Recommend me a new bench vise

[blsnelling]

We should swap dynamic jaws

 

[Whiskers]

We should swap dynamic jaws

The fit is too good! I took a peek, mine is dated 12/31/60, so it's a 55. 60 years old, and going strong. While the finish is worn, the body is very nice. I picked it up a while back at a pawn shop of all places. I even got them off their $70 asking price.

 

[Philbert]

Mine would be the opposite of yours, a 835 static and 9350 dynamic.

Maybe there is a place between Ohio and Nebraska where you guys could meet?

(Switched at birth!?!)

Philbert

 

[LogSawyer74]

Here's the bare look. Oiled it and baked it about 3 years ago. Might need to oil it down again. Seeing little hints of rust in a few places.

 

[Whiskers]

I like the BLO finish, looks good.

 

[LogSawyer74]

Thanks, it was much easier than paint!

 

[1Alpha1]

Must resist the urge to buy a Wilton vise. Must resist the urge to buy a Wilton vise. Must resist the urge to buy a Wilton vise. Must resist the urge to buy a Wilton vise. Must resist the urge to buy a Wilton vise.

My Craftsman vise is just fine. My Craftsman vise is just fine. My Craftsman vise is just fine. My Craftsman vise is just fine. My Craftsman vise is just fine. My Craftsman vise is just fine.

 

[1Alpha1]

Rather then spend a couple hundred dollars for another vise, I decided to take the easy (cheap) way out.

I ordered these for my Craftsman vise:

The pressure is now off and I feel so much better.

 

[blsnelling]

Rather then spend a couple hundred dollars for another vise, I decided to take the easy (cheap) way out.

I ordered these for my Craftsman vise:

The pressure is now off and I feel so much better.

I'm LOVING mine. I don't know how I ever got by without them.

 

[blsnelling]

Before and after. It's still a beat up old vise, but it sure looks a LOT better than it did!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/162383840265?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[Whiskers]

Looks good, the marks just add a bit of character!
Did you have to modify or shim anything to get the jaws to line up? What did you use to clean up the replaceable faces?

 

[blsnelling]

Looks good, the marks just add a bit of character!
Did you have to modify or shim anything to get the jaws to line up? What did you use to clean up the replaceable faces?

I dressed them on a belt grinder.

 

[Philbert]

Looks good!

But the vise in all of the 'after' photos looks smaller. Must have been a really thick coat of paint!

Bummer that you are selling it- a smaller, high quality vise can be a nice tool to have.

Philbert

 

[blsnelling]

Here's the little Wilton I picked up for $10. Before and after.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/162384167478?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

 

[Rudedog]

What color/type paint did you use?

 

[blsnelling]

That's Rustoleum Hammered Verde Green.

 

[blsnelling]

The other one is Rustoleum Hammered Gray.

 

[krushing73]

Just noticed that my cheap 20 year old Sears bench vise has a crack in the base, and will no longer tighten sufficiently. I'd like to upgrade to something reasonably nice, but cost is definitely a factor.

I'm posting here in the chainsaw forum since about 90% of the use will be holding a saw while I sharpen. But it will be my only serious vise, and thus also used for sharpening mower blades, and misc. metal bending, whacking, grinding and filing. I'm not a machinist or serious mechanic, but I don't want something crappy that's only suited to light duty work. Thus I'll probably stay away from Harbor Freight type stuff. But nothing boutique, either, and don't want to take the time to track down craigslist or other used options.

At the very upper end of my budget, the Yost 750 DI has caught my eye with the apparently high quality ductile iron and being able to rotate the pipe clamp to the top. The fact that it's relatively tall seems like a plus for sharpening saw chain, too.

I gotta stay under $200, max., and it'd be great to spend a lot less and still get something that will hold up. Any suggestions?

I have two harbor freight vices. I don't mind harbor freight metal if you are willing to strip the paint and paint them with a high quality paint as soon as you remove it from the box. I did the same for my press. Metal is metal. It's the harbor freight paint jobs that are absolutely pathetic. I sand blast mine on day one, hit it with acetone and don't even care about the warranty.
I paint anything that comes from there with rustoleum. If not, it'll start rusting in a week.

 

[Rudedog]

I just bought this Chas Parker 954 from a Yooper. 46 lbs. of American steel.

 

[blsnelling]

"Ohio Pickers" did very well last night!