My old post vise finally gave out on me last Tuesday, the main screw just snapped clean through.

I was working on a stubborn piece of 1/2 inch stock, leaning into it a bit, and heard a sharp crack that sent me scrambling to find my backup C-clamp so I could at least finish the heat.

3 comments

3 Comments

finleybutler2mo ago

That "unbreakable" idea is what gets people in trouble. Old vises are tough but they're still cast iron, and cast iron doesn't bend, it just breaks. Leaning into a stuck piece is asking for a snap, no matter how thick the casting is. It's not about the vise being weak, it's about pushing any tool past what it was made for.

black.richard2mo ago

Oh man, I used to think those old vises were unbreakable, but that'll change your mind fast!

christopherkim2mo ago

Ever seen how thick the cast iron is on those old ones, @black.richard? They can take a real beating if you use them right. I still trust mine over anything new.