Vises: Which style would you choose?
- Thread starter bmwpower
- Start date
I would probably go for the Wilton Tradesman .. because it has cllamps for pipes .. 
Junkman
Well-known member
I have no vices..... I live a clean life..... 
brianpgriset
Well-known member
bmwpower said:
They're usually just sort of diamond shaped to grip the pipe. Those ones look kinda dinky though... hmmm. I bet they work good though... its a Wilton!. They almost always do chew on what your clamping in them, at least my cheapo Kobalt vise does. They are helpful in many situations so I'd say go with the Tradesman.
Down Under Bloke
Well-known member
As they are both pretty much the same style I’d go with the machinist as it looks stronger and is finished is better.
Milnor Man
New member
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2006
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It is worth having the pipe jaws. I like the vices with the rotating head so you can clamp long pieces standing on edge or at an odd angle. I just bought a 6" Columbian from Jet Tools clearance store for $50. Great heavy vice.
1320stang
Well-known member
bimmer, you have a PM.
Milnor Man said:
One of the problems I see with the Tradesman is that it might be hard or impossible to clamp a piece that has a large/wide "bottom". Sometimes I have had to put a piece of something down between the jaws. It seems like the Machinist has more width between the jaws. but the Tradesman has more depth, no?
Anyone else see this problem?
TNToy
Well-known member
I would probably go with the Machinist for automotive work. I've done a good bit rollcage fabrication, and don't really use pipe jaws all that much.
For welding tasks, you just need to hold something still and mabye hit it with a grinder. Beating on it with a hammer is kinda rare. I've never had a problem holding a tube with regular vise jaws and doing what I needed.
Yes, pipe jaws do mar what they're holding. It's just like using a pipe wrench... there are marks left, but it's really the only way to hang onto a round, smooth tube.
What are the best prices you've found on both, by the way? I'll be in the market for one in about 4 months.
For welding tasks, you just need to hold something still and mabye hit it with a grinder. Beating on it with a hammer is kinda rare. I've never had a problem holding a tube with regular vise jaws and doing what I needed.
Yes, pipe jaws do mar what they're holding. It's just like using a pipe wrench... there are marks left, but it's really the only way to hang onto a round, smooth tube.
What are the best prices you've found on both, by the way? I'll be in the market for one in about 4 months.
TNToy said:I would probably go with the Machinist for automotive work. I've done a good bit rollcage fabrication, and don't really use pipe jaws all that much.
For welding tasks, you just need to hold something still and mabye hit it with a grinder. Beating on it with a hammer is kinda rare. I've never had a problem holding a tube with regular vise jaws and doing what I needed.
Yes, pipe jaws do mar what they're holding. It's just like using a pipe wrench... there are marks left, but it's really the only way to hang onto a round, smooth tube.
What are the best prices you've found on both, by the way? I'll be in the market for one in about 4 months.
That's what I was thinking. Anything I would want to hold still AND not mar I could use the jaws combined with aluminum, rubber or other type of jaw cover (which they make). I don't think they make something like that for the pipe jaws.
Price will depend greatly on jaw size - another thing I'm not 100% sure on.
TNToy
Well-known member
A 6" vise is good for pretty much anything from building ford 9" third members down. That's what I'm going to be looking for.
5" - 6" is a good size. Anything smaller is too limiting, and anything larger is, well, a waste of space on your bench most of the time.
5" - 6" is a good size. Anything smaller is too limiting, and anything larger is, well, a waste of space on your bench most of the time.
Junkman
Well-known member
For the few times you might need a pipe vise, I see them all the time for short money at the flea markets. I picked one up a few years ago for $10 and still haven't had a reason to use it. Most times I need to hold a piece of pipe, the regular vise will work. The jaws on a bench vise that also hold steel piping, are just a stop gap measure, and for the most part, they aren't that useful. Now, if you want a real vise, I know this cute 18 year old girl that will do the trick ......
Junkman
Well-known member
I told her all about you, and she said that she would prefer an "older gentleman with a Mercedes"......
Junkman said:I told her all about you, and she said that she would prefer an "older gentleman with a Mercedes"......
Well, indeed, I'm older (than her). Mercedes suspension won't handle the "rockin"... need a sport tuned suspension for that.
Man, this has gone WAY of course....
KingPerformance
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- Joined
- Jan 11, 2007
- Messages
- 321
I'm going to agree with you bmwpower the machinist is the way to go. With the availability of alloy's and plastics to slip over, bolt in place, replace etc pipe jaws just get in the way more then they help.
russlaferrera
Well-known member
bmwpower said:I'm already in trouble enough, Junkman, but may be interested when the wife is out of town...
And if she finds out...YOURS will be in a vice...russ
While we are on the subject of lust...
I have always lusted after the Machinist version of the vise.
I would someday like to have one in a 6 or 8 inch size, but the cost for me is prohibitive.
The only reason I have the 5 1/2" Tradesman is that is was free.
I have always lusted after the Machinist version of the vise.
I would someday like to have one in a 6 or 8 inch size, but the cost for me is prohibitive.
The only reason I have the 5 1/2" Tradesman is that is was free.
TNToy said:A 6" vise is good for pretty much anything from building ford 9" third members down. That's what I'm going to be looking for.
5" - 6" is a good size. Anything smaller is too limiting, and anything larger is, well, a waste of space on your bench most of the time.
I just saw this:
It's a 6 inch Wilton Machinist. Too BIG for me. You sure you want something this big? (see soda can for reference)
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TNToy
Well-known member
Holy cow, that's a big *******.
When I say 6" - I'm thinking along the size of a 6" vise from HD, lowes, or Horrible Fright. That htings huge
When I say 6" - I'm thinking along the size of a 6" vise from HD, lowes, or Horrible Fright. That htings huge
TNToy said:
Yea - I didn't realize they were this big..maybe the person selling this one didn't either.
Maybe the older ones were smaller, maybe not. This one is new as it still is on the factory mounting board and you can see the box in the back.http://cgi.ebay.com/Wilton-6-Machin...7QQihZ006QQcategoryZ25297QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
TNToy
Well-known member
I see the reason now: When I was referring to a 6" vise, I was going by the way most rate them: How far the jaws open.
By my reckoning, that's a 10" vise. I want one that OPENS to about 6 inches wide.
Oh, and I forgot my one use for pipe jaws that I regularly encounter: CV shafts. When you need to re-boot a CV joint, we hold the shaft in a vise, pull the snap-ring, and pop the joint off with an air hammer. Without pipe jaws the air hammer just slides it through the jaws.
By my reckoning, that's a 10" vise. I want one that OPENS to about 6 inches wide.
Oh, and I forgot my one use for pipe jaws that I regularly encounter: CV shafts. When you need to re-boot a CV joint, we hold the shaft in a vise, pull the snap-ring, and pop the joint off with an air hammer. Without pipe jaws the air hammer just slides it through the jaws.
looks rather small I guess I could add it to my collection. it's at $500 right now and @150lbs for shipping it will not be cheap to send BTW they are rated by the width of the jaws not how far they open. Oh yeah this pop bottle is a 20 oz and this is a 8" model way over 350 lbs.bmwpower said:
William....
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W-Cummins said:
W-Cummins,
If there was going to be one person that had a big one, I knew it was going to be you!
What brand is that? <nevermind>.... I think I see Parker on the side.
The problem with a big one like that, at least for me, is finding a table that won't topple over when you mount it to the edge.
Yep ... hate to think what would happen it that vise fell off the workbench ..bmwpower said:W-Cummins,
If there was going to be one person that had a big one, I knew it was going to be you!
What brand is that? <nevermind>.... I think I see Parker on the side.
The problem with a big one like that, at least for me, is finding a table that won't topple over when you mount it to the edge.
z28toz06
Well-known member
Junkman said:For the few times you might need a pipe vise, I see them all the time for short money at the flea markets. I picked one up a few years ago for $10 and still haven't had a reason to use it. Most times I need to hold a piece of pipe, the regular vise will work. The jaws on a bench vise that also hold steel piping, are just a stop gap measure, and for the most part, they aren't that useful. Now, if you want a real vise, I know this cute 18 year old girl that will do the trick ......
The VELVET VISE, MY FAvorite!!
z28toz06
Well-known member
I was looking for vises and I actually found one at the swap shop in the dump! It was a 3-1/2" inch Columbian by Wilton. It's an older one but from everything I read they are made from the best steel.
The castings now a days are supposedly 25000PIS casts. I read somewhere the older ones were 60000 psi casts.
I heard horror stories of guys getting a new vise, bringing it home and mounting it on the bench, and when they hit it with a hammer the cast broke right in half! I don't know what kind they were but I wouldnt buy anything that wasnt american made. I hear the wiltons at home Cheapo are made overseas now.
Anyway I ended up with 2 of them from tag sales and now I am selling the non swivel unit. Its a Charles Parker and they have as good if not better reputation than Wilton/Columbian. Here's a picture of the one I am selling.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=156717
The castings now a days are supposedly 25000PIS casts. I read somewhere the older ones were 60000 psi casts.
I heard horror stories of guys getting a new vise, bringing it home and mounting it on the bench, and when they hit it with a hammer the cast broke right in half! I don't know what kind they were but I wouldnt buy anything that wasnt american made. I hear the wiltons at home Cheapo are made overseas now.
Anyway I ended up with 2 of them from tag sales and now I am selling the non swivel unit. Its a Charles Parker and they have as good if not better reputation than Wilton/Columbian. Here's a picture of the one I am selling.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=156717
Junkman
Well-known member
Don't people own rulers any more? Soda cans and Pop bottles just don't cut it for me...... 
This vise I picked up about 20 years ago, but I don't know who made it, or where it was made. It is extremely heavy. It was in storage until this past month when I started to clean out the garage.
This vise I picked up about 20 years ago, but I don't know who made it, or where it was made. It is extremely heavy. It was in storage until this past month when I started to clean out the garage.
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russlaferrera
Well-known member
I own one just like it. It is a model 600S, it weighs about 150#. I given to me from my dad who got it from a friend. ...russbmwpower said:
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Junkman
Well-known member
I figured that I would try to find out who made my vise by doing a Google search. I found this company that offers free ground shipping with the purchase and has prices on the website. It seems to be a comprehensive vise line..... Yost vises....
Down Under Bloke
Well-known member
Junkman said:
Wow they have more vices than Bill Clinton.
Have you checked up if you can get a rebuild kit for your vice? I have never seen a vice quite like the one you have and note it's not on the Yost website.
TNToy
Well-known member
What the heck would you 'rebuild'?
On every vise I've ever seen, the "threads" that the lever engages were cast into the base/jaws... Is that just because I've been around cheap vises my whole life?
On every vise I've ever seen, the "threads" that the lever engages were cast into the base/jaws... Is that just because I've been around cheap vises my whole life?
Charles (in GA)
Well-known member
TNToy said:
Indeed, better vices, even older cheap ones, have a loose "nut" that the screw engages with. The nut is retained in a slot or opening in the base of the vise. Having it float around allows for better thread alignment and less binding, and replacement if stripped or broken.
I have two vices, both 4 inch (4 inch wide jaws, the way you measure a vice) Craftsman, the older one is probably 50 years old and has removable pipe jaws that drop in over the sliding "tube" of the movable jaw. This is nice in that you can get them out of the way when you don't need them, and they grip pipe about ten times better than the permanent pipe jaws of newer vices. The newer vice is probably 20 ro 25 years old and has the cast in pipe jaws and they seem to interfere with large items in the vice, and do a poor job of holding pipe. I use the pipe jaws ocassionally so I want them to work
Charles