Vices & Clamping Tools

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What's the best place to get a good vice?  Also, what's the best combination of clamping tools for the hobby welder who works mostly with 1/4" and below?  ThanksLincoln Pro Mig 180Everlast PowerARC 200
Reply:Originally Posted by stevenstiltsWhat's the best place to get a good vice?  Also, what's the best combination of clamping tools for the hobby welder who works mostly with 1/4" and below?  Thanks
Reply:Vise- I settled on a "decent" cheap one from Sears- It opens and closes  The $ of a really good vise was just too much for me and nothing has come up on CLC-Clamps: I just buy the variety pack at Sears and have quite a few now- probably done with the variety pack since I don't need any more small C-Clamps.F-Style Clamps- love them but they are mo' money-- but this where I felt it was worth it.(Don't go cheap here- I tried once- they suck)I purchased the Lockjaw 'Vise" grip style and I love them- a lotta folks don't- but they are quick with clamping since they self adjust to the thickness you need to clampVise grips- a couple but don't really use them- anything that I need that much force I grab the F-Style Clamps. But they do come in handy for the rounded bolt head or two or for grabbing Tube or Pipe.Ed Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:Originally Posted by stevenstiltsWhat's the best place to get a good vice?
Reply:I am a big fan of the Visegrip welding clamps, I mostly use the smaller sizes, as most of my work is smaller sheet metal.I went and looked, and the two I use most are the 6SP and the 9SP.   The 9SP has a deeper throat, so good when you need that.  I use the Swivel Pads (SP), to minimize marking of sheet metal.   I suspect that those who work in thicker material, or don't worry about marking, might prefer the other style, which I own but never use.I looked at the Irwin website, and found that they make a 4SP, which I have never seen.  I will probably order one and see how I like it.http://www.irwin.com/tools/locking-t...th-swivel-padsRichardLast edited by raferguson; 12-26-2010 at 11:25 PM.Sculptures in copper and other metalshttp://www.fergusonsculpture.comSyncrowave 200 Millermatic 211Readywelder spoolgunHypertherm 600 plasma cutterThermal Arc GMS300 Victor OA torchHomemade Blacksmith propane forge
Reply:Thanks for the input. I've got a small vice and some c clamp vice grips as well as some regular c clamps. After reading the posts, I'll probably get some f clamps, and a bigger vice; maybe at Harbor Freight. Thanks again, this is a great forum.Lincoln Pro Mig 180Everlast PowerARC 200
Reply:I picked up a vise a few years at home depot that has standard jaws on one side and you can spin it around and there are pipe jaws on the other side. I don't use the pipe jaws that often but when I do I'm glad I have them. I think the vise ran about $70 fwiw.
Reply:Originally Posted by quasiI picked up a vise a few years at home depot that has standard jaws on one side and you can spin it around and there are pipe jaws on the other side. I don't use the pipe jaws that often but when I do I'm glad I have them. I think the vise ran about $70 fwiw.
Reply:Originally Posted by Broccoli1Vise- I settled on a "decent" cheap one from Sears- It opens and closes  The $ of a really good vise was just too much for me and nothing has come up on CLC-Clamps: I just buy the variety pack at Sears and have quite a few now- probably done with the variety pack since I don't need any more small C-Clamps.F-Style Clamps- love them but they are mo' money-- but this where I felt it was worth it.(Don't go cheap here- I tried once- they suck)I purchased the Lockjaw 'Vise" grip style and I love them- a lotta folks don't- but they are quick with clamping since they self adjust to the thickness you need to clampVise grips- a couple but don't really use them- anything that I need that much force I grab the F-Style Clamps. But they do come in handy for the rounded bolt head or two or for grabbing Tube or Pipe.
Reply:Clamps:  No matter how many clamps you accumulate, there will be that one time when you just need a couple more.
Reply:Yesterday I did a CL search in  the area of the original poster. Not much. Do a search from southern California...it's a buyers market! http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sea...inAsk=&maxAsk=http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/s...inAsk=&maxAsk=http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/s...inAsk=&maxAsk=I stumbled on a good one that I picked up on Christmas Eve morning for a nice price. Still quite a bit for a 4" vise, but I really wanted one of the old school bench toppers. I have a growing collection that just seems to come from out of the woodwork, so I gave my brothers son the first one I ever bought brand new, still functional... but well soaked! City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:If you have a Lowe's Home center near you they have a line of Bessey vises that are very nice (I have two of them, 6" and 4-1/2") and the price is not bad at all. I also have been using both Vise-Grip and Bessey welding pliers and locking clamps. Both have a good selection of styles. Bessey has some very interesting jaw designs that I keep finding very handy in the shop. I have photos and more info on both vise-Grip and Bessey locking pliers/clamps on my site if that helps sort out what applies best to your work.Tom Hintz, publisherwww.newmetalworker.comLincoln Pro Mig 180Lincoln AC 255Determination
Reply:I look for old hardware stores and look through their tools. Look at the last ones on the peg. I have been lucky to find a pretty good collection of original Petersen Vise Grips, made in the good ol' USA. I am willing to pay a little more than for the new China ones because they are heavier and better made. Besides, most of these real hardware stores need the business.Burt _____________________Miller Syncrowave 250Millermatic 211Miller 375 Plasma Cutter Hobart Handler 12010FtDrillBit.com
Reply:Best clamps are Bessey  http://www.besseytools.com/en/index.phpI won't buy another simple C Clamp ever. My advice for a vice is find an old Wilton in some widows estate sale. I found one must be 80 years old. But dam it is nice.
Reply:Originally Posted by Fat BastardBest clamps are Bessey  http://www.besseytools.com/en/index.phpI won't buy another simple C Clamp ever. My advice for a vice is find an old Wilton in some widows estate sale. I found one must be 80 years old. But dam it is nice.
Reply:I just got a bunch of Kant-Twist clamps at the flea market.  Absolutely awesome, and better than a similarly sized C clamp in every way.Bessey only makes great stuff.  I've got 30 of their K body clamps, but those only get used for woodworking.  Little pricy, but top shelf.  They used to be years ahead of the competition, but Jorgenson has finally caught up in the world of parallel jaw clamps.My choice on vice-grips is Craftsman.  They're identical to the vice-grip fast-release, BUT with the Craftsman warranty, I can get them exchanged when the teeth aren't sharp any more.  I can use anything to hold two pieces together, but when I need to exert maximum force onto a small area, vice-grips are what I reach for, and the jaws need to be sharp or else they can slip.Oh, and as much as I lament a product that moved production to China, the fast-release models are the best vice-grip tool ever produced IMHO.
Reply:I bought a couple of vice grip "C" clamp pliers, and I already have some plain "C" clamps.  I also have a couble of pipe clamps, the kind that use galvinazed pipe, which are really nice.  I haven't bought a vice yet, I'm probably going to go to Lowes after I check an old shed at my mother-in-laws that has a bunch of old tools that her brothers used to use.Lincoln Pro Mig 180Everlast PowerARC 200
Reply:Speaking of Vises, plan to make removable jaws for your vise.  I rarely use my vise without protecting the part from marks and damage, usually with aluminum jaws that slip onto the vise.   The usual vise jaws have a surface with 1000 points that will mark or damage your parts.  I also have wooden jaws when I need something softer than aluminum.   If you spend more than 10 minutes making the jaws, you have made it too complicated.  I have other removable jaws for special purposes, such as making 90 degree bends.RichardSculptures in copper and other metalshttp://www.fergusonsculpture.comSyncrowave 200 Millermatic 211Readywelder spoolgunHypertherm 600 plasma cutterThermal Arc GMS300 Victor OA torchHomemade Blacksmith propane forge
Reply:Originally Posted by raferguson. . . plan to make removable jaws for your vise. . .
Reply:Scored this sample of *vintage* Wilton, et al woodworking/welding C-Clamps from Ebay today for $100.Planning to "go thru" the clamps and do a resto job (ie. bead blast, prime, paint) on the entire lot.  Saw a few threads on GJ of restored Wilton vises.  Very interested in doing similar to these old-school clamps.  Although these are not the high-speed 6" Wilton Bridge Clamps (think: Gar), these devices should fill the gap for some time. Ha! Attached Images"Discovery is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought" - Albert Szent-Gyorgyi
Reply:The above lot of vintage clamps arrived.  All bodies appear straight, but a couple of the 8in'rs have bent acme screws.  Overall, these are fairly light-weight setups, with the exception of the 6in bridge clamp.  Note: the silvery-looking one is a light-weight alloy (aluminum?).Two Questions: 1) Options for straightening the screws via heat (ie. MAPP torch) and {light} hammer?2)  If the bodies and screw mechanisms are first cleaned & bead blasted, will they adequately accept a power-coating finish?  Threads included?  Got a local guy who rips powder-coating and may be able to score a dakine deal on the entire package.Mahalo for your input."Discovery is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought" - Albert Szent-Gyorgyi
Reply:If you want to go cheap to get started, Northern tool is running this set on sale for $19.  Not Vise Grip quality, but it will give you a set of clamps cheap to get going.http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...2927_200342927