MasterForce by Menards Vises?

pauls_workshop · Nov 25, 2014

Hi guys, have a quick little question. Noticed Menards has on sale now a $29.99 little 4" vise that doesn't look half bad. I need just a little vice, not more than 6" size, for DIY use. Has anyone used the MF vises? Are they good or bad relative to others close to this cost. Note: Not looking for US quality here or the price, any COO is fine for this discussion. Thanks!

http://www.menards.com/main/p-2425862-c-9135.htm

- Paul

signcrafter · Nov 25, 2014

I have the bigger one that you can reverse the jaw to get 10" or so opening. It's built good and has worked great for me for the last couple of years. I don't use it everyday but I have used it pretty hard a few times and it held up great. For the price it has been great.

CNGsaves · Nov 25, 2014

It will work . . . but don't do any tough beating on it as only 30,000 psi tensile strength, when most everything else is 60,000 psi.

I'd bet you could easily find 4" Craftsman vise on CL/garage sale in your area for $20 or $25 which would be stronger and last a lifetime.

Kin Creed · Nov 25, 2014

Looks nice for $30, probably can't go wrong there. I have had good luck with most Masterforce stuff I own and I think it represents a good value especially when on sale (which happens every other month or so).

The one very notable exception would pliers, stick with Channelock there. The Masterforce pliers I have **** bad. Everything else though has been fine... toolboxes, hand tools and a few power tools. In recent years they have been doing a pretty good job sourcing this private label brand. Vise looks like no exception.

pauls_workshop · Nov 25, 2014

Thanks so far guys. No questions an old US vise would be stronger and possibly better, but I haven't seen any cheap around me for a long time. CL here has changed alot and not that many deals to be had anymore. Been too busy for any garage sales of late. I would mainly need it for the clamping of the jaws, only rarely wail on the anvil and not too hard. DIY use. But points noted there. - Paul

retDAC · Nov 25, 2014

I know what signcrafter's vise is like because I have the Wilton version of it (4500). For price ours are definite winners. IF the one you're interested in is made by the same mfr, it should be better than the ordinary big box store vises.

When you go to the store, look underneath to see if the swivel has locking gearteeth (or some positive locking, not just the jamnuts). If so, it's a very good sign. If not, it's probably just another Chinese vise. Not necessarily bad, just not great.

Next do what one should do with any vice no matter how expensive or where made. Make sure everything lines up properly without help and moves smoothly and appears properly made otherwise.

Whatever you get, do yourself a favor. Take it apart, clean/debur where needed, and grease everything! Even under the jaw faces and their bolt threads.

Btw, 30k psi tensile strength is another decent indicator. Some of the cheap vises are only 20 or 25k. Of course there is more to a vise than just the basic tensile strength of the jaw material.

Whatever you find, please report back. SOON! as I might want one.

pauls_workshop · Nov 25, 2014

Thanks RetDac! Some great info!

I'm starting to think maybe I should get the bigger one you and signcrafter are talking about when it goes on sale eventually. Hmmm. The opening is pretty small on the 4" one. A deeper opening might be something I would miss having... - Paul

retDAC · Nov 25, 2014

pauls_workshop said:
... I'm starting to think maybe I should get the bigger one you and signcrafter are talking about when it goes on sale eventually. Hmmm. The opening is pretty small on the 4" one. A deeper opening might be something I would miss having... - Paul

I know 'miracles' sometimes happen but at $100, this vise

http://www.menards.com/main/tools-h...rce-5-1-2-doublejaw-vise/p-1655296-c-9135.htm

is already much lower priced than the Wilton and Westward (Grainger) versions.

Super Sport · Nov 25, 2014

We had a 6" Masterforce at my old job. It saw very light use, so I can't really say how well they hold up. But it seemed fine, no better or worse than the ones on display at most other box stores. I imagine they're all made in the same factory...

pauls_workshop · Nov 26, 2014

retDAC said:
I know 'miracles' sometimes happen but at $100, this vise

http://www.menards.com/main/tools-h...rce-5-1-2-doublejaw-vise/p-1655296-c-9135.htm

is already much lower priced than the Wilton and Westward (Grainger) versions.

Yes, knowing it is same as Wilton or Westward is great to know though, as that indicates the quality. The greater jaw opening would be handy for sure. Sometimes Menards has good discounts. I have to think about all this! Great info guys and why GJ is a great place to hang out! - Paul

77Ford · Nov 26, 2014

I picked up a Craftsman 5 1/2 inch a couple weeks ago for $35, reg $79. Buy the one at Menards and keep shopping. Menards has a Great return policy. :rocker:

ishiboo · Nov 26, 2014

I have a MasterForce, I believe it's the 6"?

It's machined well and decent quality. I'm very happy with it for the price.

As 77Ford said, if you don't like it - return it.

Scout Driver · Nov 26, 2014

I've had the MasterForce with the rotating jaws for a couple years. Feels well-made and the jaws are tight and don't exhibit any slop or wobble. I've been very happy with it. It wasn't a bad price either.

Scott

pauls_workshop · Nov 26, 2014

Scout Driver said:
I've had the MasterForce with the rotating jaws for a couple years. Feels well-made and the jaws are tight and don't exhibit any slop or wobble. I've been very happy with it. It wasn't a bad price either.

Scott

Scott: Is that this one:

http://www.menards.com/main/tools-h...rce-5-multi-purpose-vise/p-1655298-c-9135.htm

I am thinking the little opening on the 4" on sale probably won't meet my longer term needs. I'm thinking the one above might be really handy with the rotating jaws. But the other 5.5" one mentioned above can open much much deeper for bigger things. Which would be more handy to have? Both good quality (same mfr?) - Paul

retDAC · Nov 26, 2014

pauls_workshop said:
Yes, knowing it is same as Wilton or Westward is great to know though, as that indicates the quality. The greater jaw opening would be handy for sure. Sometimes Menards has good discounts. I have to think about all this! Great info guys and why GJ is a great place to hang out! - Paul

While I don't know what your financial situation, etc. is, please consider that while you may someday 'find a bargain', you will not have had the use of the vice. If inconvenience/aggravation/fustration/extra time for a job are all either nonexistent or inconsequential, then by all means wait for a bargain!

When I bought my Wilton 4500 in late 2012, I had decided to help a friend fix a rusted assembly for his Cat and anyway I wanted a better vise than my cheap Jap 4" Western Auto from 30+ years ago (it was too small at best). By sheer luck googling found a super sale bargain in the Wilton for $140 shipped - normally $40-$80 more.

So when signcrafter posted about his in my vise thread, I looked that up. Menard's wanted $100 (same price today) and $25 shipping. Darn, $15 less and apparently the same vise.

Of course is the Wilton 'Lifetime Warranty' worth more? Does Wilton get better QC from the Chinese mfr? I don't know.

Finally decided that even if I'd paid 50% more ($210), my 4500 has been worth it to me and worrying about relatively small $$$ is stupid when I considered the inconvenience/aggravation/fustration/extra time for the job had I simply kept trying to use my old vice while 'waiting for a bargain'.

Again please report what you decide/find/do.

LG63 · Nov 26, 2014

Buy it. We're not talking much more than the price of a large pizza here so even if you find a good used vise next week it's not a big expenditure and this vise can always become your utility vise.

pauls_workshop · Nov 26, 2014

In addition to the confluence of varied opinions above, I now must also be confronted with a kind offer for a possible older used Columbian or possibly Japan Craftman vise from a fellow GJer! Decisions, decisions... Retdac, appreciate your thoughts. The 5.5 reversible one sounds real good. I'm not in an emergency hurry. Not a pro or anything, just for home diy use. I've been using my basement woodshop woodworking vice for awhile. This will be my one and only garage (machine type) vice when I decide. But I can still clamp, sort of, till I get one. That rotating jaws 5" one looks pretty slick too though, but lacks the long clamping ability of the 5.5" reversible... It would be nice if there was one that combined those two features into one vise! - Paul

Scout Driver · Nov 26, 2014

pauls_workshop said:
Scott: Is that this one:

http://www.menards.com/main/tools-h...rce-5-multi-purpose-vise/p-1655298-c-9135.htm

I am thinking the little opening on the 4" on sale probably won't meet my longer term needs. I'm thinking the one above might be really handy with the rotating jaws. But the other 5.5" one mentioned above can open much much deeper for bigger things. Which would be more handy to have? Both good quality (same mfr?) - Paul

Yep. That is the vise. Being able to rotate the jaws comes in pretty handy. Wait for one of Menards frequent 11% off sales or for the vice to go on sale itself. For the extra money, I'd go with the rotating vise.

Scott

retDAC · Nov 27, 2014

Paul, if you ever envision pulling hard on something side to side, say a stuck fastener, you will find out why I have emphasized a positively locking swivel. Discovered that many years ago with my old Japan Western Auto which lacks such. Sure it has 'two lockdowns' but they aren't always enough since they merely exert pressure/friction between flat surfaces.

Do the Columbian and/or Japan Cman vises have this feature?

Does the rotator have it?

Conversely, if you're not likely to pull that hard on something side to side, it doesn't matter.

Months after I bought my 5.5" reversible, someone posted a clearance on 4" Yost-US machinist vises in the hot deals. This was $90 + ~$25 shpg IIRC. $115 for a new US Yost 204 machinist! MSRP then was $557 and normal price was $350-$450 +shpg! Once-in-a-lifetime deal so I jumped on it though I didn't need it. Oh wait. Scratch that. It's heresy here on GJ. :scared:

The Yost is stronger in both materials and design. Also has somewhat better workmanship. Slightly greater throat depth. Single much smaller anvil.

The Wilton is far more versatile and worked night and day better for what I was doing at the time. The anvils took what I consider a decent beating without breaking. And I did find both useful.

Since I already had the Wilton, at it's normal price the Yost would never have been worth it for me.

Aside from supreme bargain prices, if I had it to do over, I would get the same Wilton or maybe the Menard's reversible ahead of a more conventional style before I got anything else. Unless I chose to spend a lot more money on a US Yost 6.5" reversible.

In another post, you wondered as to whether the Menard's rotator is made by the same mfr as the reversible. While I have no way to know, I bet it's not. Jiangsu Swordfish provides (subcontracts?) all or most of the rotators but there is no listing of a reversible shown in these three pages: http://jsjanyu.en.alibaba.com/productlist.html

I can't know your needs and preferences. Maybe a rotator is better for you. Maybe the Columbian if it's MUSA. Maybe even the Jap Cman.

Good luck in whatever you choose.

pauls_workshop · Nov 28, 2014

Thanks Retdac and all here! So I got a Grip on my Vise problem and sorted out these options. Went to Menards and checked out what they had. What I ultimately realized was that for right now, in the space I have for the garage vise, I just don't have much room. Either the 5.5" rotating OR the 5" reversible is just too big for the space I have right now. I am convinced that 5" reversible Wilton clone is top notch though and feels really impressive when you use it. The rotating one also looks real good, but not quite as solid as the reversible one. The little 4" on sale is also solid for the price and not bad at all. A US Columbian 4" would be much larger in size and space needs than the little Menards 4", as would the Sears Craftsman Japan 5" option, although for strength and durability they would come out ahead. Either of those options was almost or more than twice the Menards price though. So for now, decided to get the 4" Menards for the $29.99 and I'm glad I did today! It will probably handle 80% or so of my needs, but I also have the woodworking vice when I need greater space between the jaws I can use. Not as ideal or rugged as the larger machinist vises, but OK for my DIY homeowner uses. When I have more space, I'll come back to these other options above, probably that 5" reversible as it is impressive! Happy Thanksgiving everybody! - Paul

redmed · Nov 28, 2014

pauls_workshop said:
Thanks Retdac and all here! So I got a Grip on my Vise problem and sorted out these options. Went to Menards and checked out what they had. What I ultimately realized was that for right now, in the space I have for the garage vise, I just don't have much room. Either the 5.5" rotating OR the 5" reversible is just too big for the space I have right now. I am convinced that 5" reversible Wilton clone is top notch though and feels really impressive when you use it. The rotating one also looks real good, but not quite as solid as the reversible one. The little 4" on sale is also solid for the price and not bad at all. A US Columbian 4" would be much larger in size and space needs than the little Menards 4", as would the Sears Craftsman Japan 5" option, although for strength and durability they would come out ahead. Either of those options was almost or more than twice the Menards price though. So for now, decided to get the 4" Menards for the $29.99 and I'm glad I did today! It will probably handle 80% or so of my needs, but I also have the woodworking vice when I need greater space between the jaws I can use. Not as ideal or rugged as the larger machinist vises, but OK for my DIY homeowner uses. When I have more space, I'll come back to these other options above, probably that 5" reversible as it is impressive! Happy Thanksgiving everybody! - Paul

I have been eyeballing the same vise for the same reasons. How do you like it?

pauls_workshop · Nov 28, 2014

redmed said:
I have been eyeballing the same vise for the same reasons. How do you like it?

Well, I liked it enough to buy it but just today! Won't be installed and working for a bit as real busy with things at the moment. I think can't go wrong for $29.99 for the 4" on sale now. Note Menard's also sells the mid grade Performax vises. The MF line is the highest line Menard's sells in house. This is much better than the 4" Performax, which might be close to HF for quality level. I don't know who makes the 4" for them, but it is good for a 4" I think. Fits tight and even, etc. - Paul

redmed · Nov 29, 2014

pauls_workshop said:
Well, I liked it enough to buy it but just today! Won't be installed and working for a bit as real busy with things at the moment. I think can't go wrong for $29.99 for the 4" on sale now. Note Menard's also sells the mid grade Performax vises. The MF line is the highest line Menard's sells in house. This is much better than the 4" Performax, which might be close to HF for quality level. I don't know who makes the 4" for them, but it is good for a 4" I think. Fits tight and even, etc. - Paul

I'm going today to check the vise out and probably will come home with one. I'm going to use it to replace a old Wilton vise that keeps coming loose when I apply pressure on it. Before I install it I'm going to take the Wilton vise to a Wilton service center to see if they will repair or replace it. But it is old and I'm not holding much hope.

pauls_workshop · Nov 29, 2014

redmed said:
I'm going today to check the vise out and probably will come home with one. I'm going to use it to replace a old Wilton vise that keeps coming loose when I apply pressure on it. Before I install it I'm going to take the Wilton vise to a Wilton service center to see if they will repair or replace it. But it is old and I'm not holding much hope.

That 5" reversible one they have we talked about might be a good replacement for your real Wilton. The 4" I like but it is nothing like that 5" one. But it is 1/3rd the cost for now! I need a much bigger garage and workspace! 2 car and full of cars normally! And a 1 car space basement wood/workshop is all I got! Don't even have a shed! - Paul

pauls_workshop · Nov 29, 2014

retDAC said:
Good to hear you figured out your best option for now, Paul. How much does the Menard's 4" weigh and does the swivel actually lock?

RetDac, I will let you know but I doubt it has that nice locking feature! It may be a week or two before I can get to it.... Your advice above has been TOP notch my friend and I and others do appreciate it!! - Paul

redmed · Nov 29, 2014

pauls_workshop said:
That 5" reversible one they have we talked about might be a good replacement for your real Wilton. The 4" I like but it is nothing like that 5" one. But it is 1/3rd the cost for now! I need a much bigger garage and workspace! 2 car and full of cars normally! And a 1 car space basement wood/workshop is all I got! Don't even have a shed! - Paul

The Wilton is not a large bench vise but a tilting 4" vise. This Masterforce is a upgrade. This is in my basement workshop too.

MasterForce by Menards Vises?

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