So here's an updated list of my vises. The pictures are of those I have acquired over the past few weeks. What started as a quest to find a nice woodworking vise has turned into an obsession.
Olympia 5" vise. Unknown model number, but I purchased it new around 1992 from the lumber store I worked for. After nearly ~23 years, this vise is still in excellent shape. I have used it for nearly everything except welding (it's mounted to a wood workbench). Considering it was made in China, I'm quite pleased with it.
Reed Pipe vise. No pictures, model # or size. I paid $20 for it and some pipe threading tools at an estate sale. When I get a chance to dig it out, I'll photograph it.
Grand 3" "Quickcet" (picture is borrowed from CL - mine is just as clean). I purchased this vise for $5 at a yard sale earlier this summer. I cleaned it up and painted it, then stuck it out of the way in a toolbox with another vise I picked up this summer ...
Zyliss Profi-king Plus. Bought this set at Goodwill in Dallas, Oregon for $6.99 - unused and in the original box. I really like this vise!
Craftsman 3" and 4" Mechanic's vises. Picked up the pair for $40 off CL. The 3" looks like it's never been mounted, let alone used!
Wilton 645. This vise cost me $40, 3 hours of my time, and ~3 gallons of gas to drive 108 miles (round trip). Well worth the effort to acquire my first Wilton!
And finally, the vise that started my journey - a Record Model 52. I was searching CL a few weeks ago for wooworking vises. I came across an ad for a moving sale by someone with a lot of woodworking tools. I contacted the man via email asking him if he knew what the make & model of the vise was. He responded with "It is made in England" and he gave me his cell phone #. I called him the next day and we spoke for a few mins. After getting more specific details on the vise, I told him I'd call him back, then I went to work researching. Once I realized what he had, I called him back and asked if he would hold it for me until I could get there (he was 25 miles away in the wrong direction). "No".
Dammit!
I hurried over to his sale after work, got lost along the way, called him for directions (he must have been really amused by now), then finally arrived an hour after work. I immediately inquired about the vise - which was sitting in a box in the corner - and quickly grabbed it before sighing in relief. Before I was done, I had purchased nearly $1500 in woodworking tools and supplies for only $150. The man was retiring and moving overseas so was in a hurry to make everything go away
The vise was priced at $25 - which is right in line with the 10% of retail I paid for everything else. If I had the room (and more $$) and would have purchased his commercial cabinet saw & router setup. It was a banner day!!
Brian
