New Wilton Vise On The Way!

[7mmstalker]

Yessir, that is what I don't want to do, break either of my 2 "good" bench vises. This one in the pics is a bit smaller than the other, but seems to be of stouter construction.
I've homebrewed a barrel vise from 2x2 stock almost identical to yours. Thinking that removing the clamping load from the vise, only using it to harness the unscrewing/assembly torque should be safe.
Am I crazy?
Sorry about the thread hijack. Interest in the really good vises got me worried about the durability of this one.

 

[TheSoundBarrier]

No worries about the thread hijack! Like I said, this has turned into a cool little vise thread. It has pulled a lot of folks out of the woodwork. If a mod wants to re-title this thread to reflect its contents (it's turning into a general vise discussion thread) that wouldn't bother me either. We should make it a point to include more photographs. People need eye candy and visual references to these awesome pieces of machinery... i.e. Where does your vise exist within your gun/reloading bench setup, etc... I visit this thread nightly to see what has changed. Take care everyone. I hope you guys had a great Memorial Day weekend.

 

[Clark]

Until this thread, I did not realize that the reason I stopped breaking vises was not that I got a tougher vise.

The reason is that I stopped hitting the handles with a sledge hammer while trying to get a barrel to stop slipping when I unscrew it off a rusty receiver.

What does it all mean?
My Seafoam green [Boeing 1970 ish colors] Colombian vise has never broken on me, probably because I have not been hitting the handle with a sledge hammer, and not because it is a better vise.

This is not the first time it took me 10 years to figure something out.

 

[BBBBill]

This is not the first time it took me 10 years to figure something out.

Glad to know that I'm not alone with that.

 

[seed]

So Wilton is solid...but which one would people recommend to grow into -- i.e. it may be too much vise for now, but won't be once the projects become bolder? For me, spending an extra 100 or 200 (or whatever) for more vise than I may need for now will be beneficial to me down the road...kinda like buying a safe for way more guns than you presently have or will have for some years. Anyway, for personal projects, which Wilton or other high quality vise would be good for my needs as described above?

Wilton 1745 was suggested above and looks solid.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Hand Vices

Though NOT, vices performed by hand...

In a slight veer yet still quite on topic. Fellas who don't know about these as small work holders should check them out. The one on the left is an often preferred style if you can find one cheap. It uses a parallelogram action to keep the jaw faces parallel and on plane throughout the vices travel and they usually have finer quality jaw faces as well for protecting the work.

The one on the right is more common and as it pivots at the bottom of the handle - holds the work less squared up and requires more tension sometimes to get the best grip on the work.

 

[Latimer the Cat]

Wow! what a deal. A Wilton for free, and a large one at that. I've just bought two and it was a fair somewhat reduced price for both the seller and me. Looks like I'll be doing a refurbish job on a 1950's vintage 5" combo bullet soon. They come-out looking and looking real nice.