Milling Vise

[dnp101677]

I was wondering what people are using for milling vises in this hobby. I really don't want to spend the money for a Kurt (although it would be nice). I bought an Enco brand swivel base vise and I am really unhappy with it. I like the swivel base, but the vise is just not made very well. Isn’t there something in the middle (price wise) that is precise enough for building model engines? I saw the vise in the link below on eBay, but I have never heard of this brand and don't know how good they are. Thank you in advance for your thoughts.

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Glacern-GSV...QQptZBI_Tool_Work_Holding?hash=item3efcd50630

 

[hobby]

I like the scewless vises sold almost anywhere, but "little machine shop .com", sells them and are affordable, you can buy the small ones all the way to the big size, I like the ones with the clamping slots all the way around, easier to clamp to the table, in any position.

 

[kcmillin]

Grizzly Industrial sells a 4, 5, and 6 inch vice. I have the 5 inch, it cost about $120 usd. I have been verry satisfied with this vice, it is a lockdown style like the Kurt, however the Kurt vice has a thrust bearing on the vice screw. For hobby use, the grizzly is the best choice, and at 20% of the Kurt cost, it is well worth it. It came with a swivel base, But I rarley use it. Currently I only have the vice mounted to the table.

I made this vice using my grizzly vice.
http://www.homemodelenginemachinist.com/index.php?topic=8185.0

Kel

 

[Mainer]

I've got a Kurt, but I've heard that these are pretty good: http://www.glacern.com/machine_vises

 

[shred]

A friend with Kurts and Parlecs got a Glacern and likes it. It's definitely a step above the Enco and discount importer ones, though the one he has is the double-6" version which is pretty huge unless you're running a VMC or something.

Last I checked a while back you could get a used 6" Kurt on eBay or wherever for about what a new import 6" would run, but the smaller sizes are much more in demand.