Vise recommendations
 

Im needing a good bench vise and would like to get a quality unit this time. I just broke the second HB vise this year. What do you guys use?

Re: Vise recommendations
 

If you get a Wilton, you won't have to worry about buying another vise.

I have a 6 1/2" Wilton Tradesman at my shop at home and it is great. At work (Drilling Rig/Oilfield) we have two 8" Wiltons. I've never seen one break, and the company I work for has them on every drilling rig I've ever worked on. Even at work with 48" Pipe wrenches and cheater bars making up large pipe fittings, beating on them with hammers, and all kinds of other dumb stuff. At worst maybe a set of jaw inserts every now an then, but that's it.

I will add I also have a 4" Yost vise in my shop at home and it is a handy little dude, but it's limited on what you can do because it is fairly small.

Re: Vise recommendations
 

I agree....wilton all the way.....they're not cheap but if you cruise Craigslist or a local trade day you might luck up on one....I gave $100 for my 6 1/2" wilton.....a buddy of mine got a 8" wilton and a 5x6 welding table for $100...

Re: Vise recommendations
 

i have a good size YOST brand vise made in the usa i got off a old military wrecker truck the guy didnt want on his truck . http://www.yostvises.com/

looks like they went china / and other outside the us vendors on a lot of them . . . . mine is old and has usa molded in the side of it . they were $1100.00 new last time i looked . but its a big vise .

Re: Vise recommendations
 

Thanks guys, I ended finding a 4.5" Wilton bullet vise with swivel base. Got a pretty good deal on it from a neighbor, they sure are proud of these things on Craigslist and Ebay.

Re: Vise recommendations
 

You've got you a goodun....

Re: Vise recommendations
 

Awesome! Those Wilton bullet vises are very nice.

Re: Vise recommendations
 

I have a Yost FSV-6. It is a tough vise.

Re: Vise recommendations
 

IMO Vise's are like anvils. The bigger, heavier and older it is, the more I want it.

Re: Vise recommendations
 

X2!

Good vises may be forged, but cheap ones are cast. Beating on the anvil area of a cast vise will nuke it. I have a big (18" tall) junk vise but I don't abuse it.
Always trolling for a good one though...

Re: Vise recommendations
 

I am not familiar with any forged vises. Which ones are? My Columbian is ductile iron.

"most heavy duty vises are 55,000 psi cast steel or 65,000 psi ductile iron. Some vises have a cast iron body but a steel channel bar. Cast iron is popular because it is typically 30,000 psi grey iron which is rigid, strong and inexpensive."

Re: Vise recommendations
 

Well, I said might be forged... The point is the anvil looking part of a vise is not something to use as an anvil.

Re: Vise recommendations
 

Well...I hammer on that thing all the time! What's it for then? It's not just a great place for a beer is it? You said "cast is cheap" when all vises are cast. Have you tried to buy a used Wilton lately? Those cast vises are as tough as they come, FYI.

Re: Vise recommendations
 

Gotta put the beer somewhere... :)
I've cracked a few so I stopped beating on them. They stopped breaking.
If I want something, I usually troll CL or offerup and buy used. Why pay retail?

Re: Vise recommendations
 

I bought myself a large Irwin rotating and swivel vise with anvil for Christmas. It seems really solid and it has a lifetime warranty, so I'm not too worried about breaking it.

Re: Vise recommendations
 

Mainly used by pipe welders this is a very useful tool (roll off wheel) You Tube has videos .

Re: Vise recommendations
 

Look at youtube under "fireball vise build" I want to make this and currently trying to find someone with a multi axis water jet!!

Re: Vise recommendations
 

I have several Record vises the oldest was my dads needs some jaw repair other then that still works i beat the hell out of it in my teens through 20s never broke it
IRWIN owns them now

Re: Vise recommendations
 

Most all your old blacksmith.post or "leg" vises are forged. Unlike a machinist or bench vise the leg vise is meant to be beat on. I've had many of them and its rare to ever see a broken one.

Re: Vise recommendations
 

Recently bought a Chas Parker 434, You never heard of them?, me neither........

Re: Vise recommendations
 

I've heard of them, Charles Parker was a very good quality vise back in the day.

Re: Vise recommendations
 

I've heard of them, Charles Parker was a very good quality vise back in the day. Thats a really nice combination vise you have.

Re: Vise recommendations
 

Paid $100, and was out before they checked ebay for a guideline on price.

I wanted a older vice, one that was meant for lasting.....

This one was from 1956-ish...

Didn't want a chineseism one from today's standards.