Lookin for a Vise

[Togorashi]

I'm looking for a new vise. Any ideas where to shop for one locally? What sort of stores carry nice vises? I really don't want to pay for shipping on a huge hunk of steel. I check Craigslist all the time but never see one. I'd like a nice one that will last a lifetime.

 

[dwilliams35]

Where is "locally"???? That might get you some better answers. Besides that, I just hold up purchases like that until I find somebody having a free shipping promotion and then hammer 'em with it.

 

[Togorashi]

Sorry. I'm in Austin. I just updated my profile to show my location. I guess I was asking for ideas about types of places that might sell quality vises. I'd like something better than what I could get at a big box store.

Good point about free shipping. So what are some of the online stores that sell quality vises? I know SJ sells some quality stuff. They have free shipping but you have to spend $700 for UPS or $1200 for truck. Any others?

 

[rickairmedic]

I know Home depot sells wilton vises which are good quality .

Rick

 

[Togorashi]

I know Home depot sells wilton vises which are good quality .

Rick

Wow. For some reason, that has totally escaped my attention. I'll have to check them out next time I'm there. Problem solved I guess.

 

[eschoendorff]

I know Home depot sells wilton vises which are good quality .

Rick

Meh... I have one of those Home Depot made-in-China Wiltons. It isn't awful, but it DEFINITELY isn't the quality of the American-made vises. It's about on par with the vises from HF.

 

[Togorashi]

Meh... I have one of those Home Depot made-in-China Wiltons. It isn't awful, but it DEFINITELY isn't the quality of the American-made vises. It's about on par with the vises from HF.

Hmm. Ok, so problem not solved.

Back to the original question then I guess.

I'm willing to spend a couple hundred bucks and I want it to last a lifetime, so yeah, maybe the cheap Wiltons and HD aren't the ticket for me.

 

[danski0224]

Keep checking places like Craigslist... that's where I got mine. They do not show up very often.

I have a huge Wilton I scored for 100.00... sells for almost $1k new.

Got another one (much smaller) as part of a welding table I picked up for $150... over a year between the two items.

Could have picked up another one yesterday at an estate sale in Wisconsin. That one was almost as big as the Wilton and had pipe jaws... they wanted $60 for it, but I have no need for another chunk of iron... but maybe I could have sold it... those plans never go well for me.

Stay away from the China stuff, but USA or English stuff is expensive if you can't get it used.

 

[russlaferrera]

Look in the yellow pages for "Used Tools & Equipment" They are located in most cities. Look in the new paper for business going out. Flea markets, Garage/ Estate sales.

 

[chammyman]

as above, business going bust or retirements are where you want to look.

 

[MarkH]

Fleabay still is an option. Shipping may be higher but I have gotten a couple great Morgans off it. The key is to look for a while on searches for just vise to get used to what the brand names are and then it is easy. Takes time but I have gotten a couple great vises for 60-65 dollars shipped.

 

[OldCarGuy]

This is what so often happens after a few years of use from an imported vise.

A Better way is to look at Craig's List, Garage Sales, or Auctions... My 6” Columbia vise I purchased at an auction three years ago for $50.00

My almost new Craftsman 5 1/ 2” Vise I purchased at at garage sale last year for $18.00

 

[SteveU]

Hmm. Ok, so problem not solved.

Back to the original question then I guess.

I'm willing to spend a couple hundred bucks and I want it to last a lifetime, so yeah, maybe the cheap Wiltons and HD aren't the ticket for me.

Do a search on the internet for prices as they vary by over 100.00 for the same vise. I got this vise summer of 07 for 365 shipped to the house, shipping was around 35.00 if I remember correctly. This is a 6-1/2" wide vise and has been plenty big for what I've used it for. Same vise should be able to be had for 400-450 today but when you figure you'll have it the rest of your life it isn't that much.

 

[afazz]

Grainger sells a bunch, although they're a bit pricey. It might be cheaper to buy online and pay shipping!
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/ww...rch&searchType=state&searchValue=tx&x=16&y=10

MSC - it doesn't look like there is one in Austin, but maybe one is close enough to drive? Again, higher prices, and I have never done a will-call purchase at MSC but I'm assuming its possible.
http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNPAGE?PMPAGE=aboutmsc/allstates.html#Texas

Maybe Fastenal can order one? They have locations everywhere, but I'm not sure if they carry any good vises.

 

[MarkH]

It took a few years to do that to an import vise!!

I broke 3 from fleet farm in 2 weeks that way on typical farm chores that the one my grandfather had bought has taken for 70 years. That is when where tools are made and quality first struck home to me.

Needless to say a bunch of old Morgans we got are standing up, well like by Grandfathers old vise of the same vintage.

 

[Togorashi]

Brutal Oldcarguy! I definitely want something better quality than that!

I scan the tool section of CL everyday, so hopefully something will turn up. I've never been much of a garage sale guy. I like to sleep in on Saturdays But maybe I need to get off my lazy **** and start hitting the sales.

Just doing a cursory search of ebay was not encouraging. Everything was really overpriced.

 

[Nealcrenshaw]

OCG,how did that happen? DId you drop it,or put a sledge hammer to it?

 

[Togorashi]

Grainger sells a bunch, although they're a bit pricey. It might be cheaper to buy online and pay shipping!
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/ww...rch&searchType=state&searchValue=tx&x=16&y=10

MSC - it doesn't look like there is one in Austin, but maybe one is close enough to drive? Again, higher prices, and I have never done a will-call purchase at MSC but I'm assuming its possible.
http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNPAGE?PMPAGE=aboutmsc/allstates.html#Texas

Maybe Fastenal can order one? They have locations everywhere, but I'm not sure if they carry any good vises.

Thanks, but I think I'm going to look for a good used one. If they're made to last 100 years, then there no reason to pay for new. If I can't find one after a few months of looking, then maybe I'll change my tune.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

I've been looking for YEARS on CL. Broke the one at the shop, got REAL lucky and found one that WEEK for $75 for a 4 or 4 1/2" Parker.

Kept looking and only seeing 3" vises. So I finally bid on one on Ebay. I picked up a bullet style Wilton for under $120 delivered (tired of waiting). Now they are importing parts of those Wiltons from what I have been told, and one is made entirely overseas now (no longer make that size here). It is sold under the Craftsman name.

I also have a cheapy HF vise, that I can take outside when needed (if it wanders I am not worried). Since the economy has people worried (and I bought one), I have seen 7 more vises (argh), that were bargains. BUT no LARGE ones (what I am looking for now).

 

[bomber]

Agreed on watching CL and House/Estate sales -- I picked up a very old Wilton for a song years ago -- it outlasted it's first owner, and it'll outlast me . . . .

 

[OldCarGuy]

OCG,how did that happen? DId you drop it,or put a sledge hammer to it?

I never ill-treated that vise by hamming or over tightening. You won't see any sign of abuse, other than some paint over-spray. I had a solid piece of steel tightened in the jaws to file the edges. When I opened the jaws to remove the piece, I found that the movable jaw cracked into two pieces. Making the vise totally useless.

 

[old salvage]

Another good place to check out, in case no ones mentioned it are antique co-ops.

 

[Togorashi]

Another good place to check out, in case no ones mentioned it are antique co-ops.

Never heard of an antique co-op. Not sure we have one here.

 

[speed bump]

Pawn shops also can be a good place to pick up Vices for a good price.

 

[old salvage]

Never heard of an antique co-op. Not sure we have one here.

Basically its a big antique store with lots of dealers instead of one.
A quick search revealed one but i bet theres quite a few.....
http://www.antiquetexas.com/html/aampg.htm