Weather resistant bench vise?

[submariner]

Does anyone make a weather resistant vise?

It will be attached to workbench that sits under my patio.

I'm looking for a 3" or 4" jaw opening and my budget is $500.

 

[Jazz1]

I have a visa outside, wiped down with linseed oil. Little oil on "screw"

 

[shawhite]

Wilton tradesman xc

 

[submariner]

Wilton tradesman xc

That's over my budget.

Surely someone makes an 'outdoor' vise under $500?

 

[shawhite]

I personally wouldn’t worry about buying a vise that is weather resistant. If you are worried about rust spray it down occasionally with boeshield or fluid film

 

[WhoWhatNow]

I have an old Prentiss that I bought for $50 mounted to a post next to my shed. It has no covering at all. I use it for my cutting and grinding work. I painted it and packed the slide, screw and nut with grease 8 years ago and haven’t done anything to it since. a few rust spots here and there but it works fine every time it use it. Don’t overthink this. If it isn’t in an operating room, space or at the bottom of the ocean, just about anything will work fine.

 

[FMB4]

I'm with Shawhite. I've seen many vises bolted down to the rear bumper of various work trucks (some looking very rusty and very much well used). Meanwhile, you could just cover the vise (a large shower cap might be work). A water shedding, yet breathable car cover type of 'cloth' might be the best option.

 

[shawhite]

I'm with Shawhite. I've seen many vises bolted down to the rear bumper of various work trucks (some looking very rusty and very much well used). Meanwhile, you could just cover the vise (a large shower cap might be work). A water shedding, yet breathable car cover type of 'cloth' might the best option.

Really didn’t consider covering it but that is a solid idea.

 

[rlitman]

I'd just look for something where the screw isn't exposed and treat it with fluid film regularly.

 

[Josh the IH guy]

I have a red grizzly vise. I just keep the thread treated with some grease when it needs it. I think I paid 100 for the vise....

 

[Packard V8]

The service truck bumper-mounted vise survival has more to do with humidity and road salt than years. In the intermountain west, they'll last forever. In the humid and salty upper mid-west, they die quickly.

FWIW, the precision with which the Wilton round slides fit are the least desirable for exposure to the weather.

The Athol, Columbian, et al, which have a lot of clearance around the square slide are less likely to have problems with minor surface rust. It doesn't take much rust to lock up a Wilton.

jack vines

 

[AngryBeaver]

this wilton C1 has been on 6 service trucks since 2003 and I bought it from a scrapyard with a broken base on a service truck.

when I got my new 2018 ram service truck, I soaked it in simple green and applied two coats of rust converter. Every 6 months or so I lube the slide of with fluid film. I live and work in the salt infest rust belt. That 2018 has 118k right now. From the rust on the body and bumper, you can see how well it’s fared. If kept lubed, it’ll last forever. i chose the wilton sealed design over an open slide, and you probably won’t find a bigger Reed fan than myself. If it’s never lubed, it could seize easily.

 

[neophyte]

Stainless steel bench vises, usually fabricated from welded plate steel, are a thing, but the price is likely going to be higher than your budget.
A Yost 4” stainless vise, without a swivel base runs about $800 on Amazon.

Yost Vises SSV-0406S 4" Stainless Steel Bench Vise with Swivel Base: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

Yost Vises SSV-0406S 4" Stainless Steel Bench Vise with Swivel Base: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

www.amazon.com

Yost makes other sizes, and there are other options in stainless, but likely more expensive.

There are also bronze and bronze/aluminum vises made for work were non-sparking tools are needed, but those will likely run $2000 or more.

I think most people who need a truck mounted vise just use a decent but somewhat affordable steel or iron vise, then spray it down with wd-40 or Boeshield every once in a while to make sure it still functions.

Wilton also manufactures a “Hitch” vise which fits a 2” hitch, and which also comes with a mounting bracket.
The idea presumably being you keep the vise in a toolbox, and attach the vise when needed.
The Wilton comes in at least a couple sizes.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HG4QM4Q/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Al Borland]

this wilton C1 has been on 6 service trucks since 2003 and I bought it from a scrapyard with a broken base on a service truck.

when I got my new 2018 ram service truck, I soaked it in simple green and applied two coats of rust converter. Every 6 months or so I lube the slide of with fluid film. I live and work in the salt infest rust belt. That 2018 has 118k right now. From the rust on the body and bumper, you can see how well it’s fared. If kept lubed, it’ll last forever. i chose the wilton sealed design over an open slide, and you probably won’t find a bigger Reed fan than myself. If it’s never lubed, it could seize easily.

Deja Vu! I've got an old Wilton on a hitch mount as well. It was a throwaway where I used to work 35 years ago because the swivel ring got broken and the slide handle was bent. So, one hitch and some steel scrap later, TruckVise! Grease the slide and screw, wire brush and Rustoleum every few years.