What to do about replacing the vises?

(started by will on October 30, 2007)

Here are main points from the email thread so far, plus some stuff I was going to add to the thread before I decided to start this wiki page. If you have comments, please add them below without modifying this stuff.

What's wrong with the vises we have now:

• The jaw on one vise is massively and spectacularly broken.
• The lockdown bolt on the other one doesn't work, so the whole thing swivels when you try to turn it hard.
• The jaw inserts on both vises are beat up.
• The jaw on the kinda working vise wiggles around relative to the base of the vise (it was made with sloppy tolerances). The result is that even when the jaws are tightened hard, stuff can slip around and it's easy to shear off the edges of freewheel remover tools.

What the vises are used for:

• Removing freewheels
• Removing stuck seat posts
• Clamping axles with the axle vise

Sources for tools and what kind of tools to buy:

• Free Ride or Bike PGH may have an account with Grainger already, not quite sure about that yet
• Morgan says: When shoping for tools, we should be looking for durable stuff that is union made locally (and both of will's proposed vises from Grainger didn't score too well by that standard). What about getting something from Snap-On?
• Erland says: We need vises with replacable jaw inserts and two lockdown bolts (not just one bolt like the vises we have now)
• Will says: I think we should be using a Park Tool FRW-1 Freewheel Remover Wrench instead of a vise for holding freewheel removers. Better yet, let's U-bolt a pipe to the workbench so we can use it as a stationary cheater bar for the FRW-1. For other jobs, lets figure out how to come up with a quality, made in the USA, union made vise or two.

Comment Away:

(will says:)

OK. I looked at the Wilton vises that Erland recommended in his email, and I checked up on Wilton model 1745 which is a slightly smaller (41 pounds instead of 51 pounds) version of his top pick. I called Grainger, and got the number for WMH Tool Group who distribute Wilton vises. WMH customer service told me the line of vises that includes the 1745 are made in the USA, but the factory is non-union. The thing looks seriously sturdy, it has two lockdown bolts, and it has replacable jaw inserts.

We could get a 1745 from Grainger (they call it a 4LT62) for $330.75.

Snap-on sells the same Wilton vise painted red with a Snap-On sticker for $340.15. I talked to Snap-On customer service, and the guy told me all the vises they carry are Wilton's from WMH Tool Group.

Morgan sayz: FRW-1 Looks perfect. Let's buy one. I don't feel like everyone needs to particpate in every aspect of this purchase - I laid out my criteria, and I trust you to find the one that's closest to perfect (and red. Perfect and red.)

Erland says: In all Honesty we might be fine with one good vise and a freewheel removal tool or two.  If we really need more we can try and repair one of the ones we have now.  As to the red bit... I'm really a fan of that grey-green powdercoat they put on their stuff by default.  Also we might want to take a look at this before we buy a new one:  Wilton Model 450 Vise in North Hills

Scott Seyz:  I agree.  We should get 2 FRW-1 tools.  This should cut down at least 70% of our vise traffic.  Then we only need to buy 1 really nice one.  I don't really care which, they all sound nice enough, but union made is nice.