Bench Vise Recommendation?

Daniel Rohde

Daniel Rohde

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Jul 22, 2014
Messages
1,050
Hey guys!
I'm gonna upgrade my bench vise here soon and I was looking around for a good option? Thoughts? I mean, I'd love a Wilton but dropping $350++ for a vise isn't quite where I'm at. I like the look of the 5" multi swivel vises around are places like grizzly and harbor freight but I sorta hate those stores in general do I'm asking for some favorites?

Thanks guys!
 
I have 2 vises, 1 old heavy duty one that you can beat on and the one called a Gyro Vise. I use the Gyro Vise the most. Love it.
 
I've got the 5" swivel vise from HF. It's a good vice as long as you don't use it to beat on. I tried to break a test coupon of HT'd 1084, hit the piece twice and the entire inner jaw broke off. Was still under 90 day warranty so I got it replaced, but no heavy beeting on it and I most certainly wouldn't crank down on it as hard as I can either just to be safe. I've found a few good deals on Craig's list might be worth checking in your area.
 
Hey Daniel, I have a really nice solid US made vise if you are interested. I get by with two 3.5" inch Parkers and love them, but I don't forge and have yet to feel the need for this bigger vise.
I have no idea off the top what it might take to ship it to you, but I can give you a great price on it. It probably weights 35 - 40 lbs.

Otherwise, I'd recommend keeping an eye on Craigslist for something local and made in USA. Search vise and vice. Some folks can't spell. If you watch daily you will see one pop up at a good price.

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Daniel,

I would drop the money on a used Wilton
you never regret overbuying or buying quality

I waited and waited and got this for Wilton 1760 for $268 plus an hour driving time locally
I found it on ebay

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1390524-I-m-looking-at-vises-and-have-no-idea-what-to-get?p=16022977#post16022977

And great for kydex! lol

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Check out Ebay. I've bought several old American vises cheaply and cleaned them up to like new. You would think it would be expensive to ship, but with the USPS flat rate boxes it's not so bad.
 
I am partial to Wilton Bullets. But there are numerous top quality vises.
Get a real Machinists Vise. Its 'gonna be expensive. but thats the price for glory.
Only a short handle shovel is more miserable tool than a crappy boatanchor of a 'Handy Man' grade benchvise.
 
Fish30114 said:
I have a friend who has this vise: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Yost-5-i...86343?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053
he has had it for about 4 years, and he loves it. I will say it is a pretty darn good vise, if I needed another vise I would shop around Craigs List and such, and if I didn't find a keeper I'd probably try one of the Yost's.
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I have the Menards "Masterforce" equivalent of that same vise, and it has held up fine for years. It's no where near the quality of even a used Wilton or similar USA made vise, BUT it does come with a lifetime warranty if I'm not mistaken. It it breaks, I'll just take it back to the store and swap it out (hopefully).
 
Brock Cutlery said:
Otherwise, I'd recommend keeping an eye on Craigslist for something local and made in USA. Search vise and vice. Some folks can't spell. If you watch daily you will see one pop up at a good price.
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+1 on this. Found one on craigslist years ago, an old US made Wilton for $50 sitting in a barn. Cleaned it up and took it to a powder coater and for another 50 it's essentially a new Wilton. Jaws are mostly replaceable.

Buddy found one, wire cleaned it and sped up re-rusting to a uniform coating, then used that converter chemical to blacken the entire vise.
 
This one might suit your needs and budget. I bought it a few years ago at Lowe's for $50. A Bessey branded 5". No issues with it in 3 years of use.

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Brock Cutlery said:
Hey Daniel, I have a really nice solid US made vise if you are interested. I get by with two 3.5" inch Parkers and love them, but I don't forge and have yet to feel the need for this bigger vise.
I have no idea off the top what it might take to ship it to you, but I can give you a great price on it. It probably weights 35 - 40 lbs.

Otherwise, I'd recommend keeping an eye on Craigslist for something local and made in USA. Search vise and vice. Some folks can't spell. If you watch daily you will see one pop up at a good price.

View attachment 686893
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This sounds interesting! I couldn't actually open the pictures but If you could message me with them I'd love to see em'!

Thanks for the advise guys! I mean, I'd love to get a Wilton Bullet Vise but that might be out of the possibility for now...I'll look around!

I really appreciate the suggestions!
 
Whatever you get - get a pipe vise.
And when you stick a knife vise in it, you can approach your work from any angle imaginable:





Adam Buttry said:
This one might suit your needs and budget. I bought it a few years ago at Lowe's for $50. A Bessey branded 5". No issues with it in 3 years of use.

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Daniel Rohde said:
This sounds interesting! I couldn't actually open the pictures but If you could message me with them I'd love to see em'!

Thanks for the advise guys! I mean, I'd love to get a Wilton Bullet Vise but that might be out of the possibility for now...I'll look around!

I really appreciate the suggestions!
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Hollands #24

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Karl's suggestion is a wise one, and I should have mentioned it. Adding a quality pipe vise, that allows for rotation in the horizontal plane, with even a mediocre bench vise can be invaluable for a knifemaker. Especially so if the bench vise also allows for rotation in the vertical plane.
 
Another vote here for a 5" rotating w/ pipe vise. Use that with a knifemaker's vice or a machinist's vise and there isn't much you can't do. Mine is similar to Adam's. I got mine at Lowes and is an Irwin branded model. Works great.
 
when i get a new milling vice i think ill take the old bridgepot vice and make a bowling ball break disc type vice out of it
 
I probably have several dozen assorted vises ... from tiny hand vises, to big carving vises that will hold a 200 pound block of wood, to machinist types. I use a heavy 4" Wilton most, and the post vises next.



My friend with the junk yard had a huge cast steel vise sitting outside by the office door about 5 years ago. It was a monster taken out of one of the shipyard machine shops in a re-tooling and equipment update. It had an anvil on the back side that was probably 150-200#. The jaws were maybe 12" wide and opened about 16" wide. I asked him if he would sell it, and he said he wouldn't take less than $1.50 a pound for it. I asked what that would be and he said that since the vise weighs between 300# and 400#, the total would be around $450-$600.
I passed on it, but still think about how cool it would be in the shop. I could clamp my Wilton in the jaws :)
 
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