I need a bench vice.

[gregintenn]

Should I just go to Northern Tool and pick out a Wilton, or do you have any better advice for me?

I'd love to have an old vice, but I haven't been able to find any locally for sale. It seems that when someone purchases a quality vice, they find little reason to get rid of it.

 

[snowman]

When I bought my vise I asked myself how much quality I needed for the kind of use it would get. Wiltons of course are essentially the gold standard, and their price reflects that and more. I didn't need something that good and couldn't afford it anyway, so I got a 5", $45 job at Sears and it has served my need well for over 15 years.

Best wishes,
Andy

 

[zzzippper]

What kind of vice interests you; drinking, smoking, adultery...?

Seriously, go to Harbor Freight and get a cheapo. You won't wear it out.

 

[gregintenn]

I looked at a Craftsman brand vice a few days ago, and aside form the "made in China" sticker, it just looked and felt cheap to me. My current bench vice is broken, hence the needing of a new one. I'd rather spend a bit more in hopes of avoiding another broken vice.

My general tool policy is to buy a cheap one first, and if I use it enough that it needs replacing, I'll replace it with a quality tool.

That might not be the economical way to do it, but it seems to work for me.

It looks like I need a pretty good vice.

 

[dmar]

The Wilton's sold at Northern Tool as Asian made, decent vices, but they are not the higher quality made-in-USA Wilton's (and yes, there is a big quality difference). Personally, I'd stay away from the low price point Asian units.

When it comes to guns and tools, I'm a big believer in buying it once. Pay for the quality, and you won't have problems, and neither will your kids, and your grand kids when they have it after you're gone... Of course, if you're just tinkering with light-duty stuff, maybe a made in China, or Taiwan vise would be just fine.

I've got a nice Wilton, it was a lot of money, but it's a great vice. Yost makes some nice made in USA vices, as well... There are different grades of these quality vices, 'tradesman,' 'machinist,' etc, and price points to match. Look for sales on line.

 

[Bkreutz]

You didn't say what kind of vice you wanted, but I'll presume machinist type. Over the years I've collected a number of vices (both the bad habit and steel type) by going to auctions. This is where I have found ones that were made in the 50s or earlier, much better quality and cheaper than the current imports.

 

[handejector]

I have a 3" Wilton that I traded for around 40 yrs ago. It may have deserted from the Navy, since I got it from a recently liberated swabby. I don't remember what the trade was, but I knew nothing about Wiltons at the time. I thought I got took, but now I know it was a great deal. It has been a DELIGHT to own and use all those decades. Heck, they are the prettiest vice in the world! Sleek and trim, but scary powerful, and they DON'T give!

I later picked up a 5" and a tiny 2" at flea markets or junk shops- don't remember, but they were cheap.

They'll still be great vises for my Great-great grandchildren.

 

[Rastoff]

What is your intended purpose? How big does it need to be? These are what we need before we can advise.

 

[oberon]

Vises are like hammers.
They are tough and have a long service life.
They wear out.
Yard sale, garage sale.

 

[alwslate]

Local auctions of various types of closed businesses like machine
shops, auto repair or surplus city and county equipment. All kinds of
tools and equipment. Sometimes older quality stuff sells for near
scrap prices. Some auction houses specialize in this stuff and will hold
large auctions periodically.

 

[quneur]

I have two old Columbian table vices made in Cleveland, Ohio. I bought them at Goodwill. I don't remember how much but they couldn't be more than $5/ea.

Look on craigslist or some other local website that allows free ads giveaways. Sometimes people will list free homemade workbenches with a table vice still attached.

 

[Muley Gil]

I bought a 5" vise from Sears in 1978 or so. Still haven't worn it out, though it has been abused way too many times.

Check flea markets, swap shops, auctions etc.

 

[boatme99]

Greg, look for removable jaws and a pipe vise on a new vise.

Jaws wear out and are easily replaced. If you don't have them, you have to replace the whole vise.

The pipe holder is just a pair of hemispheric jaws cast into the body and favorable jaw.

You might not think you'll need that, but if it's there, you'll use it a lot.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

3dots has a vice you can borrow.

 

[-db-]

eBay search: vintage vise

1,501 results for vintage vise

http://smith-wessonforum.com/lounge/337301-old-tools-brought-back-life.html

 

[H Richard]

I bought a 5" from Sears when I first got married. That's been 50 years and it's still going strong and my marriage is also.

 

[Hillbilly77]

3dots has a vice you can borrow.

I see what you did there.

 

[snowman]

I see what you did there.

Makes two of us. Love those kind of jokes.

Andy

 

[ejeli]

I had an old Sears and the good point was that it only had three mounting feet allowing working on a corner. It finally broke and I bought two 5" Wilton's. On both of these I cut off the fourth mounting foot. Always mount the vice forward enough so that a long piece can be clamped straight up and down being able to clear the front of the bench. Do the same thing for the end of your bench, round off the corner of your bench to the same radius as the vise base. With the forth leg removed it is possible to clamp and rotate long pieces thru the 90 angle.
e.

 

[williamlayton]

I always find good vices after several drinks.
Blessings