Which Bench Vise Should I Mount?
- Thread starter strnge
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tonydanzah
Well-known member
swivel all the way
mjozefow
Well-known member
Get the Craftsman some jaws and go to town. I have an American Scale too, good little vise, but not as heavy duty.
Adam McLaughlin
Well-known member
Mount the craftsman!!
Adam
Adam
mjozefow
Well-known member
Or put soft jaws on one and smooth steel on the other and mount one on each side!
Kevin54
MEMBER EMERITUS
All three 
woody 73
Well-known member
Going to sound crazy but mount the swivel vise,many is the time that I needed a different angle....
In the long run look for the missing parts to the craftsman , as others have said heavier is better!
In the long run look for the missing parts to the craftsman , as others have said heavier is better!
Lookin4'67Galaxieconv
Well-known member
American Scale vise
I agree with mount all three . . . of course I have 7 vises in my shop. But if you could only mount one, my vote is for the Wilton. Swivel vices are great for angular adjustments, but they are a PITA when torquing on a tough fastener. Often the vise swivel will twist before the fastener breaks loose. The Wilton looks like a heavier vise, and if it clamps as good as my Wilton, it will provide the best clamping power of the three.
Dale
Dale
PCO6
Well-known member
I like the Craftsman. When mounting it be sure to have the face of the stationary jaw (the rear one) forward of the face of the face of your bench so you can vertically clamp long items in it. That one looks a bit tight in that regard.
BanjoSavesTheDay
Well-known member
I know that at one point Reed manufactured vises for Craftsman, and I'll be darned if that's not one of them. Can you take apart the swivel mechanism and take a couple pics of it? If it's too much of a pain don't worry about it, but Reed has a pretty distinctive way of doing it that is incredibly strong.
If you could envision the quality of what a normal Craftsman vise would be like, a Reed vise is to a normal Craftsman vise what a Snap On ratchet is to a Craftsman ratchet. They are that good. You should definitely make some jaws for it and mount it up.
If you could envision the quality of what a normal Craftsman vise would be like, a Reed vise is to a normal Craftsman vise what a Snap On ratchet is to a Craftsman ratchet. They are that good. You should definitely make some jaws for it and mount it up.
selohssa
Well-known member
senlow
Well-known member
Wow, I've never seen a Craftsman branded Reed. It definately looks like a Reed. All the visual clues add up:
It has the correct general shape.
It has the unique, Reed style, ball end on the clamping screw.
It has a large diameter swivel adjusting nut.
The T-handle for swivel adjustment has the correct ends that slide into counterbores on the swivel adjusting nut.
The movable jaw has the forged in shroud over the top of the clamping screw.
If you have to choose one; mount the Craftsman. There's no doubt that it's the best of the three.
old salvage
Well-known member
That could be a Reed but way back, Rock Island also made vises for Craftsman.
I posted a 40's Craftsman branded Reed in the vise thread.
I posted a 40's Craftsman branded Reed in the vise thread.
BanjoSavesTheDay
Well-known member
Excellent eye! I can only see two other distinctive things. The piece that sticks out and supports the moveable jaw is a very sharp triangle, and less importantly, the name is only cast into one side just like the old Reeds. IIRC, most other old brands cast their name into both.
The only thing bugging me about this vise is the way the jaws fit on. Did Rock Island use U-shaped jaws? I'm not sure that I've ever seen another Reed with that type.
Jim Stabe
Well-known member
Nobody seems to want you to mount the fixed Wilton so I think you should ship that one to me so it is out of your way. I'll even split the cost of shipping with you! How about that for a deal.
BD1
Well-known member
Hi, I would mount receiver tubing to bench and then mount each vise to plate and tubing for the inside of receiver, now you can switch off or write me and i will come and get all of them from you !!!
e3pres
Well-known member
Here is the vise in detail:
Bottom before removal
Inside the swivel bottom
Bottom of vise without swivel attached
Bottom of Arm
Opposite end of arm looking straight at it (not jaw side)
Mike
old salvage
Well-known member
Yes they are that shape. Not saying its definitely a Rock Island, just a possibility.
Coach James
Well-known member
How about some info on that BOCA Bearing sign! How old? Authentic or reproduction? Why can't I find signs like that?
Coach
Coach
Authentic, however it is a cabinet. I go to swap meets, gas station shows (also known as a gas bash), I look on craigslist, and ebay. I just got back from the Good Guys All American Get Together here in Pleasanton California. I found a couple of things there for my garage. 2 STP Gas treatment cans and 1 1969 American Racing Daisy 200-s rim that I am going to mount on my wall to hold my hose. I did not see any signs which jumped out at me today at the show.
I go to this forum for all my garage decor and ideas like I do here: http://www.oldgas.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=cfrm
My name on there also is Strnge. I have a ton of items decorating my walls and floors.
Mike
I go to this forum for all my garage decor and ideas like I do here: http://www.oldgas.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=cfrm
My name on there also is Strnge. I have a ton of items decorating my walls and floors.
Mike
BanjoSavesTheDay
Well-known member
Thanks for taking those pictures! That looks exactly like the Reed mechanism. Its pretty beefy isn't it? There's not much chance of that slipping. The jaws are weird, but I've gotta say its a Reed IMHO.
caper
Well-known member
I dunno guys that looks an awful lot like the swivel mechanism on my Parker.I'll have to dig up some pics to check.
nolatoolguy
Banned
If you can only mound one ide say the american scale
Be sure to use some big boy bolts running throuhg the table with washer and a nut on the underside put in very tight to keep the vise in place
dont just use a few screws if funny when people do that and wonder why didnt it work
Be sure to use some big boy bolts running throuhg the table with washer and a nut on the underside put in very tight to keep the vise in place
dont just use a few screws if funny when people do that and wonder why didnt it work
Scout Driver
Well-known member
Another vote for American Scale.
Scott
Scott
Dale B
Well-known member
+1 on the Craftsman being a Rock Island. I have both , and they are twins. Sadly, the Rock Island is badly beat up , the ledges for the jaws are heavily worn due to beating on it without any jaws in place . Buuuuuttttt it was only 8 bucks . I'll get the ledges remachined and find jaws for it .
rsanter
Well-known member
can the wilson fit on the swivel base taken from one of the other vises??
bob
bob
gleman
Well-known member
You are a dedicated procrastinator!Well, I have moved to another state and need to mount one of these at my new place. I’m undecided again. Lol. Help a brother out.
Do the Wilton.
13 years!! Hahaha
The Craftsman is the best vise out of the three. Most stout guide and massive design, and the jaws are fit ina way that prevents them from ever wobbling like the simple square block jaws.
The wilton is probably okay too. I don't find it nearly as pretty though. I think that Craftsman model is made by Rock Island. As far as I know, that puts it among the best historic vises and very similar to Reed vises.
The wilton is probably okay too. I don't find it nearly as pretty though. I think that Craftsman model is made by Rock Island. As far as I know, that puts it among the best historic vises and very similar to Reed vises.
I need to find jaws for it.
Shiftless
Well-known member
Nice vise.
Do you have a friend with a machine shop? If not, many say that they have made aluminum jaws without a very advanced set of machine tools.
OR… keep you eye out for a nice old American made vise that is ready to use.