Question reguarding vices

[NateDJ]

I am wondering what the advantages of a post vice over a machinist vice that is well mounted and of about the same weight?
Seems they are easier for me to find and would likely work but I have never used a post vice so I must ask the question.

[John B]

Machinist or engineers' vice are made from cast iron, with parallel jaws and are not designed for impact or shock loads, they will crack,

post vices are made of suitable 'iron' to withstand shock, and do. They are the proper tool for the job

[jimbob]

Nate, drive up to the city and go to the farmers market antique shops your libel to find all sorts of stuff.

[ThomasPowers]

Yup a good day smithing at the vise will destroy a machinist vice and not even dent a post vise much.

Also in general a machinist vise the same weight as a post vice generally costs several times as much even used.

I'd suggest you start saving for the Salt Fork Hammer-in in OK this Oct and pick up a good post vise there. Note that pretty much everything on a postvise is easily made or repaired *BUT* the screw and screwbox so always check that our carefully---I talked a lady over the phone through checking that the screw was not very worn for a CraigsList postvise in ALBQ just recently.

[maddog]

If you hammer on a machinists vise all the force is transmitted to the ways and the screw. A blacksmith vise is constructed so that most of the force of the hammer blow is taken up by the fixed leg with very little on the hinge and none at all on the screw.

[m_brothers]

Thanks maddog for making that clear. I was a bit lost on the difference, as I used a machinists vise for the past year until I got my post-vise about a month ago.

-John

[philip in china]

Modern post vices are forged steel (at least mine is) and that is about as strong as you get. On mine even the plates to anchor it to the bench are forgings so the whole thing is very resilient.

[HWooldridge]

Many years ago when I was first getting started, I broke a HUGE Wilton machinist vise ago trying to bend a hot piece of 1/2" tool steel by hammering. I was whaling away and suddenly the movable jaw flew across the room - talk about a sick feeling...

[welder19]

You can use a standard bench/machinist vise, just don't do too much heavy hammering, if it is a good vise, say a Wilton, and it's a heavy one, it will hold up for a long time as long as you don't abuse it, but other than being easyier to find they are normally more money.
I got my first post vise at a auction for $30 and my 2nd one I got for free that I found in an old shed, it just needed cleaned up.
So if you keep an eye out and look around you'll find one.

welder19

[philip in china]

Having said what I said above I have a couple of machinists vices for all the work that doesn't involve forging! I have them mounted exactly opposite each other so big work can be clamped in both.

My next project will be to get a second post vice but that will have to wait until I can afford it.