I need a vise and small level

[Djstorm100]

I've seen a number of Iwrin vises just snap if you put a little bit of force on them. I think both HD and Lowes sells them both. Do they happen to carry any other brands or where would I go to get a good one?


Also I need a small level for when I level my rifles and scopes out. Really smaller the better, if a level was made such that it was only the bubble that would be great.

 

[bareass172]

Do your best to buy old iron vises, vintage US made or a few other vintage good brands. Tons and tons of threads on vises here to give you ideas. Watch Craigslist and Ebay, depending on how bad or soon you need it, you can usually find a good deal that way. I would never buy Irwin or any of the other brands in the big box stores anymore, they're no better than HF quality for the most part. If I were in a bind and HAD to buy a cheap vise right away I'd buy Tekton - at least they have a lifetime warranty.

As for the levels, look for string levels - they are just the bubble.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00002X2FC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Lot's of variations of that simple design, depends what you need.

 

[Djstorm100]

When looking for a vise I don't know what to look for other that size jaws


Using tapatalk

 

[drivesitfar]

DJ:what do you need a vise for and we might be able to help you decide on a vise. for general work a Reed 104 with or without a swivel base might cover most of your needs. there are many other old US 4 inch vises that will work too.

a few of the guys on GJ have a few sitting around gathering dust so best to put where you live or approximate so some member might help you or Craigslist and garage sales might come up with one.

Badass is right there are many of those levels around and some have magnets on them which might work best for your work.

if you have a few hours read or just look at the pictures of the Vises of Garage Journal and you might see your vise you like and if you are in the NW part of the US PM me and i'll give you a couple choices of a vise to own.

 

[Djstorm100]

DJ:what do you need a vise for and we might be able to help you decide on a vise. for general work a Reed 104 with or without a swivel base might cover most of your needs. there are many other old US 4 inch vises that will work too.

a few of the guys on GJ have a few sitting around gathering dust so best to put where you live or approximate so some member might help you or Craigslist and garage sales might come up with one.

Badass is right there are many of those levels around and some have magnets on them which might work best for your work.

if you have a few hours read or just look at the pictures of the Vises of Garage Journal and you might see your vise you like and if you are in the NW part of the US PM me and i'll give you a couple choices of a vise to own.

Thanks for the info guys, I live in centeral NC. The vice will be used pretty much from everything like tapping or chasing a thread, clamping metal and bending it, welding, to do rifle builds. My dad has a old one (he's had it for 19 years), I was looking at the ones at HD and the reviews show how they snapped in two! lol

 

[drivesitfar]

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=232487&highlight=vise+broke

DJ: if you can't find a member in your area to sell you one of his vises you might try the vise in this thread that has a lifetime guarantee even though it's an import. one of the guys that works at the company is a member of GJ and did this guy a great favor even though he used his vise as a press.

don't use your vise as a press and get a small piece of RR track for your anvil and most any vise will last you for years.

good luck

 

[zkling]

What is your budget? I'd try to look for a used vise via craigslist or the like, but don't buy something completely worn out. If not the craftsman ones will most likely get the job done no problem. Their professional one is pretty nice IMHO.

As for the level for scope mounting. Depends on how crazy you want to get. I usually use a OLD 6" standard grade level and then finish off with a machinist level. Both bought used of course. Even a quality combo square with the blade off will get you there. They make ring clamp vials if you want to you can go with those. Or even a bullseye level on top of the turret, depending on if your turrets are flat or not.

 

[Djstorm100]

What is your budget? I'd try to look for a used vise via craigslist or the like, but don't buy something completely worn out. If not the craftsman ones will most likely get the job done no problem. Their professional one is pretty nice IMHO.

As for the level for scope mounting. Depends on how crazy you want to get. I usually use a OLD 6" standard grade level and then finish off with a machinist level. Both bought used of course. Even a quality combo square with the blade off will get you there. They make ring clamp vials if you want to you can go with those. Or even a bullseye level on top of the turret, depending on if your turrets are flat or not.

100-150 I think would be a good budget.

typical for scope I'll lock it up in a bench rest and levee it out and hang a string with a weight on it. Look through it and turn the scope to cover the vertical line. A lot of scopes don't have flat parts on top. Some (depending on the setup) I'll use feeler gauges when mounting the rings.

 

[hippie2cams]

Look at midway USA.com for your level. They have one called a level,level,level just for mounting scopes on rifles. one goes on the scope and one goes on the rifles flat side or one goes in the grooves for the bolt so the rifle is level and the scope can be set to match it.