SuzukiGS750EZ
Well-known member
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- Apr 26, 2012
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Are these little hobby size vise any good? I'm looking for a smaller tabletop vice that has its own base. Is there anything similar but better quality?
Panavise vises
- Thread starter SuzukiGS750EZ
- Start date
LeonardY
Well-known member
I have several and use them all the time. But I use them for their intended purpose. Light weight clamping and holding. I have several different bases as well. I have a weighted base, suction cup and clamp.
If you intend to crush something with it. There are better vises.
If you intend to crush something with it. There are better vises.
rlitman
Well-known member
Engravers use similar but better quality ball vises. Ball mount vises are made by lots of companies. I've seen Baby Wilton bullet vises on ball mounts too, and I have a scrap bowling ball meant for a larger version of that project one day.
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macgee
Well-known member
Meh,
They're made out aluminum pot metal. They can work well but as mentioned they're not intended for vise work that people may want to use it for. They're designed for light weight items only needing light clamping forces. The finish on them is also not that great either, lots of casting marks/lines on them but then they don't sell for a lot either. Think of them more as a third hand than a vise. Good for electronics soldering, tying fly's or using a Dremel but don't expect great result if your trying to drill, file or saw....etc.
The problem is when looking for a better quality vise in this size and style, they're very hard to find (almost non-existent) and when you do, it can be crazy expensive. The ideal is the vintage Wilton Baby Bullet vises mounted on Pow-R-Arm ball swivel but you can buy approx. 12+ Panavise's for the price of just one of those (used).
As another alternative that is somewhere in the middle, I recently fabricated this set up as a substitution to my long gone Wilton Baby Bullet vise. Its a FPU Bison baby bullet vise with a HD motion film camera ball swivel. So far, it works really and quite happy with it.
They're made out aluminum pot metal. They can work well but as mentioned they're not intended for vise work that people may want to use it for. They're designed for light weight items only needing light clamping forces. The finish on them is also not that great either, lots of casting marks/lines on them but then they don't sell for a lot either. Think of them more as a third hand than a vise. Good for electronics soldering, tying fly's or using a Dremel but don't expect great result if your trying to drill, file or saw....etc.
The problem is when looking for a better quality vise in this size and style, they're very hard to find (almost non-existent) and when you do, it can be crazy expensive. The ideal is the vintage Wilton Baby Bullet vises mounted on Pow-R-Arm ball swivel but you can buy approx. 12+ Panavise's for the price of just one of those (used).
As another alternative that is somewhere in the middle, I recently fabricated this set up as a substitution to my long gone Wilton Baby Bullet vise. Its a FPU Bison baby bullet vise with a HD motion film camera ball swivel. So far, it works really and quite happy with it.
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I've been using one for about 35 years for working on various electronic and electrical assemblies. I think that is Panavise's primary and intended market. They work very well in for these light duty applications. Can't ever remember having one fail on me. I think they work great when used within the scope of their intended use.
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neophyte
Well-known member
This vise from Harbor Freight isn’t bad.
www.harborfreight.com
I wouldn’t use it for high stress work, but it should be sturdier than the panavise, and some other retailers sell an “almost identical” vise, for a significantly higher price, that I suspect might be the exact same vise with a different name.
Unfortunately, it’s hard to tell if it’s the same, but I don't feel like spending $60-$80 for the other versions, checking and doing stress tests on the vises to tell.
The vises to need to be taken apart, cleaned, lubed, etc.
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Unfortunately, it’s hard to tell if it’s the same, but I don't feel like spending $60-$80 for the other versions, checking and doing stress tests on the vises to tell.
The vises to need to be taken apart, cleaned, lubed, etc.
