Good Bench Vise Recommendations

[GManBart]

You gotta watch that though. I bought a cast one this summer that I was tickled about for 25 bucks. It was welded in one spot but that didn't bother me.
I mounted it on a receiver hitch plate to use where I needed it.
First time I went to really use it, it wouldn't get tight. Then I noticed the weld opening slowly as I cranked down on it.
So I'm still watching for a good one but per reading here and elsewhere, I'm going to get some 7018 rod, take it apart, grind out the old weld and V it and put to in the BBQ Grill to preheat as hot as I can get it and then reweld it.
After that if it breaks again, It'll probably become a boat anchor or trot line weight. Or go into a ballast box project eventually.

Welding cast/ductile iron with 7018 pretty much guarantees it will break again. Lincoln Tech-Rod 55 will work, and you don't have to pre-heat or slow cool if you go slowly and do short sections at a time. I'm in the middle of fixing a large Reed that somebody welded a cracked slide with 7018. The local supply house didn't have the Tech-Rod 55, but they had an equally good Crown Alloys Royal 260 rod and it's working nicely so far (doing it a little at a time).

 

[ultrarunner]

I use my cracked vise for my welding vise... mostly just to hold stuff so pressure isn't a big deal... it was that or boat anchor.

 

[lennyzx11]

Welding cast/ductile iron with 7018 pretty much guarantees it will break again. Lincoln Tech-Rod 55 will work, and you don't have to pre-heat or slow cool if you go slowly and do short sections at a time. I'm in the middle of fixing a large Reed that somebody welded a cracked slide with 7018. The local supply house didn't have the Tech-Rod 55, but they had an equally good Crown Alloys Royal 260 rod and it's working nicely so far (doing it a little at a time).

Thanks for the tips! I'll try to find some of those rods. This'll be my first attempt at anything to do on cast iron and welcome the info. Going to be using an Lincoln AC/DC tombstone for the repair.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Personally, I would be brazing it!

SR

 

[powerscol]

Well thanks to ZORO.com and their 20% off coupon I have my soon to be delivered Wilton 63200A Special Edition 1755 Tradesman. Prices out there are bouncing around from $326 plus $$ shipping to $399 and free shipping. Some well over $400. The one on amazon that I was going to get, changed prices overnight and Zoro just dropped their standard price to the $399 mark making theirs the best deal yet with the coupon. I did the same thing ordering my fuel pump from them - watched prices.

Thanks for all the help

 

[DFB]

If you're looking on CL you need to know what you're looking for and take your time....lots of people with crazy prices on their vises, and more than a few with damage that is either ignored, or hidden. I just finished a restoration on this 105lb 5.5" jaw Athol and if I'm lucky I might get something like $175 for it. If it was a 5" Wilton bullet, it would be worth at least twice that, even though this Athol is more massive, and stronger in probably every way. The only downside to the Athol is the jaws aren't replaceable....but they're still there after 100 years.

Nice refinish. I still haven't re-painted my $40 flea mkt find of an 613 1/2 yet. Mine shows traces of an old green paint. I like the color you chose...what did you use?

 

[powerscol]

Well - its here - bigger and heavier than I thought, but looks good. Ill try and get a picture. The free hammer is the perfect size for some of my projects.

 

[GManBart]

Nice refinish. I still haven't re-painted my $40 flea mkt find of an 613 1/2 yet. Mine shows traces of an old green paint. I like the color you chose...what did you use?

View attachment 477694

Rust-Oleum Satin Moss Green

 

[GManBart]

Another CL garage sale find....big 8" monster American Scale that weighed 237lbs!

 

[ultrarunner]

What a monster...

Was in the hardware store last night and saw a Wilton priced at $499 that was much smaller... asked how many they sold and the clerk said it has been there as long as he has worked there.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

The other day I was at a flea market, and I saw a really REALLY nice Wilton bullet vise for $200.00...

I along with everyone else just walked away from it...

SR

 

[woodlandfarms]

How much was that monster??? How many people to get it in and out of the truck and where is it going to go?

 

[ultrarunner]

When I was anvil shopping a long time ago the surplus store was selling vices/anvils, etc. by the pound.

It has been a heck of an anvil for 35 cents a pound and I also bought a 4' handle Pexto pipe wrench which has saved me more than a few times...

 

[jaydee325]

This thread has been inspiring. Guess I'll have to get busy this winter and restore my Erie 104 that I inherited from my Great Grandfather circa 1978! I remember as a kid crushing rocks in it (yes I got hollered at by Grampa!):laughing:

 

[GManBart]

What a monster...

Was in the hardware store last night and saw a Wilton priced at $499 that was much smaller... asked how many they sold and the clerk said it has been there as long as he has worked there.

The current price for a 3.5" machinist's bullet on a swivel base is right at $499....ouch. I bought a really nice one like that locally, did a cosmetic restoration and sold it for $200 and the buyer was thrilled to get it.

 

[GManBart]

How much was that monster??? How many people to get it in and out of the truck and where is it going to go?

$350 and the seller and I put it in my truck...heavy, but doable. I had to take it apart to get it out of the truck by myself. Both halves are over 100lbs. I actually sold it to a guy in Colorado who makes parts for vises....amazing jaws, handles, swivel locks, etc. He wants to have one of every vise made (or so it seems). I sold it to him for $350, he's paying for the shipping, and making me about $300 worth of jaws for a few of my vises, so I'm happy, and he's happy!

 

[GManBart]

This thread has been inspiring. Guess I'll have to get busy this winter and restore my Erie 104 that I inherited from my Great Grandfather circa 1978! I remember as a kid crushing rocks in it (yes I got hollered at by Grampa!):laughing:

Erie made a very nice vise....under appreciated today, but still very nice. That one looks very solid and worthy of some attention!

 

[DFB]

Ok I am posting this here first before the "Let's post our Made in USA tool finds (yard sales, old store stock, auctions etc)" thread cuz I'm not sure what I have here so maybe someone else knows what I got today for a $10 spot at my weekly market.

It is a little machinist's vice but for the life of me cant find any name cast into it but it does look fairly vintage and not something chineese. It's about 9" long 5.5 high with a 2 in jaw width and 4" throat.

The beam is a full two inches deep and inch wide and the base casting is fixed (non adjustable) plus it has an interesting 45 degree angle cast in as part of the front 90 degree table lock. There is a notch in the front jaw that fits a bolt perfect when the head is clamped in the jaws, looks like it was original cut...any other comments on that?

I set out it next to my Athol So check out the photos.

 

[GManBart]

Ok I am posting this here first before the "Let's post our Made in USA tool finds (yard sales, old store stock, auctions etc)" thread cuz I'm not sure what I have here so maybe someone else knows what I got today for a $10 spot at my weekly market.

It is a little machinist's vice but for the life of me cant find any name cast into it but it does look fairly vintage and not something chineese. It's about 9" long 5.5 high with a 2 in jaw width and 4" throat.

The beam is a full two inches deep and inch wide and the base casting is fixed (non adjustable) plus it has an interesting 45 degree angle cast in as part of the front 90 degree table lock. There is a notch in the front jaw that fits a bolt perfect when the head is clamped in the jaws, looks like it was original cut...any other comments on that?

I set out it next to my Athol So check out the photos.

That's a cool vise, but I have no idea who could have made it...that one needs to get posted over on Garage Journal for the experts!

 

[GManBart]

Another Craigslist find....5" Wilton bullet for $50!