Palmgren but he doesn't mention that quality name in his title.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

OK, it was raining pretty hard earlier, and this thread made me do it!!

You know, at some point in your life you have to face reality, so here goes!!

Hello, my name is Sawyer Rob, and I'm addicted to vices!! lol lol

When I was a kid, my mom walked to a canning factory where she worked on the line, canning cherries... They had a maintenance dept. and MANY MANY years later, after they long since closed and made "other" things there, a friend ended up buying the building and everything left in it. One day I was in there with him "fondling" a vise, and he said: "that was left in here from the old days, you want it ? take it", He didn't have to tell me twice! lol

It's a great vise and is in pretty good shape, made by Reed,

I have a BIG drill press,

It's "gear" drive, you don't hold ANYTHING in your hands while drilling with it! SO, I keep this vise bolted to it,

Here's a few smaller ones, I believe these are all "farm" flea market buys, from LONG ago,

I can't remember where I got this one, but I think it's another farm flea market buy,

This one was gifted to me, from some friends in Canada,

AND, this is the only POS vise that I own! I bought it hold steel as I weld it, as it turns/swivels in about every direction... I NEVER hit it with anything, as I'm sure it WILL break!

OK, that's what I could find, easily... I DO have another BIG vise and it comes with quite a story, maybe i'll get a pict. and tell that story later...

BTW, I don't know if this helped my addition any or not? lol

SR

 

[LD1]

Thanks for sharing.