Bench Vise identification please.

[CalsXS2]

I just picked this up off of craigslist. I've been looking for a long time for something decent.

Well I took a gamble on this for $25. It is really heavy, and seems well made. The guy was only asking $25 for it. I didn't have the heart to bust him down any. It looks like a good vise for $25. But I know nothing about vise's.

Any clue's who made this. Good, bad, or boat anchor.

 

[zkling]

I forget the brand, maybe buffalo. But I'm pretty sure they are an offshore job. I'm digging the castle nut replacement handle ball. If it works for you,

There is one at a shop I frequent that has the nut sheared axially. No joke. Not sure how that happened.

 

[CalsXS2]

I forget the brand, maybe buffalo. But I'm pretty sure they are an offshore job. I'm digging the castle nut replacement handle ball. If it works for you,

There is one at a shop I frequent that has the nut sheared axially. No joke. Not sure how that happened.

BUFFALO!!!

Man. You just burst my bubble. Well I knew I was gambling for $25. If it is a Buffalo, I shouldn't have said I didn't have the heart to bust him down. It was so cheap, he didn't have the heart to charge any more.

Maybe someone will come along and be able to give a more absolute answer.

BTW. I just threw the castle nut on there. I just happened to have the axle out of my 72 Yamaha XS650 laying there. Hell that 72 nut is probably worth more than the vise.

 

[bareass172]

The big #5 reminds me of the Craftsmans, but I don't think that's what it is.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Just a normal every day asian import. But don't use it as a press, and don't cold forge metal on it and it will last.

A vise is a 3rd hand. Not a press, brake, anvil, or anything else. It will hold material to drill, wire wheel, grind etc.

When you find a nicer vise you can always upgrade and put this one outside and not feel bad.

I like cheap vises for nasty work: ie, spray painting, welding, etc. My "pretty" good ones stay nice looking.

 

[CalsXS2]

The big #5 reminds me of the Craftsmans, but I don't think that's what it is.

The only pic that I can find that even comes close is of a Craftsmen.

 

[drivesitfar]

Just a normal every day asian import. But don't use it as a press, and don't cold forge metal on it and it will last.

A vise is a 3rd hand. Not a press, brake, anvil, or anything else. It will hold material to drill, wire wheel, grind etc.

When you find a nicer vise you can always upgrade and put this one outside and not feel bad.

I like cheap vises for nasty work: ie, spray painting, welding, etc. My "pretty" good ones stay nice looking.

Dave, that's well put so worth repeating.

not sure if Buffalo and not a Craftsman, but import and should last if you follow Dave's advise.

 

[1982fxr]

NOT a craftsman. far as i know those are all imports, regardless of the brand name slapped on them. treat it like a light duty vise and it should be ok. Also, I think the main nuts on those are a crude cast piece. Breaks easily under stress

 

[CalsXS2]

Well Ithink I found it. Looks pretty dang close. Made at a different time maybe. What do you guys think. Is it this one.

Hopefully I'll get $25 worth out of it.

 

[oldldh]

$25.00 worth of use won't take long...

It will treat you right, if you don't abuse it...

Keep looking for an old piece of American iron, but that will handle the light duty stuff, just fine...

What you need is a Starrett/Reed/AmericanScale/Prentiss/Wilton/etc...The 4" to 5" would be about right for 99% of your vise needs, and they can be found for less than $ 100.00, if you turn over enough rocks...

Good luck in your search...

 

[ajchien]

I think it's a Taiwan import. Has a few brand names like Allied etc...


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[exmaxima1]

The only pic that I can find that even comes close is of a Craftsmen.

Nah, the CM vise has a formed steel channel for the slide, whereas the "Buffalo" vise has a cast jaw/slide unit. Plus the jaw is much more reinforced on the "Buffalo".

Looks like the classic import vise sold at most supply stores 20 years ago.

 

[exmaxima1]

Well Ithink I found it. Looks pretty dang close. Made at a different time maybe. What do you guys think. Is it this one.

Bingo!

 

[Fretters]

Hopefully I'll get $25 worth out of it.

Mate, you'll probably still have that vice in twenty years time. Abuse anything and it will give, but treat tools with a bit of respect and maintain them and they'll last and work well when you need them; it's that simple. Quality does matter, within certain bounds, but that'll serve you fine.

 

[CalsXS2]

Mate, you'll probably still have that vice in twenty years time. Abuse anything and it will give, but treat tools with a bit of respect and maintain them and they'll last and work well when you need them; it's that simple. Quality does matter, within certain bounds, but that'll serve you fine.

I have a couple of other vises too. I have a Columbian that is a semi mobile dedicated gun/indoor vise. I have it camped to a table. It gets passed around to who ever is building an AR at the time.

 

[CalsXS2]

Mate, you'll probably still have that vice in twenty years time. Abuse anything and it will give, but treat tools with a bit of respect and maintain them and they'll last and work well when you need them; it's that simple. Quality does matter, within certain bounds, but that'll serve you fine.

Here's a USA made Chief that just broke when I was tightening it. Now the jaws won't align.

 

[zkling]

NOT a craftsman. far as i know those are all imports, regardless of the brand name slapped on them. treat it like a light duty vise and it should be ok. Also, I think the main nuts on those are a crude cast piece. Breaks easily under stress

Really is that a known issue with these? I'll try to get a pic this weekend of the one I was talking about. When I pulled it apart I was surprised to see the nut had split along the length, top to bottom.

 

[1982fxr]

I had a big 6" (Allied i think) and it opened and closed good when i tested it. Got home and got looking and the nut was busted in a way that sounds similar to what you're describing.

The guy who bought it did that type of cast welding so he bought it as is to fix it. All of this style I've seen in person seemed identical in quality...I'm 0 for 1 on this type of vise, that's all I'm saying...

 

[river251]

Well Ithink I found it. Looks pretty dang close. Made at a different time maybe. What do you guys think. Is it this one.

Hopefully I'll get $25 worth out of it.

I just bought one of these today for $10 from my neighbor, but it's in almost new condition. He took care of it, or didn't use it.

Really happy to have it, always wanted a real bench vise.



Jim