Another vise question

[James Williams 007]

I bought the jorgensen vise over the groz because I liked the maple handle and the solid steel dog. I also liked the quick release on the jorg over the groz because it looked like it would hold up longer. After installing the jorg I noticed that it racked significantly and that the guide bars were loose. Is this normal of this style vise or should I take it back and get the groz or some other brand. I'm planning on making the "21st century bench" with the veritas twin screw but for now I will be mounting the QR vise to an old bench. Here are the links to the vises in question. Thanks

http://www.woodcraft.com/product.aspx?ProductID=16T52&FamilyID=326
http://www.woodcraft.com/product.aspx?ProductID=147941&FamilyID=4939

[Tom Cross]

I recently made the Holtzapel work bench (24" x 96" hard maple) featured in Woodworking Magazine. The 24" Veritas twin screw vice for the face vise is wonderful. I used the quick release vise from Lee Valley/Veritas for the end vise. It is made in the Czech Republic, solid and works well. It has some racking when fully extended, about 1/8"-1/4", but is dead on when closed. So if you are seeing more racking than that, I like the one from Lee Valley/Veritas.

[John Schreiber]

I've heard good things about both of those vises. Without trying them both, I don't know which would rack less.

In the real world, I haven't seen any bench vise that doesn't rack to some degree. I think you are better off making up a set of spacers to put on the other side of the jaw for when you can't clamp square on.