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Good Vise for a Decent Price?

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damnesia

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Jan 16, 2014
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Northern MN
I've been looking for a decent, heavy vise for some time now. Collectors seem to have driven the prices up to a level I don't feel comfortable paying for something that will be used/abused and not restored. Even if I did get a good price on a "good" one ( Prentiss, Rock Island, Reed, Athol, Wilton, etc ) I'd might have reservations about abusing it in my shop if it was in to good of condition. I was given a 5" Craftsman a couple of months ago, but I broke the movable jaw last week and now I'm out my big vice. I have a couple of Littlestown vise but to fill the void, but the biggest one I have is 3.5", which is a little smaller than I need. Preferably looking for a non-swivel base, are there any brands that would not be as collectible as the ones listed above, or am I out of luck until I find an affordable one at a sale?

Thanks for your opinions.
 
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Fretters

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I suppose the obvious suggestion is to not abuse your vices. Any half decent vice will last a lifetime if used within its limits, and for its intended purpose.
 
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D

damnesia

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Northern MN
Fretters said:
I suppose the obvious suggestion is to not abuse your vices. Any half decent vice will last a lifetime if used within its limits, and for its intended purpose.
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Abusing may have been a strong word. At least I don't consider putting a piece of metal in it that has a rusted, seized, pressed fit pin in it and hammering out the pin abuse ( maybe it is ). The vise was not hit with the hammer, just the pin. I don't consider a new Craftsman vise a half decent vise for metal working, a little to light duty.
 
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Cope

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Houston, TX
Son-in-law found a Reed 105 in great mechanical condition with little or no paint left on it for $24.00. A can of Rustoleum and a little prep work and he now has a great vise. Deals are there
 
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Fretters

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Keeping an eye on places like Ebay or Craigslist are the obvious suggestions. Checking out some of the European manufacturers would be another option. Bison Bial, for example. Even with shipping, a sturdy vice from them may work out cheaper than an American produced, decent quality vice.
 
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anndel

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Check Ebay or your local Craigslist. I found a decent Wilton 3-1/2" jaw opening for less than $50 on Ebay and a 6" jaw for $80 as well.
 
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D

DFB

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Southern VT/Western Mass
Good used vises take time to find. And your willing to pay up $100 for something so that might widen your chances of something not abused .(know what your looking at) Personally I try to keep it under $50 when I'm out looking and did score a fixed base Athol 6131/2 in VG condition at a flea mkt for $40. Also found a 3.5 USA Craftsman for $25 a decent vise but world a difference for sure.

Also found a Reed swivel jaw but it was pretty rough and had crack in the base. I'm working on it


On the other hand for around $75 new could get you 5" steel Yost Utility vise for your workbench. Taiwan import from Amazon/Home Depot. I have had the 6 inch version for decades hasn't failed me

Maybe you can make a WTB pitch in another thread to some of collector guys on here on GC. :dunno:

Athol and the 6 inch Yost
 

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damnesia

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WittHay

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Does everyone have full on machine shops in their backyard that they need expensive USA built vises.
Whats wrong with imported new vises? It's like saying that Milwaukee power tools are junk because they are made in China.
 
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Madrona

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May 25, 2014
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All over
I feel for you man, but just hang in there. These vise hoarders won't beat you to every listing. I learned that I was in the exact same area as one of these types, and after sharing my sentiments exactly as you have, he came on the thread bragging about his warehouse full of vises and how he would sell a vise to anybody on GJ BUT me, like he had some special power over me. LMAO. I found a beautiful Columbian 4.5" for $75 and I am as happy as can be. People like us who just want a single tool to use, not brag about here, are the real market. Be patient, you'll find one.
 
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damnesia

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I scored the type of vise I was looking for for 50$ from CL. I've attached some of the PO's pictures and will take better ones tomorrow ( the lens she was using makes the vise look bent ). I'm not thrilled about the slide having been cracked, seems to be common on these though. It was repaired a while ago and structurally looks ok but they didn't appear to be to concerned with filling the entire split. I still think it will work great for my purposes. And if not, for 50$ it can be a conversation piece. Weights right over 50# and has 5" jaws. Prentiss Bulldog #53
 

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Madrona

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Haha, you're in the same market as me! I saw that vise on Craigslist. Hopefully it serves you well.
 
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sonoronos

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Jan 11, 2017
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175
bigdude said:
Avoid the Yost FSV line of vises, they are made in Taiwan.

yost.jpg
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Oh come on. This isn't 1981 where we're smashing Japanese compact cars with baseball bats in Detroit.

Country of origin doesn't matter. What ultimately matters is cost, quality, and features.

The only crime of the Yost FSV vises is that they're expensive enough to warrant looking at the Wilton "Made in USA" Tradesman vises (for example, I'd rather have a Wilton 1745 or 1755 than even a FSV-7) But if you can score an FSV for a bargain (they are sometimes on sale for half price) then they're miles better than any 30ksi iron vise.
 
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Yingpin

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Feb 2, 2017
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Found a guy locally to me selling a Chas Parker 973 for $40. Looks like it is in pretty good shape. Would this be a decent buy?

Correction, it is a 973. I will pick it up since I have been working on the garage over the past two weeks, hence why I joined this forumn.
 
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jakemac

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Yingpin said:
Found a guy locally to me selling a Chas Parker 973 for $40. Looks like it is in pretty good shape. Would this be a decent buy?

Correction, it is a 973. I will pick it up since I have been working on the garage over the past two weeks, hence why I joined this forumn.
Click to expand...

At that price, it should already be on your bench. :3gears:
 
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damnesia

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Northern MN
My dad loves the Chas Parker vises. I think the main reason is he's really into Parker shotguns. From what I understand the vises are very good quality.
 
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