Need a Few Vises - Suggestions?

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Steven6095

Steven6095

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Joined
Feb 14, 2004
Posts
1,352
Loc
Nicholasville, KY
I am in need of some vises.
Currently have one Stanley and a knock off Stanley ($90) purchased from a local supplier. No gripes with either one.

United has them for $60 + shipping

Other than buying from ebay are there any good deals out there?

........and before the question is asked, yes I do have a v-nailer. A good one actually. It is just my preference to clamp for 10-15 minutes before I nail.
 
I have one still in the box sittin' in the basement at home. I'll have to look up what I payed for it if your interested.
 
much more FUN if you get into vices!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


depend, of course, upon the vice.............



try framingequipment.com but use ebay(and its look alikes) & google it also
 
http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?familyid=1628&ProductID=03W55

If you have a Woodcraft store in your area, then no shipping. I have one 3 miles down the road. I don't own these vises but have looked at them and they seem as well build as the others. Prices are good. One of their vises allows for adjustable angels as well.


Just looked at their site again and they currently have FREE ground shipping.
 
Let me second J Paul referal for WoodCraft, excellent quality vices at a price better than United's as I recall. I have several. But nothing bets and old Stanely for quality.
 
M&M runs their generic on sale periodically for $45. I have 4 of them with no complaints.
 
RParrish said:
Let me second J Paul referal for WoodCraft, excellent quality vices at a price better than United's as I recall. I have several. But nothing bets and old Stanely for quality.
Click to expand...


Luck you, there is one in Lexington...
And lucky me there is one in St Louis! Good news since I was just scratching my head a minute ago wondering what the freight would be on United's... those suckers are HEAVY.
 
Steven6095 said:
I am in need of some vises.
Currently have one Stanley and a knock off Stanley ($90) purchased from a local supplier. No gripes with either one.

United has them for $60 + shipping

Other than buying from ebay are there any good deals out there?

........and before the question is asked, yes I do have a v-nailer. A good one actually. It is just my preference to clamp for 10-15 minutes before I nail.
Click to expand...

As a matter of interest, why clamp and wait to nail? The purpose of the v-nails is to clamp the joint. At least that's always what I thought. If the glue has started to set when you put the v-nails in, isn't there a risk of the bond being disturbed?

As an alternative to a vise, what about a strap-clamp? Stanley used to do a neat little one. I have a few and they come in useful for BIG frames. Webbing tie-downs that are intended for holding stuff on car roof-racks and trailers work fine. You can clamp all four corners at once and get a lot of pressure on.

One last thing. Is it a vise or a vice? Us foreigners get confused.:nuts:
 
prospero said:
As a matter of interest, why clamp and wait to nail? The purpose of the v-nails is to clamp the joint. At least that's always what I thought. If the glue has started to set when you put the v-nails in, isn't there a risk of the bond being disturbed?
Click to expand...


This was always my sentiment. I use vises when I am using finish nails, or if after whatever underpinning/thumbnailing I do needs a little help to hold while the glue sets.
I figure if you are getting gaps when you are underpinning you need to diagnose the problem (bad cuts, wrong settings, etc.), and vising beforehand might not be the best fix.
 
I saw the one at woodcraft on their website and I was curious to quality.

I have my answer! I will swing by and get one on the way home tonight.

......now I wonder if I can get out of that store without buying a lot more than a vise................



As for the whole v-nail no vise issue......no intentions to open a can of worms here......

I personally think that it is easier to get a better corner if a clamp is used, especially on tricky mouldings, etc.

On the glue subject, I personally think that it does not hurt it much if the glue is not dried too much. I clamp long enough for the frame to hold together on its own, but it would not take much for you to pull it apart. Then into the v nail.
 
steve i usually use a vise then put it in the pinner as well. for me thats the best way to a perfect corner every time. i have about 8 from m&m that work fine and 12 from united that work fine. i know i bought them on sale for about $40.00 each.
 
I'm like Steven, I glue and vise for 15 minutes then v-nail. Works for me. I have 2 vises, one from United, one from Woodcraft and I can't tell them apart. I did buy a nice miter sander this year. Best $$ I ever spent.
 
I clamp, about 5 minutes then V nail, works well. I know many just glue and vnail, I haven't had much luck with that.
 
The best thing to do is find a good used Stanley 400 on ebay. They are going for good money these days though. I bought a few vises from www.framingsupplies.com. They are pretty good, inexpensive, and they offer a quantity discount also. As I recall shipping was reasonable too (these are heavy). IMO stay away from United's vises. I ordered a few some years back, returned two because they were out of square. The two I kept seem to be slightly out of square too, I don't use them on touchy jobs or wide mouldings.

-Bryan
 
We got that bleepitybleepin "Anaconda" vice from United and ... blahhhhhhh...:vomit:... Sucks patooty. Its fine when we need to vice an overoveroversize frame but it wobbles and is hard to keep steady...
 
I love the Stanley 400 and think all others are inferior Chinese/Indian copies. But, the absolute best vise was sold by M and M distributors. Take a look at the V-8 vise (plus all others)

I know Seth may have had some personal issues with the maker, (I think he used to work for him) but it still doesn't mean that the product is outstanding-

If you are coming to the WCAF, see if you can work a cash and carry deal with M & M and buy the booth samples.

There is a Stanley 400 on craig's lest for $25 http://montana.craigslist.org/tls/944891574.html
 
Those that do glue in the vice prior to v-nailing should use a glue like Corner Weld from Framerica. The glue has a plasticizer in it that allows it to flex without popping. There are several manufacturers that make one similar to it such as the one United carries. You can use a lot less glue so it does not ooze out requiring cleaning and risk wiping away finishes such as some Roma uses. This stuff is at least 10 times as strong as traditional wood glue.

Corner Weld is about $45 a gallon but I have only used less than 1/2 gallon in a year on thousands of frames. Saves a lot of time not having to wipe away excess glue.

I have sold a pint to 2 different framers in the area and showed them how to prevent ooze and both have told me they would never consider going back to the old stuff or using enough to squeeze out of the joint.
 
Rob Markoff said:
If you are coming to the WCAF, see if you can work a cash and carry deal with M & M and buy the booth samples.
Click to expand...

I bought the M&M show sample ITW/Amp VN 42 v-nailer at the Atlanta 2007 show and they gave me an incredible deal on it. They didn't have to break it down and crate it plus saved them the freight back. It also saved me the freight to my location. Great deal for both for us.
 
Dropped by woodcraft and bought a vise.

Pleased with it. Used it last night and resulted in very tight corners. Good feel to the clamps too. Only problem is that it was COATED with oil! This sticky semi dried oil. Scraped most of it off with a blade, but still its messy.
Once that gets off of it I will be thrilled with it.

Also picked up a can of touch up putty that was water based, non toxic, dried to hard, but will not crack, shrink, etc. It can also be thinned with water if needed to get into little cracks or touch up grain, etc.
$7 for enough to do A LOT of frames. Going to give it a shot.
If it works I will go back for all the colors :)
 
I just remembered.... I have a gizmo somewhere that clamps mitres. It has sping-loaded serrated jaws a bit like the lateral clamps on an underpinner. And it is cable operated by a foot pedal. You depress the pedal, slacken a locking screw on the jaws, push the jaws tight into the joint and lock the jaws and release the pedal. Then pull a lever on the side to give the joint an extra squeeze. The foot pdel lets you use both hands to align the join. I use it now and then and it works well.
No idea who made it. Or where I got it from for that matter.

Anyone seen the like?
 
Steven6095 said:
Dropped by woodcraft and bought a vise.

Pleased with it. Used it last night and resulted in very tight corners. Good feel to the clamps too. Only problem is that it was COATED with oil! This sticky semi dried oil. Scraped most of it off with a blade, but still its messy.
Once that gets off of it I will be thrilled with it.

Also picked up a can of touch up putty that was water based, non toxic, dried to hard, but will not crack, shrink, etc. It can also be thinned with water if needed to get into little cracks or touch up grain, etc.
$7 for enough to do A LOT of frames. Going to give it a shot.
If it works I will go back for all the colors :)
Click to expand...
So how was the store? I probably shouldn`t be in there unless on a leash.Any kewl finishes? L.
 
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