Versavice vs Brownells vice

[Darrin McDonal]

Does anyone know if there is a huge difference between the Garrett Wade Versa vice , Parrot vice, Grizzlies Green versa vice? I understand Garrett Wades and Grizzly's are China made (so is Harbour Freights for that matter) but Brownells says its made in the USA. It is 5x more expensive too but it might be worth it. I bought the GW one and it looks good but as we all know looks can fade to $#@* real fast if its built lousy.
Darrin

[Pete G.]

If you buy the chinese vise you will later replace it with the Brownell's, thus spending more than you would have if you had bought the good one initially. It is less expensive to go ahead and start with what you are going to end up with. Buying quality is NEVER a mistake.

[David Rase]

I purchased a Wood River vise from Woodcraft a few years ago and am very happy with it.  I have one of the original versa vise's I bought many years ago from Steve.  It has been my go to vise but I had to replace the lead screw very early on.  The Wood River vise is one of the "green" vise's.
Dave

[Darrin McDonal]

David , are you having issuse with the jaws working themselves out of parallel? That is where the top edge doesn't touch when closed?
Darrin

[flehto]

Bought a Chinese made "Versa Vice" from Midway USA and the screw and nut were such a sloppy fit that it wouldn't clamp. Sent it back and Midway not only refunded the price of the vise but also the return postage. Lousy vise but Midway is an excellent company. I need a 2nd bench mounted vise w/ jaw inserts that aren't serrated and can't find one.....Fred

[Dphariss]

I bought a 301 Wilton Pow-R-Arm 30 years ago and its still as good as new though its worn out 2 vises. I do have to clean out the filings and wood chips now and then.
Unfortunately the devaluing of the dollar has run the price up, 450 to almost 600 for the bare work positioner depending on where you look. It was never cheap. But it beats everything else.


http://cgi.ebay.com/Wilton-301-Mechanical-No-301-Pow-R-Arm-16240-NEW-/330541087832

If it disappeared I would have to bite the bullet and buy another one. Make the angle iron mount for the vise and go to work.

Dan

[Jim Chambers]

I did exactly the same as Dan, bought one of the "expensive" Wilton work positioners, mounted my own vice on it, and have been using it for years.  I purchased a second one a few years ago as a spare, but Barbie will probably sell it in an estate sale when I'm gone.  Can't imagine ever working enough to wear out one of these.

[Darrin McDonal]

That ball joint is really nice and heavey duty. But do they still make it?
Darrin

[Joe S]

I bought one of Garrett Wades vices, and it fell apart within hours.  They sent me a $20 gift certificate to make me feel better.

Here’s some pictures of my vise: http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=11852.0

[brokenflint]

Darrin  That is the big brother to the little one on my portable bench at the workshop, but mine had the vise come with it. Works great for all the little stuff.  If you make mods to the versa vise (grizzle etc generic) for non parallel jaws you don't have to work about being aligned, just use your machinists vice.

[Dphariss]

That ball joint is really nice and heavey duty. But do they still make it?
Darrin

Check the Ebay link in my post.
Or search for Wilton 301.

Dan

[Darrin McDonal]

Thanks for the advice. I did check out the ebay link Dan. I may bite on that.
Darrin