Vice in 1-car garage? Possible without a large table/bench?

[Fretters]

If I don't use the vise for trying to press bushings and u-joints, it sounds like the $50 vise will suit my basic vise needs

It would indeed. For general use that vice would be absolutely fine. When it comes to using a vice as a press though, even some of the best vices have been known to self destruct, so trusting an import with that task would have a good chance of failure. If you're wanting to try pressing though, you'd be better off looking for a welded steel vice instead. At least those will generally flex/bend rather than just crack, if pushed too far.

 

[justanengineer]

Vises don't need to take up a ton of room, stick it on a pedestal or on a bench. You can also be creative and pin it to make it removeable if need be.

 

[Jacobson]

Is this Craftsman 6" Vise a good deal for $80?
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-6-in-bench-vise/p-00951856000P



http://www.ebay.com/itm/6-Bench-Vis...p-Cast-Iron-/361282336356?hash=item541e1af664

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odk...0.TRC0.H0.X6"+vise.TRS0&_nkw=6"+vise&_sacat=0

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=62716

 

[drivesitfar]

Jac: it would certainly be better than nothing, but the old craftsman vises were made better along with other vises if you can maybe wait and find an old one.

 

[Jacobson]

There are really no vices on CL for sale in my area, and I don't have time for garage sales. In fact, I have not seen a garage sale in my area for 15 years. Imagine trying to find a vise for sale in Beverly Hills.

 

[drivesitfar]

Jac: if you want to buy a new one you might look at the Tekton(sp?) that has a lifetime warranty. Id stiil buy a press for u joints so you dont break your new vise. The vise will come in handy once you start using one. I bought a zyliss vise for first homeowners vise but i didnt work on my cars much. It was handy and i could mount it on a sawhorse or side of the deck.

 

[CNGsaves]

Great vise for you OP (if buying new) would be a Ridgid 45 . . . it's very well made with 4 1/2" jaws but $248 so pricey. Doubt you'd ever need anything more in 1 car garage.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001VY07LQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Cheaper model that is very similar is 4" Yost for $148 right now on Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E8IWTHC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Otherwise just watch CL like a hawk or even Ebay and buy locally for a Made in USA vise in 3 1/2" to 4 1/2" range.

 

[191145]

I bought a 3.5" Craftsman vise back in the early '80s that I'm still using. When we got the current house, it had the required steel guard pipe bolted down in front of the furnace/water heater in the garage. At the time I didn't have a work bench in there, so I made a pattern for a mounting plate and took the pipe to the welder to have it done. I've been using it like this for the last 20 years. I don't do heavy auto repair here but I have used this vise a lot working in bicycles, guns and just stuff around the house. I made a set of 3/4" thick walnut jaw covers for it that have really been used.
It is really hard to do without a vise, so I hope you find a way to set one up that will be solidly and reliably mounted.

 

[Jacobson]

Someone gave me a free 3" clamp-on style vice.
I did some rust treatment, and now just need to find a good place to mount it.
For free, this may be a handy stop-gap for smaller requirements.