Printable View
With a little girl on the way in Jan, the boss has given me a budget to stick to for my bench build.
So, I'm looking for a good, affordable vice and came across https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/V184.
Seems like a great price, for the features, 230mm width, quick release and bench dog.
Any thoughts on the hafco?
Just remember, even though it states 260mm opening, this will be reduced when you fit wooden pads. Looks like a good vice for the price.
I have been looking at getting a vice (dreaming really as I don't have approval to spend the money). Was also looking at https://www.tradetools.com/product-r...ase-industrial
Keen to see what you end up purchasing.
Peter
looks like a copy of the original Record
This is quite an appropriate observation that many people initially don't take into consideration. It is not a deal breaker, but something to keep in mind for the kinds of work you may be envisaging clamping.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lappa
This is my version of the 230mm vice, which as Ian states, "looks like a copy of the original Record".
I recessed the rear plate into my bench and covered it with an appropriate sized timber platten to match the moveable front section.
I ended up with a 380mm wide by 120mm deep clamping section, which, so far, has worked quite well with what I do. By having the back section at 10mm thickness, I found it to be a bit too close to the bench with long curved timber, so I replaced it with the current one which is 15mm thick; this so far has been a good compromise.
I also dropped the vice mechanism to allow for a greater area, hence the 120mm depth. As a result of dropping the vice, I welded a piece of metal to the front dog to allow it to still work, which it does very well. The front dog is the metal bit that pops up front and dead centre of the vice.
With my timbers in place, 15mm at the bench and 35mm on the front, I have approximately 185mm of grip, not too bad considering.
My vice is also a copy of the Record, from memory I picked it up from Carbatec quite some years ago for about $60, maybe 10 years ago.
Either of those vices should give you years of good service. I would suggest you pull the vice out and clean the unit periodically; certainly makes a difference.
Mick.
Attachment 418882Attachment 418880Attachment 418881
If you're on a budget it could be worth having a look at the McJing offerings here - https://mcjing.com.au/categorybrowse...?categoryid=73
I spent many years dreaming of having a quick release vise so eventually got one at carbatec. Happy chap in the shed for a while until the thing started slipping. Screw up the handle then pop. Workpiece on the floor with a ding in it. OK the problem stops if you take out the half nut and scrub it clean. Buildup of crud stops the thread holding properly. Anyhow had to do that about every year. Not a big thing but you only remember when another nice bit of wood hits the floor. Anyhow when I got the next bench built I went for a simple vice screw. Nothing can go wrong with it. The extra winding time is less hassle than nice bits of wood hitting the floor.
Regards
John
As someone who will shortly be in the market for a vice, I thank you very much for sharing this information - it's very likely I'd have gone for a quick release, now I know not to bother!Quote:
Originally Posted by orraloon
If you have some time to choose then you should also consider looking for a secondhand vice (or vise as the Americans spell it). They sometimes come up on these forums and more often on Gumtree. That gives the option of buying a good brand rather than a cheaper copy. I have managed to purchase two through these forums in past years and they are great value. One is a quick release that has never slipped on me, the other a long-wind vice (sorry can't remember exact brand - most likely Record).
Another consideration for you is to make your own wide vice with wooded screws. IanW on these forums (lives here in Brisbane) has a thread showing how to make the wooden screws yourself. From memory Ian also described the process in Australian Wood Review last year. I have such a wooden vice (mine is used for mounting on top of the bench, but could have been built-in) and it is excellent as well as inexpensive. I made mine from some recycled hardwood, a bit of scrap softer timber for the faces and Ian kindly made me two Buloak wooden screws (before I had a lathe). It looks great and works well. Someone here in Aus sells the USA made Lake Erie wooden vice kits too.
So many good options.
I'll have a look at some of the others on the market, but I'm not really in a great rush. I'll be looking to pick something up in the next few months. So might keep an eye out for a second hand one.
I kind of like the idea of building my own, but I really have a limited set of hand tools, but will track down the thread and see if it's in my ability.. having a hand made vice sounds like a good conversation piece