Lightweight vice?

[zimm17]

I have a small work bench for working on guns and reloading ammunition. The quick change mount I use for reloading presses has a plate for a vice with an 8x8" bolt pattern. I'm looking for a lightweight vice to bolt on there. I don't need pipe jaws or anything heavy duty. I have one of those in the garage. This is just for holding stuff to wrench things on and off.

I was looking at the Wilson super junior 4". No idea if it uses an 8x8 bolt pattern though. I could always just drill new holes in the mounting plate.

Or maybe even something made of aluminum? I'm not going to be beating on it for sure. It'll mostly have soft jaw pads in it too.

 

[Shiftless]

The 8 x 8 bolt pattern is huge. But like you said, it’s easy to drill new holes in your old plate.
If you like new stuff, go ahead with the Junior. At around 100 bucks it’s a good choice, Another way to go would be to get a vintage American made vise and spend some time cleaning it up, lubricating and even paint it your favorite color. A 3 inch jaw model would be fine for what you say you’d be using it for.

Post in the wanted section of GJ and I bet you’ll get a few responses. I have a few to choose from that I would send to you for $100 or less.

 

[zimm17]

I was about to buy the Wilton Junior, but read the amazon reviews about how terrible the swivel feature is. 2 bolts and ride in curved slots, lots of play. Hmmm.... Maybe I need to keep researching.

 

[Shiftless]

I was about to buy the Wilton Junior, but read the amazon reviews about how terrible the swivel feature is. 2 bolts and ride in curved slots, lots of play. Hmmm.... Maybe I need to keep researching.

You might be better off with a fixed position, non swivelling vise. Do you REALLY need to swivel it? Fixed base vises might have been more popular back in the old days.

 

[zimm17]

You might be better off with a fixed position, non swivelling vise. Do you REALLY need to swivel it?

Nope!

Also just measured my vice plate- it's more like 6 1/4 x 6 1/4, not 8". So maybe it's standard for vices?

I just looked in my garage and I have a 5" wilton on my work bench. So it doesn't need to be that big and I don't need pipe jaws either. Nor a flat anvil area on the back, although that seems standard.

 

[MacMcMacmac]

Those forged steel vises are pretty light. Grizzly makes one. They are probably all Heuers or knock offs.

 

[Shiftless]

There is no standard hole arrangement for bench vises. Lots of variation. Expect to drill new holes or if that’s too ugly, make another plate with holes to mount your upcoming new vise and then mount that plate to the existing one. Then you wouldn’t have exposed holes, Does that matter a lot to you?

 

[Shiftless]

How about a Reed 103 ? Reed vises are built like tanks.
It weighs a hefty 22 pounds so it might be too heavy for your application.
This is from my collection but I need to make space. As you see there is a corner missing from the end of the slide on one side. That does not affect operation. Its jaws are 3 inches wide and it opens to 4 inches. The handle is not factory. But it is clean and ready to go to work.

 

[zimm17]

Yeah that big old Reed is too big. The Grizzly looks like it'll work and the price is right too.

Grizzly T33990 - 4" Drop-Forged Fixed Base Bench Vise - Grizzly Industrial, Inc.

<h1>T33990 4" Drop-Forged Fixed-Base Bench Vise</h1> <h2>A sturdy vise that securely attaches to your bench for effortless use.</h2> <p>Crafted from drop-forged steel, this vise possesses exceptional mechanical properties and static strength compared to cast iron. With superior durability, it...

www.grizzly.com

So you can see what I'll mount it on - this stand has quick change base plates- one of which will be the light weight vice.

9 3/4" tall Quick Change Ultramount - Inline Fabrication

Raises your reloading press up to get the action closer to your eyes and increase reloading comfort and ergonomics. Super...

inlinefabrication.com

I also have a Panavise sitting on a shelf and they make a base plate for that. But's just a little bit light weight. I don't need it holding an AR-15 rifle in a mag well adapter to be worked on.

 

[paulsomlo]

4" Yost, 22 lbs, $44 - https://yostvises.com/products/yost-model-adi-4-4-inch-austempered-ductile-iron-bench-vise

 

[Steve_P]

Yost ADIs are light. You'll have to come to grips with nothing matching your bolt pattern.

 

[GeoBruin]

https://a.co/d/8Mx1Acj

Yost ADI

 

[exmaxima1]

https://a.co/d/8Mx1Acj

Yost ADI

It also has replaceable jaws, unlike the Grizzly, which makes it nice for soft jaws or custom shaped holders.

 

[72Anthony]

Does your work bench have an overhang? If so, you can use a clamp on vise. It gives you flexibility to remove it or move it as needed.

$130 and 11 pounds:

https://www.acmetools.com/wilton-super-junior-2-1-2-in-vise-clamp-on-63198/019907631989.html

 

[HannibalLecter]

The heuer front in 120mm

 

[tool_scrounge]

Does your work bench have an overhang? If so, you can use a clamp on vise. It gives you flexibility to remove it or move it as needed.

$130 and 11 pounds:

https://www.acmetools.com/wilton-super-junior-2-1-2-in-vise-clamp-on-63198/019907631989.html

I hope you have had better luck with these than my coworkers. They described that vise as a “semi kit“. The movement had a pretty rough feel.

 

[72Anthony]

I hope you have had better luck with these than my coworkers. They described that vise as a “semi kit“. The movement had a pretty rough feel.

Good to know. I don't have one, just know about them from online.

 

[MovingAlong]

Have you looked at adapting an older Zyliss / Z-Vise to fit your application?

Very lightweight, but designed to clamp to the edge of a bench..

 

[jayemm]

I hope you have had better luck with these than my coworkers. They described that vise as a “semi kit“. The movement had a pretty rough feel.

I have the non-clamp version, 4" swivel base vise--- SBV100. Made in Czech Republic. The swivel movement is very rough and only swivels about 35*-45* either side of center. It only opens about 2-1/4" also. I wouldn't buy it again especially since it commands the Wilton "premium" pricing along with the rest of their stuff. Didn't appreciate the amount of machining grit inside. Good solid little vise for what it is but I wouldn't have it for my only vise. The above mentioned Yost ADI-4 is more versatile (swivel range and opening) and a steal at $44 if you want a smaller vise.

 

[knobby]

Could you make a woodworking vise work ?
With wood jaws and mounted at a end of the bench.

Woodworking Vises

Any wood worker will tell you that a good woodworking vise is vital to success. With flexible flip-up dogs and wide jaw surfaces, our wood working vises are among the best available.

yostvises.com

 

[RoninB4]

I'm looking for a lightweight vice to bolt on there. I don't need pipe jaws or anything heavy duty. I have one of those in the garage. This is just for holding stuff to wrench things on and off.

-I don't know if this type would work for what you need but if you examine the design it could perhaps be adapted to your requirements. It's a design that engravers have been using for a long time. A surplus bowling ball with a flat cut off the periphery, a ring (steel or rubber) and mount a vise of your choice on it. Works great for changing the work angle, sets on any flat surface, more rotation/stability than a PanaVise, and as low cost as you can scavenge. An inexpensive version below. Just a thought.

https://www.amazon.com/VEVOR-Engrav...all-Scale/dp/B0CTY2HZT2/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Monte]

HEUER Compact

HEUER Compact vice with rapid adjustment, exchangeable clamping jaw and tubular clamping jaw. Light, small, strong. Perfect for mobile use.

www.heuer.de

 

[paulsomlo]

HEUER Compact

HEUER Compact vice with rapid adjustment, exchangeable clamping jaw and tubular clamping jaw. Light, small, strong. Perfect for mobile use.

www.heuer.de

Beautiful little vise, but $$$.

 

[whateg01]

... I'm looking for a lightweight vice...

I guess you could take up collecting feathers

 

[Mohawk Dave]

I use an Orange bench vise for that stuff. Sounds like what you're looking for. 419 has a jaw selection for that you'd like as well.

 

[exmaxima1]

If it's mainly used for working on guns, the "Parrot" style vise is very popular.

Amazon.com: Parrot Vise 3.5 Inch Versatile Vise 360 Degree Multi-Angle Rotate Fit for Woodworkers and Metal Shops : Tools & Home Improvement

Buy Parrot Vise 3.5 Inch Versatile Vise 360 Degree Multi-Angle Rotate Fit for Woodworkers and Metal Shops: Bench Vises - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

 

[dscheidt]

Yost ADIs are light. You'll have to come to grips with nothing matching your bolt pattern.

I replaced a 4" Yost forged steel vice with a 6" ADI. it's noticably lighter and much nicer.

 

[ricleh]

Ridgid F series forged steel vise made by Peddinghaus in Germany.

 

[Monte]

Ridgid F series forged steel vise made by Peddinghaus in Germany.

Peddinghaus-Matador-Superior

www.heuer.de

The Heuer site claims production of Ridgid vices ceased in 2023

 

[ricleh]

Peddinghaus-Matador-Superior

www.heuer.de

The Heuer site claims production of Ridgid vices ceased in 2023

My Ridgid vise is about 10 years old. I was not aware that they were no longer in production. They are very nice light weight vises.