Vise advice

I am not sure of the type of vise you are looking at, but type and size are based on need. I bought an under mount plate type woodworkers vise from Menards for $35 and it has served me well. I consider myself to be frugal and spend a lot of time comparing before I buy. This was for me an easy decision. It holds wood and it doesn’t rack.

-- Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy-May all your dovetails fit tight and right the first time

This a link to the vise I was referring to.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=42494

-- Woodworker wannabe in training

I have a similar cheapie from Lowe’s…. no complaints at all.

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

You will find quick release very handy at times believe me. I woudn’t be without it myself anyway have fun.Alistair

-- excuse my typing as I have a form of parkinsons disease

I think that for normal operations, that it will be great. I don’t expect it to be as strong, or work as well as the better grade vices. so for a vice that can be used , it should work great. I have a Sears that is 30 years old, and although it works well, It is nothing like the big name vices.

-- Saved, and so grateful, consider who Created it ALL!!!

I try HF stuff off an on and sometimes I’m surprised how good it is and then other times I’m surprised how bad it is.

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon

I guess a major consideration on this sort of call is often what the implications will be if it turns out to be junk. Castings can be brittle if you happen to get a bad example, and machining dodgy on cheaper Eastern stuff, but on the other hand you can get a pleasant surprise.

If it’s just a case of a quick unbolt and bring it back, or even junk it at that price it’s not a big deal. But if you’d altered a fancy bench to suit its dimensions, or there was a lot of cost involved in shipping it back, or if you stood in the case of another tool to bugger up a big job/expensive material or even injure yourself then it (whatever it was) might not be worth the risk.

I’m in Ireland, and between shipping delays and costs, import tax, inability to try or even handle or inspect stuff before buying it and liking good quality tools that have that nice ‘clunk’ feel (of a good car door) i seem to find myself often ponying up the extra to get something i can rely on and more to the point enjoy and work to a standard with.

Worst of all is when you spend enough that you just can’t junk the item and replace it, there’s not enough wrong to be able to return it and you’re just stuck with it…

-- Late awakener....