Reasonable cost for a Wilton bullet

[chiz1180]

I have been looking on and off for about a year and a half for a Wilton bullet to match the baby one that I have. I have seen prices anywhere from $60 on up, and I would like to try and narrow down what I am actually looking for and what would be a reasonable price to pay to get one. I am far from an expert on them, but ideally what I want is one with 3-5 inch jaws with out a swivel base. What would be a reasonable price to pay? I by no means absolutely need to get one, but it have been extremely happy with my baby bullet and think it would be nice to complement it with a larger one.

Thanks
chiz1180

 

[dr_clyde]

Well, I just bought a brand new 4" bullet with a standard base. Cost was a tad over 5 bills.

If you follow the rule of roughly 50% of new, then I would say around $250 would be a fair buy it it was in good shape.

 

[Trey T]

the 3-5" jaws machinist vises are priced all over the place. five years ago, a lot of people on here would tell you that a $1 a pound is a fair pricing; however, those vises have become hard to find, I've seen them sold for double ($2/lb) or more for unrefurbished.

Are you looking for the Machinist, Combination, or Tradesman type bullet? The Machinist vises are like the baby one you got.

 

[1950mercury]

Where are u located. Location seems to play a role in used prices

 

[zkling]

Patience and luck or ebay and $. The problem is, there are quite a few collectors, hoarders, and resellers gunning for them. I looked for ~2.5 years before I was successful. $60 would be good, as long as it isn't destroyed.

 

[vertguy]

I picked up a solid 3.5 inch bullet (no swivel and needed stripping/repaint) late last year on ebay for ~$100 and it happened to be local, so no shipping. But I have not found any good deals since as I really want a larger one with a swivel... which is typically double what I paid for the first one.

 

[chiz1180]

the 3-5" jaws machinist vises are priced all over the place. five years ago, a lot of people on here would tell you that a $1 a pound is a fair pricing; however, those vises have become hard to find, I've seen them sold for double ($2/lb) or more for unrefurbished.

Are you looking for the Machinist, Combination, or Tradesman type bullet? The Machinist vises are like the baby one you got.

What is the difference between Machinist, combination and tradesman? I am assuming pipe jaws? I honestly would be fine with a machinist vise.

I thought I had my location info entered, I am in Ohio. So it is looking like $100-250 range would be the sweet spot?

chiz1180

 

[exmaxima1]

those vises have become hard to find, I've seen them sold for double ($2/lb) or more for unrefurbished.

I think you would actually be hard pressed to find a Wilton bullet for less than $3/lbs in good condition. Remember that if the jaws are damaged or badly worn, you're looking at over $60-75 to replace them, so a beat up Wilton is not really a bargain as well.

 

[kunkernator]

You wouldnt find one for under $300 in **** condition where i am from.


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[great white tj]

$ 25.00..... 5 years ago here in Fl. It could take some time, but keep looking..

 

[alinc100]

Here's a quick search of Craigslist here in Metro Detroit with a few listed :

http://detroit.craigslist.org/search/tla?query=Wilton+vise

Now if you are in Toledo might not be a drive ,but if you are in Cincinnati it could be a costly drive.

Also local estate sales,garage sale can be great leads. It just depends on how much time you want to spend looking versus using a vise.

 

[Trey T]

What is the difference between Machinist, combination and tradesman? I am assuming pipe jaws? I honestly would be fine with a machinist vise.

I thought I had my location info entered, I am in Ohio. So it is looking like $100-250 range would be the sweet spot?

chiz1180

Wilton bullet is primarily divided into two segments (in my own interpretation):

1. heavy duty - Machinist (straight jaw only) and Combination (straight w/ pipe jaw). high clamping pressure
2. low duty - Tradesman (straight w/ pipe jaw). low clamping pressure

When you look a vise as a whole, Tradesman is not a low-duty or low quality vise, they're much higher quality than most vise out there.

 

[chiz1180]

I have seen the ones listed on the Detroit craigslist, but im currently in school and I don't exactly have the time to make the trip (class, homework and work take up most of my time at the moment) as from where I am Detroit and back is around 6-7 hrs. Now I don't really need it anytime soon I just was using my baby bullet last night and was reminded that I wanted a larger one, So I basically just started looking again and am trying to get a feel for what a fair price would be.

chiz1180

 

[notlob]

I picked up a C1 (4.5" jaws w/ swivel base) at an estate sale last month for $25, and almost felt guilty.

 

[TheEquineFencer]

Look at the postings in CL eastern,nc or ral/durham,nc area.

 

[Youngguns]

Sorry, off topic, but is there a Wilton appreciation thread? All this talk has me interested in one..

 

[ZRX61]

A 400N sold on FaceBook yesterday for $60. I bought one for $50, restored it, sold it for $125 to my B-i-L. He later sold it for more.

 

[TheEquineFencer]

http://greensboro.craigslist.org/bar/5192167879.html

 

[Trey T]

A 400N sold on FaceBook yesterday for $60. I bought one for $50, restored it, sold it for $125 to my B-i-L. He later sold it for more.

What's the classified group or network name?

 

[shockwave]

I got a Wilton tradesmen 1765 for 300 last year

But I have been looking for a 600s for awhile not many available used since more of a heavy duty vise

 

[Steevo]

I have watched Craigslist and lots of local or regional auctions for 5 or 6 years, and only picked up two Wilton bullet vises to date. One was a baby bullet with swivel base, that I grabbed for $75, held on to for a couple of years and sold for a lot more than that.

The second is a C1 or a 4-1/2" machinists vise, with swivel base. I was ready to bid it up to about $250, but got it for $95. That was almost a year ago, and I haven't seen another on C/L or auction since then.