Bench Vise Gifting

[Sawdust]

My son has a little shed in his back yard with a 6’ work bench. He’s been wanting a vise for awhile but hasn’t found anything old and good that’s reasonable. I picked this up at an antique mall over the weekend as a Christmas present for him. I had three to choose from. Even though this one was made in Japan it’s a popular old well made vise. It’s a Companion 3 1/2”. I found another one like the little one my wife bought me years ago but it was in bad shape.

 

[KennyP]

Better than nothing, just have to treat it with respect.

 

[Toomanytoys84]

Very nice present that most people probably wouldn’t understand.

When we bought out house they left a 3” jaw Wilton cadet vise and a big 8” jaw vise that I cant read the name on.

I was excited. My wife was like they are just a clamp thingy. She didn’t get it. Old vises can be expensive.

 

[MFDAC]

Can't get a better man-gift than a vise! Every workbench has to have one! Looking forward to seeing the finished product, Jim!

DAC

 

[Propane1]

Vise looks the same as mine Jim. But mine has a different name I think.

Noel

 

[chieffan]

Lot better it was made in Japan than China. For every ton of scrap we send to China we get 1 ½ T of junk back.

 

[Sawdust]

Vise looks the same as mine Jim. But mine has a different name I think.

Noel

I read where Japan made these years ago for Sears and a few other hardware stores.

 

[Sawdust]

Lot better it was made in Japan than China. For every ton of scrap we send to China we get 1 ½ T of junk back.

That’s true Roger made in Japan is by far not the same as in China. I had two others made in the USA but was in bad shape. I did some research while Carol shopped before I settled on this one. Eventually it will be a light duty vise along with a larger one he’ll probably have later. Most guys I know have two a small one and a large one.

 

[Lance Skene]

Cant have too many vises in the shop.... or anvils

 

[Propane1]

Well. I’d say my vise is very close. A few differences in the casting.
I bought this vise for my dad fifty years ago for Christmas. It’s had a lot of pounding on it over the years from him and then me and then my son.
It was bought at an Eatons, a major store across Canada. But like Sears, it’s gone now and has been for many years now.

Noel

 

[SimplyRad]

That looks a lot like a vice that I got from my mother's house before we sold it. When the Steel Foundry closed I carried out a Wilton vice and I think it might be at my son's now.

 

[Sawdust]

Well. I’d say my vise is very close. A few differences in the casting.
I bought this vise for my dad fifty years ago for Christmas. It’s had a lot of pounding on it over the years from him and then me and then my son.
It was bought at an Eatons, a major store across Canada. But like Sears, it’s gone now and has been for many years now.

NoelView attachment 63435View attachment 63436View attachment 63437View attachment 63438

I have one just like that Noel. Carol bought it for me several years ago and I recently cleaned it up and painted it.

 

[IHCubCadet147]

Great gift Jim, I’m sure he will get lots of use out of it.

That is one thing my dad never got yet since he built the garage 8 years ago. He has a small one in the basement, but never brought it up to the garage. I asked him why, he said he has nowhere to put it, and he would rather a bigger one. Last year I got him a vise stand, thinking he would either bring that one up, or get one that he wants. That stand is still in the box. This year I got him one from Harbor Freight: 5 in. Multi-Purpose Vise with Anvil
We have an older HF one at work that is pretty good. This one is the next step up from that, I think he’s going to like it. I was looking at a similar Irwin one from Lowes, but they were out of stock until after the holidays, so this was the second choice.

 

[Sawdust]

Great gift Jim, I’m sure he will get lots of use out of it.

That is one thing my dad never got yet since he built the garage 8 years ago. He has a small one in the basement, but never brought it up to the garage. I asked him why, he said he has nowhere to put it, and he would rather a bigger one. Last year I got him a vise stand, thinking he would either bring that one up, or get one that he wants. That stand is still in the box. This year I got him one from Harbor Freight: 5 in. Multi-Purpose Vise with Anvil
We have an older HF one at work that is pretty good. This one is the next step up from that, I think he’s going to like it. I was looking at a similar Irwin one from Lowes, but they were out of stock until after the holidays, so this was the second choice.

Hopefully your dad gets it setup and enjoys what you hit him. I remember buying my dad stuff and never seeing it until after he passed away. Sometimes older guys are set in their ways and don’t care much for change. My dad was driving screws with an old B&D electric drill for years until I bought him a cordless kit, he loved that!

 

[Sawdust]

Got my sons vise done. I had to heat the shop up a lot so I could paint it. I know he’ll be happy he’s a lot like me any tool can be good.

 

[MFDAC]

He will be glad to get such a useful tool, Jim! Nice work!

DAC