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Posted: 1/25/2011 4:19:29 AM EDT
I'm looking for one, and could use some input on what's a good brand/type. I recently tacked together a desk/workbench in my tiny little office in my tiny little condo. Those of you who are unhappy with your workshop will enjoy the following-
The top is two pieces of 1/2" plywood topped with a layer of masonite, which is all set into rabbeted 2x4s. It's obviously not a real workbench, but I'm not setting transmissions on the thing, I just need something sturdy enough to barrel an upper. I'm looking for something small enough to handle the job and not eat up too much space (~6x8), and good enough quality that I don't regret buying it. Suggestions? |
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Assuming you need a bench vise and not a barrel vise, here's some options:
The Brownell's Multi-Vise is expensive, but it's a fine gunsmiths vise and can be rotated and tilted to most any angle. http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=361/Product/MULTI_VISE_trade_ Midway sells a Chinese made copy that's a lot cheaper, and while quality isn't high, it's serviceable. You can also buy the same vise on Ebay, sometimes cheaper still: http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=511694 You can buy fair quality shop vises from Sears, and most large hardware stores. Places like Harbor Freight sell the Chinese vise with the rotating head that has standard jaws on one end and pipe jaws on the other. Again, quality is low, but they do make a serviceable vise. http://www.harborfreight.com/5-inch-multi-purpose-vise-67415.html The sell a smaller vise that clamps to a bench top and can be easily removed for storage to clear your work space: http://www.harborfreight.com/2-1-2-half-inch-table-swivel-vise-97160.html A big step up is the Wilton vise. These are very high quality, and will last a life time. They come in sizes from smaller to the huge 100 or more pound monsters. Northern Tool sells several models: http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_119917_119917 |
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I've never been a big fan of workbench-mounted vises.
Seriously. They just get in the way when using the workbench as a WORKBENCH, and the workbench itself impedes full access to the vise! Probably he most useful and versatile vise I ever used was a cheap Taiwan-made 6" swivelling and rotating one that was anchor-bolted into a cut-down (36" tall?) 55-gallon drum full of concrete. It stood in the middle of the shop floor a few feet away from the bench. It was very easy to get at from any angle and as solid as a Pyramid. Despite it's weight, it wasn't terribly hard to move with a helper slightly tipping it and rolling the bottom edge where needed. A higher quality name-brand vise set up the same way would have been even better. (Just tossing you some food for thought; your situation probably isn't conducive to such an arrangement for space and weight-bearing considerations.) Another thing to possibly consider is whether you ever intend to buy a milling machine. If so, a good mill table vise (KURT, etc.) just might serve your current needs admirably, and getting it now would prevent you from having to buy one for your future milling machine later on. |
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Quoted:
I've never been a big fan of workbench-mounted vises. Seriously. They just get in the way when using the workbench as a WORKBENCH, and the workbench itself impedes full access to the vise! Probably he most useful and versatile vise I ever used was a cheap Taiwan-made 6" swivelling and rotating one that was anchor-bolted into a cut-down (36" tall?) 55-gallon drum full of concrete. It stood in the middle of the shop floor a few feet away from the bench. It was very easy to get at from any angle and as solid as a Pyramid. Despite it's weight, it wasn't terribly hard to move with a helper slightly tipping it and rolling the bottom edge where needed. A higher quality name-brand vise set up the same way would have been even better. (Just tossing you some food for thought; your situation probably isn't conducive to such an arrangement for space and weight-bearing considerations.) Another thing to possibly consider is whether you ever intend to buy a milling machine. If so, a good mill table vise (KURT, etc.) just might serve your current needs admirably, and getting it now would prevent you from having to buy one for your future milling machine later on. Oh, that's good! I will definitely keep that idea in mind for when I don't live in a fifty year old rickety condo. Quoted:
I have a large Wilton for heavy work and a versa-vise for small work. I love the Versa-vise, but I'm not sure it's heavy enough, or has large enough jaws to hold an upper. I use it for polishing, etc. small parts That's probably the ideal setup, but considering my space issues I'll have to go with one or the other. I really liked the look of the "Panavise", but just wasn't convinced that it would hold up to any significant weight. As much as I like the idea of something permanent, I may have to consider a clamp-on. I'm really just hoping that in the next few weeks I can dig up some definitive feedback on the Brownell's. Thanks all for the responses. |
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The Pana-Vise is not suitable for any really heavy use or holding power.
It's made of aluminum, and is intended for very light, small work. The jaws are nylon and will bend if you try to grip something really tight. I have one that I seldom used, and then only for small hobby work. Of the ways to mount a vise on a bench, I found the two best are to use a clamp. If the vise doesn't come with that type of mount or one isn't available, you can make one with a piece of heavy steel plate and a clamp. Simply drill holes that match the vise and mount it on the plate with large screws and nuts with the screw heads recessed on the bottom of the plate. Weld a cut off clamp to the edge of the plate. The second method, and one I used for larger vises is to drill holes in the bench and use large bolts with either wing nuts or standard nuts and washers. You can mount or remove the vise reasonably fast, leaving just three holes in the bench top. The best vise set up I ever used was in another gunsmith's shop who did both guns and knives and he needed some serious non-moving or vibrating holding power. He had a section of heavy wall steel pipe buried about 3 or 4 feet deep in a concrete shop floor. The pipe was filled with concrete. He had a piece of 3/4" steel plate welded to the concrete, and it had holes drilled to fit various vises. He said that he intended to put in another pipe, this time with a top section that telescoped over the main pipe. This would allow him to raise or lower the vise. I did some filing on his setup and it was the most solid vise setup I ever used. Since I didn't need to do much heavy filing I never installed a similar setup in my work area. |
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