Young Ed Posted July 15, 2011 Report Posted July 15, 2011 I discoverd my 6-7 year old bench vise wasn't doing too good when moving it earlier this week. So I'm seeking a replacement. The old one was a 5incher. The two I'm considering are a craftsman for ~60 or an Irwin for ~100. Anyone have either of those or have another suggestion for one to look at? Here's what happened to mine-cheap chinese cast iron gave way and the whole jaw is pushed back so it doesn't line up right with the other jaw. Quote
Don Coatney Posted July 15, 2011 Report Posted July 15, 2011 I have 2. The main one is a Chraftsman. This was a gift to me from my Father in about 1972. It has a swivel base and I recommend that option. My other one was my Grandfathers, my Fathers, and now mine. I have tried hard to break both of these but I have not been avle to do so. Quote
Young Ed Posted July 15, 2011 Author Report Posted July 15, 2011 Sadly the craftsman of 2011 is most likely not as good as the craftsman of 1972. I haven't seen any even available without a swivel base so I should be good to go on that. Quote
Don Coatney Posted July 15, 2011 Report Posted July 15, 2011 Sadly the craftsman of 2011 is most likely not as good as the craftsman of 1972. Sadly that is probably correct. I believe my 1972 vise is American made. Doubtful there are any American made vises available today. Are there any used tool vendors in your area? If so you might be able to find one there. Quote
Young Ed Posted July 15, 2011 Author Report Posted July 15, 2011 Sadly that is probably correct. I believe my 1972 vise is American made. Doubtful there are any American made vises available today. Are there any used tool vendors in your area? If so you might be able to find one there. There are still some american made ones but they are expensive. I think the one brand was Wilton but a 5" one was about 1000 bucks. I'm not aware of any but I will look. I did just buy a smaller american made one at an estate sale for $17. I think its a 3" The guy running that area of the sale tried to tell me it should have been marked at $100 but they didn't even get $35 that it was marked at on the full price day so I grabbed it for 1/2 off on the last day. Quote
james curl Posted July 15, 2011 Report Posted July 15, 2011 There seems to be a lot of old vices and anvils at the swap meets that I attend, as well as used old Craftsman tools that were still made in the USA. Stamped Forged in the USA, Sears still sells some American made hand tools but you have to look close to find them. Used to be all Craftsman brand hand tools had Forged in the USA on them and their Companion tools were imported. Quote
JIPJOBXX Posted July 15, 2011 Report Posted July 15, 2011 Check out garages sales in your area you might find what you want or local auctions. Quote
Niel Hoback Posted July 15, 2011 Report Posted July 15, 2011 My favorite and most used is a 6" charles Parker that cost US Steel a bunch of money 30 years ago. But, being the idiot that I am, I broke it. I still use it for everything, but I don't put a 5' pipe on the handle, either. In reserve is a 6" of unknown origin, but definitely imported. I don't use it much at all. It's got an aura about it that I just don't feel good about. Quote
Flatie46 Posted July 16, 2011 Report Posted July 16, 2011 I'd check out the flea markets or wait for an real estate auction where they're settling an estate. Buy a good old American made quaility vise and you'll have it forever. I lucked up, and picked up a Columbian with 6" jaws super cheap. If you buy a used one be sure to open it all the way and close it all the way. Flip it over to see if it's been repaired at the screw. The old ones are pretty tuff though. Quote
kbuhagiar Posted July 16, 2011 Report Posted July 16, 2011 Hello Ed, I highly recommend Wilton vises. I have a 20-year-old #63199 with 4 1/2" jaws, and it is a beast. Paid around $180 for it new, worth every penny. http://www.wiltontools.com/us/manufacturing/en/wilton/product.html?node=4546&product=273874 Quote
Furylee2 Posted July 20, 2011 Report Posted July 20, 2011 I bought this one over the weekend from and estate auction for $25 (first photo). The auction isn’t until this weekend, but a friend of mine’s mother died and he was going to put it on the auction. I mentioned I was looking for one for my shop, so he said I could have it (it wasn’t on the auction bill). I got it home, and it’s the same model as the one I have in my garage (second photo), only a little larger. Quote
Young Ed Posted July 20, 2011 Author Report Posted July 20, 2011 Nice find Lee. I'm still on the hunt for one. Have a couple people looking who might have one gathering dust in a corner of their garage. Quote
greg g Posted July 20, 2011 Report Posted July 20, 2011 (edited) Garage and estate sales, or see if you have an auction service that does house sales in the area, lotsa good old stuff available if you look for it. might hafta visit this one myself http://www.brzostek.com/cgi-bin/htmlos.cgi/00120.4.2860181189615873135 Edited July 20, 2011 by greg g Quote
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