Bench Vise Advice?

[bp78]

Any experienced opinions on what minimum features & size are needed for a useful bench vise?

I have a steel workbench in the garage that's used for all tasks. A Dillon 550b press takes up the right side, so I'm looking for a small bench vise for general odd jobs. Re-installing a muzzle brake or for filing small parts etc. I just about bought a 3.5"-opening vise from Ac hardware but thought I should check if a 4.5" is better.

Any mounting suggestions? I saw a pretty fancy setup with rails but I already have a steel-n-mdf bench from sears that I'll be drilling for a mount.

Thanks.

 

[rcmodel]

I have a big old 6" with machine-screw threads that I use for squeezing 1911 slides, welding, and other heavy work.

I have a fairly cheap 3 1/2" Craftsman on another bench that I use for almost everything gunsmith / reloading related.
I have a set of leather covered, and also a set of aluminum jaw covers I made for it.

I also have a big 10" wood-faced woodworkers vice that I use for stock work and heavy duty gun holding when I want to get down & dirty with an old mil-sup barrel.

I think a fairly good quality 3 1/2" will cover most gun & reloading needs pretty well. At least it covers most of mine.

I think if your 3 1/2" Ace vice has good jaw alignment and clamps up square without a lot of side or up & down slop, it should do just fine for the majority of your gun work.


rcmodel

 

[Riss]

Try a small parrot vise. Carried by Grizzly Tools. I have seen the same model in Brownells for alot more than the $40 that they want. I do not have one yet but need one. From the looks of it, for most jobs except the most demanding it may be the best type around. http://www.grizzly.com/products/h3302

 

[jeepmor]

Don't mean to point out the obvious, but make sure the jaws hang over the edge of your bench so you can put a barrel in it in the vertical position and not have the bench get in the way. I prefer to mount them on the corner so I have more pivot options.

Nice link Riss, may have to get myself some of those magnetic jaw covers. I have an old vice from the 50s or earlier. Think it's a 4 1/2 jaw. With covers, I'd use it alot more.

 

[bp78]

Thanks for the advice. I'll opt for the Shop Fox / Parrot vise suggested from Midway
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=511694

The local vise choices are all serrated jaws and 8/10's of what I'll ever use a vise for are gun related small parts where I wouldn't want the serrated teeth in one of these:
http://www.acehardware.com/product/...w=vise&parentPage=search&searchId=23669298994

 

[earplug]

Check out the SHOP FOX PART # 511694 copy of the Foster? vice that Midway sells. Lots of options on how to mount and use it. Its easy to lift the vice off the bench leaving the mounting post, if you need more room.
I used the original version of them in the Army Marksmanship unit.
I gave one to my wife back in 1993, you could get various soft jaw plates for them.
Its a good general use vice. Not good for squeezing slides.
Get a small metal vice that will fit in the jaws of big vice for fine or small parts.

 

[DWARREN123]

Good add on brass or plastic jaws is a must.

 

[presspuller]

I mounted my vice to a 1 ft square of 1" plywood using threaded inserts and then mounted the plywood to the bench with wing bolts from the bottom into threaded inserts. If I need the vise on I put it on, if I need it out of the way I take it off. With 4 3/8" bolts holding it to the table it aint going anywhere.
I have my rifle vice with the same hole pattern on it and I can bolt it down if needed.

Also a small jewelers vise screwed to a piece of 2 x 4 held in the bench vice comes in handy too. Again take it out and set it on a shelf when not needed.

 

[Riss]

I mounted mine in similar fashion. I am using a large 300 lb 2'x8' wood workers bench so I have everything mounted on 1" plywood squares. The table top and wood vise at the front have pop up 1" square steel dogs. All I need to do to mount something is push the steel bench dog from under the top and clamp the plywood square horizontally and apply a hold down at the rear. Rock solid and takes less than 30 seconds to swap them out.

 

[TAB]

Like many things in life, bigger is better.


If its less then 40 lbs... its not big enough.

 

[Clark]

One bench vise can look just like another, but there can be a big difference.

I have broken two 6" vises.

Now I have a 4" Columbian vise that I got from Boeing surplus, and I can't seem to break it.

I think it is the difference between cast iron and cast steel.

 

[rcmodel]

Exactly!

Cast-iron vices are just fine for light & normal duty work.

But start using a 3' pipe cheater handle with a barrel-vice on an old 98 Mauser action, or squeezing 1911 slides, and you will be looking for a new vice to replace your broken one in short order.


rcmodel

 

[koginam]

I have a vise I bought from Lowe's and then found the same vise at the red army store (harbor Freight) for less, http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=5655
I can adjust the work piece in any angle, I use it for stock work and pulling barrels, never had a problem and it gets lots of use.