Reed 3C vs. 4C

[Dimitriy]

I currently own a 60's Wilton C1 and Reed 105 N. Between those two, i feel my clamping needs are pretty well covered, but I'd like to add a third vise to my collection that will be on it's own stand for heavier work.

I don't have a machine shop, so my uses are home maintenance, weekend car projects and general tinkering. I've worked on several corvettes over the years and my next project will be a C5 Z06 that will be used as a track toy.

Considering the above, my gut feel is that a 4C would be overkill and more vise than i need. Due to that and being space conscious (480 sq. foot garage shared with 2 cars and washer/dryer), I'm leaning towards the 3C.

I have two questions:

1) For those that own both, can you post dimensions of the two (side by side pics would be awesome, if available)? I found info on weights, 120 lbs for 3C and 185 lbs for 4C, but cannot find dimensions anywhere (length, width and height).

2) Based on what I outlined above, is a 3C the better vise for my situation?

Thanks in advance for your input.

 

[Dimitriy]

Was able to dig up this image, think it's from someone on this board.

 

[EOC_Jason]

I have all 4... Here's some pics of the 1, 2, and 3... I didn't get the 4C in with the group because it was bolted down elsewhere and is kind of a pain to move...

I'll go out in my garage later and measure the 3C... My 4C is still in Houston but there are others here that have one and can take measurements for you I'm sure...

Yes, the 4C is BIG... But when adjusted right it's still very nimble... It was always my go-to vise when you just didn't want to screw around holding something. You could press bearings, break beads on tires, hold yourself up in the air sitting on the handle (no kidding)....

The handle on the 4C is LONG, you have to be careful when spinning it not to whack yourself in the face AND your nuts... The 3C is a little shorter, but it is the same diameter bar.

EDIT - added a couple pics of 4C just because...

 

[Bellaireroad]

I have a 1 , 2 ,3....usually end up using the 2 for most stuff....


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[Maui]

I have the 2C. It is a solid vise.

 

[Dimitriy]

I have all 4... Here's some pics of the 1, 2, and 3... I didn't get the 4C in with the group because it was bolted down elsewhere and is kind of a pain to move...

I'll go out in my garage later and measure the 3C... My 4C is still in Houston but there are others here that have one and can take measurements for you I'm sure...

Yes, the 4C is BIG... But when adjusted right it's still very nimble... It was always my go-to vise when you just didn't want to screw around holding something. You could press bearings, break beads on tires, hold yourself up in the air sitting on the handle (no kidding)....

The handle on the 4C is LONG, you have to be careful when spinning it not to whack yourself in the face AND your nuts... The 3C is a little shorter, but it is the same diameter bar.

EDIT - added a couple pics of 4C just because...

If I had the space, I wouldn't mind picking up all four. Good color choice on the 4C, haven't seen one in silver before. Looking forward to the dimensions, but based on your pics, I'm leaning towards the 3C. I've seen a side by side of a Wilton C1 and Reed 2C, seeing how the 3C dwarfs the 2C helped put things in perspective.

 

[Dimitriy]

I have a 1 , 2 ,3....usually end up using the 2 for most stuff....


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Any particular reason you use more frequently than the 3C?

 

[G-ManBart]

I don't have a machine shop, so my uses are home maintenance, weekend car projects and general tinkering.

Even a 3C is more than likely overkill for those kinds of projects. What are you going to put in the vise that's so big it can't be held by a 100lb vise?

I've bought many vises from welding and fabrication shops and the overwhelming majority of vises they have are no bigger than a Wilton 500S which is just under 100lbs. Finding the bigger vises at those shops is really quite rare, and that tells me something.

For some reason lots of people are convinced they need vises over 100lbs, but businesses who use them all day, every day don't see the need? Something seems odd to me about that.

If I wasn't working on large vises that require me to be able to put a large section in a vise, I wouldn't need anything larger than 100lbs and I have a bulldozer, backhoe, 50hp tractor, dump truck, and before long a skid steer to work on from time to time.

More often than not, the people wanting really big vises are planning to use them as makeshift presses and to hold stuff while they hit things with a big hammer. I've sold big vises to people who said exactly that, and all I could think was "good, a repeat customer after they break this one"....

 

[EOC_Jason]

One thing I always thought about... A 2C would be a good general vise to have on the typical garage workbench. I can only imagine how much better the world would have been if instead of those little wimpy red Craftsman vises you see on all the workbenches they had a nice beefy Reed 2C instead...

Anyhow... Here's some measurements... Hopefully someone can give you 4C measurements...

3C - 22-1/2" L x 13" H x 11" W (widest part of the feet of the base).

The handle is 16-3/4" long, I didn't measure the handle thickness but it's thick. It's the same thickness as the 4C, I think it's like 4" or 6" shorter.

From the top of the jaws to the top of the slide you have 5-1/4" height. (I guess you would call it throat depth.)

2C - 18-1/2" L x 11-1/2" H x 9-1/2" W

Handle is 14" long. It's thinner than the 3C's (obviously).

Top of jaws to top of slide is 4-1/2" height.

Attaching a few more pics for ya...

Honestly, I think a 4C will be way to big for your needs... A 3C is going to require a pretty hefty base still, where are you planing on mounting it?

 

[Bellaireroad]

Any particular reason you use more frequently than the 3C?

Easier to use , and you don't want to spin the handle on the big ones, or you will get bit[emoji57]


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[Dimitriy]

Even a 3C is more than likely overkill for those kinds of projects. What are you going to put in the vise that's so big it can't be held by a 100lb vise?

I've bought many vises from welding and fabrication shops and the overwhelming majority of vises they have are no bigger than a Wilton 500S which is just under 100lbs. Finding the bigger vises at those shops is really quite rare, and that tells me something.

For some reason lots of people are convinced they need vises over 100lbs, but businesses who use them all day, every day don't see the need? Something seems odd to me about that.

If I wasn't working on large vises that require me to be able to put a large section in a vise, I wouldn't need anything larger than 100lbs and I have a bulldozer, backhoe, 50hp tractor, dump truck, and before long a skid steer to work on from time to time.

More often than not, the people wanting really big vises are planning to use them as makeshift presses and to hold stuff while they hit things with a big hammer. I've sold big vises to people who said exactly that, and all I could think was "good, a repeat customer after they break this one"....

I think "need" is a relative term. There are people on this forum that have 10-20+ vises, and I doubt any one person "needs" that many. The Wilton C1 and Reed 105N will likely cover any project I come across, but I've always wanted a Reed combo vise...and figured it made sense to go one size up, just in case.

BTW, I would never beat the **** out of a vise with a hammer...would use a crappy railroad track for that, don't do enough metal work to justify investing in a proper anvil.

 

[Dimitriy]

One thing I always thought about... A 2C would be a good general vise to have on the typical garage workbench. I can only imagine how much better the world would have been if instead of those little wimpy red Craftsman vises you see on all the workbenches they had a nice beefy Reed 2C instead...

Anyhow... Here's some measurements... Hopefully someone can give you 4C measurements...

3C - 22-1/2" L x 13" H x 11" W (widest part of the feet of the base).

The handle is 16-3/4" long, I didn't measure the handle thickness but it's thick. It's the same thickness as the 4C, I think it's like 4" or 6" shorter.

From the top of the jaws to the top of the slide you have 5-1/4" height. (I guess you would call it throat depth.)

2C - 18-1/2" L x 11-1/2" H x 9-1/2" W

Handle is 14" long. It's thinner than the 3C's (obviously).

Top of jaws to top of slide is 4-1/2" height.

Attaching a few more pics for ya...

Honestly, I think a 4C will be way to big for your needs... A 3C is going to require a pretty hefty base still, where are you planing on mounting it?

This is awesome, thank you! Agree, 4C is overkill, 3C it is, now I have to begin the painstaking process of locating one - slim pickings out here in CA.

I'm going to build a standalone pedestal for it or maybe a narrow bench out of 2x4's, still debating. If I go the narrow bench route, doubling up on the legs to have 4x4 on each corner should provide a pretty solid foundation, with 2x4's layered over some 1/2 ply for the top - I know that's probably overkill, but I want it to be extra sturdy.

 

[EOC_Jason]

Good Luck!