How many vises do you own? 2020 edition

Let’s revive a poll I first ran in 2015 and then again in 2018

How many vises do you own?

(Fine print here)
Count bench vises, (Bolt down or clamp on), post vises, machinist mill vises and drill press vises, woodworking vises, specialty pipe vises, precision little hand vises with wooden or metal handles. Don’t count vise grip pliers.

Edit: Don’t forget to add in your saw sharpening vises! (Thanks txlonghorn1989)

It’s interesting to compare with the results from 2018
.

Multiple 4" and 6" bench vises, Wilton woodworkers, Kindt-Collins pattern, couple of milling machine vises, 3 drill press vises, a Roubo, and a old worn out Reed 104-1/2 in pieces that needs a new home.

Thanks for posting P.D. We’re off to a fast start.

several English size 00s plus a few big Parkys and historic woodworking vises (in benches) from Yorkshire - 20+

I'm not a collector at all, yet I think I have eight of them. Two bench vises, a woodworking vise, a drill press vise, a mill vise, and several precision grinding vises in different sizes. All of them have their own purpose, and get used. I do keep my eye out for a big antique American vise just to have one.

6.

Bench vise (from my late dad) and Panavise in home (basement) workshop.

Two bench vises, one woodworking and one drill press vise in Can-Am Garage (cottage garage).

I'm down to only a dozen.

Shift
It will be interesting to see where the numbers end this time as more people seem to be collecting.

A quick mental recall exercise came up with 20 of all varieties described in Post #1.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

They add up right quick, even when you don't really consider yourself a vise collector, and I know they add up even quicker for those who do identify themselves as vise collectors!

As I was saying to Shiftless in the 'Garage Sale 2020' thread, I can see the 'utility' argument for a small shop with several vises, each vise with unique sizes or functions, and a large shop with two times several for the same reasons, but after that, they are all in my opinion just heavy Hummels. And, just in case that rubs someone the wrong way, as a collector, who has argued with strict utilitarians in the past about the legitimate intrinsic value of antique and vintage tools as collectibles, as artifacts of the golden era of manufacturing history, divorced from use, I say that with the greatest admiration.

My very modest inventory...

1. Parker No. 316 Jeweler's Vise, 1-7/8", Stationary Base, Swivel Jaw, Antique
2. Parker No. 31 Bench Vise, 3", Stationary Base, Conical Slide, Pre-war vintage
3. Luther Bench Vise, 2-1/4", Clamp-On, Pre-war vintage
4. Bonney No. 121 Champion Bench Vise, 3", Clamp-On, V-Slide, c. 1914
5. Bonney No. 1-1/2 Standard Bench Vise, 1-1/2", Clamp-On, Open Screw, c. 1914
6. Unidentified Cross-Mill Vise, 2-1/2", Stationary Base, Pre-war vintage
7. Prentiss Bulldog 524 Bench Vise, 4", Swivel Base, Walson Army Hospital Ft. Dix, NJ tag
8. Rock Island 503A Bench Vise, 3", Swivel Base, Open Screw, Unknown vintage
9. GRAND 41-V-104 Bench Vise, 3", Clamp-On, WWII (Ordnance Dept)
10. GRAND 41-V-104 Bench Vise, 3", Clamp-On, WWII (Ordnance Dept)
11. C.M.&T.Co. 41-V-98 Bench Vise, 1-7/8", Clamp-On, WWII (Ordnance Dept)
12. Wilton Bullet HD 9400 WE Bench Vise, 4", Swivel Base, 7-1946
13. Craftsman (Reed) No. 506-51800 Bench Vise, 2-1/2", Swivel Base, late 1940's
14. Bison-Bial Fabryka Przyrzadow i Uchwydow (FPU) Hi-Test 327 Bench Vise, 4", Swivel Base, Postwar
15. Ridge Simplex 43 CPN Bench Vise, 4-1/2", Stationary Base, Unknown vintage
16. Stanley No. 700 Woodworkers' Vise, 5", Antique
17. Palmgren No. 15 Hand Vise, Aluminum, 1-1/2", Unknown vintage
EDIT:
18. Disston Saw Vise, Clamp-On, Ball-Joint, antique

The only vises I use on a regular basis are the Parker No. 31 and the Bison-Bial (both on garage benches) and the Luther and the Palmgren hand vise (in the Lugzsonian). The WWII Ordnance Dept vises are parts of 'Living History' displays. The Parker No. 316 is on its original fin de siecle jewelers' bench. All the others are just lookers, as in, 'Look what I found...' and/or eventual flippers.

In all seriousness, I look forward to seeing an inventory from anyone in the 50+ Club and especially anyone in the 100+ and 200+ Clubs! I am very curious about the aesthetics and also the duplicates in such a collection.

Well said, Lugz
Thanks for posting your philosophy of collecting old tools. I am in total agreement.

As of now, 46 of you guys have entered your vise count. GREAT!

Forgot to count my drill press vises and how about saw vises for sharpening your saws?

txlonghorn1989 said:

... and how about saw vises ...

Click to expand...

****. Now I have to edit. Doesn't change my 11-25 vote category, though.

For interest, here's the 2015 link, and the 2018 link to the polls then:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=307020&showall=1
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=409140

I think I've cut down since the last threads, at least I've refined it to users. Here's my inventory:
Panavise on downstairs bench.
Wilton rotating pattern makers vise on downstairs bench.
6 1/2" Wilton Tradesman on downstairs bench.
Wilton woodworkers quick acting, 1/2 turn woodworkers vise on garage bench.
4" Columbian on garage bench.
4" wilton on layout table in shop.
Columbian woodworkers quick acting, 1/2 turn woodworkers vise on portable bench in shop.
Craftsman conventional woodworkers vise on portable bench in shop.
Extra 4" columbian on garage floor, awaiting it's fate.
Versavise awaiting new paint (maybe today) and will go on downstairs bench.

Angle, XY, and quick acting drill press vises. Machinists vises (couple of them) for workholding on the mill or drill press. Jewelers pin vise. Small hand vise.

Sold a zyliss vise today, so it's going out the door. I think I have a small clamp on vise for sale also.

So, 19 vises total in my possession today. 2 on the way out the door, and one in limbo on the floor. So, either 16 or 17 total in my long term strategy. If you don't count the jewelers and drill press vises, I have 9 bench vises mounted and in use; counting the versa-vise which is removed temporarily for new paint.

No collector vises in my shop.

edit: Looking at my pictures, I have an extra panavise on deck in the downstairs shop, the pictures revealed it when I forgot. Not sure if it's a spare, or a "for sale" at this point.

One that I use, two still in the box that I plan on flipping. Technically 3.

Mill vise
X-Y vise
Drill press vise
2 rotating vises
Mechanics vise
Mini vise
2 woodworking vises

I'm sure there are a few more I'm not thinking of

I thought I had 40-50 until just spending the last hour counting them all......half of them are in state of repair for resale....

Thanks a lot shift. I hate hoarders, and it appears as if I am one...

87 is the grand total as of right now, unless I missed one. *edit, plus 5 mill or drill press vises* that includes chain vises, wood working vises and one post vise. more than half of them will be sold. in my prime of flipping vises, I was selling 8-10 vises a week, so i acquired a metric **** ton in the process.... With work keeping me on the road these days, and a new guy in town selling a Shiton of vises, I haven't sold many this year.



The only collections I have are the reed 100R series and the craftsman made reeds, and a couple wiltons left. I originally wanted to have a full set of wiltons in a working shop.... that has snowballed.... selling off most all of the wiltons and columbians, and all the non-oddballs. I need a 105R to complete the 100 R series. won't get into the 200 series reeds as i prefer a 4 bolt base, and all of them will be users. The reedsmans have been my obsession the last couple of years and am desperately trying to find a 5183 (105R) to complete the craftsman stationary series. there's a couple members here that have them, and will not come off of them... That one is the one that got me into collecting the craftsman reeds because My grandfather had that one, and the family sold it at the estate sale even though it had my name on it. I was out of town for work and am still pissed about it to this day. he served in WW2 and the timeline when these were made, as well as being a child of the 70's and growing up with quality craftsman tools got me into them long before the reeds. I've found every other one except that one..

Reed 103R in my basement on the wood work bench
Reed 103-1/2R location tbd
Reed 104R on MY work bench at work. used 100x a day.
Reed 104-1/2R at my home steel work bench on one end of my shop. posted used one at home.
Reed 106R haven't found a place for it. more than likely will be mounted to a post on the car lift. was mounted to my stand, until I got the 108R....
Reed 108R on its own stand in my fab shop
Reed 105N. will be for sale.

Reed 2c bought as a parts vise. recently bought another broken one and mated the two together.... its destiny is TBD.
Reed 2c with kevins jaws on my fab table at my shop.
Reed 3C with kevins jaws on my Welding bench at my day job
Reed 4C with kevins jaws on its own stand at my shop. has a broken swivel base. been looking for 2 years for one....

Reed 214R filers on my wood bench that is used mainly for chainsaw sharpening (heat solely with wood) and misc filing needed in a fab shop.
Reed 224 1/2R sheet metal/carraige makers opposite end of 2c on my fab table in my shop. Use this alot more than i ever imagined I would due to the smooth jaws and not marring the surface of things that will be welded.

Reed 203 1/2 from 1915 will be for sale
Reed 104 1/2 from 1913 found it looking for total vises and forgot I had it... 3 bolt base, almost smooth jaws. most likely will be for sale when i make a new handle.

Reed 203R with a broken swivel base for parts
reed 204R will be for sale or traded.
Reed 205R bought as a parts vise, dynamic jaw broken in half where the teeth are... imagine taking a hack saw and cutting it down the center from the jaw to the spindle.... static jaw and swivel base are great shape, and the 205 uses the same base as a 3c....


Ridgid 45Fcpn (columbian 204-1/2 M3) my First restoration. sentimental to me because I lived 3 blocks from the ridge tool company many years ago... currently not being used... was going to be used on the fab table until I got the 2c....

Columbian 505 Redoing for a buddys new garage that he's building.
Columbian 506 (outside beater vise mounted to an ibeam bought from the scrap yard with 3/4" deep dents and gouges in it from sledge hammer abuse. used for torch cutting, hammering, and grinding duties without guilt of ruining a "good vise").
Columbian 224-1/2 will be for sale
Columbian 504 will be for sale.
collumbain 603 "pat appd for" prentiss style jaws. will be for sale
Columbian 206 M2 will be for sale, in almost new old stock condition.

Yost 131c (31C with a stationary base) was on my work bench at work until I got the 104R
Yost 34c will be for sale. bought 6 of them NOS from a government auction and saved the last one....
yost 503 brand new in the box sheet metal vise (for sale)
old yost 503 early 1900's sheet metal vise (for sale)

Wilton 20s sitting on my tool box as a display
Wilton 20n on a powRarm mounted to my gun bench
wilton 25s sitting beside the baby in my tool box hutch for display
wilton 25n on a powRarm
wilton pat pen 40s
wilton pat pend 40s
wilton chicago 400s
wilton 45s that needs the static jaw ledge repaired.
wilton 350S x2 both for sale
wilton 400S my first wilton that I welded the jaw ledge, and added a raised anvil then built a custom chain and gear stand. Mainly a display piece in my shop now, and everyone that comes over comments on it..
wilton 450S on my main work bench
wilton 1750 (was works and we got a new 6" chinese wilton. got to take it home) selling to a buddy after a restoration.
wilton 1755 anniversary edition bought after wilton moved production overseas. probably won't ever use it and save it for future resale still in the box.
wilton 1760 snap on painted green mounted on my snap on box.
snap on 1760 original snap on for sale
Wilton 5" shop King


Wilton C1 on my service truck removed swivel base for a more rigid mount
Wilton c1 witout a swivel base on my welding table at my home shop
Wilton c2 at my day job (its mine)
Wilton c3 (old style will be for sale when I get a set of pipe jaws for it)
Wilton 745 mechanics vise. First one I bought new in 1998. was on my main work bench until I got a brand new 450S for 100 bucks.... more than likely will give it to a family member.
Wilton double Pin c2 in excellent shape missing the swivel base. will be for sale
Wilton 400N put new jaws on it and will be for sale.

Craftsman 5163 4.5" rock island made.
Craftsman 5169 parts vise
Craftsman 518-51810 columbian made 5" 57 chevy style. needs new jaws.
Craftsman 05195 x2 one is cracked in half. saved for parts
Craftsman 05196
craftsman 05197

craftsman 5179 3" stationary
craftsman 5180 3-1/2" stationary
craftsman 5181 4"
craftsman 5182 4-1/2"

craftsman 5184 3" swivel
craftsman 5185 3.5" swivel
craftsman 5187 4-1/2" swivel
craftsman 5188 5" swivel


Prentiss 181. restored to use, couldn't find pipe jaws. will more than likely sell

Prentiss model 10. got it as a trade in from a guy that bought one of the 5 wilton 1780's I had (bought a pallet of them from amazon returns) its broken on the static where the swivel jaw sits. slide is cracked... the spindle and pin are the only thing worth saving..

Parker 259X. second restoration that I didn't quite finish...

Hollands 53 1/2H Anvil vise
Hollands model C
Karas Electric 2.25" (hollands) on a powRarm.

Rock island 241 anvil vise
Rock island 141 thru bench combo vise, bought it for the pipe jaws for the 241. will be for sale
Rock island 543B 5" combo vise. Almost New Old Stock condition. for sale for the right money. its larger and heavier than a 3C or c2 wilton
Samson 5175 3.5" rock island made vise. busted slide. Gave 5 bucks for it for the mint jaws and swivel base for future projects.

Superior 123 vise not sure why I bought it or why I have it. its stupid cheaply made, but really cool pivoting jaw that spings 360 degrees. intended to mount it on the welding table and never got around to it I guess...

simplex 6" combo vise at work. used solely for the pipe jaws to remove large flanged fittings. forget the model number. 60cp? got it cheap because the support ledge was cracked from the static jaw and the main jaws were trashed. "donated it to work", to make my life easier

Littlestown 197 wood working vise on my chainsaw bench.
B/G 500 wood working vise 5-6" wood working vise on my wood working bench in the basement
Abernathy 80D 8" rapid acting wood working vise on my fab table.

one old crusty 5" leg vise missing the spring. will restore it to working condition whenever i get time to mess around with some home blacksmithing.

rigid BC600 chain vise on my service truck

Rigid BC400 chain vise on the work bench at work.

Reed CV4 chain vise on my welding bench.

1 3" drill press vises for my rockford Drill press
1 2.5" drill press vise for my Wen table top drill press in the wood shop
1 cross slide vise (chinesium) for the rockford.

1 4" mill vise on my Grizzy table top mill
1 3" mill vise for the Grizzly mill

Private Lugnutz said:

****. Now I have to edit. Doesn't change my 11-25 vote category, though.

Click to expand...

Same here Lugz. After considering my 3 drill press vises and my 3-4 saw vises I'm still less than 25.

Voted just one but it turns out there’s another on my drill press and a sharpening vise and probably others I’ve forgot about.

AngryBeaver said:

The reedsmans have been my obsession the last couple of years and am desperately trying to find a 5183 (105R) to complete the craftsman stationary series...[ ]...That one is the one that got me into collecting the craftsman reeds because My grandfather had that one, and the family sold it at the estate sale even though it had my name on it. I was out of town for work and am still pissed about it to this day. he served in WW2 and the timeline when these were made, as well as being a child of the 70's and growing up with quality craftsman tools got me into them long before the reeds. I've found every other one except that one..

Click to expand...

I'll keep a lookout.

Thanks for posting your inventory. Unless I am mistaken, no dupes, which is impressive.

Hoping the two (2) 100+ and one (1) 200+ collectors post their inventories.

Private Lugnutz said:

I'll keep a lookout.

Thanks for posting your inventory. Unless I am mistaken, no dupes, which is impressive.

Hoping the two (2) 100+ and one (1) 200+ collectors post their inventories.

Click to expand...

Thanks, i debated posting only due to wanting to find that reedsman, and i know how people that collect things or buy and sell won't sell to someone that is a hoarder so to speak... lmao... I a know there is another gentleman here that collects the reedsmans as well.

2 reed 2c's.. one with kevins jaws, one that is a frankenvise. 1943 static jaw, 1958 dynamic.

2 craftsman 5195's, one cracked completely in half

5- 4" wiltons, one pat pend, one pat pen, one chicago HD, one schiller park swivel, one schiller park stationary

2 baby bullets, one swivel one on a powRarm
2 toddlers, one swivel, one on a powRarm.


So a couple a duplicates.... kinda.. At one point in time I had 4 columbian 204-1/2s, 3 Columbian 206's, and 4 reed 204's. 6 Yost 34c's, 7 wilton 1750's, and 5 Wilton 1780A's... I miss having the hookup on the amazon returns for pennies on the dollar..

Im down to 4 VISES, still have a 4" RAE vise I should pedal off.

**** - I spaced. Move one from the "1" column to "2-5".

It's me, my Yost and my woodworkers vise

Two. Neither are mounted. Lol. Recent move and I'm undecided on location.

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using The Garage Journal mobile app

I am searching for a good USA vise at garage/estate sale prices. I have two China Vises (something like 3.5" and 2") that came with the house on a workbench in the basement. I am building my workshop in the garage and need a good USA Vise. Ideally 4-5" Jaw.

I know Craftsmans had various Vise manufacturers over the years. Reed, Rock Island, Wilton, Columbian.

Are these models always from the listed manufacturer?
Craftsman (Reed) No. 506-51800 Bench Vise: REED
Craftsman 518-51810 columbian made 5": COLUMBIAN
Craftsman 5163 4.5" rock island made: ROCK ISLAND

I have been told Craftsman from Reed and Rock Island without Anvils are Ductile. With Anvil I guess they are Cast Iron.

I can pickup a restore condition Morgan Chicago 140 or Reed 203 1/2 for $150; or a nice condition(no restore needed) Columbian D5(5.5" jaw) for $50. Not Estate/Garage sale prices. The Reed is probably the best quality (but smallest), then Morgan, then Columbian. Much better price than most restore condition vises in my area. I am happy to restore if I find a rusty one!!!

Talked to an old friend yseterday. He recently bought a Craftsman USA vise at a flea market for $5 then sold it for $20.

Lost count.

At least 12 off the top of my head.

Same as last time.

Bill

I put myself in the 11 to 25 category, then noticed saw vices mentioned, so I upped a step but I had forgotten milling machine vices, and I don't know if I have 2 dozen or as many as 40 different saw vices. I'd count them if I could remember where they are. I'm in the midst of packing, organizing, and preparing to move.

I am down to 6 that include the following:

Reed 104-1/2 S
2 - 3in. Wilton Bullets ('40s & 70's vintage)
Wilton x/y DP vise
Craftsman tilting DP vise
Strong Hand 2-axis vise

Two craftsman pros that I use in the garage, one smaller craftsman out in the shed, and two pin vises that I used for modeling when I was still into that hobby.

I just did a a quick count in my head and I'm over 25. Maybe I'm starting to develop a problem......?

A big thanks to everybody who has tallied up all of their vises especially those of you who have gone to the trouble to post detailed lists. Quite a few members are curious about details and pics.

The poll has only been open for less than 2 days and has already received 107 entries. Go team!

If you’re interested, here is a comparison with the 2018 results

I own 5, all of which get used regularly...

Wilton 6" is my go-to daily

Craftsman 4" has almost smooth jaws so it gets used for things I don't want to mar....I do have a set of soft jaws for the Wilton and use them too

Craftsman 4" mounted to my portable welding table to hold stuff while I stick it together.

Small 2" clamp-on vise to hold tiny stuff

a 3" vise for the bench top pillar drill

I'm amazed that TWO people own over 200!!!!

4" Wilton sorta-mounted
MONSTER Wilton sitting on the floor - missing the swivel base
3-4" Columbian sitting on the bench
Ancient 2" clamp-on waiting on clean-up (for the last 28 years)

I have four including the drill press vise. Same three brench vises I always had. A 403 1/2 Columbian, 289 1/2 Parker and a 6" Morgan.

I think I'm in the 11-25 category and I just ordered another vise for the mill yesterday. I remember the first round of this poll and thought to myself I don't have that many vises. Then I got to counting and thought I really should thin the heard, then I added another one.

I have 7 I think. Voted, and looked at the results. I guess I am in the 'normal' range.

dragoneggs said:

I have 7 I think. Voted, and looked at the results. I guess I am in the 'normal' range. ��

Click to expand...

Interesting comment
Just like last time, about 60% of the respondents own between 2 and 10 vises.

But at the extremes, just as many guys have 200+ as have no vise at all!

In a process og simplyfieng my life, and workshop. I've got two that I'm very happy with. I use the little one alot and clamp it vertical and horizontal all over the place, to match the job.
Pics are from when I bought them, both are cleaned up beautifully now, in respect to their patina earned through the years.
[emoji4]
The Garage Journal mobile app

I'm just cut and pasting my remarks from 2018 but adding minor modifications to the list.

I've added a few since and count 30.
19 bench vises
6 drill press
2 pipe
2 mini (at least)
1 post
Oh yeah, 1 wood work, so I have at least 31.

I don't consider myself a collector. It's not uncommon for me to have 3 or 4 in use at once during a project but then yeah, I have ended up thinking I should try to get one of each size of Record Mechanic's vices so I have 8 and am missing a #7 and a #8. I guess I'm part collector too.

The other Mechanic's or bench vises are ones I want to try out for 6 months or so to get a feel for them and decide which ones I really should keep. I've been exposed to many new to me vises here so I'm doing the "taste test". I've added 2 quick set vises lately and am enjoying using them.

When I rebuilt my leg vise I had to hold it in 2 vises spaced about 30" apart. My vises are mounted in receiver hitches in my bench (spaced 12" apart on center). Having swivel vises allowed me to tighten the top of the leg vise snugly in one while cradling the long post in between the jaws of the second swivel vise while I swiveled it to align properly to the leg, then lift the leg up into the jaws and tighten both vises snugly. Locking a long object in 2 vises is one argument for why swivel vises can be very handy specially if they are different brands with different heights and static jaw distances from the front of the bench. I do have a 6" non swivel mounted directly to a bench should I need to really torque on something but I find the swivel types are easily adequate for most of the things I'm doing.

Drill press vises are the other type I have a few of. The main one is a quick set then 2 with adjustable angle jaws (one has 4 jaws), a cross slide and 2 normal that I don't use.

I'm not counting pin vises (4 or 5) or built on vises on my horizontal band saws (3).

I think I've only got 10, so that probably makes me a novice.