Recommend me a new bench vise

[blsnelling]

Maybe my Crapsman isn't as bad as I figured. Turns out it's USA made, and maybe of Columbian descent.

This is screwed all the way out, so basically a 6" opening.

Offset screws in the jaws, no longer available from Sears. Fortunately, I can use Wilton/Columbian 11128S41 jaws for a 6 1/2" and trim them to fit.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2161652&postcount=199
http://www.ebay.com/itm/WILTON-1112...444441?hash=item3396fc3a19:g:oqYAAOSw8gVX-QVW

 

[bulletpruf]

Man, your carry-on fees must be outrageous!

Philbert

I actually disassembled, boxed them up, and shipped to Italy. I can ship via the US Postal Service to Italy very reasonably.

 

[bulletpruf]

I guess I've been lucky as the 4 inch Craftsman I bought new as a kid in 1977 has been beat on with sledge, welded on, and used way harder than its had a right to be and is still working great. I'd love a Wilton but am too fond of that old vise to upgrade.

No real reason for a new one unless you need a capability (pipe jaws, swivel, size, etc) that yours doesn't have. Maybe new jaws and then get another 40 years of use out of it.

Scott

 

[bulletpruf]

Maybe my Crapsman isn't as bad as I figured. Turns out it's USA made, and maybe of Columbian descent.

This is screwed all the way out, so basically a 6" opening.

Offset screws in the jaws, no longer available from Sears. Fortunately, I can use Wilton/Columbian 11128S41 jaws for a 6 1/2" and trim them to fit.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2161652&postcount=199
http://www.ebay.com/itm/WILTON-1112...444441?hash=item3396fc3a19:g:oqYAAOSw8gVX-QVW

Brad -

Nothing wrong with that vise. I would get a new set of jaws for it, however.

If you have room on your bench for another one, I would consider getting a vise that complements the Craftsman -- maybe something smaller that swivels. Maybe with non-marring jaws, too. Or you could pick up an extra set of jaws (brass?) for the Craftsman or jaw covers, too. Lots of stuff available on eBay.

Scott

 

[blsnelling]

New jaws are definitely in order. A set of soft jaws would be very nice to have.

 

[blsnelling]

I'd really like to have an even larger vise. Opening capacity is also very important to me. Check out this Rigid 66997. 6" jaws, 8" opening, forged steel, German made, lifetime warranty… What's not to like. No, it's not cheap by any means, but when compared to a Wilton, it seems to me that the value is there.

https://www.amazon.com/Ridgid-66997-F-60-6-inch-Forged/dp/B001T9J68I

 

[NormP]

Looks sharp. A little bigger than the one I just got from the auction site. Maybe worth upgrading to if I need a bigger one.

See, I knew this would happen if I hung around this thread after I found a decent used one. Now after looking at that Ridgid I find myself on Amazon looking at brand new vises.

This Yost caught my eye. Apparently not all of theirs are made in the USA but this one is:

http://amzn.to/2jOFpgw

Can't get the link to show a picture but it works if you click on it...


Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk

 

[blsnelling]

If max opening is your thing, these reversible vises from Yost are sweet. The 6 1/2" model will open to 11" when reversed. USA made with a lifetime warranty. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004AH1IIM?psc=1

 

[blsnelling]

I have to admit, I'm still hung on up the vintage Wiltons bullets. Something about them as super cool.

 

[NormP]

Yeah they really look neat. Even though I'm only in my 40s, they remind me of what I imagine a workshop would have looked like in the mid 60s.

Some guy out in the shop wearing khakis and a button up sweater with a pipe in his mouth while he repairs some tool he owns. Knocking back another cold one every 5 minutes.


But I've got my eye on a Stihl ms362 on craigslist, so I won't be spending any more money on a new vise (or what is potentially a new vice?) for the next little while.

 

[blsnelling]

Yost has a forged line as well. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DMDO9AE/ref=twister_B015Z8LMR6?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

 

[SeMoTony]

If max opening is your thing, these reversible vises from Yost are sweet. The 6 1/2" model will open to 11" when reversed. USA made with a lifetime warranty. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004AH1IIM?psc=1

Made me wipe drool off keyboard

 

[SeMoTony]

Yost has a forged line as well. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DMDO9AE/ref=twister_B015Z8LMR6?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Bad Brad (-; Now 7" forged Yost is top of 102 item list-Amazon ;-) right under 6 1/2" Yost reversible. And I've been so happy with auction finds before

 

[bulletpruf]

I'd really like to have an even larger vise. Opening capacity is also very important to me. Check out this Rigid 66997. 6" jaws, 8" opening, forged steel, German made, lifetime warranty… What's not to like. No, it's not cheap by any means, but when compared to a Wilton, it seems to me that the value is there.

https://www.amazon.com/Ridgid-66997-F-60-6-inch-Forged/dp/B001T9J68I

That does look nice.

You have to watch out with the new Wilton's -- most are made overseas and quality has suffered.

And if you're looking for something 6" or larger, then it starts to make sense (to me, anyway) to buy new. The 6" and larger vises really take a jump in price. A vintage 7" or 8" vise in decent condition is going to be extremely expensive, unless the seller doesn't know what he/she has.

 

[bulletpruf]

I have to admit, I'm still hung on up the vintage Wiltons bullets. Something about them as super cool.

I have three bullets - the 4.5", the 3.5" and the Baby Bullet - I think it's 2". And I want more, of course! FYI - the Baby Bullet was the most expensive of them all. I think I paid $200 for it in good unrestored condition. If you see a baby bullet for sale for a reasonable price, you should probably grab it. The guy I got mine from paid $5 for it.

 

[bulletpruf]

Yost has a forged line as well. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DMDO9AE/ref=twister_B015Z8LMR6?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Yost makes a great vise. From what I understand, they are 100% made, machined, manufactured in the US.

 

[bulletpruf]

Bad Brad (-; Now 7" forged Yost is top of 102 item list-Amazon ;-) right under 6 1/2" Yost reversible. And I've been so happy with auction finds before

Just noticed something -- at 42 lbs, the 6" version is a lightweight (7" is only 57 lbs). As I stated earlier, my 6" Record is average size, in my opinion, at about 100 lbs. And my 6" Morgan is a larger 6" vise and it's 143 lbs. Probably not a big deal if you don't need the extra mass, but something to think about.

 

[NormP]

Yost makes a great vise. From what I understand, they are 100% made, machined, manufactured in the US.

That's what got me looking at them last night, but then I was looking at the one in this link and Yost answered a buyer question about where it was made, and said that it is made in Taiwan, which probably explains the lower cost:

http://amzn.to/2iywOO4

Maybe their home line is made overseas and their more professional line is US-made? Additionally it's cast, instead of forged.

 

[Rudedog]

That's what got me looking at them last night, but then I was looking at the one in this link and Yost answered a buyer question about where it was made, and said that it is made in Taiwan, which probably explains the lower cost:

http://amzn.to/2iywOO4

Maybe their home line is made overseas and their more professional line is US-made? Additionally it's cast, instead of forged.

I believe that is the case Norm. My 750 Ductile Iron unit is made in China.

 

[Philbert]

A set of soft jaws would be very nice to have.

I have posted these magnetic jaw pads in other 'vise threads'. Simple. Inexpensive. Easy to make custom versions.




Philbert