New Wilton Vise Quality?

[seanb02]

Hi folks! Quick question on the quality of new Wilton vises. Local Napa rep came by the shop today with the latest flier of sales specials on tools. Went through it a bit later on and came across a deal on a Wilton 6.5" vise that also includes a mini sledge with the package deal. Don't care about the sledge, but I need a vise.

The one currently in the shop is an Olympia that I know nothing about other than the fact that it is bent badly, and now has gotten so bad that the screw barely works anymore so it is time for a new one.

Wilton seems to be highly regarded around here, however that seems to be with the vintage vises. I would assume the low price means that is produced in China but carries the Wilton name that they built for themselves back when they produced quality American steel vises.

How good are these new ones? They didn't have one in stock for me to look at, but they will have one at the shop for me tomorrow. If it doesn't feel good to me I figure I can just box it back up and drop it back off at the store. Anybody have one?

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/JHQ11128BH

 

[M6erfan]

Not familiar with that exact vise but it is made in China. I do like my 1755 USA vise though.

 

[Shiftless]

Post your location and maybe a post in the wanted section of GJ. There are lots of members with extra vises and they’d probably e willing to sell you one that would be worlds better and less expensive than that one you’re considering.

I’m in CA if you want one of mine...

 

[seanb02]

Post your location and maybe a post in the wanted section of GJ. There are lots of members with extra vises and they’d probably e willing to sell you one that would be worlds better and less expensive than that one you’re considering.

I’m in CA if you want one of mine...

Thanks, I'm in Southern Oregon actually. The vise is for the farm shop, can't really justify time spent tracking down a good quality used one. Would certainly go that route if it was for my own place. These sort of things get used and abused around the farm.

I barely even try to keep tools in working order around the shop. Use my own box and tools for most things aside from a few specialty tools here and there. Stuff just grows legs and walks away around here. Or gets destroyed then put back in the toolbox like it will be perfectly fine for the next guy to use.

 

[plinker]

The boss has one at the shop. It's ok, but nothing super special. Still better then your typical 50$ china vise of similar size IMO, current Record/Irwin included.

My main gripe is the swivel has limited travel, about 90*. The swivel lock needs to be re-tightened every so often as well.

The hammers are nice, I've got a couple of the older style made for Matco.

 

[txlonghorn1989]

You said you can't justify time spent looking for a good quality used one but how much time have you wasted on the one you've got now? Given your description of how things are used and abused at the farm shop that Chinese made Wilton may not last very long either and then you're back where you started. It doesn't take much to create a WTB ad in the Classified section and just maybe someone not too far from you has a good Reed or other high quality old vise. It won't last if people are beating on it with sledge hammers but it'll darn sure last a lot longer than that Wilton I'd bet. Seems like a pretty easy decision to me. Good luck with your search!

 

[GRB]

Low end Chinese ****.

 

[1982fxr]

Low end Chinese ****.

^^^ this.

Can't imagine it holding up in a farm shop.

 

[seanb02]

You said you can't justify time spent looking for a good quality used one but how much time have you wasted on the one you've got now? Given your description of how things are used and abused at the farm shop that Chinese made Wilton may not last very long either and then you're back where you started. It doesn't take much to create a WTB ad in the Classified section and just maybe someone not too far from you has a good Reed or other high quality old vise. It won't last if people are beating on it with sledge hammers but it'll darn sure last a lot longer than that Wilton I'd bet. Seems like a pretty easy decision to me. Good luck with your search!

I really haven't wasted much time at all with this one trying to make it work. It's messed up badly enough there isn't any point in trying at all.

There is no doubt in my mind that a good quality used vise would last far longer and be much less of a headache long term. However I can't really log my time spent looking into one in good conciseness. This is mainly because I don't know much about vises and what to look for, so would have to spend many hours researching, then spend the time to track down ads and email sellers. Visit with the sellers and check out the actual condition of the item.

If it was winter time and I was only putting in 40 hours a week that would be no problem at all. But this time of year it is 70 hours a week or so, hence I don't have much time to get out and meet with a seller. If I was retired or my work week was only 40 hours long it would be a no brainer for sure to spend that time looking for used.

 

[seanb02]

What would you folks recommend I set my sights on then as a once and done purchase for the next 5 to 10 years?

I'll wait until I see this vise tomorrow before I make a final decision, but if it feels crappy its definitely going back. It does supposedly have a lifetime warranty, but garbage is garbage and it takes time to swap out tools.

 

[Shiftless]

I don’t know what city you live in but I found this example of a vintage vise in
Redding CA that is WAY better than your old one.
4 1/2 inch jaws. Weighs around 70 pounds.
Asking $175. Been posted for a month. Try a lower offer.

https://redding.craigslist.org/hvo/d/vise-large-bench-made-in-usa/6902677039.html

 

[ClappedOutBport]

Today's Wiltons are total meh, but even the old ones are nothing special. People collect them for the looks, but having used one a fair bit, they are an entirely average vise. Soft, short jaw, round ram doesn't add anything. Ok, but nothing great, especially when compared to my preferred Prentiss 456. For the price of 1 new Wilton, you could buy 10 old Rock Islands or so that that are bigger, stronger, and could be cleaned up to working state in about 30 minutes.

There is a facebook group where the guys posts shelves full of vises, some guys have 60+ vises, sitting there rotting away doing nothing. Even with them hoarding them, driving up the prices, there has to be plenty of good used vises out there.

As far as what to look for: Similar to Shiftless's avatar, and as big as you can afford.

 

[poppakap]

I have had zero luck finding a used one. What’s an alternative to Wilton for a 5-6” vise?

 

[Shiftless]

Poppakap:
Post your home town.
I have found great vises for GJ guys thousands of miles away from me right there on their local Craigslist.

Clappedoutb’port is right. The old solid ones are super durable and easy to work on. Like he said, look for one like you see at the far left of this page.

I’m one of the guys with a wall full of old vises but I buy, sell, and trade. Am I a hoarder?

 

[DFB]

What size is that vise? We have this other style Wilton in the 8" at the motorcycle shop now. It replaced a old USA one that broke a couple of years ago. The 6 looks exactly the same.

Its an ok vise

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004XPVO/?tag=atomicindus08-20


Still there all China, and just buying the name really

The Yost AS series (all steel) are made in Taiwan for what it matters

 

[poppakap]

Poppakap:
Post your home town.
I have found great vises for GJ guys thousands of miles away from me right there on their local Craigslist.

Clappedoutb’port is right. The old solid ones are super durable and easy to work on. Like he said, look for one like you see at the far left of this page.

I’m one of the guys with a wall full of old vises but I buy, sell, and trade. Am I a hoarder?

Thanks. I’m in NorCal. Will be in east bay tomorrow actually.

 

[scubadoober]

Have you considered the forged steel vises from Yost or Capri? You would at least get the higher tensile strength to protect against stray hammer blows. No vise in that price range is going to blow you hair back.

 

[Rabid Badger]

This is a hell of a vise, on sale for Prime day:

https://www.amazon.com/Yost-FSV-5-Heavy-Duty-Forged-360-Degree/dp/B00E8ITETS

Edit: Damn, it's cheaper than I thought. $160.

 

[ClappedOutBport]

This is a hell of a vise, on sale for Prime day:

https://www.amazon.com/Yost-FSV-5-Heavy-Duty-Forged-360-Degree/dp/B00E8ITETS

Edit: Damn, it's cheaper than I thought. $160.

That looks like a pretty nice choice. It's not nearly as rigid as a large cast one, but being ductile iron you won't break it unexpectedly. Typically you'll bend the handle before you do any real damage it seems.

Poppakap:
Post your home town.
I have found great vises for GJ guys thousands of miles away from me right there on their local Craigslist.

Clappedoutb’port is right. The old solid ones are super durable and easy to work on. Like he said, look for one like you see at the far left of this page.

I’m one of the guys with a wall full of old vises but I buy, sell, and trade. Am I a hoarder?

If the boot fits....

I always tend to ruffle some feathers when I say that, but I guess I'm not the average Garage Journaler. I do not collect tools. I'm only interested in things I plan on using. You have all the right in the world to collect in this free nation, but I won't, I get satisfaction out of using tools, leaving them sit hurts me a bit. If you saved a vise from the scrapyard, awesome. But if you were the hot buyer on a $50 craigslist steal and nabbed it before someone who really needed a vise (like OP), and have now redone the paint, made it look pretty, and want $800, not so awesome. :/

 

[Parrothead]

I have a similar imported Wilton, specifically the one listed below. I’ve had zero issues with it. I’d buy it again without hesitation for a work environment where you just want to order it off a website and are able to put it on the company card/account. Would I like a USA Wilton? Sure, just because but not for the cost involved.

https://m.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_48555_48555

I seriously question anyone who says they’re junk. I suspect they’ve never actually USED the imported Wilton vises.

 

[Shiftless]

C.O.B.:
I only dream of someday making a deal even half as good as that.
Here is my story.
I have saved many vises from decades of rusting away in backyards. It is often difficult and time consuming to get rusted pieces apart. Soaking in Evaporust ($20/gallon) is often needed to remove the rust in preparation for cleaning and lubrication. Some vises I strip and repaint, others I rub down with boiled linseed oil to retard future rusting. Some I sell or trade away to other collectors. Others I sell to people who just want to use them. It is certainly an irrational waste of time.
With my time, costs of driving sometimes hours to pick up a find, and the money spent on supplies, I might make minimum wage. I admit that I have flipped a few without working too hard but that is rare. If you count the hours spent looking on Craigslist, FB marketplace, OfferUp, NextDoor, etc, and bill that at a dollar an hour, I’m sure my “hobby business”? is running in the red.

 

[exmaxima1]

I have a similar imported Wilton, specifically the one listed below. I’ve had zero issues with it. I’d buy it again without hesitation for a work environment where you just want to order it off a website and are able to put it on the company card/account. Would I like a USA Wilton? Sure, just because but not for the cost involved.

https://m.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_48555_48555

I seriously question anyone who says they’re junk. I suspect they’ve never actually USED the imported Wilton vises.

The vise you linked to is much different from the op's Wilton vise at Napa Auto. I've used the 6" version of that vise, and it absolutely is junk.

 

[Shiftless]

The Yost listed by Rabid Badger is probably the best idea so far.

A few clicks on your computer, wait a couple of days, and you’re ready to go back to work. As I mentioned in my earlier post, all the time involved in tracking down deals on high quality vintage vises doesn’t make any sense unless you’re the kind of guy who enjoys the “thrill of the hunt.”
A vise is a tool to help get work done. Most guys who use them have more than one for different specific needs.

 

[ClappedOutBport]

C.O.B.:
I only dream of someday making a deal even half as good as that.
Here is my story.
I have saved many vises from decades of rusting away in backyards. It is often difficult and time consuming to get rusted pieces apart. Soaking in Evaporust ($20/gallon) is often needed to remove the rust in preparation for cleaning and lubrication. Some vises I strip and repaint, others I rub down with boiled linseed oil to retard future rusting. Some I sell or trade away to other collectors. Others I sell to people who just want to use them. It is certainly an irrational waste of time.
With my time, costs of driving sometimes hours to pick up a find, and the money spent on supplies, I might make minimum wage. I admit that I have flipped a few without working too hard but that is rare. If you count the hours spent looking on Craigslist, FB marketplace, OfferUp, NextDoor, etc, and bill that at a dollar an hour, I’m sure my “hobby business”? is running in the red.

If you're taking total jalopies and making them serviceable again and selling them to people who don't have the tools to knowledge to do so, that's a little different. I see a lot of posts on a particular vise facebook group of guys buying Wiltons in completely serviceable shape (worn paint from years of use, but no issues), and then stripping the perfectly good paint and doing a complete over the top makeover with fancy paint. Then they try to sell the vise for 5 or 6 times what they paid because they "fixed" it. Screw that. I'm not a fan of no-value-added flipping like the house buyers do. If one's entire business model is extracting more hard earned cash from people while providing no value over the original seller then... let's just say I wouldn't get along well.

 

[Shiftless]

C.O.B.:
I agree with you 100%
I have seen some unbelievably high quality restorations of Wilton bullets featuring mirror polished jaw tops, handles, anvil areas, and sporting show car quality paint jobs. If a very particular person wants to pay top dollar for a showpiece vise to display in their showplace garage with weekly mopped epoxy floors, and gleaming toolboxes full of polished tools, that’s great. But that’s not me.

I know that the many hours of fine detail work that goes into restorations of that level don’t yield big hourly dollar payoffs.

I have learned which old vises are good quality and which are not. And what they usually sell for. Craigslists everywhere are full of overpriced vises, often damaged. Uneducated buyers are at risk just like when uneducated buyers shop for used cars, heavy machinery, or lots of other things.
.
.

 

[seanb02]

Yep, have it in hand now... and it's a complete piece of garbage for my intended uses. It's going right back in the box and getting returned. I did come across a much heavier Wilton that felt decent at another store while I was in town earlier. But the price tag on that one was nearing $500.

 

[Shiftless]

sean:
Sorry it didn’t work out for you and that you wasted your time.
That’s why so many GJ guys like the old iron.

For $500 you could have my Reed 406r AND the custom stand that alone weighs about 125 pounds.

Too bad that shipping would kill the deal.

 

[seanb02]

sean:
Sorry it didn’t work out for you and that you wasted your time.
That’s why so many GJ guys like the old iron.

For $500 you could have my Reed 406r AND the custom stand that alone weighs about 125 pounds.

Too bad that shipping would kill the deal.

Thanks... You ever up in the Medford/Grants Pass Rogue Valley area?

I don't find myself down south very often, last trip was a couple years ago picking up a rental tractor south of Stockton.

Another guy that works here said to give him a couple days, he thinks he has an old vise floating around that he would be willing to put to use but needs to do some digging.

 

[Shiftless]

sean:
Good luck with the vise from your buddy. Hopefully it’s a good one. Post details if you want advise.

 

[exmaxima1]

With the new 25% tariffs on Chinese goods, it seems that production of the Tradesman model vises would be cost effective back in the States. But I'd wager that Wilton will just raise the prices on ALL their vises to make the numbers look good.

 

[Handyandy23]

I picked up one of the new Wilton Mechanic's vises from a local store when it was on clearance, just like this one:

https://www.amazon.com/Wilton-21400-745-Mechanics-Vise/dp/B00004XPVE/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

Haven't really used it much at all so can't say much about it yet. But it seems fairly heavy and has both regular jaws and pipe jaws, which I thought was handy. I had been looking locally for a decent old school one, but surprise surprise, they're all either super junky light **** that people still want like-new prices for, or they're older US-made ones that people want hundreds of dollars for. There's one local vise hoarder that has an ad with hundreds of vises and wants top dollar for any of them.

The "vise collectors" have kind of ruined the resale market for anyone that actually wants to use them for work.

 

[Parrothead]

The vise you linked to is much different from the op's Wilton vise at Napa Auto. I've used the 6" version of that vise, and it absolutely is junk.

Fair point. I looked up that version (only in red) on Northern Tools website and can see why you’d have the opinion you do about that model.

I’m happy with the Wilton WS6 (mine), and have no complaints.

 

[Fulcrum]

C.O.B.:
I only dream of someday making a deal even half as good as that.
Here is my story.
I have saved many vises from decades of rusting away in backyards. It is often difficult and time consuming to get rusted pieces apart. Soaking in Evaporust ($20/gallon) is often needed to remove the rust in preparation for cleaning and lubrication. Some vises I strip and repaint, others I rub down with boiled linseed oil to retard future rusting. Some I sell or trade away to other collectors. Others I sell to people who just want to use them. It is certainly an irrational waste of time.
With my time, costs of driving sometimes hours to pick up a find, and the money spent on supplies, I might make minimum wage. I admit that I have flipped a few without working too hard but that is rare. If you count the hours spent looking on Craigslist, FB marketplace, OfferUp, NextDoor, etc, and bill that at a dollar an hour, I’m sure my “hobby business”? is running in the red.

I've bought a few Wilton's (Tradesman and older USA 10" wood vises) that were in terrible shape and made them like new. I used sweat equity instead of paying cash, but I would also be in the red.

The only way to make this feasible is to pay next to nothing for them up front. I have less than $200 in the four vises I own, but with the time invested in them I would never consider selling them.

 

[DFB]

I picked up one of the new Wilton Mechanic's vises from a local store when it was on clearance, just like this one:

https://www.amazon.com/Wilton-21400-745-Mechanics-Vise/dp/B00004XPVE/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

Staying with the Wilton in a similar price range to the original post (although I have no experience with it) and short of going all out for a Tradesman vise I have to tend to agree that the Mechanics vise looks worthy.



---------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Like I said earlier in the tread we have the 8" (WS8 I guess it is) now at the motorcycle shop and they seems to run about $250 on average. Its solid.

I see one seller has a WS8 and 3 of the "BASH" green hammers, With an Amazon promo it's all under $300

Old man in shop next to use is looking to sell his bench vise, a pristine swivel base Reed, a 206 I believe it is for a similar price to the imports.



FYI just looking around online the original BASH deal NAPA offering can be had a LOT cheaper too then the price that was also offered to the OP.

 

[1982fxr]

With the new 25% tariffs on Chinese goods, it seems that production of the Tradesman model vises would be cost effective back in the States. But I'd wager that Wilton will just raise the prices on ALL their vises to make the numbers look good.

Aren't the new tradesman vises Taiwan?

If so no tariffs...

 

[Shiftless]

DFB:
“Old man in shop next to use is looking to sell his bench vise, a pristine swivel base Reed, a 206 I believe it is for a similar price to the imports.”


Buy it!
That’s just about the best vise out there, new or old. It’s huge and very heavy so be prepared.

 

[plinker]

One of the Forged Yost vises may be a decent option. I think I remember they changed a little in how they were made though. Capri is the OE for them IIRC, made in Taiwan as well.

Not saying these are better or worse then an older vise but it may well be worth looking at. Amazon did have some sales on them from time to time.

I wouldnt mind picking one of the 7-8" ones, but I have other **** that needs buying first.

https://www.amazon.com/Yost-FSV-4-Heavy-Duty-Forged-360-Degree/dp/B00E8ITETS/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=3DTKZJKCTN0K8&keywords=yost%2Bforged%2Bvise&qid=1563408620&s=gateway&sprefix=yost%2Bforged%2Caps%2C578&sr=8-1-spons&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/Capri-Tools-10517-Ultimate-Forged/dp/B015NI29BG/ref=sr_1_7?crid=3DTKZJKCTN0K8&keywords=yost%2Bforged%2Bvise&qid=1563408620&s=gateway&sprefix=yost%2Bforged%2Caps%2C578&sr=8-7&th=1

 

[GRB]

The Ridgid Vises, made by Matador in Germany, are pretty nice. A bit stiff on making big size changes like when you have to adjust from a 5" thick piece to a 1" thick piece. BUT, they are top quality and very precise.
The Capri shown above looks like a Ridgid/Matador copy.
Here is the Ridgid 5": https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001VXW490/?tag=atomicindus08-20
I've purchased a new Combination and a new Machinist Wilton in the last two years and they are excellent.
Not sure about the Tradesman going to Chinesium ****. Still thought they were US made and still excellent.

 

[Tinner]

Aren't the new tradesman vises Taiwan?

If so no tariffs...

Yes, Tradesman are Taiwan.

 

[American Locomotive]

Wilton off-shored a lot of their vise production. If you want U.S. made from them, you have to pay for their top dollar units. We have a lot of U.S. Wiltons at work, and they are pretty nice units.

/rant

As far as vise collectors go: I rank them the same as anvil collectors. They constantly scour the classifieds ads and yard sales for great deals on old iron, scooping them up before anyone else even has a chance to make an offer. Then they hang on to piles of them without ever using them and then want top dollar to let go of them.

I get it, everyone has their hobbies and interests and collections. I collect antique fans and film cameras - but I actually use them. I have a 1940s Hunter blowing air in my living room right now, and just recently took some photos with a near 100 year old Kodak Brownie. But the things I collect aren't particularly valuable or useful in a modern context. Vises and anvils on the other hand are always useful. But these vise and anvil guys just hoard 'em and never use them.

/rant over - signed, disgruntled hobbyist blacksmith who can't find a nice anvil or vise because they get scooped up by collectors the moment they pop up on craigslist