Thread: Z-Vise or Bench Pro 2000

Your a sucker for the sales pitch - but then again, so was I. My good lady wife grabbed one of the Bench Pro 2000 for me earlier this year, and so far it's proven to be excellent for a specific sort of purpose. It grips well, and does everything it claims to, but the particular advantage for me is that I can take it on and off the bench and clamp to other things as well.

The drawback for some types of traditional tool use is that it doesn't do a great job of filling the niche of a traditional bench vise, as it tends to hold the work a bit high.

Your money may vary, but it's certainly not a lemon.

I have looked at these wonder tools for some time at many woodshows and wondered if they were all they were talked up to be. A friend had a clean out of his workshop and unbelievably gave me one almost carton fresh - in it's carton. Wow, I thought....what a gift.
What a disapointment.
It can do all of what the spruikers say it can, but why bother. I sure wouldn't part with even $50 to buy one. You would be far better off buying a woodworking vice and a handful of aluminium sash clamp and a few quick action clamps. All the "Novelty" clamping opportunities offered by these "wonder" clamps are, for the most part, so novelty for most applications that they just don't justify the purchase of the clamp.
I gave my treasure away. Keep your $220.

Workmate knock-off from Warehouse/Supercheap et al $25.00
Engineer's vice from same source $25.00
Record wood work vice knock-off from anywhere $65.00
4 x 200mm Quick Grip Clamps $60.00
Four 1200 mm Chinese bar clamps $60.00

Total $235.00

One magic vice with a gazillion parts that needs a video to remind you how to put it together and can't be hit with a hammer without busting parts of it ; $220 -$350.00 depending on where and when.

How come they never do that comparison at the show?

I've made up my mind, but can see the occasional use for one in the odd situation, like when you have to clamp it to a stud and use it to jack up a rafter????

Cheers,


P

I bought a Zyliss vise 20 plus years ago when I needed something to hold work as all I had was a kitchen bench (in the kitchen, I might add). It was a wonderful tool for that purpose. For many years now it has lane on a shelf in my workshop unused since it has been replaced by better, more specialised vises. It has so many memories associated with it, however, that I cannot sell it. Like an old horse put out to pasture. Perhaps I'll find another use for it one day.

Regards from Perth

Derek

I think the Z-Vice is the same as the JML Vice Master sold in UK at demonstrations for over 40 years.
I bought mine 10 years ago for £100 and it did more than it was shown as doing.
The patent must have expired because identical vices are now sold for £50 yet still have a lifetime guarantee.
Mine paid for itself when I had some 6"x4" fence posts to remove which were 2' deep in clay.
I nailed a batten to the posts and clamped some timber in the vice after reversing the screw so it acted like a large spreader.
Each post only took a few minutes to remove after I had previously tried all other ways I could think of.

IMO if you're looking to spend some money on a vise a very good bet is splashing out on a Triton Superjaws.

Got mine a while ago (after debating "will I use it or not" for a bit). One of the best buys I have ever made. I use it just about every time I "strike a blow" (a quote I enjoy from my 86yo neighbour) in the shed. Quick & easy to use, foot action so you have both hands free to position the workpiece, easily controlled clamping pressure, good working height, etc

I even fold it up & put in the back of the wagon when we go chasing firewood. Makes it that much easier to cut stuff up when held in the 'jaws. Have used it a lot for this, both with and without the special log jaws.

I also have used it to hold timber when sawing, routing, dovetailing, etc, holding doors for planing, an early scrollsaw stand, for pressing bearings in or out, etc etc. The kids even use it when knocking together their little projects.

Usual disclaimer, no connection to the company (I wish...), just a satisfied customer of most of their products but especially this one.

Cheers....Sean

Just purchased a Z-vise at Broadmeadows woodwork show and swallowed the bait at the insistance of my brother in law. Unfortunately I found the thing absolutely useless in when using the flush end stop modes. No decent pressure can be applied, not even to hold two pieces of biscuit joined 19 mm pine for gluing. I will now try to return the said item and learn if their bona fides are fair dinkum. I'll keep you posted This vice cost me $275.oo I feel robbed.

Originally Posted by denmen

Just purchased a Z-vise at Broadmeadows woodwork show and swallowed the bait at the insistance of my brother in law. Unfortunately I found the thing absolutely useless in when using the flush end stop modes. No decent pressure can be applied, not even to hold two pieces of biscuit joined 19 mm pine for gluing. I will now try to return the said item and learn if their bona fides are fair dinkum. I'll keep you posted This vice cost me $275.oo I feel robbed.

The z is a poor relative of the bench pro IMO , check to see where its made I believe its from india
Have had a bench pro for 10 + years and it has its uses , some of which are nerr impossable to duplicate using other devices
Last year I broke one of the jaws using some pipe on a spanner , saw the demonstrator at the newcastle wood show told him what happened and he gave me a new jaw no cost , no hassle, without seeing the broken one and knowing that I broke it doing the wrong thing . My vice cost $110 ( long time ago) and I have had value for money many times over

The z is a poor relative of the bench pro IMO , check to see where its made I believe its from india

I find my comments of 5 years ago interesting. Sonow I have had a Zylliss for about 30 years. It does not get much use, but I keep it around as a saw vise and for anything small that needs to be held at an angle. It is useful but limited in its range. It is no substitute for a bench vise. 30 years ago I lived iun an apartments, did not have a workshop, and used the kitchen table.

The Zylliss is the original Swiss-made version. I recall a Woodshow about 15 years ago when it sold as a BenchPro. This must have occurred after the licence expired and protection of the design went. I imagine the Z-vice is a similar version, but it may be the Zylliss in more modern livery (name shortened).

Regards from Perth

Derek

I've had the Zylliss for about 8 years. Love it but I don't know that it is really any better than cheaper imitations

I bought a Zyliss about 25 years ago - a Zyliss plus a flush paneled door plus two saw horses makes a very portable and serviceable workbench - but about two years ago the Zyliss disappeared.

At the last Hobart WWS the Zyliss and Benchpro stands were next to each other. As I left the show I bought a replacement Zyliss and when I unpacked it a week later I found I had a Benchpro - yep, I went to the wrong stall. A month later my old Zyliss re-appeared so I now have both.

Which is best? In use there is virtually no difference, the Zyliss might be marginally smoother in operation, but that may reflect that it is now run-in or perhaps that things were a little better built 25 years ago. I do know that the Zyliss will last for at least 25 years and looks good for another 25 years.

Cheers

Graeme

I have two old Zyliss vises purchased at the flea market. I think the first one cost me $50 in the box, and the second $20; too cheap to pass up. They work ok, but if you have normal woodwork and metalwork vises on benches, there is not too much use.

Originally Posted by Heavansabove

I have two old Zyliss vises purchased at the flea market. I think the first one cost me $50 in the box, and the second $20; too cheap to pass up. They work ok, but if you have normal woodwork and metalwork vises on benches, there is not too much use.

True enough, but you cannot lug around workbench mounted vices.

Cheers

Graeme

Originally Posted by GeoffVIC

Hi all,
I saw these the the WWW show yesterday, and was awfully tempted to part with some cash - but I resisted, and figured I'd do some research here first.

Has anyone used these?

The Z-Vise got down to $325 by around 3pm Sunday.
The BenchPro 2000 seems to be a $100 cheaper version of the same thing -was selling at $220.

Just wondering if they are good/bad/otherwise ) or am I a sucker for the sales pitch?

Cheers,
Geoff

I've just come back from the Brisbane WWW show. Was almost tempted to buy either of these, but resisted temptation also. Jumped onto google to see what i can find about the Bench Pro 2000 and came across this post.

Interesting is the price mentioned above. They were doing the Z-Vise wa selling for $275 including a drill holder and the Bench Pro 2000 was $260.

I think if i did get one, would sit in the cupboard much of the time too.