Need a Quicik Answer From "The Knowledgeable" - on Wilton Vises

[Dan in Pasadena]

I've got a line on a "6" Wilton Heavy Duty Vise" for $60. I've not seen a picture of it - yet! I've asked the seller to send me one and I asked if it has a sort of bullet shaped body? The answer was, "No, it's more of a regular, standard vise shape".

Do/did Wilton's come in a standard sort of square style and if so, are these as desireable as the high dollar bullet-bodied ones? The seller also descibes this one as being "neon green" - I assume a repaint at some point but maybe that helps someone with more knowledge of Wilton vises? I'm just hoping its not a Chinese rip off with Wilton cast into the body...was there ever such a thing?

Quick advise/pictures appreciated.

 

[gsport]

wholly cow.... i didn't know they made so many models. i've got a red one

 

[Jack Olsen]

Wilton makes a lot of different 6" vises. Click here for a lot of pictures of different Wiltons.

This one is only $85 brand new, so your $60 used bargain could be a great deal or a so-so one, depending on the model.

 

[Dave Heacock]

Dan, I have some used Wiltons I could have sold you as I am in Pasadena.
The vice you are describing if factory Green (lime yellow) is a mechanics vise. It is their middle of the road in quality, above the utility vises and below the machinist vises. Model number would be 746 (stock number 21500) in OSHA high visability yellow.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Here it is guys. Dave, You nailed it. You can see the model 746 on it in this picture. Seller claims he paid a little over $200 for it new. He wants $60 firm. Seems like an ok price to me. It says "Made in the USA" on it. Does this seem like a good deal?

 

[senlow]

It may be a model 1560 High-Visibility Safety Vise. Here is a link http://www.waltermeier.com/us/manufacturing/en/wilton/product.html?node=352&product=100136. If this is it, Tool Zone sells it for $249 http://www.toolzone.com/acatalog/Tool_Zone_Catalog_Workshop_Bench_Vises_1498.html#a1_21WMH63188.

 

[Todd.Brock]

I would say if its made in the USA, the jaws are in good shape, and its what you need, then go for it! Maybe just repaint it

 

[Mike83]

That is an awesome deal. Plus you could never lose that thing with the color!

 

[Zrexxer]

As far as current offerings, the Wilton C-0 through C-3, AW35, AW45, 300N through 800N, and the 300S through 800S models are made in the USA. The others - including the high-vis safety vises - are imported.

 

[mx5.7]

This is what the salesman at Cambell Supply Co. told me when I bought one for work last year. The "bullet" shaped ones that are light blue/green and look like the old wilton vise are still made in america and cost 3-4 times what the blocky shaped made in china wilton vise. He told me "get 5 to ten years out of the cheaper ones or hand the more expensive ones down to your great grand children". I think the warranties were different also.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Re: Need a Quick Answer From "The Knowledgeable" - on Wilton Vises

Jack,
I checked the link you posted, no price. I called but they couldn't give me one either. They said they'd call the factory and call me backwith a price.

I'm going to go get this vise assuming it looks fine when I see it. I hate the color but that's no big deal since it seems they come in a variety of factory colors. Or I may just leave it BRIGHT NEONgreen/yellow because it's different.

If Senlow is correct and this is a $249 vise for $60 then I feel like it's a very good score. Now if it were a bullet vise for that price, THAT would be a "great" deal, (actually a "steal"). Thanks everyone. - Dan
EDIT: Yup, its the Model 21500, same as the one at the top of Senlow's toolzone.com link; except it's OSHA yellow; which is already KINDA growing on me. I think I may have gotten a good deal - I better go buy a Lotto ticket!

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Oops; just because someone mentioned it, yes it IS Made in the USA per the photo:

 

[Zrexxer]

Oops; just because someone mentioned it, yes it IS Made in the USA per the photo:

It's one of the older ones then. Good deal, go for it!

 

[Dave Heacock]

Here are some crummy pictures I took with my phone of some used Wilton vises. They show the difference between a shop/utility vise-5 1/2" jaw and a Mechanics vise-6" jaw. As you can see although the jaws are almost the same width there is a big difference in the size and weight of the vises. The pictures in the catalogs always make them look similar because there is no size reference but one is almost twice as big as the other.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks for photos Dave,
I JUST got home with my "new" 6" and it is HUGE compared to the little 3-1/2" vise I've been using for years.

One thing that IS different from the ones in the links above? The handle and the swivel bolts are black anodized; where in the link for the Safety yellow vise they're polished - which I like better. The black is exhibiting a bit of rust but the Seller told me this vise has been sitting on a storage shed floor for a few years. I suspect it will clean right up. I'd like to touch up a few knicks on it too, but where the heck would you get any of THAT color?!

 

[Eddie 70]

I have been looking for a new vice for my garage. I was down stairs cleaning up and found my current vice has a broken jaw. I asked my son what happened and he said he broke it but was going to replace it before I found it. I straightened him out on that kind of nonsense right then.

Now I see a good opportunity to upgrade my bench vice. We are just backyard mechanics and we beat and bang on the vice when needed. I do not want to buy another vice like we just broke. Our current vice is a 4 incher from Lowes. I don't want to go that route again. I would love to come across a good deal as Dan did. Any suggestions on what I should be looking for in a good vice.

 

[Mickey O]

Nice vise and excellent price, you can't beat a USA made vise.