Help with locating used vise, and what I should pay

[Madrona]

I see all these people around here talking about how they find these fantastic deals on old 5 and 6 inch Reed, Parker, Columbian, etc. vises for under $100, some even claiming eBay, but I am having no such luck. Everything I am seeing is in the hundreds of dollars, sometimes approaching $500.

Craigslist is full of dreamers, with "price is firm" in their respective listings, or the price is so high I don't feel like offering 50% of what they want, yet they've been trying to sell for months with no takers. Many of the vises look beat to oblivion, or neglected as heck. What is going on in this market?

Are there other places I can find these vises aside from eBay and Craigslist, and can somebody tell me what I should expect to pay with maybe some model #'s and brands as examples? Thank you.

 

[justanengineer]

Hit a few shop auctions and when the weather warms a bit, flea markets and estate sales. Industry has been cranking out thousands of heavy duty vises for more than a century, plenty of them out there and dam near every garage has at least one in it. Typically I top out ~$0.50/lb-weight for vises <100 lbs. Others will be quick to encourage you to pay vastly more but there's plenty of old iron out there.

 

[FigureItOut]

A lot of those guys spend a significant amount time searching garage sales, estate sales etc for them. On Craigslist, you'll just have to wait. My area is a little barren, but I've made a couple nice scores under $100. You can set up a search on Craigslist that'll email you whenever certain search terms are posted. Also, looking at many ads without vise in the title can yield results. I check every work bench ad and have found a nice old Craftsman that way. I got a big Athol for $20 from an ad titled "pile of stuff." I'm nowhere near a serious collector or very knowledgeable, but these are the successes I've had. Just keep checking, and be patient, something cool will come along. If you're like me, once you get the one or two nice daily users mounted and put into service, the anxiousness will subside.

 

[G-ManBart]

It's really just normal supply and demand. People look at something like a new Wilton 500S for $950 (give or take) and think "no way" but they'll pay $450 for the same thing used if it's been cosmetically restored and isn't damaged. That has pushed up the price on decent used vises significantly in the past few years.

Still, it's possible to get lucky. I found a really nice Wilton 500 for $50 on CL, added a new swivel base and got it looking like new all for under $200.

Keep in mind not everywhere in the country has a large supply of bench vises like we do in the rust belt...we've had so many machine and manufacturing shops close in the past few decades there are a lot of used vises out there in people's garages. I've been told companies that sold out often let employees take entire rolling toolboxes (full) when plants shut down....

Generally speaking, forget eBay...that really requires luck in the form of an unusually low buy-it-now that nobody else sees.

 

[Madrona]

Thanks for the suggestions. I guess I am a bit anxious as I want an old vise to use, not sit around and restore and talk about like seems to be the case with a lot of the people listing them on Craigslist. They seem to think they're sitting on gold or something. I only want one vise, and then I will not be looking at vises again. I like to use things for what they are intended, not collect them.

 

[kwoswalt99]

Thanks for the suggestions. I guess I am a bit anxious as I want an old vise to use, not sit around and restore and talk about like seems to be the case with a lot of the people listing them on Craigslist. They seem to think they're sitting on gold or something. I only want one vise, and then I will not be looking at vises again. I like to use things for what they are intended, not collect them.

If you were near me, I'd give you one. The largest one I've got is a 4" though...

 

[Madrona]

If you were near me, I'd give you one. The largest one I've got is a 4" though...

Well that's awful generous of you but I'd insist on paying for it. I think you guys in the rust belt are in a great location. It seems slim pickings out here.

 

[davethorik]

Thanks for the suggestions. I guess I am a bit anxious as I want an old vise to use, not sit around and restore and talk about like seems to be the case with a lot of the people listing them on Craigslist. They seem to think they're sitting on gold or something. I only want one vise, and then I will not be looking at vises again. I like to use things for what they are intended, not collect them.

Then you're in the wrong place lol
Perused through the vise thread much? That's probably why you can't find one, because GJ members buy them all for their collections.

 

[Teenager with old tools]

Don't forget on Craigslist to search vice, work bench, tool box. Sometimes Craigslist is a little challenged when it comes to searching in the listing.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Davefr]

If you want a large machinist vise at a "you ****" price then you need to go to garage and private estate sales. It'll likely take going to many sales and could take months or years. (especially for the bigger Wiltons).

It'll be easier finding some of the other brands and they're often as good or even better then Wiltons. The price to pay varies a lot based on size, model, condition and brand. Once you get >>4", supply drops dramatically and prices get real high real fast.

Have you tried running a wanted ad on CL or here on the classified? That might bring out a fresh find.

When guys here score a "you ****" deal and brag about it, don't think it's a common occurance easily and quickly replicated.

 

[Madrona]

I'm not looking to scalp somebody and get the deal of the century. Conversely, I'm not looking to get scalped, either. When the same vises have been for sale on Craigslist for nearly 2 months, with no buyers, that tells me the prices are much too high. I don't believe it takes that long to sell anything. When they say "price firm" I don't even contact them.

I started misspelling vise and it turned up a few more. Actually, there is an awesome one for $40 but it is over 200 miles away. Something will turn up.

 

[kwoswalt99]

Then you're in the wrong place lol
Perused through the vise thread much? That's probably why you can't find one, because GJ members buy them all for their collections.

Tell me about it.

 

[WittHay]

When did vises become so popular to collect?
i never knew they were so popular until I joined Garage Journal.

I always thought thought that there was 2 types of vises, ones that worked that know body ever got rid off and the ones that didn't that eventually went to scrap.

We have got a couple of large ones over the years but they were part of a larger lot in a industrial auction. The vises were attached to large worktables that weighed a ton.

 

[tool_scrounge]

I see all these people around here talking about how they find these fantastic deals on old 5 and 6 inch Reed, Parker, Columbian, etc. vises for under $100, some even claiming eBay, but I am having no such luck. Everything I am seeing is in the hundreds of dollars, sometimes approaching $500.
.

From what I have seen the last few years, the price of vises has gone up on average. Mostly due to:

1) the vise thread on the garage journal and Google's searching of it.
2) I see a lot more people cleaning up and repainting vises for resale
3) more vise collectors
4) people convincing themselves that they need a 6+ inch vise which were never as common as smaller sizes.

It is also very location dependent. The rust belt probably has the best selection.

Solution?
Be patient
Look for lesser known but high quality us or European brands
Get a high quality 4" vise for the short term due to greater availability while you look for a larger one.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

One of my good buddies is a craigslist hawk and finds deals on vices all day long. He's got a collection of 20-30 vices now, which is good for me, because it gives me a good selection to pick over

I recently bought a 6" parker for $300. While not cheap, I've easily spent that much, if not more, on cheaper vices only to have the fixed jaw bust off when I really crank on it. My Parker will be good to go for the next 20 years or so at least.

 

[Madrona]

Then you're in the wrong place lol
Perused through the vise thread much? That's probably why you can't find one, because GJ members buy them all for their collections.

But the guys around here aren't paying top dollar, it would appear. They want a good buy, just like me. They already have many, so are only interested if the price is right. I think a lot of these "sellers" on Craigslist picked them up for a song and are trying to turn a profit. Why else would they be trying for months to sell something, not lowering the price to move it?

 

[cgrutt]

I found a nice Wilton 5" on CL last year. About $125 or there about. Drove over an hour each direction to pick it up. Bought a set of new custom jaws and sourced a swivel base so add another $150 +/-. Spent about 25 hours restoring it. Sold it for $550 on ebay. Don't fret the sellers sticking to their price, they may have more time and materials into it than you think. Good deals are out there but it may require some effort and patience. Good luck!

 

[G-ManBart]

I'm not looking to scalp somebody and get the deal of the century. Conversely, I'm not looking to get scalped, either. When the same vises have been for sale on Craigslist for nearly 2 months, with no buyers, that tells me the prices are much too high. I don't believe it takes that long to sell anything. When they say "price firm" I don't even contact them.

I started misspelling vise and it turned up a few more. Actually, there is an awesome one for $40 but it is over 200 miles away. Something will turn up.

One thing I've noticed is that a lot of people don't delete their ads when sold, so just because the ad is up doesn't mean the vise is still available.

 

[ptgarcia]

Like with many things, location plays a large part on availability and thusly, price. I haven't seen any deals in my area, but there are some for sale.

What would you guys say this Holland is worth?

 

[jakemac]

It's true that some guys occasionally trip over a good deal on a vise without any effort. But the majority of the YS deals that you see posted are the result of a lot of hard prep work and effort searching and running around to fruitless sales. For each one you see posted, there are numerous empty gas tanks from running around and finding nothing.

To get the vise you want at the price you're willing to pay, it will take time, patience, and lots of searching.

You almost have to treat the search like a job. Keep at it every day.
When looking at pictures in a listing, take a close look at what may be hiding in the background. I've gone out to some sales that I would normally ignore, just because of one piece that looked interesting in the back of a blurry picture. It doesn't always pay off, but sometimes you get lucky and catch something that noone else spotted.

 

[cgrutt]

What would you guys say this Holland is worth?

$25 in current condition? That's being generous, LOL...

 

[Tonellin]

I think you vastly underestimate the time a lot of these vise polishers and collectors spend cruising different sale listings, pawn shops and estate sales. If you are of the belief that time=money they sure as hell aren't getting them at "you ****" prices. If you value your time you're better off deciding what size vise you need and finding one in decent shape and just paying for it...odds are you'll have it for the rest of your life so if you depreciate it over the next 60 years your annual expense will only be about $2

 

[jakemac]

What would you guys say this Holland is worth?

I'd have to have my hands on it to be sure, but I'd probably put it in the $50-$75 range depending on its actually condition. The pics look rough, but I bet it's in better condition than the pictures let on.

 

[Cope]

If you want a large machinist vise at a "you ****" price then you need to go to garage and private estate sales. It'll likely take going to many sales and could take months or years. (especially for the bigger Wiltons).

It'll be easier finding some of the other brands and they're often as good or even better then Wiltons. The price to pay varies a lot based on size, model, condition and brand. Once you get >>4", supply drops dramatically and prices get real high real fast.

Have you tried running a wanted ad on CL or here on the classified? That might bring out a fresh find.

When guys here score a "you ****" deal and brag about it, don't think it's a common occurance easily and quickly replicated.

This. My son-in-law picked up a Reed 105 in great mechanical shape for $28 back in the fall. It didn't have much paint left, but it worked just fine.

 

[ptgarcia]

How about this beat-on Wilton?

 

[cgrutt]

How about this beat-on Wilton?

I'd buy it for $100 so long as there are no cracks in castings. Welded jaw would be PITA to restore though.

 

[ptgarcia]

What do y'all think of this Colombian No. 504 1/2 with stand?

 

[ptgarcia]

Holland 54H in my backyard. I feel its a bit overpriced.....

 

[454ragtop]

What do y'all think of this Colombian No. 504 1/2 with stand?

"the vise is made by Wilton and is the model Columbian 504-1/2" Uh-huh, thought so. Looks like it's mounted on a HF grinder stand, so I wouldn't pay a lot for that.

 

[Tonellin]

Holland 54H in my backyard. I feel its a bit overpriced.....

Cool vise..absurd price

 

[Toothaker]

I see a lot of absurd prices around here, too.

Reed 206

Wilton

 

[Cope]

"the vise is made by Wilton and is the model Columbian 504-1/2" Uh-huh, thought so. Looks like it's mounted on a HF grinder stand, so I wouldn't pay a lot for that.

Are you sure they were made by Wilton back then?

 

[isb cornbinder]

Well that's awful generous of you but I'd insist on paying for it. I think you guys in the rust belt are in a great location. It seems slim pickings out here.

I just checked Craigslist in your area and there are 54 vises for sale
https://seattle.craigslist.org/search/tla?query=vise

 

[crazylunker]

Just got a new wilton tradesman 5.5" bullet vise with a wilton sledgehammer from napa for $399.00 I'ts black and box says 75th anniversary.

 

[T45]

I just checked Craigslist in your area and there are 54 vises for sale
https://seattle.craigslist.org/search/tla?query=vise

Prentiss Bull Dog Vise No. 53, 50 pound, Vintage - $60

https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/tls/5968360260.html

edit: has seen some use.

 

[WittHay]

In the Vancouver area Craigslist, thee are a couple of English made Record Vises for sale $150 4" Jaw and $60 for a small piece broken out of 6" jaw vise

 

[drivesitfar]

ALL: i can speak a bit about being a local seller to the member that has 40 posts in 3 years that wants a vise. i've sold maybe 50+ vises to GJ members here and some pay shipping on top of that and are very happy. that said i've bought (and maybe overpaid) for a few vises that i don't need or want that i'd sell if i got my money back and Craigslist is free to list stuff so i'll list them if they sell great and if not it's no big deal. i've probably sold several cheaper vises off an add that doesn't sell as i would have just listing the vise.

i didn't fall into a warehouse full of free vises and yes it takes a lot of time and money to gather these old vises and tools and not buy hidden breaks, cracks and welds and have some idea what they will sell for.

sure everybody wants a Wilton C2 for $100 to buy and put on their workbench. is that a REALITY not usually unless you are buying $2000+ of other tools the guy or his relatives are selling. this particular vise costs over $1100 new and i've seen them higher, but i don't check new vise prices.

if this member asking for a vise wouldn't have 40 posts on GJ saying how bad the permit process is, how expensive everything is and who's making money on what i'd probably have PM'd him already. he can keep looking and maybe he'll learn that being positive or asking for help without whining might get him better results.

for anybody else wanting a good old US vise for a FAIR price just PM me and i'll see what i have left, but they are going fast.

cheers and hope you are all having a great weekend.

 

[bmwrd0]

There is a place in Eugene OR, Lances used tools or something like that, he has a few good US vises, not bad size for decent money. Like $100 or less. Try places like that, I know there is a used tool place in Portland also, there might be something like that where you are.

 

[jo4gj]

So if I wanted a NEW 5 inch vise that would last 25+ years normal use what would you recommend to buy. I have some time to crunch numbers to see if it's better to buy new or just hunt like the OP

 

[Madrona]

Thanks to everyone with the exception of the self important bloviator above who felt the need to attack me rather than add anything of merit. I found EXACTLY what I was looking for at a price of $75. Here she is, a Columbian 404 1/2 swivel jaw: