
The really expensive vises are made from better quality steel and machined to greater tolerances. I don’t need that level of quality and would gain nothing for paying those prices. And those prices include a substantial profit margin for the manufacturer and retailer that have no justification except for the fancy ‘label’.
Full Answer
Should you buy a vintage vise?
Don’t be afraid to talk about your desire to buy a vintage vise. People have old vises in the corner of their basement collecting dust that they would never believe someone would be interested in. Bring it up in conversation, you never know when you will find one.
Where can I buy a bench vise?
K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid): Craigslist is the wild west of classifieds, they let anyone post items for sale and they don't require most information be filled in. So when searching for a bench vise it's best to keep the search terms as simple as possible and do not include brand names.
Are Wilton vises meant to be'tight'?
They're not intended to be "tight" vises anymore than an AK-47 is intended to be a "tight" weapon. (Or maybe I wrote the above because I have a pre WWII Morgan and not a Wilton.) The better Wilton vises (e.g. the "bullet" type) have a ductile iron casting that's rated around 60,000 psi -- about 4x some of the cheap imports.
What should I look for when looking for a vise?
Think about possible misspellings, abbreviations and slang for the product you are looking for. Searching for a vise, make sure you search for "vice" as well. Wild Cards: An asterisk can save you time. "bench vi**" matches "bench vise", "bench vice" and "bench vive". Helpful in catching some misspellings.

What can I use instead of a vise?
Cut out this bird's mouth shape using whatever you have: a back saw, jig saw, coping saw, band saw. Set up the long piece of wood as a stop against the end your worksurface. If you're right handed, that's the left side; if you're a leftie, then the right side. Clamp or screw it in place.
Who made the best bench vise?
Top 10 Bench Vise 2022Bench ViseJaw WidthWarrantyYost LV-4 Home Vise4 ½ inch1 yearHFS Heavy Duty Bench Vise4 inch1 yearIRWIN Tools Multi-Purpose Bench Vise5 inchLifetime warrantyWilton Wilton Bench Vise6 inchLifetime warranty6 more rows•Jan 10, 2022
What are old vices made of?
An inexpensive old vise may be made from a range of materials, including cast iron, which is commonly found on the antique vises. Ductile iron and malleable cast iron may also be used for the vices. For the engineer's style of old vices, cast steel may be used.
What size vise is best?
For general household DIY, a 4- to 5-inch vise is large enough to handle most tasks. (This measurement is the length of the jaws from end to end and is maximum amount of contact your vise has with the workpiece.)
Are clamp on vises good?
As such, clamp-on vises are typically most useful for light duty operations. That's not to say that they can't take some abuse and some torque, but the upper limit just isn't as high as a traditional vise.
Are Irwin vise any good?
The Bottom Line. The Irwin Multi-Purpose Vise is very attractive for about $95 as long as you keep in mind its light-duty design intent. It's a great fit for a DIYer's shop or garage and has some potential for Pros that don't need 2 tons or more (literally) of clamping force.
What is the best material for a vice?
Steel. Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon. It is a material widely used in construction due to its tensile strength and high corrosion resistance. The jaw surfaces, handle, and screw of a vice are usually all made of hardened steel.
How do you clean an old vice?
Use a wire brush and a sanding sponge to remove flaking paint, rust, and caked-on dirt. Vacuum off debris created by wire brushing. The last step is to soak a shop cloth with denatured alcohol and wipe everything clean. The cleaned parts are ready for masking tape.
Who invented the vice?
The birth of the HEUER vice When Josef Heuer, the experimenter and inventor from Iserloh, invented a new build of drop-forge vice with its revolutionary dual-prism guide track in 1925, the Brockhaus company in Plettenberg, Sauerland, was already one of the largest drop-forges in Germany.
What do you look for in a vice?
Select a vise based on the type of material of the workpiece, the jaw capacity you need for your material, and the desired mounting style. Secure your metal workpieces for grinding, cutting, filing, and other metalworking processes with these heavy-duty vises.
How do you hang a vise without a bench?
1:406:17Mounting a vise without taking up bench space. - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBoard some holes in it put some bolts in it. The clever part is right here i got some of theseMoreBoard some holes in it put some bolts in it. The clever part is right here i got some of these threaded inserts i try to keep these little guys on hand they're really useful.
Where are Wilton vises made?
The new Wilton Tradesman vises are made in Taiwan, and will be replacing current SKUs. The new Mechanics Pro vises, which have lower price points, feature an enclosed spindle, precision machined slide, a needle roller thrust bearing design, and 360° swivel base.
What is best vise for woodworking?
5 Best Woodworking Vises (2021 Review)Yost M9WW Rapid Acting 9” Woodworking Vise.TEKTON 53986 6 ½” Woodworking Vise.Eclipse Quick Release 10” Woodworking Vise.IRWIN 226361 6 ½” Woodworking Vise.Shop Fox D4328 9” Quick Release Wood Vise.
What should I look for in a bench vice?
While selecting a bench vise, you have to check its throat depth – this is the distance from the top side of the jaw to the top of the slide below the jaw. Larger throat depths mean you can hold larger workpieces. Bench vises have varying jaw widths. For larger objects, you need bench vises that have bigger jaw widths.
Where are Wilton vises made?
The new Wilton Tradesman vises are made in Taiwan, and will be replacing current SKUs. The new Mechanics Pro vises, which have lower price points, feature an enclosed spindle, precision machined slide, a needle roller thrust bearing design, and 360° swivel base.
Where are Yost vises made?
Any 865 or 880 vise are now made in China. Be careful when ordering. You order the made in USA vise and if it is shipped from Yost, it will now be a 865-D2 made in China.
Brand or name for this style of screwdriver?
I really love this style of screwdriver, but I don’t know what companies made them, any info would help.
Resorting my grandfathers square, is it possible ?
Finally a subreddit for vintage tool junkies. This is a place for posts about vintage tools from all trades, both hand and power alike. Wanna show off your restored 1950 South Bend Lathe, or your latest estate sale score? This is the place. Have a question about that old hand plane you found in your uncle's shop? Do it here.
Why does a vise break?
On the main body of the vise under the slide tends to break when a large part is clamped and a hammer blow hits the movable jaw. This defect is hard to spot in pictures online, always ask to see a picture from the underside of the vise.
How to find old bench vises?
While eBay is usually the most expensive route to find an old bench vise, you can find some deals. The key is to find the ones that are underpriced and buy them quickly (Buy It Now) before others spot them. This can be tough, but technology can help you spot the deals faster. Use eBay’s advanced search to find newly listed auctions (sort by newest) with a Buy It Now format. You can get fancy with negative search terms and misspellings which will help you narrow it down. Bookmark your search and copy it to your mobile phone. When you get some free time during the day, check the results. I check about every hour throughout the day and have made some very good scores this way. I have gotten quite good at judging an item which is unmarked or has poor pictures, with a little practice you will be able to spot the winners! A lot of my finds come in the middle of the work day as high volume sellers list their items. They tend to not be collectors and have limited knowledge of the products I am interested in resulting in better deals for me.
What does a slide tell you about a vise?
The slide can tell you a lot about the condition of the vise. Most vintage vises have a rectangular slide (except for Wilton "bullet" vises) and the corners of the slide can tell you a lot. When looking at pictures of the vise you are considering online, look for sharp edges.
Do bench vises have scars?
Vises tend to lead a rough life, spilled paint, whacks with a sledge hammer and an errant grinder wheel all leave their scars on bench vises. A couple of key points when it comes to judging condition of a bench vise... Always back the movable jaw all the way out of the main body of the vise.
Can a bent vise handle be repaired?
Handles can be straightened but a crack or other damage due to the excessive for may not be able to be repaired so look closely.
Is Craigslist easy to find?
Craigslist can be a great source for deals but finding them is not always easy. While Craigslist offers some basic filters there are more advanced tools hiding under the hood. Let's take a look at a few easy ways to find what you are looking for...
