What brand of bench vise do you use?
- Thread starter Greg58
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GearNut
Active Member
I have a medium sized Wilton on the work bench and a small Dunlap on a pedestal that I use on the patio or back yard.
I also have some no name medium sized China one with a rotating head that I quickly learned to hate. The head slips and rotates if you bear down hard or use a hammer on the work piece. That vice now lives on the floor, used only for welding or as a dead weight.
I also have some no name medium sized China one with a rotating head that I quickly learned to hate. The head slips and rotates if you bear down hard or use a hammer on the work piece. That vice now lives on the floor, used only for welding or as a dead weight.
Mine doesn't have a brand name and I've had it so long I don't even remember where I got it. It has taken a beating over the years though. It rotates, like GearNut's, but it doesn't move if you dog down on the levers. It's blue, and opens to 8", and has a built in anvil for beating on things. That's all I know.
One hint for anyone unfamiliar with mounting a vice on their bench is to clamp something in it that extends below the edge of the bench before drilling mounting holes. That way you can clamp long stuff in it and the bench won't interfer with your work. In other words make sure the front of the stationary jaw is even with or extends out past the edge of your bench.
Tom
One hint for anyone unfamiliar with mounting a vice on their bench is to clamp something in it that extends below the edge of the bench before drilling mounting holes. That way you can clamp long stuff in it and the bench won't interfer with your work. In other words make sure the front of the stationary jaw is even with or extends out past the edge of your bench.
Tom
Allen_Wrench
Resident Mad Scientist
I have an antique Wilton too. My buddy James makes crossbow prods and rapier blades for medieval reenactors. When he located another which better-suited his work (something about the jaws) he gave me his. Just gave it to me! Must be good, I haven't managed to hurt it yet.
MEASURE TWICE
Well-Known Member
This is another Wilton vise and I use the C clamps from Harbor Freight medium size to attach work bench top edge. I have a couple of USA made real big all metal C clamps, but have had no problem with the HF ones, knock wood!
I'd never by masking tape or an arbor for a die grinder from HF. Tape sticks to itself you cant use and the wobble of the arbor the same. Hey just learning to keep the receipts and wished I lived closer to the place not to waste gas returning stuff.
The vise I think I bought at some discount store ages ago and is not perfect like a Leatherman Tool, but always works fine over probably 20 years or more!
MT
I'd never by masking tape or an arbor for a die grinder from HF. Tape sticks to itself you cant use and the wobble of the arbor the same. Hey just learning to keep the receipts and wished I lived closer to the place not to waste gas returning stuff.
The vise I think I bought at some discount store ages ago and is not perfect like a Leatherman Tool, but always works fine over probably 20 years or more!
MT
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16v4nrbrgr
Active Member
Whatever you do, don't but a HF vise, they're made from cast iron "foam" and will crack and fall apart if tightened hard or used as an impromptu press. I'm using an Ace Hardware branded swivel vise right now because it has a lifetime warranty and so far has been an excellent product. For quality vises, older is usually better, but if you gotta buy new you get what you pay for.