Vice prices - Update

[Stuart]

I’m rebuilding my bench and thought I’d replace the old axminster record copy with a proper 52 1/2 until I saw the prices!

I’ve got long pockets/short arms but £80 for what look to be some examples on the poorer side of life appears high to me. The market is restricted because few are willing to post and whilst I don’t mind some travel the other side of the country is a bit much for a vice!

Is it just me and these are actually reasonable prices?

Should add it’s the QR version I’m after.

 

[9fingers]

New RRP is £200 for a QR Irwin-Record 52-1/2 to give you a guide

£80 for a good working example seems a good deal to me

Bob

 

[Dr.Al]

If you're patient, it's worth looking around for car boot sales and antique shops. I'm pretty sure I saw a large QR woodworking vice in one I visited in the black country recently and it was a lot less than £80.

 

[Malc2098]

They're under 50 quid on FB MarketPlace down in the SW, and further afield.

 

[Lurker]

On FB market place I can see one in Barnsley for £15
You just need to watch and wait for one to come up in your area.

 

[AJB Temple]

You also need to be very careful not to buy a near dead dog. Watch for cracked castings, missing thread cover, bent handle (hammered or scaffold pole abuse - indicative of other problems), skipping threads and knackered QR mechanism.

I've had a few via my brother who was a boot fair addict in the Midlands. Currently have a 52 1/2 and a 53 1/2 awaiting a home on my new bench some way into the future. I will sell one eventually and keep the other: probably use the 53 1/2 as its a good bit bigger and has a top stop.

I would quite happily pay £100 for a 53 1/2 IF it had no damage, no cracks and was fully intact. There is a thread somewhere that ages them: bulbous end on the handle spindle is more desirable as I recall. The old ones are built like tanks and far better than the new stuff with weak castings.

Postage is expensive because they are heavy and big. You wouldn't want to carry a 53 1/2 far on your own.

 

[Cabinetman]

Whereabouts are you Stuart?

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Don't get hung up on QR, if you get a good offer of one without, take it. The QR large ones are brilliant if you make a lot of small boxes etc. but you'll find most of your work is done within the first couple of inches of its opening.

 

[Stuart]

They're under 50 quid on FB MarketPlace down in the SW,

Thanks Malc, I’ve looked at a few on there and some appear to be real dogs. Need to choose very carefully.

You also need to be very careful not to buy a near dead dog. Watch for cracked castings, missing thread cover, bent handle (hammered or scaffold pole abuse - indicative of other problems), skipping threads and knackered QR mechanism.

Adrian, this is exactly what I’m worried about buying ‘blind’ but at least going down the collection route means I can walk away.

Whereabouts are you Stuart?

Somerset, a few miles outside Yeovil.

Don't get hung up on QR, if you get a good offer of one without, take it. The QR large ones are brilliant if you make a lot of small boxes etc. but you'll find most of your work is done within the first couple of inches of its opening.

I’m not necessarily but I do a reasonable variety of ‘stuff’ and I know the QR is useful to me.

I had a good fiddle with my old one this afternoon and it has an awful lot of movement in the front jaw and I see no way of adjusting.

I am prepared to spend more it’s just that I’m tight! I’ll keep looking.

 

[TrimTheKing]

My vices cost me far more than is healthy!

 

[Lons]

You're likely to get what you pay for Stuart but don't discount some other makes if they fit your needs, I have a couple of Parkinsons which are decent quality for example.

 

[Mike G]

You're likely to get what you pay for Stuart but don't discount some other makes if they fit your needs, I have a couple of Parkinsons which are decent quality for example.

There are a couple of Parkinsons (with QR) on Ebay at the moment for under £10. There are also lots of Records (52 and bigger) currently around £40, like this one.

 

[Stuart]

There are a couple of Parkinsons (with QR) on Ebay at the moment for under £10. There are also lots of Records (52 and bigger) currently around £40, like this one.

Trouble is Mike, that’s in York and collection only.

There are a few nice ones at the moment but collection only makes it impractical and expensive.

 

[9fingers]

Set up a search on eBay. Set the distance you are prepared to go and maybe a max price.
You can then get a daily email of any results delivered to your inbox. Simples!

Bob

 

[the bear]

What’s wrong with the axminster vice you’ve already got?

Also search for actual benches, some will come with the vice

Mark

 

[Mike Jordan]

My 53 1/2 was £3- 10 shillings second hand in 1969 that was equal to fourteen hours pay at the time, that makes £80 look cheap.

 

[novocaine]

my vices cost more than 80 quid.

the ones attached to the bench don't though. :eusa-dance:

 

[Mike Jordan]

You may be googling the wrong sort of vice!

 

[Stuart]

What’s wrong with the axminster vice you’ve already got?

Also search for actual benches, some will come with the vice

Mark

The front face ‘wobbles’ quite a lot and despite taking it apart and cleaning it’s steadily getting worse.

Tried uploading a video but my limited skills lead to defeat!

 

[Just4fun]

New RRP is £200 for a QR Irwin-Record 52-1/2 to give you a guide

What is the quality like on new ones?

 

[thetyreman]

have a look at the eclipse vices, I got mine from amazon the EWWWQR9 worth every penny in my opinion, they are very good, have used it a lot and no problems at all in 7 years. I also spotted that workshop heaven have a york 10 1/2" vice which would give you even for your money at a reasonable price, remember that you only have to buy it once and a good one lasts an entire lifetime.

 

[thetyreman]

p.s that's my ad vice for you...

 

[Mike G]

There are a couple of Parkinsons (with QR) on Ebay at the moment for under £10. There are also lots of Records (52 and bigger) currently around £40, like this one.

Trouble is Mike, that’s in York and collection only.

There are a few nice ones at the moment but collection only makes it impractical and expensive.

I use a courier to collect for me. They're surprisingly cheap. You just have to get the seller to agree to pack them up and print a label.

 

[wallace]

There are a couple of Parkinsons (with QR) on Ebay at the moment for under £10. There are also lots of Records (52 and bigger) currently around £40, like this one.

Trouble is Mike, that’s in York and collection only.

There are a few nice ones at the moment but collection only makes it impractical and expensive.

I use a courier to collect for me. They're surprisingly cheap. You just have to get the seller to agree to pack them up and print a label.

I used a courier to collect my pattern makers vice, it weighed over 60kg. Not sure how he carried it to the door.
I sold my 521/2 for £40 a while back, I think I have a little record in my stash

 

[Stuart]

After much searching picked this up today:




A 50 minute drive and all for the princely sum of £40.

For some reason the previous owner spray painted all the metalwork silver. Thankfully without properly preparing the surface so it wire brushes off failrly easily.

The blue is a bit naff and I’m not sure whether to leave or just remove and stick with bare metal which I quite like the look of.

The QR is a bit loose but fully functioning so I’ll need to have a look at that at some point. Any pointers gratefully received!

 

[Cabinetman]

Seek and Ye shall find, bargain, looks like it’s had one very careful owner, could have used some oil though instead of painting the bare metal, very strange.
If you are taking it apart take a pic of the way the bits go, also easy to get the yoke at the back on upside down, 4 big coach screws and washers needed, but you probably knew that. Ian

 

[AndyT]

You did well.

If you want more information on the classic Record 52 1/2, I recommend this thorough blog entry by Nick, ("Nabs") that grew out of discussion theeads on another woodworking forum.

https://smallworkshop.co.uk/2018/04/17/record-vice/

Look around the site for more info on the history and related designs from other makers.

 

[Stuart]

You did well.

If you want more information on the classic Record 52 1/2, I recommend this thorough blog entry by Nick, ("Nabs") that grew out of discussion theeads on another woodworking forum.

https://smallworkshop.co.uk/2018/04/17/record-vice/

Look around the site for more info on the history and related designs from other makers.

Thanks Andy, interesting reading. Looks like this is a 1940’s model. I knew it wasn’t one of the later versions but I doubt I’ll ever be able to pin it down to a year.

They certainly made them well!

 

[johnward]

Thanks Andy for Nick's item on the Record 52 1/2. I bought mine in 1970 and am ashamed to say that I have done nothing in the way of maintainance during it's 52 years of use since then, but it does go to demonstrate the high quality and durability of this vice.
John