Workbench Vises

[cdragon]

I got so much help on my last post on sharpening stones, that I figured I'd once again tap into this vast resource of advice and knowledge!!
Just rebuilt my workbench and am now so thrilled by my super sharp chisels and planes (1000/4000 waterstones from Lee Valley - I'm a BELIEVER!), that I thought I'd break down and bolt on a nice new vise-regular machinist/all purpose type, not a carpenter's- any thoughts/preferences/sources on a good quality, I guess 6 incher?! I eagerly await the great whopping pile of replies!!!

[cdragon]

I got so much help on my last post on sharpening stones, that I figured I'd once again tap into this vast resource of advice and knowledge!!
Just rebuilt my workbench and am now so thrilled by my super sharp chisels and planes (1000/4000 waterstones from Lee Valley - I'm a BELIEVER!), that I thought I'd break down and bolt on a nice new vise-regular machinist/all purpose type, not a carpenter's- any thoughts/preferences/sources on a good quality, I guess 6 incher?! I eagerly await the great whopping pile of replies!!!

[cdragon]

I got so much help on my last post on sharpening stones, that I figured I'd once again tap into this vast resource of advice and knowledge!!
Just rebuilt my workbench and am now so thrilled by my super sharp chisels and planes (1000/4000 waterstones from Lee Valley - I'm a BELIEVER!), that I thought I'd break down and bolt on a nice new vise-regular machinist/all purpose type, not a carpenter's- any thoughts/preferences/sources on a good quality, I guess 6 incher?! I eagerly await the great whopping pile of replies!!!

[Ed Harrow]

I have so many vices I don't know where to start. Vices, if they are worth having, are expensive... By all means, of course, they have to be kept hidden from your significant other, children, neighbors, etc. This requirement sometimes requires the construction of a large cover-up. Other vices are small, of course, and therefore more easily hidden.

The size of the vice has no bearing on the enjoyment gained, counter to the usual US norm, which equates bigger with better.

"Through tattered clothes small vices do appear; robes and furred gowns hide all."

[Ed Harrow]

I have so many vices I don't know where to start. Vices, if they are worth having, are expensive... By all means, of course, they have to be kept hidden from your significant other, children, neighbors, etc. This requirement sometimes requires the construction of a large cover-up. Other vices are small, of course, and therefore more easily hidden.

The size of the vice has no bearing on the enjoyment gained, counter to the usual US norm, which equates bigger with better.

"Through tattered clothes small vices do appear; robes and furred gowns hide all."

[Ed Harrow]

I have so many vices I don't know where to start. Vices, if they are worth having, are expensive... By all means, of course, they have to be kept hidden from your significant other, children, neighbors, etc. This requirement sometimes requires the construction of a large cover-up. Other vices are small, of course, and therefore more easily hidden.

The size of the vice has no bearing on the enjoyment gained, counter to the usual US norm, which equates bigger with better.

"Through tattered clothes small vices do appear; robes and furred gowns hide all."

[Jamie Hascall]

I guess i need to come out of the closet with my vise vice. I'm always looking for another better one. The Versa-Vise being my all time favorite as a vise that sits upright or sideways and vice-versa of either way. Sadly, the manufacturer is no longer with us and although I've still got an older McMaster Carr catalog with the picture still there, the website says they're no longer available. If you can find one, the older green ones are definitely preferred. Now, if I could just find a nice old patternmakers vise, my vice would get a real thrill. ;)

[Jamie Hascall]

I guess i need to come out of the closet with my vise vice. I'm always looking for another better one. The Versa-Vise being my all time favorite as a vise that sits upright or sideways and vice-versa of either way. Sadly, the manufacturer is no longer with us and although I've still got an older McMaster Carr catalog with the picture still there, the website says they're no longer available. If you can find one, the older green ones are definitely preferred. Now, if I could just find a nice old patternmakers vise, my vice would get a real thrill. ;)

[Jamie Hascall]

I guess i need to come out of the closet with my vise vice. I'm always looking for another better one. The Versa-Vise being my all time favorite as a vise that sits upright or sideways and vice-versa of either way. Sadly, the manufacturer is no longer with us and although I've still got an older McMaster Carr catalog with the picture still there, the website says they're no longer available. If you can find one, the older green ones are definitely preferred. Now, if I could just find a nice old patternmakers vise, my vice would get a real thrill. ;)

[Bruce Taylor]

The Versa Vise
was really nice;
but if you can't locate that sucker,
sell your house and buy a Tucker.

Seriously, though...I wouldn't want to use a machinist's vise for woodworking. You want to keep the top of your bench clear, if possible. There's nothing more irritating than trying to position a long floppy plank or irregular panel on a benchtop that has a big hunk of metal stuck to it.

You can pick up a nice little front vise for fifty bucks (or less, if you shop around). The one Lee Valley sells is excellent.

If I had my druthers, though, I'd spring for the Veritas Twin-Screw. A non-racking clamp would make life in the shop a lot more pleasant.

[ 04-01-2002, 05:36 PM: Message edited by: Bruce Taylor ]

[Bruce Taylor]

The Versa Vise
was really nice;
but if you can't locate that sucker,
sell your house and buy a Tucker.

Seriously, though...I wouldn't want to use a machinist's vise for woodworking. You want to keep the top of your bench clear, if possible. There's nothing more irritating than trying to position a long floppy plank or irregular panel on a benchtop that has a big hunk of metal stuck to it.

You can pick up a nice little front vise for fifty bucks (or less, if you shop around). The one Lee Valley sells is excellent.

If I had my druthers, though, I'd spring for the Veritas Twin-Screw. A non-racking clamp would make life in the shop a lot more pleasant.

[ 04-01-2002, 05:36 PM: Message edited by: Bruce Taylor ]

[Bruce Taylor]

The Versa Vise
was really nice;
but if you can't locate that sucker,
sell your house and buy a Tucker.

Seriously, though...I wouldn't want to use a machinist's vise for woodworking. You want to keep the top of your bench clear, if possible. There's nothing more irritating than trying to position a long floppy plank or irregular panel on a benchtop that has a big hunk of metal stuck to it.

You can pick up a nice little front vise for fifty bucks (or less, if you shop around). The one Lee Valley sells is excellent.

If I had my druthers, though, I'd spring for the Veritas Twin-Screw. A non-racking clamp would make life in the shop a lot more pleasant.

[ 04-01-2002, 05:36 PM: Message edited by: Bruce Taylor ]

[Nicholas Carey]

Originally posted by cdragon:
I thought I'd break down and bolt on a nice new vise-regular machinist/all purpose type, not a carpenter's- any thoughts/preferences/sources on a good quality, I guess 6 incherRecord would be the brand you want:

http://www.recordtool.com/record/pi/repimv01.asp

Choose your poison.

[Nicholas Carey]

Originally posted by cdragon:
I thought I'd break down and bolt on a nice new vise-regular machinist/all purpose type, not a carpenter's- any thoughts/preferences/sources on a good quality, I guess 6 incherRecord would be the brand you want:

http://www.recordtool.com/record/pi/repimv01.asp

Choose your poison.

[Nicholas Carey]

Originally posted by cdragon:
I thought I'd break down and bolt on a nice new vise-regular machinist/all purpose type, not a carpenter's- any thoughts/preferences/sources on a good quality, I guess 6 incherRecord would be the brand you want:

http://www.recordtool.com/record/pi/repimv01.asp

Choose your poison.

[Dave Fleming]

In My Opinionated Opinion, for an all around metal working/general utility vice...
Wilton period. just make sure it is a Made in the USA version as they are having some made overseas and the specs are not as good on the critical parts.

For woodworking NOTHING absolutely NOTHING beats an EMMERT.
End of discussion.

But if ya can't find nor afford a second hand Emmert then on page 141 of The Workbench Book and also in one of the early issues of Fine Woodworking, there is a neat adaptation of a Record woodworking vice that approximates many of the features of an Emmert.

Kindt-Collins the patternmakers supply house, makes an Emmert clone to the same high standards ( not like some of the ones shown in some catalogues) of the original and the now discontinued Oliver version. Last I heard, they were running over $1,000 US dollars each! Almost hand made and supposedly the US Govt. is a prime buyer of them.
Put Emmert in any search engine if ya don't know of what I speak.
;)

[Dave Fleming]

In My Opinionated Opinion, for an all around metal working/general utility vice...
Wilton period. just make sure it is a Made in the USA version as they are having some made overseas and the specs are not as good on the critical parts.

For woodworking NOTHING absolutely NOTHING beats an EMMERT.
End of discussion.

But if ya can't find nor afford a second hand Emmert then on page 141 of The Workbench Book and also in one of the early issues of Fine Woodworking, there is a neat adaptation of a Record woodworking vice that approximates many of the features of an Emmert.

Kindt-Collins the patternmakers supply house, makes an Emmert clone to the same high standards ( not like some of the ones shown in some catalogues) of the original and the now discontinued Oliver version. Last I heard, they were running over $1,000 US dollars each! Almost hand made and supposedly the US Govt. is a prime buyer of them.
Put Emmert in any search engine if ya don't know of what I speak.
;)

[Dave Fleming]

In My Opinionated Opinion, for an all around metal working/general utility vice...
Wilton period. just make sure it is a Made in the USA version as they are having some made overseas and the specs are not as good on the critical parts.

For woodworking NOTHING absolutely NOTHING beats an EMMERT.
End of discussion.

But if ya can't find nor afford a second hand Emmert then on page 141 of The Workbench Book and also in one of the early issues of Fine Woodworking, there is a neat adaptation of a Record woodworking vice that approximates many of the features of an Emmert.

Kindt-Collins the patternmakers supply house, makes an Emmert clone to the same high standards ( not like some of the ones shown in some catalogues) of the original and the now discontinued Oliver version. Last I heard, they were running over $1,000 US dollars each! Almost hand made and supposedly the US Govt. is a prime buyer of them.
Put Emmert in any search engine if ya don't know of what I speak.
;)

[cs]

My 2 cents.

I've got a vice from Sears. It is the kind that has a rotating base. You know you loosen a lever and swivel the vice around any way that you want it. Good idea, bad excution. It seems like the base works loose just as soon as I start to apply massive pressure to whatever is clampled in the vice and I have to re-tight the base. It will hold you just have to make sure you tighten down Arnold Schwarnzger tight.

Chad

[cs]

My 2 cents.

I've got a vice from Sears. It is the kind that has a rotating base. You know you loosen a lever and swivel the vice around any way that you want it. Good idea, bad excution. It seems like the base works loose just as soon as I start to apply massive pressure to whatever is clampled in the vice and I have to re-tight the base. It will hold you just have to make sure you tighten down Arnold Schwarnzger tight.

Chad

[cs]

My 2 cents.

I've got a vice from Sears. It is the kind that has a rotating base. You know you loosen a lever and swivel the vice around any way that you want it. Good idea, bad excution. It seems like the base works loose just as soon as I start to apply massive pressure to whatever is clampled in the vice and I have to re-tight the base. It will hold you just have to make sure you tighten down Arnold Schwarnzger tight.

Chad

[Nicholas Carey]

Originally posted by Jamie Hascall:
Now, if I could just find a nice old patternmakers vise, my vice would get a real thrill.You're in luck. Someone is reproducing the Emmert for a remarkably reasonable price.

http://shop.woodcraft.com/woodcraft/assets/product_images/128748.jpg

It's available from Woodcraft Supply (product number 128748) for $US 220.

Woodcraft is at http://www.woodcraft.com

I would have pasted in the URL for the vise...but it's excessively long. Just drill down through Vises and Clamps to Bench Vises and thence to Pattern Maker's Vise and there you are.

FWIW, the Seattle Woodcraft store on Corson in Georgetown has one in stock. I believe Hardwick's has one too.

N.
--

[Nicholas Carey]

Originally posted by Jamie Hascall:
Now, if I could just find a nice old patternmakers vise, my vice would get a real thrill.You're in luck. Someone is reproducing the Emmert for a remarkably reasonable price.

http://shop.woodcraft.com/woodcraft/assets/product_images/128748.jpg

It's available from Woodcraft Supply (product number 128748) for $US 220.

Woodcraft is at http://www.woodcraft.com

I would have pasted in the URL for the vise...but it's excessively long. Just drill down through Vises and Clamps to Bench Vises and thence to Pattern Maker's Vise and there you are.

FWIW, the Seattle Woodcraft store on Corson in Georgetown has one in stock. I believe Hardwick's has one too.

N.
--

[Nicholas Carey]

Originally posted by Jamie Hascall:
Now, if I could just find a nice old patternmakers vise, my vice would get a real thrill.You're in luck. Someone is reproducing the Emmert for a remarkably reasonable price.

http://shop.woodcraft.com/woodcraft/assets/product_images/128748.jpg

It's available from Woodcraft Supply (product number 128748) for $US 220.

Woodcraft is at http://www.woodcraft.com

I would have pasted in the URL for the vise...but it's excessively long. Just drill down through Vises and Clamps to Bench Vises and thence to Pattern Maker's Vise and there you are.

FWIW, the Seattle Woodcraft store on Corson in Georgetown has one in stock. I believe Hardwick's has one too.

N.
--

[BPT]

"What were once vices,are now habits." :D

[BPT]

"What were once vices,are now habits." :D

[BPT]

"What were once vices,are now habits." :D

[brian.cunningham]

a friend just bought a neat vice.
two sides to it
flat with removeable faces on one side
The other is triangular for holding things like pipes.
Flat surface on the top so it can be used as an anvil.

He's still mad that it cost more to ship than to buy! :mad: ( it's understandably heavy )

[brian.cunningham]

a friend just bought a neat vice.
two sides to it
flat with removeable faces on one side
The other is triangular for holding things like pipes.
Flat surface on the top so it can be used as an anvil.

He's still mad that it cost more to ship than to buy! :mad: ( it's understandably heavy )

[brian.cunningham]

a friend just bought a neat vice.
two sides to it
flat with removeable faces on one side
The other is triangular for holding things like pipes.
Flat surface on the top so it can be used as an anvil.

He's still mad that it cost more to ship than to buy! :mad: ( it's understandably heavy )

[N. Scheuer]

I would second Dave's recommendation for a Wilton Machinist's vise.

I don't have room for multiple benches, so I have a BIG Wilton on one end of a six-foot bench, and a Carpenter's vise on the other end. I also have an old iron Bench Stop inlaid into the top of the bench which used to belong to my grandfather. Don't use it much, but I like having it there.

Both vises were fee; the carpenter's came with a free bench which preceeded the one I made. The Wilton came from a former employer's trash barrel after someone broke the interior nut for the screw. A new nut cost $8.00 from Wilton. Best dumpster diving I ever performed!

Moby Nick

[N. Scheuer]

I would second Dave's recommendation for a Wilton Machinist's vise.

I don't have room for multiple benches, so I have a BIG Wilton on one end of a six-foot bench, and a Carpenter's vise on the other end. I also have an old iron Bench Stop inlaid into the top of the bench which used to belong to my grandfather. Don't use it much, but I like having it there.

Both vises were fee; the carpenter's came with a free bench which preceeded the one I made. The Wilton came from a former employer's trash barrel after someone broke the interior nut for the screw. A new nut cost $8.00 from Wilton. Best dumpster diving I ever performed!

Moby Nick

[N. Scheuer]

I would second Dave's recommendation for a Wilton Machinist's vise.

I don't have room for multiple benches, so I have a BIG Wilton on one end of a six-foot bench, and a Carpenter's vise on the other end. I also have an old iron Bench Stop inlaid into the top of the bench which used to belong to my grandfather. Don't use it much, but I like having it there.

Both vises were fee; the carpenter's came with a free bench which preceeded the one I made. The Wilton came from a former employer's trash barrel after someone broke the interior nut for the screw. A new nut cost $8.00 from Wilton. Best dumpster diving I ever performed!

Moby Nick

[JimConlin]

Highland Hardware www.highlandhardware.com (http://www.highlandhardware.com) has a vise descrived as copied from the Emmert for $219. Item # 168042
I've only seen the pictures. Anybody got one?

[JimConlin]

Highland Hardware www.highlandhardware.com (http://www.highlandhardware.com) has a vise descrived as copied from the Emmert for $219. Item # 168042
I've only seen the pictures. Anybody got one?

[JimConlin]

Highland Hardware www.highlandhardware.com (http://www.highlandhardware.com) has a vise descrived as copied from the Emmert for $219. Item # 168042
I've only seen the pictures. Anybody got one?