My "Should I buy a vise" post

[fowldarr]

Everybody else has one, and I should too!

Okay, I have a cheap little vise I picked up at a garage sale, no maker on it besides "CHINA". I paid $5. Don't judge me.

But, I've been wanting a nice bench mounted woodworking vise for sometime, preferably a vintage one in nice or repairable condition.

Craigslist has one that looks like it has been "prettied" up. I just don't know much about them, and have limited time to research.

It is a Columbian Vise Company 5-CD (10"). It looks to be in good condition, fresh paint and wood in the jaws, I'll try to get a picture up later. He wants $150. Fair price? What do I look out for?

Same seller has a 4" Prentiss vise, also looks prettied up. He wants $120 for that one. Fair Price? Should I bundle them for a better deal?

What say you oh vise gurus of garage journal?

(I'll try to post pictures later when I have a moment)

 

[drivesitfar]

Fowl: if you don't find a great one before April you might have to meet me in Lincoln City for a merion berry cobbler and buy one of my spares.

here's a thread another new member started today asking about new vises and i think he's convinced he needs an old one and he's in OHIO. here's the link. give it a read and let me (us) know what you think. OK?

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=352517

 

[woody 73]

Let me get this right so stop me if I am on the wrong track...You are looking for a woodworking vise and you want it to be vintage in nature.

The following is a woodworking vise but...it is not vintage.

https://columbus.craigslist.org/tls/5932216294.html

It is a top of the line vise, if you want vintage then you better start looking they are out there to be found , best to ask your woodworking friends because they can give you some very good leads.

Hope that helps you out.

 

[woody 73]

The Columbian that you listed is indeed a vintage woodworking vise but $150.00 sounds a bit high in my book see if you can get them down lower in price, $85.00 dollars would be a fair price.

 

[fowldarr]

Drives: I'm not in a hurry, but I'll grab one if the right deal comes along. We are looking to buy a house by June, my current arrangement isn't conducive to the type of bench needed to appropriately support a vise addiction. (Though I do have two garages, and lots of tools...) AND Marion Berry cobbler is always a welcome addition to the diet. (Berries are good for you right?)

I post pics of the vices in question later tonight and maybe get some more feedback, just found out that I may not be available this weekend to go retrieve them anyway (They are a short drive away). It will be a good learning experience for me anyway to get some feedback.

The link to the other thread was helpful. Thank you. I will follow it as well.

 

[drivesitfar]

Woody; that might be one of the better woodworking vices around. that English made Record has quick release and it pretty stout.

Fowl: i've got a couple of those Record quick releases sitting around here someplace.

if you want to copy and past the list i posted over on that other thread of maybe the top 10 vises for you to look for that would be great. i need to get of GJ for a bit and run a few errrands.

cheers and check Corvallis Craigslist if it's not too far cause some good vise deals are to be found around there if not too far.

 

[1982fxr]

Seems kinda high? From what I've seen unless there is something special about it ww vises don't seem to bring as much at least in my area.

 

[fowldarr]

Woody: You guys are my woodworking friends! I thought it might be a bit high, but it does look somewhat restored. Look for pictures a little later. I was thinking I might try to bundle the two vices for a better deal.

 

[fowldarr]

Sorry for the screen shots. It was easiest.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[fowldarr]

The below was stolen from another thread about vises and is the list that drives referenced above.



if you want to search on your own and you want to keep it below $200 here's a few i could suggest and you should be able to get a 4 inch wide jaw which is plenty of vise in the old US vise company versions.



1) REED

2) Athol

3) HOLLANDS

4) Rock Island

5) Parker

6) Starrett

7) Wilton

8) Columbian

9) and maybe 100 more brands...[/QUOTE]






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[Slackmaster G]

Take your time . A good deal can be found if you are patient and the more you look and research the better you will know the market and when to snap up a good deal. I got a Parker 955 for a buck and a half

 

[Shiftless]

Take your time . A good deal can be found if you are patient and the more you look and research the better you will know the market and when to snap up a good deal. I got a Parker 955 for a buck and a half

I assume you mean $150.00

 

[nine4gmc]

The Columbian 5-CD is NOT a good deal, it's not even a decent deal. Past sales on ebay indicate the $50-75 shipped range.

 

[BFBOB]

I do quite a bit of woodworking, and I have a 10" Columbian quick release with dog. I've had it nearly 40 years and it keeps going strong despite having been used to press U-joints a time or two. It's still more recent than the one you pictured, probably was only a few years old when I bought it. The one you picture may have antique value; probably mine is still just an old vise - and pretty modern style. I think I paid $20, which seemed like a lot at the time!
My advice: First 10" is the smallest I would consider for any serious woodworking. Second, buy it by the pound. Get the heaviest you can afford! (true for vises in general).
Record and Columbian are probably the top two brands, unless you consider the Emmert pattern maker's monstrosity. Some Craftsman wood vises were made by Columbian - the family resemblance is pretty obvious, and they appear to be equally beefy and well made.
I think $150 is high - but then, I already have mine.
Good luck!

Here's one

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Older-Craft...153368?hash=item25ce5f7918:g:J4oAAOSwNnRYjmYD

And a foto of mine:

 

[Mintgrun]

I have/use a Record like the one Woody posted a link to.
It has taught me to appreciate the quick release feature.
I would suggest holding out for one with that feature.

 

[rsanter]

Both look nice but are over priced.
The woodworking vise is more overpriced than the other one

I have a couple I want to sell but I know shipping can hurt the deal. How about posting a local wanted ad?

Bob

 

[woody 73]

On average this is what they are selling for in my area:

https://columbus.craigslist.org/tld/5973722339.html

 

[fowldarr]

Thank you all. I will keep looking, and if I don't find one, it sounds like I will try to swindle Drives out of one in exchange for some cash and marion berry cobbler