where should I look if I want to get a good functional vise at a good cost?

Machinist or Post vise?

Well it really doesn't matter that much as my suggestion is to look *EVERYWHERE* If you ask everyone you meet about finding a vise one will turn up. Note it may be the 88 year old lady in line at the grocery store or the 20 year old guy that cleans out garages...

I would like both but I already have a really small machinest vise so I'm looking more for a post vise. You have a good point I guess they could turn up anywhere though.

The local used furniture shop / antique store near me has one. I've seen a few at flea markets / swap meets. Blacksmithing groups often have tailgating sections at their local meets where guys sell things they have found or don't need any more to other members. I know several guys at the meetings I go to who jump on any blacksmithing item the come across cheap and sell them at the meetings to others who might not be so fortunate, usually at a minimal markup to cover their fuel to go and get it.

 

Scrap places are always a good place to look. If you are lucky the guys there may set things aside for you if they know you are interested and willing to pay decent money ( well above scrap value) for items like that. Stopping in regularly and checking as well as bringing donuts or a few frosty ones doesn't hurt...

 

Both of mine came from old barns. The people knew I was interested in old tools and mentioned they had them there if I was interested in them. I had several people come up to me when I was doing a demo at the grange fair this summer and mention they had old blacksmithing stuff in their barns... Sadly the only 2 that people brought over were old machinist vises, but the kids who were helping me managed to get good deals on them if nothing else.  The woman who runs the 4-H archery program I help out at has a really nice 6" post vise I'm working on trying to see if she'll sell. She found out I do blacksmithing and her husband showed me the old vise stored in the old milking barn.

CanIron X is coming to Nova Scotia this summer.  I am sure that there will be some sort of tailgating there.  If you are planning to attend, let me know.  I am going and could bring one up.