Suggestions for quick-release bench vise. (Feb 2015)
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Sorry Mike, @mikecherry, I’m just seeing this. It has been a while, but I believe I just used WD40 to clean it up, then I oiled it with Kroil.
I bought a big Jorgenson(?) screw and use a scrap piece of 8/4 white oak to make a leg vice. It’s a no frills no quick release, but I can open it wide with many turns of the handle. The screw was about $40. Only problem I have is 1.5″ thick leg vice still bends under pressure. I went as cheap as I could.
Hi Joe,
Until you decide to replace the handles, try this easy fix: place rubber “O” rings next to the knob at each end. This way, as the handle slides back & forth, there is absolutely no stress on the knobs. The O rings are available in different sizes at any hardware store.[quote quote=124841]I went to Woodcraft today and tried the Jorgensen. It was fine. A well-made tool but I think the quick release would annoy me after a while. Just opening the vise makes the quick release engage and it won’t let the screws engage until you tighten down on the workpiece. I am used to my existing vise that just screws in and out.[/quote]
Hmm. Did I make a mistake?
I bought a Jorgensen from Amazon 6 months ago, but haven’t yet figured out how to make my workbench. I’m still trying to get an eBay plane refactored and sharpened and some winding sticks made. Plus I can’t work in winter due to my freezing cold garage. It seemed like a good vise and had a good review. Paul seemed to think it would work fine for me too when I contacted him. I’m not sure what you are complaining about in the above quote though.
@bfisher Hi, I see you are quoting something I wrote.
I don’t think you made a mistake. The Jorgensen is a fine vise. I’m sure it will serve you well. I just preferred the action on the Eclipse as it acted the same way as my old vise except it was a lot bigger and had a quick-release to move the jaws in and out.
I work in a garage too. I partitioned off a small room for my bench and toolboxes. This is heated by a small heater.
Has anyone tried the Czech vise that Lee Valley sells?????
I went with the 9″ quick release vise from (Lee Valley. The first one arrived damaged, but they cross-shipped a new one, no questions asked, which gave me a good feeling about them as a company (as opposed to another seller from whom I will never buy anything).
I’m glad I went with the middle size. It is a great value for the money (and it was the most expensive item on the bench).
Mounting it was not difficult, especially after Paul explained that one need not screw it vertically from within the apron. It was sufficient to screw vertically from under the bench (but not within the apron) and to then screw horizontally through the face plate and through the apron into the bench top. As per Paul’s suggestion, I drilled out the holes in the vise’s face plate so as to be able to use larger lag screws. It’s rock solid.
I had scrap pieces of oak, which I sized and attached to the inside of the plates. I attached a piece of cheap shelf liner, and it flips into position when I want it. It’s gotten pretty torn up, but I have enough to last quite a long time.
@jude I am pleased with large vise, and it appears to be solid. Having said that I have no hands on experience with any other vise, and the Lee Valley vise has only been in service for a few months. The quick release block that Paul mentions appears to be a casting so I imagine that it could fracture, then again it looks to be simple enough (and hopefully inexpensive) to replace.
Lee Valley is having a sale starting 3/26, if you purchase Veritas products you get back 15% in gift cards. All you need to do is spend about $1200 on stuff and you get your vise for free!
Any ideas where I might buy a replacement spring for the Record 52D quick release ?
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