New Vice

[Sundown]

I finally got tired of using that POS 5" crapsman vice I got a few years ago to replace my 30 year old craftsman 4" vice that had served me so many years. I was in Costco the other day and they had what appeared to be a HF quality 5" "made in china" that looked to be a cut above the normal china stuff. It was only $47 so I picked one up and so far so good, at least the jaws are parallel, the casting looks ok, and it rotates 306º in both directions.

[tailshaft56]

Looks pretty fair for the money.

[Fishy_Jim]

That looks a lot like Wilton's import brand "champion" they're selling at Home depot. Good price on it - the same thing with the wilton box costs another $10. It says wilton on the box, and champion on the vise. All their US made stuff still says wilton on it.

Seems like they "want their cake"... They'll use their brand name to sell it, then make it a stepchild on the bench.

[Sundown]

That looks a lot like Wilton's import brand "champion" they're selling at Home depot. Good price on it - the same thing with the wilton box costs another $10. It says wilton on the box, and champion on the vise. All their US made stuff still says wilton on it.

Seems like they "want their cake"... They'll use their brand name to sell it, then make it a stepchild on the bench.

It says 5" Multi-purpose Vise on a very nice steel plate ? I have used it some and I seems to be ok for the price.

[usmcpop]

Just don't bang on it too hard. I saw one at a store where the casting of the moveable part cracked right at the point where the machined cylindrical portion joins the body. It was pretty thin, maybe about 1/4 inch.

[Hotfoot]

I've used the same vise (HF version) for ten years, and its been great until the lower base finally broke one too many times (from my beating and bending while beating in it) that part is cast and its just shot. I looked at fabbing up a steel bottom piece, but, for the price I just went and got another just like it. The old one is now my "beater" vise, and its mounted right ouside my shop doo, next to my anvil.

[hankj]

I finally got tired of using that POS 5" crapsman vice I got a few years ago to replace my 30 year old craftsman 4" vice that had served me so many years. I was in Costco the other day and they had what appeared to be a HF quality 5" "made in china" that looked to be a cut above the normal china stuff. It was only $47 so I picked one up and so far so good, at least the jaws are parallel, the casting looks ok, and it rotates 306º in both directions.

George,

It looks just like this one! Had it for 16-years now. Beat on it plenty. You should get your use from it!

Hank

[jbmprods]

I finally got tired of using that POS 5" crapsman vice I got a few years ago to replace my 30 year old craftsman 4" vice that had served me so many years. I was in Costco the other day and they had what appeared to be a HF quality 5" "made in china" that looked to be a cut above the normal china stuff. It was only $47 so I picked one up and so far so good, at least the jaws are parallel, the casting looks ok, and it rotates 306º in both directions.

hey George & Hank i have one just like the 2 you have and its been on the farm in the weld shop for at least 12 yrs. and it has been hammered on and beat so bad with heavy use its unreal. about a month ago i was tightening something real light duty in it not tight either and pop and the leed screw just spun free. i took it apart and found that threaded coller for the lead screw thats mounted in the back ring snapped. well i figured a little grinding and pre heat and some ni55 and all was good to go.after i welded back up i threw the ring in the coals of the fireplace in the shop and let it cool and that sucker seems like it's good to go for another 12 yrs. this irony of the thing is, it was made in tiawan and i used the cheap 100$ chinese welder i bought for my kids from harbor frieght to repair it. that would almost qualify as an international incident huh.

[Sundown]

hey George & Hank i have one just like the 2 you have and its been on the farm in the weld shop for at least 12 yrs. and it has been hammered on and beat so bad with heavy use its unreal. about a month ago i was tightening something real light duty in it not tight either and pop and the leed screw just spun free. i took it apart and found that threaded coller for the lead screw thats mounted in the back ring snapped. well i figured a little grinding and pre heat and some ni55 and all was good to go.after i welded back up i threw the ring in the coals of the fireplace in the shop and let it cool and that sucker seems like it's good to go for another 12 yrs. this irony of the thing is, it was made in tiawan and i used the cheap 100$ chinese welder i bought for my kids from harbor frieght to repair it. that would almost qualify as an international incident huh.

At my age about 12 years of use is about all I need, thanks for the report

[jbmprods]

At my age about 12 years of use is about all I need, thanks for the report

heck George i figure you'll be posting here long after i'm gone you got at least 75000 posts left in ya

[cope]

That looks a lot like Wilton's import brand "champion" they're selling at Home depot. Good price on it - the same thing with the wilton box costs another $10. It says wilton on the box, and champion on the vise. All their US made stuff still says wilton on it.

Seems like they "want their cake"... They'll use their brand name to sell it, then make it a stepchild on the bench.

My Home Depot has the same one labelled Columbian on the vise, but it's brown and not blue and $53.99. Go figure.

[MAC702]

I got the same one from Costco about 4 years ago. Out of the box, it had a broken screw of the ones holding on the jaws, but even that never slowed it down. I've been very happy with it.

[unkle spike]

If you are going to hammer on a vice, the best option is a Post Vice which has a leg that goes to the floor, I use mine for blacksmithing. New they are expensive however, I bought mine at an 'antique' shop for 95 bucks.

Some examples are at Centaur Forge.

[Sundown]

I got the same one from Costco about 4 years ago. Out of the box, it had a broken screw of the ones holding on the jaws, but even that never slowed it down. I've been very happy with it.

When I got mine home the hole for the screw that keeps it from rotating while the jaws are open was stripped out. I took it back and they give me the money back. I just picked up another one and it was fine, but I guess I won't be putting any undue pressure on that tightner.

[Sundown]

If you are going to hammer on a vice, the best option is a Post Vice which has a leg that goes to the floor, I use mine for blacksmithing. New they are expensive however, I bought mine at an 'antique' shop for 95 bucks.

Some examples are at Centaur Forge.

I don't plan on doing and hammering on it as I plan on hammering on that POS crapsman 5" I still have. The post vice is a great idea, my friend has one mounted on at 10 X 10 post, works great. I may get one for the rapidly approaching remodel of the garage to finally turn it into a heated, cooled, & well-lighted shop.