Hi Ken. Here’s my take after building mine. I bot one that looks exactly like the green “Veritas Front Vices”. There are two in that thumbnail. I bot the one on the right, had many problems installing it, so that one is out. If I had it to do all over again, I’d buy one as close to what Paul uses since he obviously doesn’t have problems with it.

You’re welcome Ken. That vice is sold under about three different names (Veritas, Woodriver & Grizzly). I can’t see any difference. With that said, I have nothing against the vice in the same thumbnail on the left. It doesn’t have the collets that make it so difficult to mount. But, I would consider getting one that has metal almost to the bench top like Paul’s. It would eliminate any flex at the top like I have now. They ain’t that pretty to look at IMHO, but I would bet they perform very well. My 2 cents.

This is actually a great topic, since a good vice is critical. I’d keep going on this thread and get some other opinions before you make a decision. Best.

Sure thing Ken. I like the looks of it. High steel jaws, looks like its easy to mount and solid, and I’m guessing by the lever it’s a quick release model. Let me know how it works for you when you when you get a chance. I may change mine out.

Let me add a concern or two if I can. First off I think, George that you took the best route with a secondhand Record with a little age to it. New Record vises are Asian imports and not the standard of the old Records made in Sheffield, UK. The old Record vises will last you for a hundred years of part-time use and 99 years of fulltime trouble free use.
I have been exchanging imported vises for 20 years. In my first school in the US we were forced to start buying imported vises because we couldn’t get domestic made vises for anywhere near a reasonable cost. We bought from Woodcraft thinking that would be a good source but eventually we ended up buying replacement parts that cost us more in the end. Since then, I haven’t found an Asian vise that has lasted longer than a year and that os with very much part time student use. On the other hand, I am using a a Record vise that has been in fulltime use for 75 years. I also use a Woden vises at the school here in the UK. They are all second hand and once cleaned up and in situe, work like new. I have had one go bad and have not had time to work out what’s wrong with it. I recently bought five Record vises for the workbench build and I think I paid about £20 each. They all worked perfectly well but some need half an hour’s clean up.
Is there a really good Asian import? The only way of knowing is if you know someone who has owned and used one every day for several hours a day as is the case with my vises as a working craftsman. I have beaten on mine for decades and everyone I have ever owned was made in in the first half of the last century.

Paul

I fitted a Irwin Record 10 1/2″ jaws with quick release and a jaw dog (53ED) to my bench about 18 months ago I was impressed with the vice when I got it it seemed to be well made and at 19kg was very substantial , I have used it quite regularly since and it seems to still be working well. Of course the key will be the quality of the material used only time will tell . I do not know where the vice was manufactured but did realise it would have been made in some low cost country .

Scott wrote:

I would like to find myself an antique “Instantaneous” vice like the one that Tony Konovaloff has on his bench.

I’d love to see one of those in action. Think he’s right in saying it has to be seen to be believed! Have you read Tony’s book? It’s an incredible read – he does absolutely everything by hand and explains it all really well.

George.