Any one know of a good bench vise to get for my home garage? I have been looking around at Wilton and Yost, both seem to be good quality. Anyone have any experience with either of these brands?

 

Get a real one, not a Chinese made copy. It will not be cheap, but it will last a lot longer and take a lot more abuse.
Yard and estate sales are good sources.

 

There is almost always at least one listed on my local craigslist.

Like Ford_Six said, US made is better. Older ones maybe made better than new, and even looking a bit worn, might be in grade shape (quality wins in this case).

 

It only took 20 or more years to break our Wilton... Same for my uncles Craftsman... That said, I would look for an older one on an auction, but it also depends on what you intend to do with it. I have a couple HF units that are doing ok for now, but I also know that they won't survive long if they get used like press, they do hold things fairly well...

 

I've got a really old craftsman that has served me very well. If I had to replace I'd probably look for an industrial quality unit on craigslist.

 

Older Wiltons are the best. The new ones are the best of whats new but even they cannot beat the older ones.

 

I have to go along with everyone else....check out cragslist for older used vices...Wilton, Craftsman, etc......though I do have one that I bought from Costco 20+ years ago....it's not too bad,

but I use my 40 year old Wlton for everything HD.

 

the old columbians,prentice and as mentioned wiltons, they are cast steel vices,best found at yardsales,auctions[ bullet proof ] unlike the cheap cast iron vices, like china or other cheap vices.

 

I have Reed and Starrett vices at work and at home. They ain't cheap, but both brands have taken commercial abuse and just keep coming back for more.

 

You really do want to shop around for a good north american made vice if you can find one .