Anybody try one of these? I know there is a tools thread somewhere, but I can’t find it. I searched for vise threads too and couldn’t find any.
I’m in the market for a decent 4" or so vise and found one at Home Depot and one at Lowes that look OK ($40-50), but thought I’d check Midway and the Shop Fox turned up. It is also sold by Grizzly as the parrot vise.
If your looking at a Lowes or Depot for a vise you may want to check out Harbor Freight too…
I don’t have much experience with different name brands of vices, but then again I’ve never had a vice “break” on me either. Buy once, cry once. I’m sure the saying applies to vices aswell. You pay for what you get. I’m pretty sure one of the Lowe’s or Depot vices will do fine for what you’re wanting it for, but then again I’m not some tool expert either. IMO, keep looking around Midway and hopefully someone with more knowledge on this will pipe in soon. Sorry I couldn’t help much.
Harbor Freight or Grizzly would both be perfectly acceptable for a vise. Unless your looking for machinist grade movement (such as in milling operations), any vise that holds will do. This isn’t a sub MOA challenge, it’s just holding something still while you work on it.
Exactly. I’ve been using a huge $20 swap meet vise for 20 years… 
Holding an action block or clamping an FSB isn’t splitting atoms.
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Most 4"-6" vises that sell for less than $400 are not going to be US or European made. What that means is, wear glasses if you’re going to hammer on it, keep your feet out from under it, and generally, don’t treat it like your grandfather’s vise he had in his shop.
There are reasons a good US or German made small vise sells for $400+ dollars. The one we have at the plant is a 6" and costs about $900.
But maybe it’s just me…
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I have a Wilton vise from Lowe’s. It has been perfectly fine for everything I have done so far which is alot.
I haven’t tried to use it to build a SCUD launcher or anything.
I have an old Columbian that I inherited from my great grandfather. It is as solid as a tank and the swivel and clamping actions are smooth. And none of the handles are bent either.
I recently picked up an old Craftsman 4" vise off of Craigslist for $15.
I bought a 6" vice recently from Home Depot. When I was pricing around for them the offerings from Harbor Freight weren’t any cheaper for the same size.
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The quality you need depends a lot on where you mount the vise.
If you mount it in an open area where someone can get a cheater on what is clamped in the vise or swing a sledgehammer, you better have a higher priced one. If it is in a small work area and is used as just a “clamp” or “holder” you could get away with a cheap one.
The main price differences are forged vs. cast and how well everything is machined. Hmmm…sounds familiar… But quite like AR’s, most people just get the one that is…GE (good enough…)
The popular brands: Wilton, Columbian, Record, etc. may be made in China (or Taiwan) but they might have a little more QC than a Harbor Freight. All the good names (except Record-out of business) make some high-dollar US or German vises too.
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I certainly am not against a good vise if that’s how you make your money. If you earn your money will your tools… by all means.