Good Bench Vise

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

After two broken bench vises in 2 years, maybe I need an upgrade. Any suggestions?

First I broke one like this, I think it was a 4"

A year or so ago I got a 5" swivel from Northern Tool. It never gripped as tight as the 4" one did, and I broke it in half last night trying to bend a 1/2" piece of steel:

Most of the bix-box stores only sell a 6" vise for $70 or so. I like the 115lb shipping weight of the 8" one that HF sells:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... umber=5800

RobLupella · **Posted:** Fri May 02, 2008 12:47 pm

I wouldn't trust anything Harbor Freight that is going to see hard use. Especially if you have already broken two vises (visi?) (veece?) it probably demands something a bit more substantial. Kevin Butler and I broke his big vise on a suspension part and I think it was a HF/NT something not too pricey. The problems seem to be in the casting of the slide.

Just my thought

Les Davis · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 2:04 pm **Posts:** 2059

I've had a HF vise for many many years still going strong, though I can't say I've used it extensively.

Dustin Fredrickson · **Posted:** Fri May 02, 2008 8:24 pm

I've got a 6" from Northern Tool that looks identical to that 8" Mike, and I bent it on the first usage. It still works, but "sticks" on every revolution due to the bend. Maybe the 8" one has just enough more steel to make it stronger, but I I'm with others in saying if you've had problems breaking vices, you need to be looking for something with better steel than you'll find at HF.

Kevin Butler · **Posted:** Fri May 02, 2008 8:58 pm

I had a 6" Sears that took me about 5 years to bust. They wouldn't replace it, saying it wasn't a hand tool. They got to throw it away.

Then I got a 6" vise from Agrisupply. Busted it in less than a year with Rob's help (thanks buddy!). When I walked in to replace it, no questions were asked and they were happy to replace it.

I do a fair amount of suspension work and always end up using the vise for a press. That's the kind of activities that resulted in busting a vise for me.

The thing I've found in the recent years is that they don't make 4 mounting lug units any more. Just 3.

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Fri May 02, 2008 9:05 pm

I have a made in Taiwan (around 1978 or so) "Duracraft Industrial Tools" which says 4 on it but measures about 5 1/2 inch that looks a lot like this Wilton shown on Northern Tools website: http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/ ... 917_119917

It has taken a lot of pounding and bending over the years. Still nice and smooth. I have no idea what it takes to get equivalent quality now and I have no idea what I paid 30 years ago but assume it was cheaper than the Sears equivalent.

Dick

steve remchak · **Posted:** Fri May 02, 2008 9:48 pm

i too have one from Northern that resembles the HF model. the girl that sold it to me asked if i would be using it for hammering and such. she pretty much said it would not hold up to extreme abuse.

Mike, have you searched places like Grainger, and other industrial supply type houses? i would guess the vises' that live on the rear bumpers of service trucks are of a stronger build.

ColinOConnell · **Posted:** Sat May 03, 2008 8:31 am

It sounds like you're a little tough on yours. I'd recomend something from Wilton. I've got a rep that I work with who also has the Wilton line and it's good stuff. I know Grainger carries them, but a little searching will probably turn up a better price.
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg/pr ... 1=Vises%2C

Let me know what size you want and what you do with it and I'll see if I can get his recomendations.

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Well in desperation (needed to use it) I went to Home Depot and they had a nice-looking 6" Wilton for $69. It definitely has more metal in the spot where the last one broke.

I now appreciate the simplicity of a non-swiveling, no added features 6" vise.

Lifetime warranty too

I doubt I will break this one as easily, but time will tell.

JamesFeinberg · **Posted:** Sat May 03, 2008 9:57 am

Mike,

I have that exact same vise and I've abused it over the years with no issues so far. It has "loosened up" a tad after multiple bushing replacements which is a job obviously more suited for a press but it still works fine. I couldn't remember where I bought it from until I saw yours and it was Home Depot as well. The only real complaint I've had with it is that I tend to wind up a little blue from the paint if I'm sweating heavily while working with it.

Incidentally, I bought it after helping a friend break his which looks exactly like the 2nd one you posted. We were doing a bushing replacement on his Miata and it lasted through about half of the job.

Jim

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