Posted: 11/6/2004 9:26:36 PM EDT
| are they any good? good enough for ar-15 work? or should I get something else? I'm setting up a little ar-15 workshop. |
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They are quite cheap and the smaller ones really show why they are cheap. They will mar, or scar, most metals and are not terribly stable. I bought one for my drill press and regretted my cheapness. You don't want to have your parts walk on you ... it's bad enough that the cheap drill bits they sell don't work either. For precise AR work, I'd recommend spending a little more so that you don't have those "damn I should have spent the extra $20" moments, while staring at your mutilated work. ETA: I presume you meant a drill press vice, since you mentioned AR work. But, after reading Rayra's comment perhaps you really only meant a bench vice. Can't help you there, I bought one from Sears (which, by the way, is also made in China!) |
| It will work for your purposes. Just try to get one plenty big enough (slightly larger than you think you need) The extra meat will give extra strength. Make sure to look at the one that you are buying if getting it in-store to be sure the jaws draw together evenly. |
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Get a set of vise jaw liners - will solve the marring problem. What's the price difference between a low-end Sears model and a Harbor Freight Special, anyway - I've never bothered to check on Vises. I buy good quality tools for stuff I use frequently or for multiple purposes. For throway items or one-use projects, Harbor Freight regularly gets my $$. |
Yep. I have a Harbor Freight vise (was on sale for like 29 bucks). It's the 5" model, plenty big for AR work (have done this many times on it lately). Link |