Does this vise pass the sniff test?

[SelfTaughtNovice]

Hi all, I've been lurking for a while, but now that my garage is needing a vise, I'm turning to you fine folks for some insight.

I found a Wilton, pictured below, local to me. The seller says the jaws are 6" wide and that "the serial number is 111525 for the main part and 111256 for the front part." He's asking $50; smell like a deal?

 

[JKady]

$50 for a Wilton sounds like you should be in the car on the way to pay the man to me.

 

[G_P]

I could be. It could also be an import.

 

[oldldh]

That is not a "good' Wilton...

It is an "adequate" Wilton...

 

[rsanter]

If you need a vise and there are not between deals around you then that is not too bad.
I think I would be comfortable at $40
It is not the most desirable but it is decent and will get the job done for the majority of what you need
Remember, if you find a better deal later and buy it, having two vises is not a bad thing. If you get more than the $40-50 worth of use in the mean time then you did good

Bob

 

[1982fxr]

I could be. It could also be an import.

no, it couldn't...

 

[1982fxr]

Hi all, I've been lurking for a while, but now that my garage is needing a vise, I'm turning to you fine folks for some insight.

I found a Wilton, pictured below, local to me. The seller says the jaws are 6" wide and that "the serial number is 111525 for the main part and 111256 for the front part." He's asking $50; smell like a deal?

if that;s a 6" wide it will be gone fast at that price...

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

Well
http://www.harborfreight.com/6-inch-swivel-vise-with-anvil-67040.html

 

[fatfillup]

no, it couldn't...

Why do you say that? Wilton does have an import line.

Not doubting you necessarily, just curious.

OP, buy the vise if you need one.

 

[1982fxr]

Well
http://www.harborfreight.com/6-inch-swivel-vise-with-anvil-67040.html

that is literally about the worst vise on the market...it's obscene to compare that pos to a USA Wilton, even if it's not one of the lines that Wilton made their name on...

 

[1982fxr]

Why do you say that? Wilton does have an import line.

Not doubting you necessarily, just curious.

OP, buy the vise if you need one.

99.999999% sure that particular model was always USA. The old ones, I mean. The new version of that is chinese, but that is an old one.

The ''old ones'' were all USA is what i mean to say.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

That vise isn't as good as a Wilton bullet, but it's a very solid vise and will do what you need. For $50 I'd grab it because it won't last long at that price.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

SelfTaught,

I'm going to guess that the vise in question is U.S. made. It looks very similar to some that I bought, restored & resold in the past. They are a good, basic vise that will last a long time, if you don't abuse it. Mine sold for around $135.00 (after restoration). Pictures below.

There were 2 types of those Wilton mechanic's vises: one with T-jaws and one with Y-jaws. The Y-jaws are a little more beefier and an older model, but either one will do what you ask. Yours looks like the Y-jaw.

The vise in question looks like my restorations, except for the Wilton adhesive tag on yours, where mine has Wilton cast in the body. Look it over. It should say "Made in USA" somewhere on it.

IMO: If it's made in USA, or Japan, and it's not broken, $50 is a good price if you want to keep it.

BTW: You may want to buy a bushing at a hardware store to place at the swivel base nut. There may be some slop there.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

that is literally about the worst vise on the market...it's obscene to compare that pos to a USA Wilton, even if it's not one of the lines that Wilton made their name on...

Compare the other stat... the worst vise in the world would cost 30% more.

 

[autopts]

Hi all, I've been lurking for a while, but now that my garage is needing a vise, I'm turning to you fine folks for some insight.

I found a Wilton, pictured below, local to me. The seller says the jaws are 6" wide and that "the serial number is 111525 for the main part and 111256 for the front part." He's asking $50; smell like a deal?

That could be one of the best Utility vises Wilton ever made. That's a beefy vise. Grab it for $50.

 

[exmaxima1]

99.999999% sure that particular model was always USA. The old ones, I mean. The new version of that is chinese, but that is an old one.

The ''old ones'' were all USA is what i mean to say.

That model also came as an import even many years ago. The cast pipe jaws (as opposed to replaceable steel inserts) are the giveaway clue. If the vise doesn't say "USA" on the side, look under the base and it might say Taiwan or Japan. I had the same vise and it was an import version.

That said, it's still alot of vise for $50.

 

[Shiftless]

That model also came as an import even many years ago. The cast pipe jaws (as opposed to replaceable steel inserts) are the giveaway clue. If the vise doesn't say "USA" on the side, look under the base and it might say Taiwan or Japan. I had the same vise and it was an import version.

That said, it's still alot of vise for $50.

I used to have just one vise...one of those bought new in the late '70's. It was marked Craftsman and underneath the swivel base it was marked BF made in Japan. It held up well and was still very operational when I traded it away last year. The guy who got it agreed to in exchange for the vise, to haul away about 3000 pounds of dirt from my yard. It would have cost me a lot more than $50 if I had hired out the job.
Grab that vise for $50.

 

[1982fxr]

I used to have just one vise...one of those bought new in the late '70's. It was marked Craftsman and underneath the swivel base it was marked BF made in Japan. It held up well and was still very operational when I traded it away last year. The guy who got it agreed to in exchange for the vise, to haul away about 3000 pounds of dirt from my yard. It would have cost me a lot more than $50 if I had hired out the job.
Grab that vise for $50.

that exact vise was rebadged by c-man? That exact one?

 

[1982fxr]

i guess i just got lucky on the 10 or so of those I've had, they were all USA
http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=157668

 

[1982fxr]

i was wr.....

 

[rice rocket]

So what's it smell like?

 

[Shiftless]

that exact vise was rebadged by c-man? That exact one?

To the best of my recollection...Yes

Unfortunately I no longer have the vise in my collection so I can't be 100% sure of any tiny variations.