American made Bench vise? Who makes them?

[richard poitras]

I am looking for a bench vice for ware I Work 5’’ to 6’’? Do any companies still make them in America? Or are they all Chinese? Also what is a good one to buy? I know they have gone down in quality over the years but which one would you recommend in the $150.00 or less range?

Thanks

[Ole Anderson]

I have this Jorgensen: $128 on Amazon, Chicago company, I don't know where it is made. I really like it. http://www.amazon.com/Jorgensen-40709-Woodworkers-Vise/dp/B0000223R3

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/71KPRV1KCYL._SL500_AA300_.gif

[Lonnie Gallaher]

Here is an American made vise. I have one of their early 20A vises. Still works great after about 80 years. http://www.milwtool.com/v_wood.htm

[Gary Radice]

Also try Yost Vises. I don't have one, but they are American made and look quite stout.

yostvices.com

[Peter Kelly]

I looked at a Jorgenson vise the other day in person. No country of origin label on the packaging so I suspect they're China or India.
Benchcrafted still makes vises in USA: http://www.benchcrafted.com/index.html

[George Bregar]

I picked up two of these off craigslist for cheaps. They have a quick release and are beasts. Front face is 9-1/2". I had to sandblast and paint to purdy them up, but both are functional. This is before and after on the second one I found. Might want to see if something similar is available.

247737247738

[richard poitras]

http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/productImages/300/d5/d584b600-5417-480b-9304-2377d9083ada_300.jpg (http://javascript<strong></strong>:openFeatureFlex('http://cache.vendaria.com/vpop/VpopX.html?bg=D6D7A5&nm=BZOpener&err=0&title=Demo&pf=t&fr=t&iid=jmIkUFkQcffdQVeUajbacdkfffaijkQgQji&purl=sys_homedepot_uid_202786364&uid=202786364&cf=3000','','768','705',true,false,false,false,fal se,false);) Looking for a bench vice like this one not a wood working vice....
Thanks Richard

[Paul McGaha]

I have this Jorgensen: $128 on Amazon, Chicago company, I don't know where it is made. I really like it. http://www.amazon.com/Jorgensen-40709-Woodworkers-Vise/dp/B0000223R3

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/71KPRV1KCYL._SL500_AA300_.gif

I have this vise also. I like it a lot.

Jorgensen products used to be US made. I've read where that is changing. Too bad because I've always found Jorgensen products to be nicely made and fairly priced.

PHM

[david brum]

I went through the same search last year. It came down to a Yost USA made vice at around $800 or a used vice from ebay or craigslist. Everything else seems to be Chinese. We tried one of the cheap Chinese vices. We were just trying to secure a freewheel removal tool tightly enough to remove a freewheel from a bicycle wheel. The cheap vice had so much flex that the tool just rotated and popped out of the vice jaws. Never seen anything like it, even on much smaller vices.

I ended up with a really nice US built 6" craftsman vice for around $125 from ebay. There are lots of choices for good, older vices. Shipping can be rough. I think I paid $35.

[Brian Tymchak]

I looked at a Jorgenson vise the other day in person. No country of origin label on the packaging so I suspect they're China or India.


Woodcraft advertises the Jorgensen vises as American made. Link (http://www.woodcraft.com/category/2000326/jorgensen-rapid-acting-bench-vises.aspx). Jorgensen is a brand name owned by the Adjustable Clamp Company, based in Chicago, but it doesn't say where their products are made.

[George Bregar]

I ended up with a really nice US built 6" craftsman vice for around $125 from ebay. There are lots of choices for good, older vices. Shipping can be rough. I think I paid $35. That's why craigslist is the answer.

Richard, there are a dozen vices on lansing's craigslist. Don't know where you are exactly but I bet you could find one close by.

[Bruce Page]

Rich, bench vises are pretty common on our local Craigslist. I found a nice Columbian for $100.
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?174288-Small-CL-gloat&highlight=

[Peter Kelly]

Woodcraft advertises the Jorgensen vises as American made. Link (http://www.woodcraft.com/category/2000326/jorgensen-rapid-acting-bench-vises.aspx). Jorgensen is a brand name owned by the Adjustable Clamp Company, based in Chicago, but it doesn't say where their products are made.Was actually at a Woodcraft that I looked at the vise. The banged up packaging had a suspicious Made in China look about it too. If you look a the Jorgensen bar clamps, they aren't stamped Made in USA on them anymore, just a bar code SKU sticker with Made in China in very small print.

[Brian Kincaid]

Yost vices see their webpage.
I have one, it's 1st class.

-Brian

[Ole Anderson]

Wilton is top quality, priced anywhere from $50 to $3800, made in the USA. Frankly my "bench vise" is one I picked up one at HF and it works fine. Is anything at HF made in USA?

http://www.cpowilton.com/wilton-vises/wilton-vises,default,sc.html?ref=googaw&kw={keyword}&gclid=CNjMx9mGlrQCFStgMgod3SQA_A&keyword=wilton+vises

[Bruce Page]

Wilton is top quality, priced anywhere from $50 to $3800, made in the USA. Frankly my "bench vise" is one I picked up one at HF and it works fine. Is anything at HF made in USA?

http://www.cpowilton.com/wilton-vises/wilton-vises,default,sc.html?ref=googaw&kw={keyword}&gclid=CNjMx9mGlrQCFStgMgod3SQA_A&keyword=wilton+vises

Most of the employees. :)

[Jim Stewart]

Richard, I have an Eclipse vise that I just purchased. They are made in Czechoslovakia. They were making them for Record but Record went out of business. These are very tight vises. I have a like new Jorgenson if you are interested. I don't know the rules but I could put on the Sales thread. PM me if you are interested. Jim

[richard poitras]

I can’t buy off of Crag’s list because it’s for work and they only buy new. I have been looking and found this Sears Craftsman Professional Vise Model# 87018 for $124.00 with very good reviews. I generally don’t like Craftsman products any more but this seems pretty good. According to some reviews and comments I have read this is made by Wilton for Sears. It a Chinese copy of their bullet vise. Does anyone have one of the Sears Model# 87018?

Thanks

General description from their site: 60,000 PSI vise is built for general purpose use and features 4-1/2″ jaws with 3-1/4″ depth and 4-inch travel. It also has a 360° swivel and pipe clamping jaws.


http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae325/autopts71045/WMHCraftsman1.jpg

http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae325/autopts71045/Unknown1.jpg

[Terry Barnhill]

Machinist, mechanic, or general tradesman style? What kind of work will this see? If you want the best and it will see serious use, get a US Wilton, but not all "Wilton" vises are US made. If you just need something to clamp, that craftsman should work fine.

http://www.wiltontools.com/us/manufacturing/en/wilton/products.html?node=21392&category=22560

[richard poitras]

Terry this is just for general work and not used that much. But I like to get good quality when I can.

[David Kumm]

Terry this is just for general work and not used that much. But I like to get good quality when I can.

Too bad you can't go used. The Wilton Bullet vise is the way to go. There are refurbed ones and new old stock ones around in jaw sizes from 2" to 6". Dave

[Curt Harms]

Wilton is top quality, priced anywhere from $50 to $3800, made in the USA. Frankly my "bench vise" is one I picked up one at HF and it works fine. Is anything at HF made in USA?


A few things but not many. HF is the only retailer I know that carries SuperCut metal cutting bandsaw blades. HFs USA made stuff was priced about the same as any other retailer as I recall.

[Lee Schierer]

Reed Manufacturing Erie PA made my bench vise. 247818 The company is still in business, but I don't see my woodworking vise in their catalog. They do make what they call Combination Bench & Pipe Vises (http://www.reedmfgco.com/index.html?screen=combination_bench_pipe_vises). I believe all their products are made in USA and many come with a lifetime warranty.

[Peter Kelly]

Also try Yost Vises. I don't have one, but they are American made and look quite stout.

yostvices.com

http://www.yostvises.com

[Kevin Woodhead]

I've got the Wilton 1780A and it is an indestructible beast. Something to look for; their higher end vises are made of 60k PSI ductile iron and it makes a difference if you do any heavy pounding or bending on your vise. The lower end models are made with 30k PSI ductile iron and it can be prone to cracking under heavy use.

[Keith Avery]

I bought a 48 by 64 2.25" thick maple top on ebay that had 4 7" jorgensens on it(feel like I stole them for they 120 bucks I paid for all of it). They all have made in usa on them, so if they don't say anymore I would wonder. I also have 2 yost pipe/machinist type vises and they are likely the best vises made anywhere but expensive.