Today in the shop Vice vs Vise
Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2015 1:20 am
If you have been reading the forum for a while you will know I have a vice and it is buying new tools which I could just as well do without.
Today I will look at the old quick action vise that I have had for years and see how the new version stacks up, and well did I do it again?
The new version was in the in the recent catalog so that another another item got me to my over $75 limit for offered extras. That some how managed to overcome the price threshold that I struggle with. Part number is 556416 if you want to look it up, catalog page 13 if you wish.
I no longer recall when I stepped in to the quick action vise market, had to be a lot of years ago because it seems like I've owned one forever. I have used it so many times and have had no big issues with it. It is a light duty vice and I treat it that way, I have bigger heavy duty vise for the times I need the heft. I've got a couple of "jigs" for mounting the vise to the shopsmith as well as for use on the overhead router table.
The first thing we should do is look at a side by side photo and point out some of the changes that have happened.
This is a higher level review based on visual observations and a few comments as to what the differences might mean it is not meant to be catch all changes and certainly can not contain actual changes which are not visual in nature.
(A) A major change to the handle, the old knurled small dia. one was replaced with a softer grip with a larger circumference, this is both more conformable and should allow you to tighten the new version better then the old version.
(B) The quick release button is nicer on the new model, not sure if any functionality changes were made but the cosmetic effects make it look nicer.
(C) Note the rounder edges on the new version. This may have been an attempt to save a bit of material cost or to off set material costs of the other added refinements, they will be shown soon.
(D) OH look a hole on the new one! To be honest I'm not sure what is is for. Looks like it could hang on a hook for storage that way, or ?
(E) Drive pins are no longer through holes and are of a smaller diameter on the new version. Makes it look nicer but if it ever needs to come apart... well that would be another story.
These next pictures are one at a time views of the vises. This picture is of the old version.
(FF) The attachment point has changed between versions. I'm not sure that was done for manufacturing or because this version had pointed out a weakness that was corrected.
(F) A major change was made from in the gussets. This occurred on both sides of the vice. The old version had a pair gusset on each side of the jaws. They are much less robust then the ones on the new version. Heavier duty for sure but was this needed? I'm questioning that for now.
(G) Both of the jaws in the old vise had these rabbets which I have found to be useful in the past. The new jaws do not have that. I'm unsure if I like that change.
This is the new vise.
(H) This is the added gussets I had mentioned. Both sides have the 4 gussets, if it helps remains to be seen.
(II) Note the change to the center section on the new vise.
(I) Note the lack of the rabbet, it does give a more square edge....
More to come in the next post.
Ed
Today I will look at the old quick action vise that I have had for years and see how the new version stacks up, and well did I do it again?
The new version was in the in the recent catalog so that another another item got me to my over $75 limit for offered extras. That some how managed to overcome the price threshold that I struggle with. Part number is 556416 if you want to look it up, catalog page 13 if you wish.
I no longer recall when I stepped in to the quick action vise market, had to be a lot of years ago because it seems like I've owned one forever. I have used it so many times and have had no big issues with it. It is a light duty vice and I treat it that way, I have bigger heavy duty vise for the times I need the heft. I've got a couple of "jigs" for mounting the vise to the shopsmith as well as for use on the overhead router table.
The first thing we should do is look at a side by side photo and point out some of the changes that have happened.
This is a higher level review based on visual observations and a few comments as to what the differences might mean it is not meant to be catch all changes and certainly can not contain actual changes which are not visual in nature.
(A) A major change to the handle, the old knurled small dia. one was replaced with a softer grip with a larger circumference, this is both more conformable and should allow you to tighten the new version better then the old version.
(B) The quick release button is nicer on the new model, not sure if any functionality changes were made but the cosmetic effects make it look nicer.
(C) Note the rounder edges on the new version. This may have been an attempt to save a bit of material cost or to off set material costs of the other added refinements, they will be shown soon.
(D) OH look a hole on the new one! To be honest I'm not sure what is is for. Looks like it could hang on a hook for storage that way, or ?
(E) Drive pins are no longer through holes and are of a smaller diameter on the new version. Makes it look nicer but if it ever needs to come apart... well that would be another story.
These next pictures are one at a time views of the vises. This picture is of the old version.
(FF) The attachment point has changed between versions. I'm not sure that was done for manufacturing or because this version had pointed out a weakness that was corrected.
(F) A major change was made from in the gussets. This occurred on both sides of the vice. The old version had a pair gusset on each side of the jaws. They are much less robust then the ones on the new version. Heavier duty for sure but was this needed? I'm questioning that for now.
(G) Both of the jaws in the old vise had these rabbets which I have found to be useful in the past. The new jaws do not have that. I'm unsure if I like that change.
This is the new vise.
(H) This is the added gussets I had mentioned. Both sides have the 4 gussets, if it helps remains to be seen.
(II) Note the change to the center section on the new vise.
(I) Note the lack of the rabbet, it does give a more square edge....
More to come in the next post.
Ed