Another Thread about Vises!

[timothylockhart]

Hello everyone, I'm just starting to amass my collection of tools, I do not use these tools to make a living but I love working on my own stuff and friends.

Some of my projects i've come across that a vise can be very helpful for alot of things, Intially I figured a Vise is just a vise and any new one in the $30-$50 range at home depot or harbor freight would do.

I've came across a few threads on here and I think I've learned that Wilson columbia and a few other brands are highly regarded,

I came across a
Vintage 4 1/2" "Columbian" Vise w/ Swivel Base - $50
that seems in good shape

What would make that better then say either of these new?

http://www.homedepot.com/p/BESSEY-4-1-2-in-Light-Duty-Bench-Vise-with-Swivel-Base-BV-HW45/205023078

http://www.homedepot.com/p/OLYMPIA-6-in-Bench-Vise-38-606/205149972

Also Should 4 1/2" be fine for most applications? I mean I know it comes down to use but when would you need a bigger one? right now the only uses I've only come across needing it for is to hold a bolt or 1/0 wire to cut with my angle grinder or file down.

Thanks everyone!

*edit* also found Columbian D5 Bench Vise for $75 which is a bit bigger then the 4 1/2 and has never been used no rust etc, If I were to get columbian this would be it

 

[Mr. Soup]

Re: Another Thread about Vices!

Vises?

 

[timothylockhart]

Re: Another Thread about Vices!

Yea I totally botched the spelling! oops.

 

[Roberts210]

Re: Another Thread about Vices!

Since your wrenching is an effort of love and not to make a living, get a nice old vise. One that you can strip and paint and get a good feeling every time you walk past it or every time you chuck something up in it.

Every time I use my '65 era Wilton, that I bought in 1995 or so, I enjoy it. I would never sell or trade it.

 

[General Geoff]

Re: Another Thread about Vices!

4-1/2" should be plenty for most uses, particularly if you get an industrial grade machinist vise. That being said, those home depot vises are not particularly well made or strong.

 

[timothylockhart]

Re: Another Thread about Vices!

@retdac i think I'll go with the 5" Columbia if it's still available. It seems like the best of both worlds. It has a swivel base and I'm hoping it's the better locking kind your talking about.

@roberts, if I end up with a. Rusty one painting it would be great and make it more "mine" great idea thanks!

@geoff sounds good I'll steer clear of those then

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[Ironhorse74]

Re: Another Thread about Vices!

I used to smoke but quit three years ago. I think that was my last vice.

 

[G-ManBart]

Re: Another Thread about Vices!

@retdac i think I'll go with the 5" Columbia if it's still available. It seems like the best of both worlds. It has a swivel base and I'm hoping it's the better locking kind your talking about.

@roberts, if I end up with a. Rusty one painting it would be great and make it more "mine" great idea thanks!

@geoff sounds good I'll steer clear of those then

I know the exact two vises you're looking at, and neither one is really what most of us would call a good vise. They were low end Columbians when new...not terrible like imported junk, but not good.

For a few bucks more you can get a quality vise that's better than either of the two you mentioned. For example, this Morgan is one heck of a vise, and you can probably get it for $100. A wire brush and some paint and it would be set for another 25 years.

http://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/tls/5912371786.html

Brands to look for: Athol, Athol/Starrett, Starrett, American Seal or Red Scale, Columbian, Chas. Parker, Morgan, Wilton, Reed, Yost, Hollands, Prentiss, Rock Island, Ridge/Rigid, Record, Paramo, Erie Toolworks and probably a few others I'm not thinking of.

Now that I think of it, I think I saw a very clean Morgan 40 or Morgan 140 (4" jaw, swivel base) at a local flea market for $65 the other day, but it could have been a 130 or 135....PM me if you want the info (he had several other nice vises as well).

 

[CafeTools]

Re: Another Thread about Vices!

A ~$120 vice is okay for starting out, 4 to 5 inches is decent. Craftsman has a nice red one for around this price.

 

[larry_g]

Re: Another Thread about Vices!

Brands to look for: Athol, Athol/Starrett, Starrett, American Seal or Red Scale, Columbian, Chas. Parker, Morgan, Wilton, Reed, Yost, Hollands, Prentiss, Rock Island, Ridge/Rigid, Record, Paramo, Erie Toolworks and probably a few others I'm not thinking of.

I agree all good names, but a lot of those had 2 or 3 levels of robustness, not to be confused with quality. Some also have an import line. So just going by a name does not guarantee that you get what you want.

Me, I have 1/2 dozen vises to use and find that the 3-4" medium duty vises get used the most. The big heavy vise does not have the feel to grab smaller parts. A light weight vise is good for making shims and working with plastic. All vises will do a job, one vise will not do all jobs.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[G-ManBart]

Re: Another Thread about Vices!

I agree all good names, but a lot of those had 2 or 3 levels of robustness, not to be confused with quality. Some also have an import line. So just going by a name does not guarantee that you get what you want.

Me, I have 1/2 dozen vises to use and find that the 3-4" medium duty vises get used the most. The big heavy vise does not have the feel to grab smaller parts. A light weight vise is good for making shims and working with plastic. All vises will do a job, one vise will not do all jobs.

lg
no neat sig line

Funny, I use my 8" vise for some of my most delicate work....different strokes and all!

 

[sberry]

Re: Another Thread about Vices!

Of the 2 links the 6 inch is far superior, 2x as good as a 30$ one. You can install a ujoint with a 6. The OP isn't going to beat the snot out of it, the right one or large enough one is probably more important than quality.

 

[Teenager with old tools]

Re: Another Thread about Vices!

I have an athol 614 1/2 it's big it's heavy and I don't think I could break it if I tried. They range $80-140 it seems in my area


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[1982fxr]

Re: Another Thread about Vices!

Those Home Depot vises are junk.

Got pics of the Colombians you're looking at?

That Morgan is a good vise.

 

[timothylockhart]

Re: Another Thread about Vices!

Those Home Depot vises are junk.

Got pics of the Colombians you're looking at?

That Morgan is a good vise.

They were local I could link them if you are curious but me and G-manbart might be working out a deal for one of the ones he has!

This community is really something else.