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advice on vice

2K views 13 replies 12 participants last post by  AGolden 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
hello all,

I recently found that my cheep garbage vice from woodcraft was completely busted. I have been looking for a new vice and could use some opinions. I don't want to go too cheep and have to live with a frustration until it breaks but I also don't know if i can go in on a $400 vice from Veritas but might be willing to go up if I know it's going to be life changing.

Specifically I am looking for a face vice (not an end vice, moxon vice, etc.)
I have a Nicholson style bench for reference and I am not sure a leg vice would work but am interested in your opinions, I have also been thinking about the possibility of a wooden screw vice. Thank you all for your input!
 
#2 ·
If I had the money I would get one of these made in USA ones:
https://toolsforworkingwood.com/store/item/MS-VISE.XX

But, i didn't have the money so I got one of the Yost vises on amazon, basically a Record clone made of chinesium, half the price of the made in USA ones and gets the job done. I did take off the screw and sanded all the arrises off wit 600 wet dry paper and oiled it. The machining was as expected.
 
#4 ·
The Milwaukee vise linked above appears to e identical in design to the Jorgenson 41012s I have. I bought the first one probably 15 years ago, and got the second one from a fellow who was leaving woodworking. they are excellent, and I can't recommend them enough. But the Wilton that was linked was cheaper, plus it has a removable swiveling jaw, and there have been quite a few times I wish I had it. Between the 2, I'd probably go with the Wilton, but either one will do you very well.
 
#7 ·
It's hard to tell from the pictures, but can a flat, wooden vise jaw face be mounted behind the Wilton's tilting jaw, such that when you remove the latter, the flat wooden jaw is there, ready to go?

I can think of too many applications where I would not want the tilting jaw, but to be able to quickly switch to/from it, while still having wooden faces either way. Can the tilting jaw be locked in place, parallel to the other jaw? The manual does not state so, and the exploded parts diagram does not indicate so either.

Interesting choice of "C-channel" formed from sheet steel, in lieu of conventional, round steel bars spaced farther apart. Although, the narrower channel does give more room for clamping something tall beside it in the vise (like a table leg held vertically).

Not that I haven't thought of an additional woodworking vise for the shop, but I already have a very good, conventional woodworking vise I inherited from my grandfather. Built like a tank. It's "quick-release" mechanism consists of a wide, lengthwise slot in the screw, in which the mating thread block slides for rapid adjustment. But oh, the times it brings to mind…
 
#8 ·
I have the "chinesium" Yost and it works fine for me. Took some attention like SMP said, but compared to $200-400 it does what i need. Having the retractable bench dog is as useful as the vice faces. The quick release has not given me any trouble. For angled pieces, I just use a wedge, but for wood chunks bigger than 5 1/2", I have to find another way to hold them.
 
#9 ·
#13 ·
I buit a moxon vise on the side of my bench and this vice on the end
Line Auto part Font Camera accessory Electronics accessory

I use the moxon much more and when I do dove tails I will use it even more. The end vice I use for planing with bench dogs. Moxon vices are inexpensive and can be made so you can remove them from the bench when not in use. Search on utube for moxon vise builds
 

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#14 ·
I noticed lake Eerie tools carries some metal vises from Milwaukee Tool.

https://www.lakeerietoolworks.com/collections/metal-vise-kits

I have never seen half of these but I would love to get a face vise or tail vise kit if they are actually made in the USA. anyone have one? Can anyone verify their provenance. I can't find them on the Milwaukee tool & Equipment Co website
 
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