Which vises /vices would you keep

[charle10]

Well a few months back I picked up the Columbian 4" ($20) to use as my main vise, and move my little 3 1/2 Torco over to the welding table as a beater vise. My dad saw it after I had cleaned it up and painted it, and commented he'd like to find a decent vise because his little Dunlap has been broken for years. Then I found the 4" Craftsman 5231 ($20) and thought I would keep it, and give my dad the Columbian for his birthday. Then yesterday I picked up the 5" Paramo VICE ($23) which is already mounted and going to be my main bench vise. I am leaning on mounting the Craftsman on the welding table, and giving my dad the Columbian.

Will I regret giving up the swivel base, which I never used on my little Torco?

Any way I go, I have GJ to thank for getting me hooked on finding quality cheap vises.

Also does anyone know what company would have made the Craftsman vise?

 

[kc-steve]

I can see your point. I have been hoarding vises lately, Columbians, Wiltons, and one Charles Parker, plus a couple I haven't ID'ed yet.

But I use a Chinese beater on my welding table.

(Whoo-woo my 1000th post!)
Steve

 

[Provincial]

I put beater vises on my welding tables because they get gouged, weld-spattered, oversprayed, and otherwise abused. I hate abusing a classic vise.

At my rock quarry, I picked up a huge old Parker that was abused and badly worn. It went on the welding table there and my employees couldn't finish it off, no matter how hard they tried! I would never have put a good, newer vise there. The Parker had already been badly treated, and wasn't really "restorable" so I didn't feel bad about putting it there.

 

[BuckHenry]

I think that Columbian would make an outstanding gift for your Dad. It would certainly be a big upgrade on his old Dunlap.

As you said, a swivel is almost never needed. If you are going to use it as a beater on a welding table you will be better off with the rigidity of that fixed base Craftsman anyway. I can't get a good look at the Craftsman because that pic will not enlarge, but it looks like it was made by Reed who supplied vises for Craftsman at least into the 1940s.

EDIT: The pic works now (???). That is a Reed.

 

[mossyboy6]

When you need a swivel, you NEED a swivel

 

[Provincial]

The need for a swivel is almost always related to interference with the workpiece by the bench. Proper location of the vise limits this interference. A vise on a sturdy stand with access all around does not need a swivel.

If you have limited workspace, one of the best arguments for a swivel is the abilty to swing the vise out of the way when you are not using it.

Swivels are the "weak link" on less expensive vises. Usually, the swivel won't hold when applying a serious twisting force to the vise. The swivels hold on the better vises, but they are more expensive. Swivels on cheaper vises break pretty often, too.

I guess what I am trying to say is that you need to invest in a good vise if you want a swivel and are going to apply much leverage to the workpiece.

 

[leg17]

. I am leaning on mounting the Craftsman on the welding table, and giving my dad the Columbian.

Will I regret giving up the swivel base, which I never used on my little Torco?

Also does anyone know what company would have made the Craftsman vise?

You have four vises and one dad. C'mon. Some sad day it will come back anyway.

Let us know if the maker of the Craftsman is identified.

 

[Steevo]

It's hard to decide, when you only have four vises . . .
Give dad the columbian and keep up the good vise hunting. You are obviously very luck in your vise finds anyway, so you'll probably stumble across a 6" Wilton soon . . .

 

[SweetD]

I love that Craftsman / Reed. I would give that one to your Dad!

Dave

 

[autopts]

That vise was made by Rock Island bud! Reed did make others.

 

[ozyborn]

Get rid of a vice? Rid of? What is that notion? Selling a tool? But but but that means it leaves my garage. It would be homeless. I must keep them all...