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Vice Recommendation

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TommyV9

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Jan 14, 2013
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Cape Girardeau, MO
Sorry for the spelling in the title! ^ I broke my 4" Kobalt vise. The piece that the spindle threads through broke. I've googled for parts, but can't find anything so I'm thinking about a replacement. I would like something bigger than 4". I work on vintage cars and it seems like I was constantly at the limit of the 4" opening.

I did spot a 5" Simplex on CL for $225 that is not too far away. It says restored. The one in the back is a 4" Morgan for $175. Are either of these a good deal? I also spotted a Chas Parker 974 for $300 that is in driving distance.

TIA

Tom

Pic of the Simplex and Morgan:

00C0C_7CHUzjBahID_600x450.jpg
 
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EOC_Jason

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Those are both nice vises, both very good brands.

Those prices are kind of high, it really doesn't take *too* much effort to clean off rust and throw some paint on a vise so restored or not shouldn't affect price too much.

That being said, I paid less for a 5" Morgan than what they are asking for that 4"...


If you can get that 5" Simplex down to $150, that is a fair deal. It should open up about 8" or so.

If you really need something bigger than a 4" vise, then look around, if you have some patience then it shouldn't be too difficult to find a 4.5", 5", or even 6"....

Where are you located? That can make a big difference in price and availability.
 
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wrenchguy

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u should post where u r, alot of vise hounds here have reasonably priced ones that might fit ur bill. i know i do. please go with a traditional vintage USA built 1. they where the best back in the day. good luck
 
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oldldh

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Fairhope, AL
Old U.S.A. iron is the best iron...

Those prices are a tad high, in my opinion...

They appear to be sound, but you need to look at them closely, and every ding/scratch/etc lowers the price...

Good luck on your search...
 
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TommyV9

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Good point on location, I'm in Cape Girardeau, MO, about 100 miles south of St. Louis, but I get to St. Louis every month or so. These two vices are between me and St. Louis.

I'm not sure I need wider jaws than 4", but the opening width of the jaws is important especially when I'm trying to clamp suspension components to work on them.

oldldh, I've eaten at a seafood restaurant in Fairhope a couple time. Kind of a dive with $ bills tacked to the ceiling. Great food though!
 
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oldldh

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It's all about the ambiance...

Makes the food taste better...

How's the weather on top of the New Madrid Fault???
 
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TommyV9

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2" of snow on top of 2-3" of sleet. Pretty cold. We typically don't have a real winter, when it snows in St. Louis, we get rain. But this year has been pretty wintery! Blessed to have a nice warm home and a heater for my garage!
 
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oldldh

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If you post your question on the "Vises Thread", you will be inundated with advise and offers...

Just a thought...

"Maclin" hasn't been around lately, but he is the keeper of the "Infamous Colorado Vise Hoard"...and was the source of my Starrett 925...

You can PM him by going to my profile, and clicking on 'Maclin" in the "Friends" box...

I'm sure he can fix you up...
 
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EOC_Jason

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I don't know how far away this is from you... I'm from Texas so every other state except California & Alaska are small to me... ;)

http://columbiamo.craigslist.org/tls/4317001719.html

I says 204R but the image shows a 206R and he said it weighs 142 lbs. which also falls in the 6" Reed area...

If you want to stop messing around and just get a serious vise that will handle whatever you need, this one would be it. I would be sure to look it over carefully for any cracks or chunks missing, but it looks to be in pretty good shape.

He is asking $300 OBO... I'm sure you could talk him down but even at $300 if you *need* a good vise that is still a good deal (assuming it's in good condition).


EDIT: I would also grab a pair of these copper liners, they are great for when you want to grab stuff but don't want to get jaw marks on them. You can put them on smaller vises than 6", just use a hacksaw to trim to fit. ;)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/390638287801

Well worth the $30...
 

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TommyV9

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ducksface said:
I think if you broke a vice you should have been using a press instead.
Click to expand...

Maybe, I think what happened is I had the vise extended open all the way and it slumped and without my realizing it and it put it at an awkward angle and with a lot of leverage. It was a cheap Kobalt. The piece that broke (that the spindle threads through) looked like pot metal, almost.
 
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EOC_Jason

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Just saw your other post saying that Simplex is really a 4.75" which would make it a model 43S.... That is pretty different from the 51S which is 5.25".... It's about 20 lbs in weight difference and 1" opening... I had a 43P that I sold a while back (stationary base) I don't think I sold it for more than $90?
 
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EOC_Jason

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TommyV9 said:
Jason, 142 lbs! I'm not sure I could lift it without damaging something!
Click to expand...

Just take it apart in two... i.e. remove the slide all the way out. That way each half should be about 70 lbs... Much more manageable. ;)

Or bring a friend along for the ride.

Just so you know, the holes in the base are for 3/4" bolts... lol. At least that is what my 4C uses (6" combination).

Also good idea to bring a wire brush & can of WD40, you never know how dry the screw will be or if there is crud on the slide. If you have a car or SUV also good idea to get a garbage bag so you don't mess up the inside.

EDIT, attaching some other 206's so you can see the scale.
 

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drivesitfar

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Tommy, once you use a vise that size (142 pounds) it's like holing wedge shots from the fairway. you probably won't out grow that one and the copper jaws is a must if you ask me and I've probably bought 20 pairs from that awesome seller Jason gave you the link from.

the first two vises are ok, but if this one is within driving distance I would hop in the car after getting some good pictures. of course everybody and his brother now can see this thread and call the guy.

if it doesn't have any cracks, missing parts and works like it should $300 is not a bad deal for an old US vise that big. that 6 inch Reed looks decent in the picture with jaws that match and a straight handle too so a few hours of removing the rust, giving it a new paint job (heated area for this part) and some grease in the right spots and you'll never need another vise unless your friends hit it with a sledge or put huge pipe on handle to tighten it.

not too many fairways and greens with this weather here either.

good luck
 
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EOC_Jason

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Here's a couple ads from Reed... They are kind of cool... One is the new style, one is the old style. :)
 

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sberry

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It depends if you want to work or collect,, ha and the new ones from China are better than when I bought this 30 yrs ago, I had old USA and broke it, pressed this in to service and its a super duper deal and it gets hit hard. The bench was a cobble pos but not being ultimately solid may have some merit but for real work the rotator is a thing of beauty.
Some of these are really old pics.
 

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TommyV9

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Messages
22
Location
Cape Girardeau, MO
EOC_Jason said:
I don't know how far away this is from you... I'm from Texas so every other state except California & Alaska are small to me... ;)

http://columbiamo.craigslist.org/tls/4317001719.html

I says 204R but the image shows a 206R and he said it weighs 142 lbs. which also falls in the 6" Reed area...

If you want to stop messing around and just get a serious vise that will handle whatever you need, this one would be it. I would be sure to look it over carefully for any cracks or chunks missing, but it looks to be in pretty good shape.

He is asking $300 OBO... I'm sure you could talk him down but even at $300 if you *need* a good vise that is still a good deal (assuming it's in good condition).


EDIT: I would also grab a pair of these copper liners, they are great for when you want to grab stuff but don't want to get jaw marks on them. You can put them on smaller vises than 6", just use a hacksaw to trim to fit. ;)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/390638287801

Well worth the $30...
Click to expand...

Left a message on the Reed to see what it really is. Also, just purchased the copper jaws from ebay. Thanks for the advice.

Tommy
 
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oldldh

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Fairhope, AL
When you get your "new" Reed 206R...:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

We expect full photos and a blow-by-blow description of the restoration...:beer:

If you don't post these---:(:(:(



VE VIL HAV YU SHOT!!!!:lol_hitti
 
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