Bench Vise??
Tom Norton
I am wanting a new bench vise. I want. 5" wide jaw. I occasionally see older used ones on FB or CL. But I tend to miss out. Looking at new ones. Any thoughts on Irwin brand? Would love a Wilton but$$$$!
Bench Vise??
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Re: Bench Vise??
#2Re: Bench Vise??
David Weaver
dewalt has a quick release vise that is malleable cast and it's really superb.
Depending on your opinion, you may see it as inexpensive or expensive (about $95 at home depot - it was more when I got mine, and I found mine for about the same price drop shipped from some lower budget looking website).
DXCMQRV5 is the model number. Tons of jaw depth - only thing strange about it is the anvil is up closer to the jaws.
I have an old 5" columbian pattern cast iron vise (it's unmarked other than to say it's made in USA) which has been a good vise, but I hate to say it, it's half the vise of the dewalt and not nearly as strong.
Re: Bench Vise??
#3Re: Bench Vise??
Pete in Holland MI
You'll rarely regret getting a bigger one.
Yes, they surface on FB Marketplace & Craigslist frequently around here. Start watching several times a day, and be ready to pounce. Else, this summer, check out swap meets run by car clubs or tractor clubs. That sort of stuff surfaces there too.
Re: Bench Vise??
#4Re: Bench Vise??
Ray man.home ar
Harbor freight has a five inch for about $60. It's the one that flips around and has the pipe jaws on it. Mite be worth looking at.
Re: Bench Vise??
#5Re: Bench Vise??
Tom Norton
Yes,I know about the Harbor Freight one. Guess I would like if possible a good old American one!
Re: Bench Vise??
#6You're probably... *LINK*
David Weaver
...already aware of all of the american vises (by brand). I've noticed (I was on the same search as you about 6 months ago) that the Reed vises and other classic american vises (Prentiss, Prentice? NY, etc) are all starting to become popular and they were more than the chinese dewalt (clean vintage versions can top $500 pretty easily, and be half of that rusty needing to be restored).
The reason that I chose the chinese dewalt, other than price, though, is that some dude on youtube ran a torture test and some of the cheaper vises had really weak bases. I don't usually hammer hard or pry on anything with a cheater bar, but an older vise with a broken base is problematic.
Even the wilton bullet (which is now foreign made but priced like it isn't) has a very strong vise itself, but the base isn't strong.
Many of the older vises have been broken, too, but the repairs/welds, while ugly, are probably stronger than some new vises.
non-swivel heavy vises of old often have limited depth inside the jaws, too, I suppose they were aiming for something as strong as possible when users were doing more than hack sawing plane irons and filing infill plane dovetails. Something like the dewalt (or many of the other $100 level vises with malleable cast) is worth the upgrade in my mind from the $60 types, but i had trouble finding the value proposition going up from there.
mentioned test
Re: Bench Vise??
#7
Yard Sale Time?
kneale brownson
It's almost here. I'd be scouring yard sales for one where a newer homeowner has no idea the value in older vises. I have two big, old machinist's vises, one I bought new in the 1970s and one I got in a yard sale several years ago. I've moved both three times now. When we were house hunting last year, we looked at two places where they had left big, old vises bolted to a bench they deemed too old or heavy to move. Someone buying one of those places might deem the bench and vise to be occupying too much space and put them in a yard sale. That's why I got my second one.
Re: Bench Vise??
#8yard sale and flea market...
David Weaver
...I got my first vise (a decent us made but unbranded columbian pattern) at a flea market for $35. It doesn't match getting something for $2 at a yard sale.
I noticed before that, that in houses, most of the vises I found (unless you end up at a farm or something) were small. One came with my house - a 3" littlestown vise or something, and i sold it on ebay or gave it away (can't remember). The little ones are out there in droves.
Re: Bench Vise??
#9Re: yard sale and flea market...
Tom Norton
Hadn't thought about yard sales. Since I am not in a hurry I will start visiting!!
Re: Bench Vise??
#10Re: yard sale and flea market...
Roy
Tom, I have a Record no. 23 vise with a swivel base. It has 4 1/2" jaws and is quick acting, like the Record woodworking vises. I had bought it on impulse and it has been sitting in my shop unused for maybe 10 years. My working vise is a Record no. 5 which is all I need. I am in North Carolina and the vise weighs slightly over 60 pounds, so not light weight. Would this suit your needs?
Roy