New Wilton USA

[franzdom]

Is it a dumb idea to buy a new vise from Wilton? I mean, do you think their quality has slipped so dramatically that I would regret it (aside from the $ premium)?

I am looking at a machinist vise, 450S. I have had zero luck finding used and don't particularly mind the premium of being the first owner. It should last me a lifetime (or what is left of it).

 

[albion]

I bought a brand-new Wilton 600S and the monster Wilton 800S. Couldn't find either used. Bought Wilton 400 and Wilton baby bullet vise used on Ebay. Since these were smaller, they were easy to find on used market.

I don't regret buying new. Had to use an engine crane to lift the Wilton 800S onto workbench. It weighs 208 lbs.

 

[BJ42LX]

I bought a new one two years ago. It's great. No difference in quality, IMO, as long as you stick to the industrial lines. 450S should be no problem.

BTW, I got mine from Amazon at a great price. Just had to watch for a couple months.

 

[BJ42LX]

I bought a brand-new Wilton 600S and the monster Wilton 800S.

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

Eeek...over 1k.

 

[NadieLite]

I have a Wilton 1765 6" vise and it is built to last. As long as you buy the USA Wilton's your good.

 

[franzdom]

Ok, the 450S is finally here. It's beautiful, though more massive than I perhaps thought. It is a lot more vise than the jaw width suggests. I probably would have been fine with a 400S. I looked underneath and the swivel area looks rust prone. Not rusty but what should I put on it to prevent rusting before I bolt it down, or should I not worry about it?

 

[warmpancakes]

smear it with vasilene that stuff never comes off and Pics?

 

[Zrexxer]

what should I put on it to prevent rusting before I bolt it down, or should I not worry about it?

Unless you're planning on working underwater in the ocean or unless you're planning on living another 200 years or so, there will never be enough rust underneath that base to ever have any effect on you.

 

[kms]

smear it with vasilene that stuff never comes off and Pics?

vaseline has consistently defeated most rust preventers, so long as you don't wipe it off.

 

[diesel research]

Shop bought a new wilton like pictured above about 3 months ago. 5" if I recall correctly. Some jackass broke the jaws clean off it last week.

 

[darkk]

Shop bought a new wilton like pictured above about 3 months ago. 5" if I recall correctly. Some jackass broke the jaws clean off it last week.

You know there are some people out there that could break a crowbar in a sandbox...

 

[franzdom]

I haven't bolted it to the new work bench yet but here it is next to the "Quality" Chinese 4" vise it is replacing. You can see why I was surprised, it's HUGE compared to the chicom vise. It probably doesn't look quite that way since the small one is in front and the cheap quality pic I took with my camera phone is very wide angle masking the actual size difference somewhat.
I can't wait to get it bolted down, I need to buy some bolts tomorrow.

 

[whelenfan]

nice vise!

 

[autopts]

That 450S is as fine as they get. Make sure your bench will handle not only its weight but any additional weight it will be holding. Guys, its hard to get an idea of how big that vise is. Its a good 14" from the back cap to the front of its base. Almost a bit large for most work and even today, I think its maybe one of the top USA made vises you can buy. Good luck. Scan Ebay occasionally you might catch a pair of 4 1/2" copper liners for it. Good luck

 

[bmwpower]

Nice. I thought about buying one as the 450S isn't silly expensive like some of the other ones.

Are they date stamping the new ones anywhere? Inquiring minds want to know...

 

[mjozefow]

My USA made Wilton 1780 is a nice vise, but does not even come close to holding a candle to my 50's Reed 108. IMO Wilton is riding their good name downhill.

Reed 108 - ~255lbs
Wilton 1780 8" - ~111lbs

 

[BJ42LX]

My USA made Wilton 1780 is a nice vise, but does not even come close to holding a candle to my 50's Reed 108. IMO Wilton is riding their good name downhill.

Reed 108 - ~255lbs
Wilton 1780 8" - ~111lbs

Wilton 800S 8" - 236 lbs.

 

[autopts]

Nice. I thought about buying one as the 450S isn't silly expensive like some of the other ones.

Are they date stamping the new ones anywhere? Inquiring minds want to know...

I had some 450's with one dated 07. That vise is as big as you want to go. Wilton's 500S is a horse! Besides, the channel bar is seperate from the front Jaw. Its pressed in. The 400S is a nice size also.

 

[alex71]

Wilton 800S 8" - 236 lbs.

Eggsactly. The Tradesman series of Wilton vises cannot be compared to the machinist's vises. Different animal altogether.

 

[dwm]

The 450S is a very fine vise. It'll be in your estate sale.

I found mine for $100 on craigslist. Actually, I looked for about 6 months, gave up looking, then mom found it for me 2 weeks after I had stopped looking. I rattle-canned the underside of the mount with primer after cleaning off the rust there, then rattlecanned some enamel, then put a bit of grease on the teeth. It's never going to be hit there, so just about anything will work. EEZOX is your friend if you don't want slimey or paint.

 

[mrb]

Not rusty but what should I put on it to prevent rusting before I bolt it down, or should I not worry about it?

coat the entire thing in cosmoline

 

[ekeller]

Are the 400s-450s much better than a 1765 tradesman? Im not sure what to buy?

 

[RKA]

I'm curious as well. I got a 1745 a few weeks ago and I'm thrilled with it. I looked at the machinist vices briefly but the prices scared me away, and finding any of them used required more patience than I have.

 

[ekeller]

Yeah I can't figure out the difference between the tradesman and the machinist vice. Any wilton experts know?

 

[franzdom]

The main difference appears to be the jaw width, it's wider for any given tradesman. Look at the jaw opening capacity, that is really important in real life, for comparable vises the jaws on the tradesman are about 8" and only 4.5" for the Machinist. In other words, about 7" of overall capacity with similar priced units. It looks like you get what you pay for.

 

[franzdom]

Actually it looks like the 1765 is very comparable to the 450s. Similar weight, throat depth, both bullet style...

 

[ekeller]

So what vice would work the best for me? I pretty much turn all my wrenches and don't take anything to the dealer. Working on anything from cars to tractors, to heavy equipment. I don't really use a vice all that much but when I do I need a good one. The china one I have now is missing the jaws and im sick of it. Thanks

 

[autopts]

Without getting into a huge debate as to which Wilton line is better, the Tradesman or Machinist. I think Wilton had all users in mind. For the professional DIY that wants a strudy USA made vise, and is budget consious, the Tradesman is 60,000 psi and ideal. It will do anything the home or business asks of it For the industrial and commercial shops and factories that tend to put unlimited stress on their equipment, the Machinist vise can and will pass that test. Here's a front shot of both the Tradesman and Machinist vises. One is a 1755 and one is a 450S

 

[oldjacks]

I spent a good 10 years looking for an 8" vise via swap meets in the Los Angeles area and never found one to buy. Finally bit the bullet and bought the Wilton it was $1700.00+ dollars at the time. That was some 12 years ago and I have never regretted it. One can never have too many vices or have a vice that is too big. I have used that 8" Wilton for all kinds of impossible projects and it has never let me down. I have never had to use a hammer (like so many vintage vises show) to tighten down any object to keep it from moving.

 

[LCconvert]

So where do the C-models fall?

 

[autopts]

The C models I believe fall somewhere in between. That open area where the pipe jaws go I think weakens the casting. I had one which was cracked on the side where the pipe jaw is and also a couple with the jaw support broken right above the pipe jaw. Those problems might very well been caused by 'user abusng", who knows.

 

[ekeller]

Bought a new Wilton 1780A for $375 in the box. Hope I did ok.

 

[franzdom]

That sounds like a very good deal.

 

[autopts]

Bought a new Wilton 1780A for $375 in the box. Hope I did ok.

You did excellent!!

 

[franzdom]

It's mounted to my new work bench with 5/8" x 8" bolts (one 5/8" lag bolt). I pulled the dynamic slide out and found the date code 6/11 on the bottom of the key, brand new.

I am glad to jettison the 4" chinese vise, very sloppy, small capacity. Comparison picture to show how jaw width is really only part of the story.

 

[Milton Shaw]

About 30 years ago where I was working the mechanics would install control arm bushings with out having the jaws clamped down. They broke the swivel and both jaws out of the Wilton. I brought it home removed the swivel welded with nickle rod the jaws back and the support under them and then have been using it 30 plus years. Looks like its a bullet 4" vise that bolts directly to the bench without a swivel.

 

[north]

That's a dang fine vise. Congrats on your purcase.

 

[autopts]

It's mounted to my new work bench with 5/8" x 8" bolts (one 5/8" lag bolt). I pulled the dynamic slide out and found the date code 6/11 on the bottom of the key, brand new.

I am glad to jettison the 4" chinese vise, very sloppy, small capacity. Comparison picture to show how jaw width is really only part of the story.


A tip you might already know. Avoid trying to use the anvil in back. They are not hardened. That anvil on your other might be worth keeping.

 

[bgott]

A tip you might already know. Avoid trying to use the anvil in back. They are not hardened. That anvil on your other might be worth keeping.

I close the jaws and use the top of the inserts. They are hardened and are easier to get to than the pad on the back. If I have to do some heavy whalin' I use a real anvil.