Forward bench vise

[AJHD]

I tried searching the forums, but didn't come up with much...

So that having been said, does anyone have a Forward bench vise? What is your opinion? How is their quality, strength, durability, etc.?
Looking for advise or opinions from people who actually own and use this brand of vise.

How does it compare to something like the new Doyle vises at HF? Which is the better buy?



For the record...

I'm in the market for a 4-6 inch bench vise, under or around $100 (max).

I'm not interested in buying an overpriced rusted and busted piece of junk off Craigslist or OfferUp or eBay. I've not seen anything worth buying in my local market/geographic region. I'm looking for a functional useful vise, not a boat anchor or something I have to restore, even if the letters USA are on it. I don't need anything special or super heavy duty either, it's not an every day hard use item for me. I'm not spending $500+ either.

 

[wreckdiver1321]

I've handled the orange Forward vise in person because I bought the 5" version a while back. I've also played around with the Doyle in HF recently. My thoughts:

I think as far as quality and durability goes, there's little to distinguish between the two. Both are pretty solid for what you pay. I think the overall finish is a little better on the Doyle, but the Forward "feels" better to me. The jaws line up better, the screw feels smoother, the swivel is a bit easier, etc. It really feels like a solid vise. Ductile iron, so it should be just as durable of material as the Doyle, and it's a little lower profile.

The Doyle vise has replaceable pipe jaws, a bigger anvil, and deeper throat depth. It's probably a touch more versatile regarding what you can clamp in it. It's also heavier for a given size, so it should be a little more stout.

That being said, the likelihood you're going to wreck either one is pretty low as long as you're not a lunatic. I like both. You can get a larger vise for your money with Forward. I think I bought my 5" model for $100? Poking around on Amazon, it looks like you can only get the 4" Forward version right now though. If I were only looking at the 4" version, I'd go with the Doyle. It's a bit bigger, a lot heavier, and a little more versatile. The Forward only makes sense when you compare the bigger versions like the 5" or 6" Forward to the 6" Doyle, which is quite a bit more expensive.

 

[seber]

the Doyle five inch vise only opens to four inches. That would be a no go for most people.

 

[Black300zx]

Well I can't comment directly on your question about Forward vises, but I was in your position about a year ago. I wanted a 4-6in bench vise that I could unbox, bolt to my bench, and start using. I didn't want another project to restore.

I ended up grabbing the 5inch rotating Bessey vise that was in stock at my local HD. I think I paid 90 back then. Now it looks to be about 120. I ended up REALLY liking it. There's probably plently I could nitpick about it in terms of fit/finish/build quality, but the two axes of pivot and the two sets of jaws have been super versatile.

BESSEY 5 in. Multi-Purpose Rotating Pipe and Bench Vise with Swivel Base BV-MPV5 - The Home Depot

The BESSEY 5 in. heavy-duty cast iron multi-purpose vise features standard pipe and hardened steel serrated jaws. The base and the head rotate 360° large built-in anvil. Swivel base securely mounts to

www.googleadservices.com

 

[Mgdoug3]

I bought a Dewalt vise that looks exactly like the Bessey one so it's probably sold under several different names. The vise has been decent but when I found a couple of older USA vises I replaced it on my work bench. I plan on using it as my welding or torch vise once I build a roll around welding table.

 

[AJHD]

the Doyle five inch vise only opens to four inches. That would be a no go for most people.

Actually it's 4-1/2" according to their website. Most vises seems to match jaw opening with jaw size for the most part, although some seem to open an additional 1/4"-1/2" beyond that.

The Forward 4" for example only has a 4" opening.

As for Bessey at HD, that's an option too. But I feel like at that point I'd rather go with the generic HF bench vise. I doubt there is much difference in terms of quality and the HF versions are a bit cheaper than Bessey.

I'd like to buy something local. I just wish the Doyle was a bit cheaper. Then again, the Doyle is bigger and definitely heavier than the Forward, despite both being 4". So I'm leaning towards the Doyle. I think it would suit my needs sufficiently. I'll need to look at it person.

 

[Doc67]

I have a bench vise I got from my grandfather and I’m trying to date it. It’s an 80lb Rock Island with a nameplate and it’s a model 542-BX. The only stamp I found was on the back side of the jaws (3 07). See attached pics. I would appreciate any help anyone can provide.
Thank you

 

[Steve_P]

If you can increase your budget, you can really take a huge step up in quality and durability with something like a Yost ADI, or a Capri or Olsa forged steel vise. The 4" steel Olsa is currently $130 on Amazon, the ADI-4 is $145.

 

[Qualitytools]

I have a bench vise I got from my grandfather and I’m trying to date it. It’s an 80lb Rock Island with a nameplate and it’s a model 542-BX. The only stamp I found was on the back side of the jaws (3 07). See attached pics. I would appreciate any help anyone can provide.
Thank you

Welcome to GJ, I suggest you post your question with the photos to the thread "Vises of Garage Journal" I think you will get help under that title. Do a search and you will find the thread, good luck.

 

[AJHD]

If you can increase your budget, you can really take a huge step up in quality and durability with something like a Yost ADI, or a Capri or Olsa forged steel vise. The 4" steel Olsa is currently $130 on Amazon, the ADI-4 is $145.

No regrets, but I didn't see that Olsa vise before buying the Doyle. It does look pretty damn nice.

Amazon.com

It looks suspiciously like the Yost, who I'm going to assume is the OEM.

Amazon.com

 

[Steve_P]

No problem, I'm sure the Doyle will be fine. One of the top reviewed vises on Amazon, both in stars and quantity of reviews, is some POS $40? Yost; but everyone loves it because most people just cut a board, bolt, or pipe in a vise; they're not using it to try and dismantle a rusted pipeline valve, etc. I had an old HF cast iron POS vise on my welding table for 15? years, abused it heavily, and it survived just fine. It was crude and ugly, they used body filler to fill the many casting flaws, but it didn't fail. I gave it away and replaced it with an ADI-5; the HF did the job, but the ADI is 10X nicer, and uses a geared base.
Bottom line is that the newer <$100 Chinese vises have really stepped up the game and they're more than enough for 99.9% of homeowners.

 

[Ssj2251]

I have a bench vise I got from my grandfather and I’m trying to date it. It’s an 80lb Rock Island with a nameplate and it’s a model 542-BX. The only stamp I found was on the back side of the jaws (3 07). See attached pics. I would appreciate any help anyone can provide.
Thank you

I have an early Rock Island vise I believe you can date your vise between 1930 and 1957 most likely 30s 40s if I had to guess when Biitman Electric Company owned Rock Island

Birtman Electric Co. of Chicago acquired Rock Island Manufacturing Co. on January 12, 1930. Birtman Electric made vacuum cleaners, irons, toasters, and other household electric products until merging with Whirlpool-Seeger Corp. in 1957. The Rock Island plant continued to make vises and other tools until closing in 1959. The "Michigan Manufacturer and Financial Record", Volumes 103-104, 1959 states, “Production Tool Supply Co., of Warren, Michigan, announces the purchase of the Rock Island Vise Co. The entire inventory of the Illinois firm will be moved to Warren, said D. D. Kahn, Production Tool president.”