Bench Vice - Keep or Toss?

[northsidechicagoguy]

This came with the house - I am trying to declutter, and since I don't have a permanent bench anymore, wanted to see if there was any reason you guys could think of to keep it? It's a "Home" brand, 203 1/2 vice:

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[MEngineer]

Others are more knowledgeable than me. That said, I have one of those same style vises, I also inherited it with my house. They were a popular design that was rebranded by most everyone back in the day.

My recommendation is for you to keep it, especially if you don't have another yet. They aren't worth much to sell, so you are probably better off having the option.

 

[northsidechicagoguy]

Others are more knowledgeable than me. That said, I have one of those same style vises, I also inherited it with my house. They were a popular design that was rebranded by most everyone back in the day.

My recommendation is for you to keep it, especially if you don't have another yet. They aren't worth much to sell, so you are probably better off having the option.

Thanks! Back when I had a bench in the basement it got a lot of use. I don't particularly want to part with it, but I am aggressively trying to declutter the garage!


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[NUTTSGT]

Keep it, you'll use it in the future.

 

[Mikeske]

You will never appreciate it until the moment that you need the third hand that a vice provides and are alone and you need to make a repair on something. Keep it.

 

[rharman]

Looks like it might be on the small side but, regardless, a vise is one of the handiest things you'll ever own. You'll kick yourself a thousand times if you get rid of it.

 

[dumper]

mount it to a board, and store it somewhere out of the way. When you need it you can clamp it to a table.

 

[jd_1138]

Why toss it? I'd put it in the shed or garage. Every man needs at least a small work bench. I even built one in my mom's small shed that I built for her. I bought a small vise at a yard sale for 10 and mounted it in there.

It's a cool vise. Just needs to be cleaned and oiled. I have a cheap HF one in my shed and a nicer one in garage.

 

[northsidechicagoguy]

Why toss it? I'd put it in the shed or garage. Every man needs at least a small work bench. I even built one in my mom's small shed that I built for her. I bought a small vise at a yard sale for 10 and mounted it in there.

It's a cool vise. Just needs to be cleaned and oiled. I have a cheap HF one in my shed.

Thanks everyone. I really don't want to toss it - was mainly looking for motivation to tip me over the point of keeping it. Ultimately, as I declutter, it takes up very little space.

I have a "portable" bench now that I trot out when needed. For the sake of trying to keep as much of the garage's square footage open I am using this. The old bench I had in the basement was crammed in the room with the furnace, water heater, etc. and I just never felt comfortable with using it in there.


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[Ole Slewfoot]

it came from China, yo owe it to them to send it back if you are not using it.

 

[jd_1138]

No shed and no room in basement? Perhaps build a folding workbench in garage? On hinges. Could even keep the vise bolted to it.

I have a friend who has no shelving or work bench in his shed or garage, so everything is piled up on floor in a single layer. I said dude you need shelving and he replied "don't have room for shelving." Lol

 

[Shiftless]

If you start a thread on GJ asking us if you should discard one or more tools, what answer would you expect?

 

[RAS61]

If you start a thread on GJ asking us if you should discard one or more tools, what answer would you expect?

 

[northsidechicagoguy]

Amen.


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[crewchief888]

my vise layed in the corner of my garage for years unused...

i finally mounted it, and it gets used more than i thought it would...


it was one of those things i never thought about much

 

[Bcom]

You will never appreciate it until the moment that you need the third hand that a vice provides and are alone and you need to make a repair on something. Keep it.

Agreed! Keep it!

 

[4x4gearhead]

A better question is why dont you have a bench with a vise on it anymore? Lol

 

[northsidechicagoguy]

A better question is why dont you have a bench with a vise on it anymore? Lol

I use a portable bench now. There wasn't enough space for a fixed bench, and the bench I had on hinges still protruded from the wall too far to allow safe parking.

I'll set this up similarly to how my bench grinder is - attach it to a board that I can then clamp down when needed.


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[Shiftless]

I’m glad you saw the light!

 

[4x4gearhead]

I use a portable bench now. There wasn't enough space for a fixed bench, and the bench I had on hinges still protruded from the wall too far to allow safe parking.

I'll set this up similarly to how my bench grinder is - attach it to a board that I can then clamp down when needed.


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I know space issues first hand, would seem sad to part with a good vise though. Good idea keeping it mobile so you can still use it

 

[Fretters]

I know space issues first hand....

The bane of just about every bloke & their shed/workshop.

 

[MarkCollette]

Every guy needs a workbench and vice, you have the vice already, here is a bench I put in my garage, surprisingly sturdy and easy to assemble.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EY5F3PE/?tag=atomicindus08-20


Cheers

Mark

 

[northsidechicagoguy]

I have a helpmate-style bench. Does the folding bench stick out far, or does it allow for a slim profile against the wall?


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[BDT/NWMN]

Give the Vice of the Bench his severance pay and walking papers, but the Vise off the Bench is a keeper.

Mount it on a solid plank like others have done, and it will invent it's own usefulness

 

[Shiftless]

How about making a fold up bench yourself?

There are several YouTube videos on folding work benches. The advantages of doing that is that you can get the working height just right depending how tall you are and also be able to utilize your wall space more efficiently.
Shouldn’t stick out more than 3 or 4 inches when folded up.

 

[bczygan]

Every household needs a vise.

Bill

 

[mfewtrail]

I vote keep it. If you no longer have a work bench, maybe build a stand specifically for it. Lots of ideas for stands on here in old posts.

 

[NUTTSGT]

You could always mount it to a plate, 8x8 or 12x12. Mount the plate to a piece of round/square tubing and to another plate or steel wheel for a base. Stick it in the corner and pull it out when you need it.

Having an extra vise on a stand is nice when you need to make a quick welding repair or cutting with a torch.


No torch or welder ? Never say never. . . . just, not yet.

 

[northsidechicagoguy]

I like the idea of a stand, maybe one for vice and grinder? Essentially a mobile workstation...


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[potato]

you need one of these...
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=381521

 

[northsidechicagoguy]

Very nice!


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