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Posted: 12/6/2011 10:44:24 AM EDT
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I am in the process of getting the parts lists together for a complete upper build, and I thought that it might be a good idea to have all of the tools first, before I start buying the parts. I'm too impatient and would start without the proper tools and F' up either myself, or some parts (or both) in the process...
I am planning on starting with the vise (bench mounted). how much travel should i be looking into for the vise. I know that I am going to need a receiver block to bolt up the new barrel, and I don't know how wide they will be? there is a significant difference in the $$$ of the 4" v. the 6" vises; do I need the 6"? Thank you all again. |
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I would get the biggest in your budget. That said, my gunsmithing/reloading table has a 3" vise ($19 @ harbor freight on black friday) on it and I have never needed anything bigger and I have built up AR15s and worked on my shotguns, 10/22s, pistols..
I used to have a 6" vise and it was just in the way most of the time. If I had more room I would have kept it (or even gotten bigger) but I don't have more room so it went. |
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If you aren't mechanically inclined (or a gearhead) go for the midway vice recommended...
If you are mr. fixit, but the biggest, baddest vice you can get. A 6" is good, that can swivel with a QUALITY locking base and handle. If it has the option for jaw pads, even better...but you can make your own with wood, delrin, leather, etc. Heavy is good, and have a good SOLID mount. There is nothing worse than a cheap vice that won't clamp, has a swivel base that won't lock, and a cheap handle that bends at the first opportunity. Do it once, do it right. Afterall, you'll end up using it a LOT more than you think. |
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I bought a used vice on Ebay that is made in the USA. It's way better than the junk that is made in china.
+1,000,000. I inherited a vise from my grandfather. Gotta be atleast 50 years old. Made In America stamped huge on one side. Sucker is built, like throw it from a speeding train pick it up and go use it built. If you can find one like that on eBay, probably your best deal. |
Dude, you can really drop some dollars on an expensive vise... but i see no point in it...!!! i bought my father a real expensive wilton vise about 10yrs ago or so, becuase i had borrowed his vise one time, and threw it in the back of my truck to give it back to him... but left in there for a little over a week, and then one day i was out doing alot of shopping, and some one stole it right from the back of my truck... so i bought him a Wilton Vise to replace it, and i bought myself a couple of good o'l Harbor Freight vise's, i bought all 3 the same weekend and i tell you what... i have used the hell out of mine and they have not let me down yet... my father hardly use's his vise, and not to say my low cost harbor freight vise's are better... But if i would have known then, that these Harbor freight vise's would hold up as well as they have, i would have bought my father one of these instead, and saved myself a couple hundred bucks...
point is... you can spend well into around $300 dollars or more for a wilton, but a $40.00 harbor frieght vise will do the same damn thing...! 
i use a 4" Harbor freight inside on my reload room on a nice good ol' heavy work bench next to my reload bench... and i swear by it... it has giving me plenty of good servic and dont plan on replaceing it anytime soon... its all i need to do all the Gunsmithing i need... i have a 6" harbor freight vise on the work bench in garage that i hardly ever use but it there in case i need to do some mechanic work or something bigger... maybe used it a few times but mostly as an anvil to bang on something, for the most part its just there in the way...!!! I think the 4" vise, will do any, and all jobs, that you might need for your gunsmithing projects... and sometimes a smaller vise is handy'er than a big O bulky vise, indoors...!!! JMO 
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| I got a 5" vise from Harbor Freight on sale for $25.00 a long time ago. That vise has had a lot of uppers taken apart and assembled and held all sorts of things taken some moderate abuse and works still works as good a a US made vise that costs hundreds more. At that price point, when it breaks I will go get another. |
| Go big or go home! I wouldn't spend big money either. I've got an old Harbor Freight vice that has been to hell and back. Still works like any other vice I've ever come across. As was said above...If you're at all handy, you'll find yourself using the vice for plenty of other projects. I wouldn't buy one with only the rifle in mind. |
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