Wilton Bench Vise

[Kestrel]

I need a bench vise and am thinking a Wilton would be a good one. I don't want a cheap cast model, made in China, if I can help it. (I see that Home Depot carries these.)

I was looking through Grainger online and they don't list where the vises are made. How can I tell if I'm getting a better made one? Is there a particular model and price point that I need to start with?

Any other suppliers I can check with?

Thanks for any advice.

 

[Car Knocker]

Only some of the Wilton vises are US-made - the appended link shows which ones are.
http://www.southern-tool.com/store/wilton_vises.html

 

[Kestrel]

Car Knocker,

Thanks. That's what I was looking for. Is that a good company to do business with?

Thanks again.

 

[Car Knocker]

Is that a good company to do business with?

I've never done business with them, so can't answer your question.

 

[kansas45]

I bought a Wilton Bench Vise from my MATCO Tool dealer a few months ago. It is a high quality vice for the money. I also bought some jaw inserts. One is a rubber coated set & the other is an aluminum set with different groves in the jaws to hold round or odd shaped objects.

 

[dfariswheel]

Another option is the Versa-Vise, which a lot of pro gunsmiths like.
It's expensive, but it's probably the best available:

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/ns/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=361&title=MULTI-VISE?

You can buy a Chinese? made copy that some people report as being fairly good quality:
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=666974

I've also seen this same vise on eBay fairly cheap.

 

[piniongear]

I have two Record Bench Vises in my shop. They are made in England and are very well made. The first one I bought at a fine woods store and the second one I found at Lowes. That was a nice surprise!
They are made of good steel and have excellent features. The last one I bought requires you to turn the handle a half turn, then you pull the vise open as far as you want. Put in some metal, push it closed and tighten with the half turn. Called a quick opening vise.......pg