Huge vices- are they worth more or less?

[LarryFahn]

BLast night my dad came over our house and I invited him down the basement to see how I modified his old work bench. I mounted up the Yost that I just bought and figured he'd like to see it. As we're talking about the vice he mentions that there's one in his brothers basement that "was old when I was a kid" (he's 72 y/o!). He said that it's still there and his brother never used it and I could have it.

The only details were that it's 3x bigger than my 865, the handle is the diameter of a broomstick and the handle is about 3' long. I have no idea what size the jaws are.

I know this doesn't help much without key information (make/model/year). But I was wondering if maybe a vice like this might be less desirable cause it's less practical than, say a typical 5" bench vise or more desirable cause of the size/rarity?

If I get more details, I'll post it. This is all new to me.

 

[chilly460]

They're definitely worth more. There may be some sweet spot where the relative value of a vise is more/less (say $$ per pound or inch of jaw width) but can speak from experience that a 6" vise (all things being equal) is going to be worth more than a 4".

 

[dutchgray]

Bigger is definitely worth more, fewer were sold originally and they tended to get heavy use so there aren't many around like with your standard 4" or 5".

 

[notlob]

Not just worth more, but sometimes vastly more.

 

[General Geoff]

Worth WAY more. Particularly if it has 7 or 8 inch jaws, and weighs 200+lbs.

If the handle is 3 feet long (and original spec), it's probably at least 250lbs of metal.

There's no such thing as a vise that's too big, as long as you have a sturdy enough workbench or pedestal to put it on.

 

[Youngguns]

Worth and value are one thing. As others have commented, it's monetary value will be more, but I feel as though you're asking about practicality. Depending on the work you do and your environment, an exceptionally large vise would in fact be less desirable.

 

[Maui]

Post some pictures when you have the chance. We'd love to see it!

 

[exmaxima1]

Worth and value are one thing. As others have commented, it's monetary value will be more, but I feel as though you're asking about practicality. Depending on the work you do and your environment, an exceptionally large vise would in fact be less desirable.

No pics yet, but I think I agree with you. Spinning a 3 foot long handle would get old very quickly.....

 

[2oolhound]

We mostly think of an 8" vise as super huge and strong and suited towards a railroad shop for extremely heavy work. While this is true the other reason they make sense is for the width of the surface they grab. For example I chose a 6" for my shop because the width of the 2 bottom flat spots on my motorcycle engine are 6" apart. With a 6" vise you can mount the cases in the vise and rebuild the whole engine in the vise. A 3 or 4" vise would have adequate strength but it lacks the reach. The 6" is more robust than I need but the 6" width is priceless.

 

[General Geoff]

That's why mechanics vises have wider jaws than a machinist vise would have for the same mass.

 

[Packard V8]

We're hoping it's the good stuff, so post photos when you get them.

On the other hand, I got all excited, drove 75 miles to look at this giant old vise. It turned out to be a 120 year-old post leg vise

for which I have very little use or space. In a technical discussion, terminology is everything.

jack vines

 

[drivesitfar]

Larry: not sure where you are located so update your GJ profile and it might help us give you a better idea of the value. that said no matter where you live a big vise is more valuable than most vises with 3 inch jaws or bigger. some of the tiny vises actually are more valuable, but let's talk about your big un.

if it's not welded or missing important bits and pieces yes it has value. if you can get it i would and then we can help you figure out how to mount it or use it or maybe trade it for something you could use more.

more than likely with a handle that big it will be more like Jack just posted which is an old Blacksmith vise. since smithing is more popular these days and those vises were actually made to be hit with a hammer unlike the bench versions that shouldn't be you've got something.

pictures and we'll help you, but even if you don't like it and your uncle doesn't need or want it grab it and figure out details later. if it's huge like over 250 pounds and a bench vise you can maybe unscrew out the dynamic jaw all the way to remove it (don't drop it while unscrewing it) and bring it home in 2 pieces.

 

[Bcom]

This i just my opinion but a larger vise is not always worth more.The idea of "worth" is in the eye of the beholder and can only be determined of how useful the item is. I watched C1 and C2 Wilton vises sell for 400-500 bux and then i seen a huge C3 only sell for 300bux. The C3 is such an awesome and bulbous vise that not many people would have a use for something that big since its double the size and weight of a C2. Say you needed a shop vise just to hold nuts and bolts for odd reasons. Would a person rather pay $300 for a 3" or 4" vise or would they rather pay $300 for a 6" or 8" vise? Also you got to figure those 6" and 8" vises are probably gonna have a 2ft handle on them and take up alot more room. Do you really want a 300lb vise with a 2ft handle just to hold nuts and bolts even if its the same cost as the smaller vise?

 

[drivesitfar]

BCOM: YES I DO. i agree though with the thinking cause just cause it's bigger doesn't mean it's better for YOU. i personally love a C2 and agree a C3 just doesn't do it for me, but i would like a 300 pound Reed cause i like that design and look better than the 225 pound C3.

 

[LarryFahn]

Thanks guys. I'm dealing with 2 old fogeys so give me some time here! Lol! This vice is located in North East Pa. Fwiw.

This vice would be "useless" to me cause how big it is. So more or less I'm wondering if a big vice like what was explained to me was rare, therfore valuable. Or if it was rare, but not practical to most people, therefore not that valuable.

Thanks for your time. As soon as I hear more, I'll get back to you guys. Ttyl, Fahn

 

[Banjorear]

We're hoping it's the good stuff, so post photos when you get them.

On the other hand, I got all excited, drove 75 miles to look at this giant old vise. It turned out to be a 120 year-old post leg vise

for which I have very little use or space. In a technical discussion, terminology is everything.

jack vines

Are peg vises not worth money? My dad has one and I wanted to bring it to my shop for my 9 yo son. He's really gotten into black smithing and I like that you can pound on it and the "peg" supports some of the force.

 

[drivesitfar]

Larry: there are several members here that buy/sell/trade in your area so if you get it and want something different or some cash just PM me if you can't figure out who to go to. good luck and no rush, but would love to hear if a blacksmith vise or bench vise and what make and model # if you happen to see it and don't have your camera handy.

Banjo: of course old blacksmith vises are worth some money. how much depends on the usual things but the bigger the jaw width and heft usually the better the value if conditions are the same.

 

[Conductor562]

I have a massive Columbian 608. 8" jaws, weighs right around 200 lbs., lead screw is pretty close to 36" long and I'm guessing 1-3/4" round, and even then the handle is only around 24" long.

If the handle truly is 36" long, it's got to be massive!

 

[woody 73]

This i just my opinion but a larger vise is not always worth more.The idea of "worth" is in the eye of the beholder and can only be determined of how useful the item is. I watched C1 and C2 Wilton vises sell for 400-500 bux and then i seen a huge C3 only sell for 300bux. The C3 is such an awesome and bulbous vise that not many people would have a use for something that big since its double the size and weight of a C2. Say you needed a shop vise just to hold nuts and bolts for odd reasons. Would a person rather pay $300 for a 3" or 4" vise or would they rather pay $300 for a 6" or 8" vise? Also you got to figure those 6" and 8" vises are probably gonna have a 2ft handle on them and take up alot more room. Do you really want a 300lb vise with a 2ft handle just to hold nuts and bolts even if its the same cost as the smaller vise?

Bcom where are you finding those $300.00 dollar c3 vises in central Ahia because I have never seen any for sale at those prices...

 

[drivesitfar]

Conductor: might be a blacksmith vise or a little bit of a fishing type story cause as i get older everything seems to get bigger. especially the fonts on my laptop.

cheers

Woody: exactly cause even though i don't like the C3 as much as a C2 i'd buy them all day long for $300 if in decent shape. it might be located at the same store where i hear you can buy wilton bullets for $30 that some of the members brag about that i've yet to find.

 

[G-ManBart]

Generally speaking, the larger vises command a premium over the "normal" sizes you see on a regular basis. I'd say 6"+ is what most of us mean when we're talking about larger vises.

The one exception would be vises under 3"....they often sell for much more than larger vises in common sizes.

 

[Bcom]

Bcom where are you finding those $300.00 dollar c3 vises in central Ahia because I have never seen any for sale at those prices...

Up around the cleveland area there is a guy that sells massive vises for cheap. He had a c3 sitting for a long time as well as a huge columbian and holland. I wonder if he still has them. He had the c3 for $300 and the columbian and holland for 400.

 

[toolmiser]

Could be that the father hasn't seen it for a quite a while and remembers it being bigger than it really is. Let's hope that it is a nice large one. I have about a medium size one in my garage, and sometimes it is a little clumsy. I mounted a small vice on a block of wood and sometimes I clamp the little one in the big one and use it.

 

[Ign]

No pics yet, but I think I agree with you. Spinning a 3 foot long handle would get old very quickly.....

This. 4 to 6" is PLENTY for the vast majority of fab shops.

Bigger vises are worth more, but it's not necessarily proportional; I see some really big ones on CL (often in poor condition) where people are also asking REALLY big money. I just chuckle, and the ads keep getting renewed.

 

[davethorik]

If it's a bigun, flip it. Someone will pay for it.

 

[justanengineer]

Bcom where are you finding those $300.00 dollar c3 vises in central Ahia because I have never seen any for sale at those prices...

HGR had a really nice but filthy C3 a month ago for $175, I almost bought the slightly cleaner 250 lb Yost next to it for $150 but 1. someone had "smoothed" most of it w/an angle grinder and 2. we were tight on room in the wife's car road trippin' already so I passed on both and bought a small bin of mill tooling instead.

+1 on what others have said, heavier vises command a premium. The usual that I hear in non-internet, true collectors' circles is $0.50/lb weight max for vises <100 lbs and beyond that its a tossup.

 

[byoungblood]

I would say it depends.

Past a certain size, it becomes too large for practical use by most so it diminishes your market, which can affect the price. Of course it should still sell for more than a smaller vise, but what you end up getting for it in the end depends on how fast you want to sell it.

 

[motofool33]

if you guys know of a big vise for reasonable let me know i am on the hunt for one 8inch or bigger

 

[Bcom]

to woody 73--- if you are really wanting a big vise here in Ohio, i can give you the number of a guy up in cleveland that has a bunch. He regularly drives to Pennsylvania and must pick up any and all vises he runs into. JUst send me a PM

 

[zkling]

Vises can be like penises, people think they have a huge one till they measure it....properly. Few actually do though.

Got a Wilton 800s at work, it's big, but not THAT big.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

This thread inspired Me to look up what is currently manufactured. Wouldn't be too hard to spend 4-5 thousand on a quality new vise. Christmas is coming, so how about a new coconut/walnut/beer can crusher for that special Lady?

 

[LarryFahn]

Could be that the father hasn't seen it for a quite a while and remembers it being bigger than it really is.

Right! That's what I'm thinking too. It's probably a 4" vice! Lol!

 

[zkling]

This thread inspired Me to look up what is currently manufactured. Wouldn't be too hard to spend 4-5 thousand on a quality new vise. Christmas is coming, so how about a new coconut/walnut/beer can crusher for that special Lady?

What were you pricing out at $5k? A new Wilton 800s is sub $3k to your door. C3 ~$1500. The big yost are sub 2k.

 

[LarryFahn]

Well guys, I'm pissed off at my uncle... My dad and I went to my uncles this weekend and he told us he sold it for..
SCRAP! About 2 years ago he cleaned out the basement and sold it along with old hand tools. He said it was too big and they took it out on a hand truck. According to him it was 12" wide jaws about 16" high and 30" long*. (I saw where it was mounted and he said it went "back to the wall". It came from the Marvin breaker (Scranton, PA Anthracite coal mine) where my grandfather worked. I told him to research this stuff before throwing it out, but he didn't seem to care. I also told him to stay in his house cause there will be a bounty on his head! I don't know what to think... My uncle pretty much verified what my dad remembered about it. There was an anvil on the back too that was possibly 6-8" long. Would someone on here have any ideas as to what this could have been?

Truly pissed off!

 

[MikeF2316]

Vises can be like penises, people think they have a huge one till they measure it....properly. Few actually do though.

Got a Wilton 800s at work, it's big, but not THAT big.

Don't forget the exaggeration part.

 

[creativecars]

Vises can be like penises, people think they have a huge one till they measure it....properly. Few actually do though.

Got a Wilton 800s at work, it's big, but not THAT big.

Wow... wonder how big it would be after a dip in some cold rain water?