Tekton Vises on WOOT

[EdJack]

Not the best vises in the world, but look to be better than Harbor Freight vises.

Worth a look if you need a relatively cheap vise, at somewhat decent quality.

http://tools.woot.com/plus/tekton-vises?ref=cnt_wp_2

 

[Makapuu]

Any reports/reviews on these? For the prices I am considering a bite, but I don't want a piece of ****, especially a heavy one! I assume not made in USA?

 

[EdJack]

You can look over on Amazon, and compare prices and read reviews.

Not made in the USA is probably a good assumption on a cheap vise or anvil.

 

[bareass172]

When I was on here looking and asking about vices they came up as a possible cheap alternative. Apparently they're inexpensive, but have a lifetime warranty so if it breaks you get a new one. That alone beats HF even if the quality is the same.

 

[sloppy]

When I was on here looking and asking about vices they came up as a possible cheap alternative. Apparently they're inexpensive, but have a lifetime warranty so if it breaks you get a new one. That alone beats HF even if the quality is the same.

I guess.. But for those price's you can easily pick up old US iron which if not abused will never break, and even if they are abused probably will not break..

And if these are abused they for sure will break.. So its like warranting a turd its still a turd..

I guess I just dont see the value in these even with a warranty..

 

[macgee]

When I was on here looking and asking about vices they came up as a possible cheap alternative. Apparently they're inexpensive, but have a lifetime warranty so if it breaks you get a new one. That alone beats HF even if the quality is the same.

I totally agree with Sloppy,

At these prices and in regards to the larger sizes, you should easily be able to find an older american vise for less and it won't need a warranty. The Tekton's are only 30,000 psi with weak threads where most american vise are 60,000 psi and have leaps & bounds better threads. It's not even a close contest.

I bought this Anthol vise (pic) for $20, which was a steal but I do see the same and similar vises for around $75 on a regular bases on craiglist.

 

[myk]

Not the best vises in the world, but look to be better than Harbor Freight vises.

Worth a look if you need a relatively cheap vise, at somewhat decent quality.

http://tools.woot.com/plus/tekton-vises?ref=cnt_wp_2

I don't know if anyone's realized it yet, but most of the tekton tools that i've seen on Woot have been EXACTLY the same (except for the color) as the harbor freight equivalent - including the 27 LED flashlight (red for tekton instead of blue)

This stuff is literally coming off the same factory floor, but you don't have a local dealer to go to for warranty purposes, unlike HF.

Tekton prices are without shipping cost from woot ($5 flat rate). HF Prices are without any 25% off coupon

Tekton 4" drill press vise $19.99: http://tools.woot.com/offers/4-inch-drill-press-vise?ref=cnt_wp_2_1

HF 4" Drill press vise $15.99: http://www.harborfreight.com/4-inch-jaw-capacity-drill-press-vise-30999.html



Tekton 6" Swivel Vise $79.99:http://tools.woot.com/offers/6-inch-swivel-bench-vise?ref=cnt_wp_2_4

HF 6" Swivel Vise $69.99: http://www.harborfreight.com/6-inch-swivel-vise-with-anvil-67040.html

 

[EdJack]

Yuk. Harbor Freight factory.

Paint one blue and send to Harbor Freight, paint the next black and send to Tekton, paint the third one green and send it to an Ebay seller.....

 

[myk]

Just wanted to add that I've never actually bought the tekton ones to compare side by side - so anyone that has please correct me if i'm wrong, but these pictures look identical just different angles.

 

[bareass172]

Some of you guys have a lot more access to old iron than the rest of us. When I needed a new vice I hunted for quite awhile and only came across one that was far from a stellar deal. I got lucky and had a GJ member offer me a non-vintage Yost for a good price, but I had to get it delivered from Houston.

Re-read what I wrote - I thought I was pretty clear. The OP asked about Tekton, I told him what little I knew about them. When I was hunting it was presented as a possible option to consider, mostly because it was a CHEAP and temporary alternative. To be clear, I'm not arguing they're comparable quality to vintage American iron, not by a long shot. But if I needed a vise NOW and had the choice between a Tekton and the vintage vise I can't find at all, I'd go Tekton...

Compare Tekton to HF if you want, but HF doesn't lifetime warranty their vices so even if they are identical in every other way (ignoring shipping, coupons, etc) you can't walk into HF and get a new one when it breaks - and the point of this is that we all know it will.

 

[macgee]

Some of you guys have a lot more access to old iron than the rest of us. When I needed a new vice I hunted for quite awhile and only came across one that was far from a stellar deal. I got lucky and had a GJ member offer me a non-vintage Yost for a good price, but I had to get it delivered from Houston.

Re-read what I wrote - I thought I was pretty clear. The OP asked about Tekton, I told him what little I knew about them. When I was hunting it was presented as a possible option to consider, mostly because it was a CHEAP and temporary alternative. To be clear, I'm not arguing they're comparable quality to vintage American iron, not by a long shot. But if I needed a vise NOW and had the choice between a Tekton and the vintage vise I can't find at all, I'd go Tekton...

Compare Tekton to HF if you want, but HF doesn't lifetime warranty their vices so even if they are identical in every other way (ignoring shipping, coupons, etc) you can't walk into HF and get a new one when it breaks - and the point of this is that we all know it will.

I feel your pain and what your trying to hunt for. I live on So. Cal and amount of cool tools available for very cheap seems to be endless compared to other places. I just tried yesterday helping a friend look for tools and vises in Tampa, FL and that place is like the sahara desert in regards to finding anything nice or even for cheap; opposite compared to where I live (I'm spoiled).

You are essentially paying $30 more to pay for the warranty over the harbor freight vise. The questions as earlier posted, is how easily can you take advantage of the warranty when you need it? Do you have to pay shipping to send it back for replacement? If so, that could be close to half the price of a new one not to mention adding the hassling of buying the ship. box and packing it.

Also: Harbor Freight has a EXTENDED SERVICE PROTECTION (ESP), I'm curious how much it cost extra when you a vise form them?

I think if you look around online, there's better new vise's out there around the same price.

I highly recommend searching locally for a new Craftsman Professional Vise. Fathers day is coming up and Sears put out good sales on tools for it. It's has 60,000 psi iron and has excellent reviews on this site about it. It comes with a lifetime warranty but most likely you'll never need it but if you do just drive to your closest Sears and exchange it.
They don't sell them online anymore but most stores I go to have one or two on the shelf.

http://toolguyd.com/best-bench-vise-craftsman-professional/

 

[nicksnothereman]

Not the best vises in the world, but look to be better than Harbor Freight vises.

Worth a look if you need a relatively cheap vise, at somewhat decent quality.

http://tools.woot.com/plus/tekton-vises?ref=cnt_wp_2

Look better than the chinese besseys. Just saying. Too much money for china though.

 

[WilltheEngineer]

FYI, the woodworking and some of the others can be bought at same or cheaper prices under the Olympia, etc...brand names.

I don't consider myself a vise expert, but I do think the 8 steel vise is a good deal @ $125 shipped. However the bearing/collar on the main screw might be questionable.

 

[monomach]

I don't know if anyone's realized it yet, but most of the tekton tools that i've seen on Woot have been EXACTLY the same (except for the color) as the harbor freight equivalent - including the 27 LED flashlight (red for tekton instead of blue)

This stuff is literally coming off the same factory floor, but you don't have a local dealer to go to for warranty purposes, unlike HF.

Tekton prices are without shipping cost from woot ($5 flat rate). HF Prices are without any 25% off coupon

Tekton 4" drill press vise $19.99: http://tools.woot.com/offers/4-inch-drill-press-vise?ref=cnt_wp_2_1

HF 4" Drill press vise $15.99: http://www.harborfreight.com/4-inch-jaw-capacity-drill-press-vise-30999.html



Tekton 6" Swivel Vise $79.99:http://tools.woot.com/offers/6-inch-swivel-bench-vise?ref=cnt_wp_2_4

HF 6" Swivel Vise $69.99: http://www.harborfreight.com/6-inch-swivel-vise-with-anvil-67040.html

This is pretty much always the case when you see the words "better than Harbor Freight" or "at least it's not Harbor Freight" describing a crappy tool brand.

Just the same thing with a different paint job.

 

[Hootbro]

Some of you guys have a lot more access to old iron than the rest of us. ................

Access seems to be regional. The more you go West and away from the rust belt manufacturing states of the North and Northeast, the less you find vintage heavy tools like Vises.

 

[Makapuu]

Access seems to be regional. The more you go West and away from the rust belt manufacturing states of the North and Northeast, the less you find vintage heavy tools like Vises.

This is true of antiques of all kinds, not just old tools. Thank goodness for eBay and the internet! In the dark ages us Left Coasters were far too deprived from access to old stuff we collect.