Bench machinist vise recommendations?

[Tyler Bancroft]

I could use a machinist bench vise in the 4-6" range for general use. Are any of the modern ones worth the money? Irwin, Bessey, Yost? I know LV sells a couple, but not sure who they're made by. Any recommendations? I'm in an area where it's improbable to score anything locally.

[James Jayko]

I've got one of the Jorgenson ones from a few years back, got it on sale at Woodcraft. No problems with it; would vouch.

[Aaron Inami]

Are you looking for a woodworking vice? Or a machinist bench vice? They are different.

If you are wanting a machinist vice for extreme situations where you need to take a sledge hammer to it, I found that this video was very educational. Not sure if you are in the market for a $2k vice, but:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CubcmE4kt78

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdfu6ZJHYXc

If you're just looking for something to hold material for filing/drilling, the low cost vices are probably all just fine:

https://www.amazon.com/WILTON-TOOLS-...dp/B001022GRM/

https://www.amazon.com/Forged-Steel-...0BPK21LHY?th=1


I have no direct experience with any of these vices.

[James Baldwin]

For a machinist vice get a Wilton. I have two. One my dad bought in 1959 and one I bought in 1972. They hold up. Jim

[Bill Dufour]

For a machinist vise make sure the screw is covered by the moving jaw slide arm. Cheap vises the screw is on top of the slide and gets coated in metal swarf. This causes jamming and premature wear.
Bill D

[Michael Burnside]

I have this one, like it a lot. Very flexible with the rotating head for clamping round objects

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

For a machinist vice, I use this one on my DP:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Cameron Wood]

I got this Yost vise a number of years ago for the bike bench. It's 4", relatively lightweight, and was inexpensive.

Quite impressed with the quality, especially for the price. They make a whole range of sizes. The pic is from when it was new.

I've had one of the rotating head ones in the work truck forever, and it has been good. I would not hesitate to get one, maybe 5", for shop use.

IMG_1688.jpeg

[Tyler Bancroft]

Are you looking for a woodworking vice? Or a machinist bench vice? They are different.

Sorry, my bad, a machinist vice. Edited the original post.

[Zachary Hoyt]

I bought a Yost when my old bench vise died and have been happy with it. I use it mainly to hold brass for cutting, so fairly light duties but repetitive.

[mike stenson]

For a machinist vice get a Wilton. I have two. One my dad bought in 1959 and one I bought in 1972. They hold up. Jim

I like Wiltons, but there are at least a couple lines now. The lower-end Wiltons are no longer made out of ductile cast iron, and the base plate is just stamped steel. If you're not going to use them to hold work for hammering, probably not a big issue.

[Aaron Inami]

I was going to point that out. It looks like the Wilton vices have a very large range in prices for a 4" or 6" vice. I would pay very close attention to the details of how these vices are made. I assume there is a huge difference between a $165 Wilton vice that is probably close to Grizzly/Harber-Freight level tool and a $1k+ Wilton "real iron" hardened steel vice. I suppose it depends on how extreme your vice situation needs to be.

[Bruce Page]

A lot depends on your budget. Most of the machine shops I worked in over the years had Wilton bullet vices. They are almost bulletproof but over the top expensive today. I have a very nice USA made Colombian vice I bought of of CL for $100.

[mike stenson]

A lot depends on your budget. Most of the machine shops I worked in over the years had Wilton bullet vices. They are almost bulletproof but over the top expensive today. I have a very nice USA made Colombian vice I bought off of CL for $100.

I got all excited last week, a bullet vise on Facebook listing for $350. So I clicked on it. No it was a bunch of vises, the bullet was $1300.

[Bill Dufour]

I got a good deal on a Record vise closeout from Lowes. Now someone bought the record name and is relabeling made in china vises. Not nearly the same quality as the English made ones.
BilL D

[Stephen Rosenthal]

I’ve got a Charles Parker, probably between 80- 100 years old. It’s a beast. A search on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace will likely turn up a few. You won’t be sorry.