A new to me vise

[decableguy2000]

So I picked up a Morgan Milwaukee Model 40 the other day from an antique mall. Less than $100 with tax, just an ok deal. Has been slim pickings for a while for US made vises in my area. I has some surface rust, still has the blue paint on it. Seems to be neglected rather than abused. Would you guys add a swivel base to it? I emailed Morgan, said it was available.

 

[driftpin]

Re: A new to me vice

I saw the title and thought it was going to be a story of strippers, blow, and cash. Pretty-disappointing to read the content.

Congratulations on the new vise, how-much is the swivel base, and how does that compare in price to a new vise of similar proportions?

 

[Davefr]

Re: A new to me vice

IME, a swivel base requires way more "moolah" then it gives back in utility. I use my vise all the time but I can't remember the last time I swiveled it but YMMV.

 

[X1 Mike]

Re: A new to me vice

I saw the title and thought it was going to be a story of strippers, blow, and cash. Pretty-disappointing to read the content.

I don't know about you but non of them would be new to me.

 

[lis2323]

Re: A new to me vice

IME, a swivel base requires way more "moolah" then it gives back in utility. I use my vise all the time but I can't remember the last time I swiveled it but YMMV.

Swivel vises are akin to people who put casters on their “work” bench.

 

[decableguy2000]

Re: A new to me vice

I seen my mistake in spelling 1.2 seconds after posting. I've been searching under both spellings for weeks.

Milwaukee quoted me more for the swivel than I paid for the vise. Still less than $100 for the base with shipping. As far as a new vise, IDK what they would run, I guess I could ask for a quote.

I think it will make a nice addition to my Grandfathers Reed 103, and my Wilton 6 1/2 Tradesman.

 

[Professional Tool User]

Re: A new to me vice

A new swivel base that is not made in China is obviously going to cost more than a used made in USA vice.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Re: A new to me vice

Swivel vises are akin to people who put casters on their “work” bench.

I actually use the swivel feature on my vise a few times each year. Sometimes to get a better angle with a tool and sometimes because a cabinet near the vise can interfere with long objects.
My work bench doesn't have casters but ocasionally I wish I had a bench that I could move to teh center of the shop rather than setting up sawhorses and plywood to make a table.

 

[General Geoff]

Re: A new to me vice

I actually use the swivel feature on my vise a few times each year. Sometimes to get a better angle with a tool and sometimes because a cabinet near the vise can interfere with long objects.
My work bench doesn't have casters but ocasionally I wish I had a bench that I could move to teh center of the shop rather than setting up sawhorses and plywood to make a table.

If you're mounting on a pedestal with lots of space all around, a swivel is completely unnecessary. But if it's bench mounted, a swivel can be handy.

 

[Rabid Badger]

Re: A new to me vice

If you're mounting on a pedestal with lots of space all around, a swivel is completely unnecessary. But if it's bench mounted, a swivel can be handy.

Nonsense! Clearly anyone buying a vise with a swivel base is a chump and deserves to be mocked mercilessly. Varying use cases are a myth perpetrated by the swivel base consortium.

Swivel vises are akin to people who put casters on their “work” bench.

Exactly. A flexible work area has never been of benefit in any situation.

 

[2oolhound]

Re: A new to me vice

My shop is only 8' wide. I just bought a new fridge and my helper buddy insisted we bring it in through the shop. That would have been impossible without being able to swivel the vises sideways because of the narrow isleways.

I just built an awning using 8' tubing for trusses. I was able to grip each end of the truss in my 2 swivel vises, something that wouldn't have worked so easily without swivel vises (lock the swivel after you tighten the jaws down so the truss aligns 100% in both vises).

90% of the work I do doesn't require turfing radically on the vise, work merely needs to be held for welding, grinding or assembly/disassembly. Guys who don't like swivel vises can't think outside the box and have tunnel vision

 

[General Geoff]

Re: A new to me vice

I'd also like to point out that a Morgan swivel base should be very strong and rigid with two lockdown screws, so it shouldn't compromise the rigidity of the whole setup very much.

 

[Gmonkee]

Re: A new to me vice

I just acquired an old 5" vise with a swivel base and a stripped screw. I would happily have a solid clamp and no base. One affects if it works at all. The other is just nice details.

It was free.
Its being fixed soon.

 

[ImportTuner]

Changed vice to vise ....

 

[Jagmandave]

My Wilton 6" has the swivel base and I turn it all the time, it's very handy and sometimes the only way I can do something. I wouldn't have one without it.