Vise - Old or New

[FMC1959]

Not just for tools but for many items (cars, furniture…etc) I have an appreciation for look and quality of vintage products. New and modern also has its conveniences. New or old, I usually try to get the best quality my budget permits at that time.

Looking for a good solid vise. I would like 6” jaws or pretty close. For about $550, I can get a Wilton Tradesman 1765, about as high as I want to go. Mid $400 for a 1755, also saw a Ridgid F-60 for under $400.

Then there are the older used models, which I would love to find something to restore. I just missed a real nice looking 6” Prentiss Bulldog, some other lucky guy got there before me. I love big hefty vintage models like Reeds, Yosts and others.(I have some smaller vices, I need to add something bigger).

Not in a hurry but any given day I might be impulsive and go for new. Aside from the Wilton and Ridgid above, any recommendations on new 6” that does not cost more than the Wilton TM? I have seen made in China Bessey’s, but just recently saw this…
http://www.besseytools.com/en/produ...300030023&ASIMOID_MC=000000000001f07600030023

■Drop forged moveable jaw, stationary jaw and base
■Guranteed unbreakable in normal use
■90,000 psi drop forged alloy steel construction
■Perfect parallel jaw design
■Precision groud and induction hardened jaws and anvil
■360 degree rotation on swivel base
■Made in Europe

Sounds pretty impressive and Amazon has it for just under $400, anyone know anything about it?

Thanks

 

[bl00]

Yost sells one similar to the Ridgid only it has replaceable jaws.
Amazon link

 

[bobcatdan]

Yost, Milwaukee Morgan and Reed still make USA vise. Columbia still has some USA vises, but they are big money models. Yost can go over a $1,000 pretty easy depending on what you want. I have no idea what a Morgan or a Reed goes for because I have never looked. The Bessey you posted looks close to a Ridgid which is also made in Europe. I see a few differences so I don't think they are the same. I don't know what to tell you since you are open to buy new or used. Any of the well know names will serve you well if a nice used one pops up, but buying new will give you the option to buy exactly what you want vs the first good deal on a used one.

 

[drivesitfar]

Too bad you are not closer and I would hook you up with something. I think I might have mentioned the Record made in England vise that has 6 inch jaws. the one I just sold for less than your budget had the reversible action which is really a very cool deal if you havent seen one in action. I would have kept it but it was too shiny on the bench next to my big US one.

I think it was about 10 years old.

Good luck

 

[FMC1959]

Thanks for the info and advice guys...b100, the Yost on the link, that is not a made in the USA Yost, just says imported. Is that a Chinese import? From what I know, the Ridgid comes from Germany and is made from some respected vise makers that Ridgid bought.

I would love a Reed, Yost, Wilton, or other big name, provided it is a made in the US model. If it is a made in China, then Yost or any other name doesn't interest me. Not to knock the chinese, I have a made in China now, I don't want to pay for a name, but getting their low grade made in China.

Thanks

 

[bobcatdan]

If you go to the Yost web site, they are very clearly and proudly marked which are USA. Their reversible jaw models are the lowest priced USA from what I can tell. Northern tool seems to have the best price those. I kinda want one. I'm pretty sure all the vises Reed offers are USA and am certain all of Morgan's are.

 

[IndyGarage]

Why not buy used?

I bought three great vises for $50 each a few years ago. One was a Yost 4 inch, one was a Parker 5 inch and one was a Columbian 6 inch.

All of them looked like they'd been through a war, but it only takes about a couple hours to make them look and work great.

Take them apart - about 15 minutes with a wire brush in a grinder, about `5 minutes with a grinding wheel in a grinder to clean up the bad spots, about 10 minutes to mask them off, about an hour to spray a couple coats of paint on. 15 minutes to bolt it to your benchtop.

 

[Sheriff Roscoe]

Only buy NEW. That way one of our kids can pick up a nice vintage 2014 USA vice on the cheap in about 40 years!

Course there's that inflation thing...

 

[FMC1959]

Indy, I am all for a nice used one, but it would probably need to be local. A 6" vise I got to figure is going to be 50 lbs on the low side and some old Reed's, Parker's and others I have heard can be 100 lbs or more, so big shipping charges.

Still, I am looking and would love to get an old made in the USA hunk of iron! Like I said, I have my impulsive moments, but right now I am busy with enough projects, so I am willing to take my time. Could be in a month or two from now I am still looking. Of course a sweet deal, new or used, I would probably jump on it.

 

[bobcatdan]

Why not buy used?

I bought three great vises for $50 each a few years ago. One was a Yost 4 inch, one was a Parker 5 inch and one was a Columbian 6 inch.

All of them looked like they'd been through a war, but it only takes about a couple hours to make them look and work great.

Take them apart - about 15 minutes with a wire brush in a grinder, about `5 minutes with a grinding wheel in a grinder to clean up the bad spots, about 10 minutes to mask them off, about an hour to spray a couple coats of paint on. 15 minutes to bolt it to your benchtop.

The use market is great if there is one. Old USA vises don't show up very often by me, and the ones that do are crazy high. Only reason I have my nice old parker is I saw in a guy's garage when I was at his house to look at something else. He took my number and sold it to me a year later. I wasn't in a rush, didn't really need it. Now if I needed a vise today, I'd buy new in a heart beat.

 

[FMC1959]

You are so right, the best deals always come up when you aren't really looking!

 

[Outlawmws]

Only buy NEW. That way one of our kids can pick up a nice vintage 2014 USA vice on the cheap in about 40 years!

Course there's that inflation thing...

Now there is a thinking man!

 

[Outlawmws]

Indy, I am all for a nice used one, but it would probably need to be local. A 6" vise I got to figure is going to be 50 lbs on the low side and some old Reed's, Parker's and others I have heard can be 100 lbs or more, so big shipping charges.

Still, I am looking and would love to get an old made in the USA hunk of iron! Like I said, I have my impulsive moments, but right now I am busy with enough projects, so I am willing to take my time. Could be in a month or two from now I am still looking. Of course a sweet deal, new or used, I would probably jump on it.

A GOOD vintage 6" vise will usually Tip past 100 lbs. I have an American Scale 6" stationary and it weighs 136, 6" Paramo swivel base is 100, The 5" Reed swivel is 90, and an older 5" Prentis Bull Dog stationary is at 72

A 6" Asian import won't even tip 50 I don't think...

 

[oldldh]

Don't forget the "Mythical" Craftsman 5198 5"....

107 pounds!!!!