S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
25
|
26
|
27
|
28
|
29
|
30
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums10
Topics38,579
Posts546,661
Members14,425
|
Most Online1,344 Apr 29th, 2024
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,737
Sidelock
|
OP
Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,737 |
OY! With all these conflicting posts I feel like going in the cellar and putting my head in a vise! I guess if I have to go mobile and drive around today I can wear a C-clamp....
But I don't want to sound ungrateful, as I do appreciate all the advice you guys took the time to post.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 4,507 Likes: 213
Sidelock
|
Sidelock
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 4,507 Likes: 213 |
Harris Highwall, You are correct that theirs is not "Bridgeport", but we all don't do this for a living and can't depreciate the cost of equipment.I'll have to admit I have only bought small "stuff" from them, but the quality is on par with price. BTY, except for the "Heavy 10", Grizzly carries all the South Bends, Buck Chucks, Pratt Burnerd chucks;not too many people think they are cheap. I find that if I work the "off brand" drills over first with my Darax,they usually drill.No one thinks my time is worth anything, so this doesn't cost me any thing.Their Chinese gunsmith lathes have some good features(BTY Southbend is made in China now, as are a lot of other American Names). Mike
Last edited by Der Ami; 01/15/14 03:53 PM.
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,264 Likes: 83
Sidelock
|
Sidelock
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,264 Likes: 83 |
Hi Marc, Probably far more important then the vise you buy is the setting up of the vise. You can buy any good quality vise (good quality!) and it will work fine. Man if shipping wasn't so expensive I would give you one.
Setup: #1 if the bench is wimpy the vise will suck. Make sure it is rigid. #2 Height is very important, when you stand next to the vise the top of the jaws should be the same height as your elbow. If the height isn't right you can not file square. Everything you do will be tapered (at an angle)
As suggested earlier use only smooth faced jaws no knurl or teeth. Make a set of wooden jaw covers. I actually made my jaws out of brass and the wooden jaws pin on to the brass so they stay in place.
If when you buy a vise and the jaws have teeth take them to a machine shop and have the teeth surface ground to remove them.
Call if you have a question, you have my number.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,737
Sidelock
|
OP
Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,737 |
Well, Mike, you just sent my mood plummeting. "Southbend is made in China now".........
But you know what's really sad? I wasn't that surprised.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 245
Sidelock
|
Sidelock
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 245 |
The South Bend company is long gone. Grizzly bought the name and produces lathes under that name which bear no resemblance to any original South Bend lathe. They are warmed over Chinese imports. They are not among the worst of the import lathes, but carry a higher price tag due to the South Bend name tag.
Jim H.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 74
Sidelock
|
Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 74 |
Mike,
You are right ... machinist stuff is very expensive.
I think we almost all face the bang for the buck issues... just trying to help.
to save money I would advise high quality made in USA at auction cheap
not imported junk that is a handicap
I mostly use smaller drills buy the best I can find use till loosing their edge and throw them out
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 4,507 Likes: 213
Sidelock
|
Sidelock
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 4,507 Likes: 213 |
Harris, Most of my equipment is American,from auctions,Flea markets,or want adds, including real South Bend, Clausing,Index,Brown and Sharp, and Atlas.Its hard to say worn out/abused American Equipment is that much better than new Foreign "stuff".A lot of people are not inclined to take apart and rebuild an american lathe or mill and I'm too old to do it again.It often comes down to the question of buying something you can afford,or forget the whole thing and waste your time on golf.
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,264 Likes: 83
Sidelock
|
Sidelock
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,264 Likes: 83 |
Sounds like experience talking LOL JK
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 4,507 Likes: 213
Sidelock
|
Sidelock
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 4,507 Likes: 213 |
No, not yet.I just bought what I could afford and learned to live with it. Mike
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 8,158 Likes: 114
Sidelock
|
Sidelock
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 8,158 Likes: 114 |
Wilton~Wilton~Wilton~Wilton on the benches. Along with, 4 drillpress, 2 mill, mini, swivel, pana etc. etc, etc. The last two 4" Wilton Cadet,used, eBay $130-$160, good buys at that. You'd think this a whorehouse-casino-opium den-moshe pit with all the vises I've got around here. … and one of those halfass plastic gun vises I never use. And a perfectly good Columbian USA I'd sell cheap.
Jerry Fisher has two big Parkers with swivel jaw, one for more than 40 years. Wilton, Parker & Snow, Columbia- I do have a spare 4" swivel bench vise with [pipe jaws and aluminum pads I'd consider selling, but the freight costs would be a *&^%$-- Love the whorehouse analogy here- "Only a pimp in a cheap New Orleans whorehouse would have a cheap chink-made Wally-Mart rinky dink vise"!!!
"The field is the touchstone of the man"..
|
|
|
|
|