Prentiss swivel-jaw vise - GIF

[Jon]

Prentiss swivel-jaw vise.




Previously:

Antique pattern maker's vise - GIF
Little vise with attached little two-horn anvil - photo
41 interesting vise patents - drawings
Pulling a tooth with vise-grips and a hammer - GIF
Largest vise ever? - photos
Monster ball vise - photos

[shopandmath]

I could see me making one

[Toolmaker51]

I appreciate a good machinists bench vise. If previously owned, older the better, provided careful use.
There are many vises, a lot command high prices based on faultless materials, properly designed castings, and rugged beyond description. While a few brands 'have it', they also used their patterns for private label branding. Below, your friend details features that are sure signs of quality.
Another group is expensive too, via unique 'features' under guise of innovation. But they have great paint!

For my money a proper sample has certain traits.
1] guided (moving jaw) portion is box sectioned.
2] a stout lip supporting that, at entry to body. Some are hooked so buyer positions vise correctly, where fixed jaw lines up with edge of bench.
3] knob of screw/ handle should fit closely to not provide a pinch point. If not, most handles are removable, add a hose washer on each side. Used, bent/ hammered handles tell a story. Even good vises have limits.
4] removable jaws have cap screws not inside said jaw opening.
5] opening at least 2x width show little or no increase in sideplay. Long as nut stays engaged, slide fully within guide it better be able to clamp.
6] the moving side should be completely removable from body. When new this is common, until the slide is christened anvil duty. But those hits reveal structure; semi-steel, malleable or nodular iron. Cheapies = grey iron that chip or break.
7] nice screws have thrust washer or spring backlash compensation; that handle remains at any angle (jaw opening) pre tightening. You don't have three hands. . .
8] speaking of paint, even the best brands rarely primed and never glazed (now known as bondo). That smooth casting is another clue to ideal substances. Grey iron usually looks 'sandy'.
9] Cheap, coarsely finished pattern work has thin, off-center or uneven wall thickness. Easily seen looking underneath of slide. Whist inverted. turning screw will display bends.
10] Good patterns have wide sweeping radii & fillets blend adjoining surfaces, distribute shock and save knuckles. Cheapies don't.
11] Really great vises make nut a separate element from the slide. Way back a replacement could be ordered. But opportunity to machine new remains. Grease that screw on reassembly with high pressure lube, like center grease. Bigger vises are ACME 29° threads. Many smaller types are coarse pitch (for diameter) 60° Vee metric & imperial; equally divided between standard and proprietary thread forms. Just need someone with a lathe.

Thereby concludes epic Cliff Notes "Buying Vises". 397 words, 2404 characters in 40 sentences and 14 illustrative paragraphs. No theatrical release yet announced. I don't always provide word counts; but when I do, sure don't employ the fingers. BTW No hay dos equis; solo uno.
Jaja

The swivel jaw type depicted aren't prevalent, only a few brands had them. But no matter how I like that feature, is not been my luck to find affordable candidate. Crap, now 16k more tool hounds know about them; ohhhh thanks Jon!
I'll feign disgust and sheer horror about knaves and scoundrels encroachment on my quarry!