need a nice price on a new Wilton vise......

[steve garro]

Got a new house, comes with a 1,600sq foot shop & I'm not moving all my building equipment but need to be able to polish frames so I need a new vise. I love my wilton 4.5" jaw. Would even buy a used one {if they exist} Anybody seen good prices on one? - Garro.

[Zimmermanbicycle]

Steve,
I bought my Wilton 4.5 new on ebay and got a great price (can't remember exactly how much but it was way better than retail)
-Eric
P.S. we are getting dumped on here in socal,how's the snow in Flag?

[Andrew R Stewart]

Steve- I know you know this but the shipping on a vice is heavy... Can you shop locally?

[steve garro]

Steve- I know you know this but the shipping on a vice is heavy... Can you shop locally?

nope, or I would - Garro.

[cement shoes]

Steve,

Check out SearchTempest - The EASY way to search Craigslist. It's a Craigslist aggregator. You enter your zip, a search radius, some keywords, and choose a category. So, you could search craigslist for the entire southwest, for example. Wiltons are phat. I picked one up at the MD wine festival a few years back and finally got around to setting it up. I think it's as old as me (37). It is SO much better than the crummy Craftsman I've been using.

[wheelhouse]

If you want to go new, see if there is a Fastenal near you. They seem to carry quite a few of them.

Individual Vises | Fastenal

[steve garro]

Thanks, All! good tips from all around & thanks for the PM's. Gotta do some shopping. You are all correct on the tradesman, it's made me allot of money. - Garro.

[Craig Ryan]

Steve, I recently bought a Wilton Machinists 350S 3.5" from
Wilton Bench Vises
I was using a generic Wilton and wanted to get something better. They have free shipping on the tradesmen models if you go that route. If I recall, shipping wasn't so bad for the one I got, and it came in about a day. Looking at the purchase now, I think it was a good one. I wouldn't go any smaller, but I like the smaller size of this one. I also got the soft jaws they are selling and really like them. Will replace them when they wear out. The one reason I would consider the Columbian line, is the square barrel shape. When you set a tube and blocks in they would rest there until you tighten up. With the round barrel things fall out easily. Hope that makes sense.

[steve garro]

I was using a generic Wilton and wanted to get something better. The one reason I would consider the Columbian line, is the square barrel shape. e.

Thanks! The columbians look like they are made offshore, no? - Garro.

[Craig Ryan]

I got this from that same site, but I don't know anymore about it than that.

----"Columbian Combination Vise

Strong, ductile iron main castings are guaranteed for life against defects in workmanship and materials
Hardened steel jaws faces have a deep knurled pattern to ensure strength and longevity
Pipe jaws are interchangeable and reversible-they do not protrude beyond the jaw faces, so other work can be held without removing pipe jaws - Hold pipes as small as 1/8"
Swivel base with full 360 degrees and gear lock bolt ensures positive locking against slippage
Made in USA!"-----

[Andrew R Stewart]

When I had my retail shop in Cleveland a female customer noticed the vice I was using to remove her FW with. It was my old Columbian. She mentioned her Grand Dad was in the company. It made her feel good that the vice was helping her repair.

How many of you out there have a set screw on the vice handle's hub. Tightening it down holds the handle at a spot along the shaft. Like half way so you can spin the handle/jaw tight quickly. Both of my big vices have this feature, the Columbian with an Allen head screw. The Rapid has a home made wing nut and is much more convient.

[Bssc]

If you must have it soon my best advice is to avoid Fastenal they are very high priced on things such as this if you need it same day they are invaluable in doing the run around for you. Advice for new hit all your local machine tool suppliers, welding , and tool suppliers up, as for used CL and paitence sometimes you can also find used on ebay use of the filter for local will make for savings on shipping.

[WadePatton]

one new and one used wilton 'chinists vice here came from ebay. the new seller was local enough that he offered to drop it off but shipped it anyway. i know i paid 90 for the older one- it's smaller and has the tiny "anvil" flat.

1600' eh? congrats!

re the set screw--i've got to do that andy. i've used o-rings, but they don't last. sometimes i don't need the mass of the handle closing or opening the vice that last 1/4 turn--whilst i'm juggling all. centering the handle also balances it, preventing this problem. the ultimate solution is to have a foot-control electric feed...hmmm

[boxer bicycles]

Don't know if you already got one Steve, but the good folks at United Bicycle Supply sold one to me for their cost, which I believe is pretty decent. It's been too many years to remember how much, but they're worth a look.
Gotta have an account with them, if you don't already have one, but for you that should be a piece o' cake.

Good luck in the new additional shop space!

Dan Boxer

Hey, that's my first post to VSalon! Cool.