Need Vice

[Geeforce]

Okay, I'm done obsessing with this already and I need help. I need to get a vice for my workbench for multipurpose projects including car bushing replacements, etc. I know that I should be looking for a Non Chinese or Indian made vice if I want it to last (apologies to those who may come from those countries!)
My problem is, budget. I would like to spend below $100 for a 5" vice.
I checked out this site http://www.southern-tool.com/store/wilton_vises.html
and can't figure out if these are USA made or not.
If someone could point me in a direction, it would help me move on with my next friggin thing to obsess about!
Thanks

 

[Canadian Charlie]

I have a 5" vice made in England called "RECORD" served me well for these past 15 years and still going strong

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Simply put, you are not going to find an American made vise for $100. While everyone rants and raves about foreign made vises and jacks and everything else, the quality of stuff from overseas varies just like the quality of stuff here varies. Wilton and several other companies have good products that they have designed and sourced the manufacture of overseas. Do alot of homework and you will find a good vice at a reasonable price, but it won't be US made.

Charles

 

[ron in sc]

I'd check a Sears Craftsman. I have the one in photo below. I've had it for 26 years and it works great. It has made in Japan cast on the bottom of the base. It has 4" jaws.

 

[russlaferrera]

Look in the yellow pages under "used equipment" There should be an outlet in your area that sells used tools and machinery. You can get a better used vice than a new cheap vice for the same $. ...russ

 

[bmwpower]

I've started doing some research on the subject:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7509

Watch eBay and you may find something...

Z28 has one for sale:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=88957

 

[Jbullfrog]

I got a new 5" Mac vise on E-bay for $60. I bought it without jaw pads figuring the new pads were $30. Before I could get them ordered from the Mac Man, the seller sent me a set in the mail with a note that they were missing from the vise. I have bought American made vises for under $20 on auctions numerous times as well.

 

[Geeforce]

Great thread bmwpower. I now realize why it didn't pop up when I searched this site. I spelled vise wrong!

I've started doing some research on the subject:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7509

Watch eBay and you may find something...

Z28 has one for sale:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=88957

 

[Geeforce]

Great advice everyone. I'll check out all the leads given here for pre-owned but in the meantime, has anyone had experience with this Wilton http://www.wmhtoolgroup.com/shop/index.cfm?navPage=4&iid=7773
I realize it's not the 60K version but can it be that bad?

 

[yinzer]

I own this vise. I bought it from arizonatools.com. Great vise....but not made in the US. "Made in China to Wilton Specifications"....bummer. All literature online indicated it was US made.

Great advice everyone. I'll check out all the leads given here for pre-owned but in the meantime, has anyone had experience with this Wilton http://www.wmhtoolgroup.com/shop/index.cfm?navPage=4&iid=7773
I realize it's not the 60K version but can it be that bad?

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

Unless you find some old stock, square Wilton's are imports and the round shaft ones are domestic.

The Columbian line, I believe is now imported, but it stayed domestic longer, to my knowledge. You can find some old stock of it, example
http://www.harryepstein.com/vises.htm


Yost has an import line, and I believe it is lifetime warranty.
Then you have both used and places like this forum:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7958&page=3

As for needing a vice:
Tools, Women, Booze, etc....
Just don't try to pick several, it's expensive enough with one.

 

[Geeforce]

Okay, I think i'm going to get either the Wilton tradesman 4.5 " or Ridgid 4.5". They are both in my new price range. The only thing I couldn't figure out was the weight difference. The Ridgid is only 27lbs and but is hardened steel. It has a good size anvil so I'm not sure why it weighs much less than others in this class and size.

 

[bmwpower]

Okay, I think i'm going to get either the Wilton tradesman 4.5 " or Ridgid 4.5". They are both in my new price range. The only thing I couldn't figure out was the weight difference. The Ridgid is only 27lbs and but is hardened steel. It has a good size anvil so I'm not sure why it weighs much less than others in this class and size.

It doesn't need to be. For example, forged rims are often lower profile and lighter since it's the forging process that makes them strong, not the mass. The Wilton on the other hand... I don't think it's forged but cast steel, but the large mass of the vise makes up for it.

 

[Geeforce]

Thanks everyone for their advice on this. I ended up buying theRIDGID/66987 F-45 4-1/2"" Machinist Vise Swivel Base for $180 shipped from robertstool.com. The site says it ships 7-10 days but I got it in 5. The vise is very sturdy, made in Germany and suits my needs perfectly. Now to move on to the next obsession!

 

[Junkman]

How expensive was the shipping? The shipping has kept me from buying a lot of heavy items that are far away, but reasonably priced.

 

[Geeforce]

How expensive was the shipping? The shipping has kept me from buying a lot of heavy items that are far away, but reasonably priced.

The $180 price included the $13 shipping cost.

 

[bmwpower]

The $180 price included the $13 shipping cost.

Shucks. I thought you were going for this one due to the timing:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...MEWA:IT&viewitem=&item=170082933091&rd=1&rd=1

I should have brought it up as I was watching it.

Can you let me know how you like it?
- Is there a lot of slop side-to-side?
- Is the swivel keyed? ie, does it lock in certain positions?
- What does the screw mechanism look like? Is it beefy?

 

[Geeforce]

Shucks. I thought you were going for this one due to the timing:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...MEWA:IT&viewitem=&item=170082933091&rd=1&rd=1

I should have brought it up as I was watching it.

Can you let me know how you like it?
- Is there a lot of slop side-to-side?
- Is the swivel keyed? ie, does it lock in certain positions?
- What does the screw mechanism look like? Is it beefy?

Funny, I think that was the seller I contacted about that vise. I decided not to go with that one for some reason. I'm not good with compulsive purchases!

As for mine, I just installed it on my bench and plan on using it this weekend. I can tell you that there is absolutely no "slop" anywhere even with the jaws fully opened. Also, the pipe grip in the lower part of the jaw seems more low profile than you see in the pictures. I don't think it would interfere much with larger pieces that may be clamped lower in the jaw as we were concerned about earlier in the thread with the Wilton.

The screw mechanism is fat, firm and precise in it's look and feel.
The swivel is not keyed as far as I can tell. I don't see gear splines when I loosen it fully and look inside if thats what you mean. It is very firm when tightened down in any position. I really like the overall size of this vise. It's large but not as big as that huge 6" Wilton some one posted a while back next to a soda can. The anvil is a good size too, just under 3" x 3".

The best thing is that the "Lifetime warranty" decal on the face. The vise is made in Germany and my plan is to keep it forever.

 

[bmwpower]

Cool! I bought another brand of vise in the meantime and I'm questioning the purchase. I will probably keep it, but I'm still looking for the right vise to go on my benchtop. If you could post up some picts of it, I'd love to see what this puppy looks like in person.

Thanks!

Funny, I think that was the seller I contacted about that vise. I decided not to go with that one for some reason. I'm not good with compulsive purchases!

As for mine, I just installed it on my bench and plan on using it this weekend. I can tell you that there is absolutely no "slop" anywhere even with the jaws fully opened. Also, the pipe grip in the lower part of the jaw seems more low profile than you see in the pictures. I don't think it would interfere much with larger pieces that may be clamped lower in the jaw as we were concerned about earlier in the thread with the Wilton.

The screw mechanism is fat, firm and precise in it's look and feel.
The swivel is not keyed as far as I can tell. I don't see gear splines when I loosen it fully and look inside if thats what you mean. It is very firm when tightened down in any position. I really like the overall size of this vise. It's large but not as big as that huge 6" Wilton some one posted a while back next to a soda can. The anvil is a good size too, just under 3" x 3".

The best thing is that the "Lifetime warranty" decal on the face. The vise is made in Germany and my plan is to keep it forever.

 

[Geeforce]

Cool! I bought another brand of vise in the meantime and I'm questioning the purchase. I will probably keep it, but I'm still looking for the right vise to go on my benchtop. If you could post up some picts of it, I'd love to see what this puppy looks like in person.

Thanks!

I'll try to get you pictures over the weekend. Can't wait to use this vise!

 

[Geeforce]

Here are pics of the Ridgid F45

Hope to have a stainless countertop one day. Maybe that will be the next obsession!

 

[bmwpower]

Awesome! That thing looks nice and stout.

I've got a new stainless top I'm selling. If you don't mind driving, I can make you a good deal...

 

[ImportTuner]

Here are pics of the Ridgid F45

Hope to have a stainless countertop one day. Maybe that will be the next obsession!

I'm not into vises, but that Rigid really rocks ... I just have a small unknown vise that is about 20 years old; don't use it that much ..

 

[wilbilt]

Interesting construction. I looks like it's welded from multiple pieces. The design resmbles the Peddinghaus vises.

 

[Rickster]

If you don't have the need to own a new vice then older used ones can be had for cheap. I'm using the Wilton Mechanics vice below right now, I picked it up at a moving sale, the Columbian was from an estate sale. Most times you have to ask about the vice and remove it from the work bench because they just don't think about selling it. I've sold off the Columbian and my old Craftsman.