Vice width/size

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Just4Fun

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Does size matter?
Is a bigger vice always better or does a smaller vice have advantages?

My knee-jerk reaction is to buy the biggest vice I can, and the only downsides I see are cost and weight; both of these are one-off / short-term problems I think. Once fitted and working I think I would prefer a larger vice but maybe I am missing something.
 
What's it for?
For metal I'd guess it's just scale. No point having a huge beast if you are working on filing gears for watches. That's about the only real exception I can think of. Extremes of size.
I have a big benchtop no name one I was given. It's fine but it's not true and one day I will replace it with a better working one. I have another one that is far smaller but I find it far easier to use for smaller metalwork. Even something like filing is affected because the size of the jaws can get in the way, nevermind it's far easier to use generally. I need to stand to do the big one up. The little one can be done sitting with no effort with 2 fingers. Depends what you need.
One day I would really like to get a parrot vice. That would be luxury. A big one that worked well at one end, my little one at the other and the parrot in the middle.
So Yeh. Just greedy then.
:D
Aren't most wood vices the same sort of size so I'm presuming you meant metal vices anyway.
 
If anyone is interested in small vice's then look at a fly tying vice, there are some that are very cheap and very good for holding small items.
 
Bm101":f5zqozn0 said:
What's it for?
Sorry, I should have explained that. It is for woodwork, not metalwork. Furniture or other small stuff rather than house framing.

Aren't most wood vices the same sort of size ...
Not really. I am looking for a Record-style vice rather than a Moxon-style vice or other "specialist" vice but even with that restriction it is easy to find 6", 7", 8" and 9" vices for example.
 
MikeJhn":2im8ytbz said:
If anyone is interested in small vice's then look at a fly tying vice, there are some that are very cheap and very good for holding small items.
Not what I am looking for at the moment but it is an option I had not known about. I hope I will remember it if I ever have a need for anything that small.
 
I had a small record on my first bench without quick release, and made most things with it. I now also have a Record 53 it’s a quick release, of the two, I have never found any reason to specifically use the smaller vice, the larger is always better. Quick release isn’t essential, but a nice to have. If your bench has an apron, there isn’t much you can’t do with a couple of clamps or a bench hook and no vice.

You can come across old benches being sold for very little with a very nice vice attached. This is often the cheapest way of obtaining a lovely big vice for very little.
 
Just to stir the pot, have a look at a pattern makers vice (hammer)
I can't embed this video by the usual copying most of the link address after the equals symbol, and placing between these youtube brackets, as follows....
[youtube]O6-ytBntzgM&list=WL&index=10&t=7s[/youtube]
so a link will have to do
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6-ytBn ... ex=10&t=7s
Skip to 7:50 into video

Tom
 
deema":3qtzwxro said:
You can come across old benches being sold for very little with a very nice vice attached. This is often the cheapest way of obtaining a lovely big vice for very little.
Yes. About 15 years ago I bought an ancient 14' beech bench, worn to hell and full of worm. £28's worth of firewood ............... with two nice clean 53e's attached. :D
 
Not having done any research on vintage or new vises, I dare ask.
I was thinking of asking the question on the Record 52 1/2 thread, but decided I was going to wait for someone else to ask it.

What's the difference between a vintage quick release Record 52 1/2 and the no. 53 vice?

Does the 52 1/2 have more value for some reason, as seemingly some folk seems to be possibly extra fond of them?

Thanks
Tom
 
I've got a Record 52E which I bought 48 years ago so don't suppose there are many about now. It's 7" long and 10" with the wooden cheeks. The size is alright for most things but sometimes wish I had something a bit longer.

John
 
Just4Fun":2fzai6i5 said:
Bm101":2fzai6i5 said:
What's it for?
Sorry, I should have explained that. It is for woodwork, not metalwork. Furniture or other small stuff rather than house framing.

Aren't most wood vices the same sort of size ...
Not really. I am looking for a Record-style vice rather than a Moxon-style vice or other "specialist" vice but even with that restriction it is easy to find 6", 7", 8" and 9" vices for example.
Learnt summat new. I hadn't thought of moxxon type ones and while I have seen small wood vices I presumed most were record 52 type size and fairly standard. Thanks.
 
Ttrees":2ajgzeug said:
Just to stir the pot, have a look at a pattern makers vice
I had never heard of a pattern makers vice until earlier today when I was searching past posts on this forum prior to asking my question. It is certainly an interesting & impressive bit of kit but I don't think it is something I need, nor would I be likely to make use of it on a regular basis. I think I will pass on that.
 
phil.p":30jgl7ir said:
deema":30jgl7ir said:
You can come across old benches being sold for very little with a very nice vice attached. This is often the cheapest way of obtaining a lovely big vice for very little.
Yes. About 15 years ago I bought an ancient 14' beech bench, worn to hell and full of worm. £28's worth of firewood ............... with two nice clean 53e's attached. :D

..and a month ago I bought a bench complete with a very nice 52½ for £25.
Martin.
 
I don't seem to be so lucky. The only bench I have found on a local auction site has a decent top on spindly metal legs with a scandinavian-style "L"-shaped end vice. Current high bid is 200 euro. No thanks.
 
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