[HELP] What kind of vice should I look for?

[Roadracer_Al]

There's a guy out here in the Bay Area who restores old vices and offers them on CL. His prices are a little on the high side, but at least they look nice. I can't tell if it's a spray bomb resto, or if he actually ensures they are mechanically sound.

[Dr Stan]

(10-07-2016, 01:49 PM)Roadracer_Al Wrote: There's a guy out here in the Bay Area who restores old vices and offers them on CL.  His prices are a little on the high side, but at least they look nice.  I can't tell if it's a spray bomb resto, or if he actually ensures they are mechanically sound.

I guess you'll have to buy one and give us a report.  

[Mayhem]

(10-07-2016, 08:26 AM)PixMan Wrote: I can't help myself. It's shameful but here's what Craigslist and $275 got me:



It's worth taking your time and really looking around.

You need to visit Ken to appreciate this picture. His bench is actually built for midgets and the vice is extremely small and of very little practical use. You could crack walnuts with it but you would be at its absolute limit

[Highpower]

(10-08-2016, 07:45 AM)Mayhem Wrote: You need to visit Ken to appreciate this picture.  His bench is actually built for midgets and the vice is extremely small and of very little practical use.

Wow. So he built a bench just for you to work at during your visits then? Now that's a good friend.  

[Mayhem]

[Highpower]

Couple of things I learned the hard way was
1) Don't buy a swivel base vise with only one lock-down bolt. They will always slip and turn on you. Make sure it locks down on both sides.
2) Make sure you have lots of clear space all around the vise and whatever surface it is sitting on. Piles of clutter surrounding a vise or having it bolted down close to a wall makes it almost impossible to use in a lot of cases. Especially when it comes to those "pipe" jaws!

I ended up buying a Ridgid portable chain vice on a tripod just so I could move it to any area large enough to work in. Trying to get 10 foot lengths of pipe up into my bench vise just isn't going to happen.

[Old Minger]

Thanks for all the replies. It's all good information for a novice!

[Old Minger]

The search is over I have a vice!

I found a Wilton which was one of the recommended makes from the forum. A local engineering company purchased too many and this was surplus to requirement so I was lucky enough to pick it up.

Thanks for all the recommendations and advice, so now I'm off to clamp something!

Cheers
John

   

[Dr Stan]

(10-30-2016, 03:23 PM)Old Minger Wrote: The search is over I have a vice!

I found a Wilton which was one of the recommended makes from the forum. A local engineering company purchased too many and this was surplus to requirement so I was lucky enough to pick it up.

Thanks for all the recommendations and advice, so now I'm off to clamp something!

Cheers
John

That's identical to mine, except for the cast in Wilton brand name.

Excellent find.  BTW

[Old Minger]

High praise indeed, I'm honoured .

Thanks