Who makes a good vise?

[Iron Hauler]

I broke my old Craftsman vise that I have had for years. I'm needing one with at least a 4 or 5 inch jaw that is heavy duty. Don't really want to go the Harbor Freight way.

[Willie Makeit]

Yost. Be forewarned, they are very very expensive but it's a vise your grandkids will be able to use long after you're gone.

[tinydb84]

Wilton makes really nice ones. Cost an arm and a leg.

I have a harbor freight one. I beat on it regularly and it hasn't broken yet. When it does break it's only like 40 bucks.

[BR3W CITY]

Vice's are like tool boxes....the best ones are found at the back of yard sales for $10

[Troy Sr]

Here's the one I bought 22 years ago and I'm still using it. Don't buy one from Harbor freight my brother bought one and it cracked as soon as he tighten up on something.

https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q...54988817798594

scroll down to the $88 one and ENCO sells them for that.

[_Ogre]

look on craigslist for used vises, any old vise will work, wilton is one of the best and gets the price

troy sr is dead wrong... harbor fright vises come with factory cracks, no need to tighten them on anything

[Ironhorse]

Hit up any yard sales, garage sales or even better yet, auctions. Have bought some really vintage USA well made tools at auctions and have been VERY HAPPY with them. Bought an old vise at auction last year for the pricey some of $25, 5'' jaw with pipe grip pads. Don't recall the brand but just looking at it you could tell it had been used but not abused. Just my $0.02

[Troy Sr]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

look on craigslist for used vises, any old vise will work, wilton is one of the best and gets the price

troy sr is dead wrong... harbor fright vises come with factory cracks, no need to tighten them on anything

Well my brother got lucky and made it home without breaking his!!!!

[midniteblues]

a good vise is such a great asset too the shop.

i've broken a few vise doing things i shouldnt have been doin with it.
and now i've been babyin a multi cracked hf.
when it lets go i'm gettin a big wilton and i wont use it for a press

i was gonna start a immortalize your vice online thread, heres a few i have/had

[BossHogg69]

I use a Wilton at home and I use them at work (oilfield/drilling) and they are kinda expensive but they hold up to all kinds of abuse.

[Iron Hauler]

Well I scoured Craigslist and finally found what I hope is a good one. It's a Reed #206r it has 6" wide jaws and swivels, weighs about 75 pounds. This guy had several vises to choose from and knew history on about every make there is. cost me 100 bucks but I think it will be worth it.

[_Ogre]

to think... you could have bought 4 harbor fright vises for that

i have a couple of metal working vises, the best one came with my house
i'm a woodworker too, scored this 12x12 quick release vise off ebay for $125 a few years ago
my old vise got moved to the far side of my bench

[GRX]

Originally Posted by Iron Hauler

Well I scoured Craigslist and finally found what I hope is a good one. It's a Reed #206r it has 6" wide jaws and swivels, weighs about 75 pounds. This guy had several vises to choose from and knew history on about every make there is. cost me 100 bucks but I think it will be worth it.

Reed are great vises. Seems heavier than it should be? Probably forged not cast. If it is pre-WW2 era, arguably the best vise you can find. They usually have raised lettering and a ball shaped handle. Newer ones are more mushroom shaped. Here is one I bought for $35. Was sitting in the back of an antique store dusty covered, and forgotten.

[In The Ten Ring]

If you can find a Rigid you might be in good shape. My dad has had one from the 1970's and it's a rock.

*Mine is a Craftsman cheapo so I expect it to break if I ever have to bear down on it.

[specialtyretail]

Wilton has some great deals going now. Just sold a few to a customer. One of the promotions includes a hammer with the vise.