Bench vise suggestions...I have barrel vise

[DBerry2043]

I currently have an older vise (cheaper end) on my bench that I want to replace???????? Please suggest
something for consideration

 

[barny]

Wilton

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Wilton or rigid

 

[Intheshop]

You sorta need to choose;

If you're looking for something "nice" one of the suggestions above. Or get dang fancy snagging an old Starrett off evilbay.

VS


If you want something to beat the sheet out of,and possibly... more than likely....modify,drill,don't think two bits about. Get a 5" swivel N swirl chinesium pos from horror freight. This is what we use at our welding station.

 

[wkdickinson]

Wilton is the best no doubt, if money is not an issue. Or if you aren't in a big hurry, start looking at garage sales, Craig's list, etc. 50 or 75 years old, isn't old for a vise. I was recently given an old Reed vise by a friend (who is 72). It had been mounted on a workbench in his Grandpa's barn when he was a kid and it was old then. After some cleanup and paint, it turned out really nice. When you are talking about "ballpeen hammer" technology, I find old, is often far superior to modern.

 

[holstil]

Wilton prolly the best but the last one I bought doesn’t really feel like it should be the best. Lead screw threads gauled. I’ve been known to dog on some threads at times, but,,,,just sayin. I use ws2 for lube.
Ima try one of those rigids Dusty is talkin about. Maybe I’ll send the nut and lead for Melonite?

Does Kurt make a bench vice lol

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Wilton prolly the best but the last one I bought doesn’t really feel like it should be the best. Lead screw threads gauled. I’ve been known to dog on some threads at times, but,,,,just sayin. I use ws2 for lube.
Ima try one of those rigids Dusty is talkin about. Maybe I’ll send the nut and lead for Melonite?

Does Kurt make a bench vice lol

You can make one a bench vise if you got that kinda money

 

[holstil]

I meant to say I use tungsten disulfide after I gauled it.

If going with a Wilton, I suggest the 1765xc. Be prepared for sticker shock though.

 

[ronemus]

I like the Yost I bought on Amazon for $100; it's not a machinist's vise, but it seems to be sound. I just got it and haven't used it much, but it seems well made and solid enough to hold up in use. At that price I won't be afraid to beat on it if necessary. I'm replacing an old Chinese vise that I bought at Price Club 3 decades ago for more money, but the Yost is a much better vise.

 

[holstil]

Worth a watch?

might just build my next one.

 

[std7mag]

If you can wait, auctions, flea markets are a great resource.
And you can possibly pick up a good one for along the line of $20.
May not be pretty, shiny, and new but those older vises are solid.

 

[Walt Krafft]

I have been using a rotating head vise like this one almost daily for over 30 years. McMaster 5256A1. $300 is not cheap, but that is what a good vise is going to run purchased new. I seldom use the pipe jaws. I use the rotating head feature all the time.

Rotating-Head Bench Vise, Flat and V Jaws, Swivel Base | McMaster-Carr

 

[holstil]

After a bit of research and a cpl phone calls. The next Wilton I buy will be the USA made 28833 model 600s 6"-10". The Or something vintage usa.
The 1765 and 1765xc I'm told are made in Taiwan. I betting the one I gauled was Chinese.

 

[K9TXS]

Go by a few pawn shops and you should be able to get a fairly heavy duty one much cheaper than a new one. The one I got from a pawn shop is quite heavy and has stood up well to a lot of banging over the years. I have my barrel vice mounted to a piece of angle iron and it then tighten it up. Works great.

 

[Toolbreaker]

Wilton bullet vise is my favorite. They do fetch a premium on Ebay, but can be found at estate sales & such pretty reasonable. The one below (made in 1951 IIRC) was from a local sale & had the bejeezus worked out of it over the years, including alot of welding splatter. Disassembled, bead blasted, some file work, spray-bombed, greased the screw, new dust cap, made new smooth jaws & handle and she's ready for another 75 years of work.

 

[Bronco302]

The old Wilton vises are hard to beat and can be had for reasonable prices. Picked up two of the bullet vises one rotates the other as in Toolbreaker's post. from Boeing surplus for $100 each. Really nice to have a heavy duty vise that can be used as a bearing press, metal break, and also for fine work. Appreciate the vises every time I use them.