Workbench vise, Shop Fox, Opinions?

[Cornell]

I'm looking for a vise to attach to my workbench. With quick release and dog.

I've looked at the basic frames (screw, rods, mounting hardware) to which one has to add the plates for the jaws. Doesn't seem to be a problem, I'd have to make some wood pads to fit inside the jaws anyway, why not make the whole thing? And I could make the one thick and drill a hole for a dog.

But they're almost as much as a complete vise.

In my extensive experience with vises (one, count'em, one) the quick release, was a bit annoying. Screw it in and it tightens up, unscrew and the threads let go... so one can't unscrew a little bit, because it releases.

But the Shop Fox seems to have a lever to control the quick release. Although one reviewer complained that it failed in a few weeks and became useless. But that was one, and he didn't say anything about trying to exercise the warrantee.

The price isn't outrageous, it looks fairly sturdy, and has a decent width and opening...
http://www.amazon.com/Shop-Fox-D4327-7- ... p+fox+vise

Any thoughts?

[S Brian]

Several years ago, when I was looking for a bench vise, I chose a Quick-Release Steel Bench Vise from Lee Valley. The Shop Fox vise and similar vises made in Asia, require two hands to release. Often when I have a piece in the vise, it is a large piece and I want to hold onto it, while releasing the vise. I also did not like the fit and finish of the Asia made vises. The vises I saw had rough castings, with flash in many areas and the paint was coming off in the stores. Granted the vises at Lee Valley are higher priced, but for the reasons mentioned, I was willing to spend the extra $$.

[Ed in Tampa]

I believe that S Brian gave you real good advice.

[Cornell]

So y'all don't have experience with "asian" vises in general, or Shop Fox in particular.

I can agree that American made does tend to be better made, more attention to detail. But sometimes asian made can surprise.

I had been disappointed with my previous quick release, I couldn't unscrew it, it would immediately released.

I'd assumed that these had a toggle switch, flick it one way and the threads disconnect, flick the other, and they connect. I hadn't considered they might be momentary, that they'd have to be held to release, or held to screw.

I've a workbench my neighbor gave me, it's got two cutouts that would be perfect for woodworker vises. I found the Shop Fox, $89, one used for $78. As I contemplated the purchase, and awaiting response, I noted that a second used one came up. They're "used", but from the description, it seems more like returns or damaged packaging, no scratches or cosmetics, one's package is damaged, the other's repackaged.

Anyway, I needed two, two became available, seemed like a sign, so I pulled the trigger.

Now I have to figure out my plan for drawers underneath the front. The front face, top of bench to bottom of face is 4 inches, the cutout is 2 1/4 just right. I'd planned on putting drawers under, but the vise is 6 inches.

So...
1. Cut a two inch cutout in the drawer face, for hand holds, and, to clear the vise, or
2. Extend the face two inches and then mount the drawers, but I thought
3. Put shallow two inch drawers on either side of the vises, and then the regular drawers under.

Anyway, so much for blah, blah, blah... ;-)

Thanks for your responses.

[Cornell]

Well, I've received the two vises. The shipper has multiple warehouses, the first one came from Florida and arrived before the second one even left the warehouse in Kentucky.

Both were sold as used. I think they were more like returns or something like that. There aren't even marks around the mounting holes, like they'd never been mounted. They don't have any burrs or sharp edges. Not polished or burnished, but not rough.

I got the first one and was checking it out. The lever seemed like a toggle, flick it one way to engage, the other way to disengage. There's a coil spring that didn't seem tensioned, couldn't figure out how it got tensioned, what it was for.

Then the second one came. The spring is supposed to be tensioned, the lever is momentary, push it towards the handle to release, let go and it moves back on its own.

I was going to return the first one, but looking at the parts list/diagram, it seemed it could be easily taken apart. In a few minutes, I had the spring back in place and under tension. I don't think this is the fault of Shopfox, more like the seller didn't inspect his "used" equipment well before selling it.

S Brian had expressed concern about having to use two hands to operate the quick release. But not so. Gripping the hub (that the handle goes through) and the lever with the same hand, fingers on one, thumb on the other, squeeze, and it releases. Easy peasy.

Overall, I'm happy with them, so far.

[Cornell]

Now, to address the pads. I've some one by poplar I'm going to cut for the pads. The vises are less than 1/8 inch below the surface of the bench. I plan on cutting the pads so that they go from just above the rods to even with the bench top. So they'll stick out above the metal jaws by less than an 1/8 inch. Does that sound like a plan, or should they end flush with the jaw.

And about the width of the pads. Should they be flush with the jaws, stick out an 1/8 inch? Or maybe, stick out several inches on either side?

I also note that the rods have grease or oil on them. And I don't want to get that on any wood I put in it. I'm thinking of cleaning them off, like with mineral spirits and then wax them. Sound good?

Thanks

[garys]

I built a workbench in my shop a few years ago. I purchased a vise from Rockler. Without looking at it, I'd bet it is Chinese made, but it works great.
I can tighten or loosen it by turning the handle. The mechanism doesn't release prematurely unless I pull outward on the handle to release it. I don't know how a bench vise could work better than this one. Maybe not all of them work this well, but mine does.
I cut old 2x4s for jaw pads on mine. They will be easy to replace when they wear out.