Best ever vise

[30-30remchester]

Ok first off I dont want to start any arguements. I have viewed all the vise threads and can only say WOW. In one thread alone there is 142 pages. I have always admired vises but knew little about them till researching them on the site. From what I can assertain, REED, MORGAN, COLUMBIAN, YOST, WILTON and PRINTESS are top contenders for best of the best. Without prejustices, what do the members feel is the king of the mountain and why?

 

[Steevo]

Do you really want to start a thread that is basically a holy war?
Why not just ask whether Dodge or Ford is better (we all know Chevy isn't )
Or how about snap-On or Mac? Or Yankees or Red Sox?

Oh, and sometimes a little spell check can go a long ways . . .

 

[Bull]

York, the OG of bullet-style vises.

 

[JeremyManning]

you also forgot record

 

[Joe B.]

Everyone knows that the china vise with the rotating head is the best every made. Why else would it be sold under 43 different brands.

 

[bgott]

Either the free Wilton that came with my house or the $5 -5" Morgan I found at an estate sale.

 

[Kirbot]

The Reed 404 1/2 is pretty darned good.

Swivel jaw, swivel base, 4 1/2" jaws, and weighs about 75 pounds.

I can't ask for much more than that.

 

[kc-steve]

York, the OG of bullet-style vises.

Ha-ha-ha, that was expected.

I like Wiltons and Columbians but there are those who would argue that there were some Columbians with design flaws maybe? Same with some Wiltons as well I guess. And then to leave out Charles Parker altogether is just an abomination after 150 years of production.

Steve

 

[slip knot]

Chas Parker. why? because I got one!!

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

I've got a Taskmaster that is more than stout. As well as a Columbian, Yost, and a Wilton!

and btw, no one ever starts a "these are the top brands" thread without starting some arguments. C'mon now!

 

[earlthegoat2]

The Reed 404 1/2 is pretty darned good.

Swivel jaw, swivel base, 4 1/2" jaws, and weighs about 75 pounds.

I can't ask for much more than that.

Unless you despise swivels on your vises like I do. I still have one but I only use it for when I absolutely need my vise to swivel.

See, there is no right answer.

 

[mjozefow]

Parker, Reed, or Simplex/Ridgid. The argument can now end...

 

[oldjacks]

I have a 6" Athol that I bought a number of years ago. The handle has been hammered on so much that it has taken on a bend. The teeth on the jaws are worn nearly smooth and the lead screw is quite loose. This vise has seen a hard life but unbelievably it still has a lifetime of service left in it.

Any vise that can survive 100 years of abuse has got to be a quality product as would be true of many of the other vintage USA made vises too.

 

[Underdog]

Rock Island!
A little cruder than some, but tough.

 

[CARS]

I simply prefer any vise that holds what I want it to! They make different brands??? lol

 

[speed bump]

Whichever one happens to be available and able to do the job. Given a choice since I typically work with round things so a Ridgid BC-610 is my preferred vise followed by a jaw vise with pipe jaws, followed by the biggest vise available.

So basically it needs to be able to take pipe and be big.

 

[Packard V8]

1. Bugatti
2. Chas. Parker
3. Yost, York, Monarch, Reed, Rock Island, Holland, Columbian, Athol, Simplex/Ridgid, Bethlehem and most any other old USA industrial quality vise
4. Wilton

FWIW, the most expensive vises I see for sale or the Emmert pattern-makers models.

 

[Monte]

Leinen

 

[ZRX61]

Morgans...

 

[Catalyze]

Reed....then Athol for stout/overbuilt. Take a scale and then weigh your vises of equal jaw width.

Prentiss and then Parker for classic styling and thoughtful design.

Columbian, Morgan, Yost, Rock Island, Hollands, Desmond/Simplex for great vises that will never let you down.

Wilton just because they buried York in history books and became the gold standard on Ebay.

However.....let's ask Thor what he would use:
View media item 9912

 

[Freeborn John]

However.....let's ask Thor what he would use...

Hmmm. I reckon Thor would use a Woden, made in Wednesbury (Wodens town) England, because they're named after his dad...

 

[fomocoforrester]

Well for me, any medium to large vise without a quick release mechanism just doesn't get a look in.

As for the best of the best ? Iwould say the ....

Samsonia - "Perfect" - number 38a - model J - cast steel.

The number 38 is a great vise too, but at 6 inches it's just a little too big for a general purpose vise in a machine or auto shop.

Ok in a ship yard though....

 

[PCO6]

I have only owned old Record vices and I have been very happy with them. They are popular in Canada, Great Britain (English made) and I think other Commonwealth countries but not as much in the U.S..

No. 6

Nos. 8, 6, 4 & 3 (to be restored)

 

[bad_idea]

So basically it needs to be able to take pipe and be big.

hmm.. low standards there.....