I spent a few hours last Saturday building myself a workbench from scratch. I'm looking for your recommendations on a good quality vise, preferably made in USA. Thanks!
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Nice work. What city are you in? I have a couple of old vises from the late FIL's garage. One in particular might could do the job...

 

I'm in Carlsbad, CA

 

That's nice and way too organized and clean. Mess it up a little.

Anyways, stay away from the Pittsburg vices from Harbor Freight even though its tempting because theyre way cheap. The castings are so sloppy you risk cutting yourself and the jaws seem loose off the shelf. Swivel capability is a nice feature.

Hit the flea markets or check craigslist for a good quality USA manufactured used one instead.

 

As per my PM, I dug out my Erie Tool Works "Superior 43 1/2" vise. Best I can find this is from around 1915-20. Astonishingly, in light of all the junk in our garage, the wife says I can't sell it as it belonged to her father.

However, as per the prior post, these and similar items are easy to find. Evil bay, for example:

Vintage Antique Erie Tool Works Vice Superior No. 43, made in the USA | eBay

Others I find seem to be priced about $12 to $24.

Estate sales in older neighborhoods might be a source. Bring a couple of Crescent (or other fine brand) adjustable wrenches.

The other cool vise I found (at an old garage demo job--mil's neighbor) was one of these:

File:Legvise.JPG - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I got the hardware, but haven't set it up yet.

 

Nice bench, I just built myself one from scratch too. Yours is way too clean yet, needs some scrapes, burn marks, grease stains...!!

I am lookin for a good quality vice too, and was wondering bout the Harbor Freight ones. Glad I looked here. Guess Ill do what I originally planned and get me an old school one.

 

I bought a large vise from HF, it has the pipe vise built into it. Not bad for the price. BUT, if you look on line, you will find the old US made vises in all sizes including jumbo for less money. And I'm pretty confident the castings or forgings in those are of much higher quality than the Chinese made items at HF.

 

Problem solved. Stopped my grandma's house today and she still had grandpa's old Craftsman vise on his homemade bench, so I snagged it. I'm thinking of experimenting on it with a refurbish.
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Grandpa would be pleased.

 

Nice bench and nice find on the Craftsman vice. I broke 2 vices trying to press in U-joints for a drive shaft. (One cheapo Pitsburg and a Craftsman). Granted I abused them, but I got a WILTON to replace it and won't consider any other brand. Made in US and warenteed for life.