Bench Vise

[a91syncro]

As the title says i'm looking to buy a bench vise. What size should I get? I'm considering the 4 or 5 inch Wilton from fastenal. I do not want to spend more than $150 if I can. Obviously it will be used for auto and home projects. Any information will be much appreciated.
Thanks Eric

 

[dfndr]

Check out Heuer on Ebay. You might like it.

 

[bmwpower]

Look for a Wilton Machinist. It's pretty much the standard in machinist vises.
Get the biggest one you can find/afford.

If that search fails (and likely it will at $150), look for an old vise. Anything from this list is top notch:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7509

 

[LoneGunman]

New ,bench vise, quality and $150 very rarely end up in the same sentence. Forget the pretty new one (unless you happen to really luck out and actually find a quality vice for that price) and get yourself and old one from the list BMW posted, if you need it to look good then prep and paint it. I believe Stuey recently rebuilt an old vice.

 

[Adam McLaughlin]

Ooooh!

I just got my Rock Island 594 last weekend. I took it apart on Saturday, and today it went to the Machine shop for hot tank and cleaning. When it gets out, I will prep and paint it. This week after work I plan on making a base for it - I have a big rig brake drum, some steel plate, some steel tube and a welder. I'll post pics- I love to make stuff!

Rock Island stuff is the bomb. Made in America! )

Adam

 

[krusty the clown]

+1 on used............you will have a hard time finding a new one with the same quality of an old one.

 

[3 at 8]

Look at the older used Wiltons on ebay, theres at least two nice 4" ones on there now. IMO most impressive new product for the money is Heuer. They actually look rather impressive for how much they are. There were quite a few of them on Ebay recently. Never seen one in person though. But if your going to buy new I would definatly look at a Heuer.


Ebay Wiltons: http://shop.ebay.com/items/?_nkw=wi...id=m270.l1313&_odkw=wilton+armetale&_osacat=0

Heuer: http://www.fine-tools.com/G302450.htm