Hello everyone, i have a 2hp benchtop mill and i'm tired of just clamping everything down to the table. I am looking for a 6" vise or smaller but have no idea who is a good manufacturer, and what i should pay for a quality tool keeping within "hobbyist" budgets. Inexpensive is a relative term, so i guess i should say which manufacturer/reseller provides the best price/performance ratio for a hobbyist? Thanks!

This is one area where going inexpensive may lead to more frustration than it is worth; go for a good quality vise even if you have to spend so much it hurts. Kurt are good value, not cheap but they are almost indestructable, and the jaw faces are vertical, and parallel with the key slots in the base for aligning on the table

I just "plumped" for a new 4" (100mm for the right minded ;) ) Vertex VA4 Milling vice from Chronos (UK) I'll let you know if it's any good once it arrives! Web linky thingy (http://www.chronos.ltd.uk/acatalog/Chronos_Catalogue_Vertex_Milling_Vices_103.html)

parlec makes a pretty good kurt-like vise for about half the price.

Thanks for the help. From what i gather i'm probably best off trying to find a used american made kurt vice then?

The shop I used to run, we had 8 older Kurts, beat up, but not bad, I rebuilt them all just before I left, it was nice. Where I am at now, my partner had a few cheap crap Enco/Shars vises, and that is what we started with, they sucked, absolutely horrible.

Bought a 6" may/may not be a kurt off ebay, well used, not a Kurt but a decent clone, what a step up. Than we bought a new machine and bought 3 brand spankin new Kurt D688s. What a dream,

I pretty much use softjaws/machined step jaws, these vices do not move, when I need to hold a thickness, it is nuts, well within .001-.002 at worst. Clamping is fantastic, light pressure on the handle and that part is locked down solid.

I may be tainted from my "bad" vise experiences, but just hunker down and buy a good one. I'd give Parlec a shot, I used a few of their toolholders and they were good quality.

.....Than we bought a new machine and bought 3 brand spankin new Kurt D688s. What a dream,....

I think I put this in a different thread a while back; get a Kurt, get a Kurt, get a Kurt

I was wondering if anyone could give me an opinion on what something like this vise would be worth. http://cgi.ebay.com/KURT-HEAVY-DUTY-6-JAW-WORKHOLDING-VISE_W0QQitemZ380002662361QQihZ025QQcategoryZ25297QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

It is within 30 miles of my house so i could save on shipping, but i have no idea what a reasonable maximum price for that vise would be. Anyone have an idea? Thanks!

Touser, that is a double vise, with the center jaw missing, not what you want. The price will probably go fairly high, even though its missing pieces(though it may be a self centering vise??). Look for the D60s, they don't make them anymore, but you can still buy all the parts and pieces, or the D675, a D688 is probably overkill for your machine, though they are nice.

Don't skimp on the vise, a crappy vise is nothing but aggravation, and can really make you think you don't know what you are doing. It will pay for itself really quick.

Greetings Touser. Have you considered machining your own?
Had a vocational teacher once that demanded we make our own
basic tools and eqiupment. Just a thought.
Jim

Thank you all for the advice. I think for now i will keep a look out for any deals on the kurt D675 series, however i dont want to spend more than $400 shipped sense a vise is more of a luxury item than necessity for me.

Jhurst54: No, i hadn't even considered machining my own, and to be honest i am definitely not skilled enough to do so. I'm just a guy who bought a cnc mill off ebay and am trying to teach myself everything from the ground up with no outside help except for these forums and google. I've definitely gained a lot more respect for machinists :)

Not inexpensive but I kind of like the looks of these.
http://www.machinerycanada.com/gerardi%20vises%20special.htm

Touser, go to J&L industrial, and sign up to get their sales flyers and e-mail deals. They do a 25% off at least once a month, and occasionally they throw in free shipping.

Picked up 3 D688s right before X-mas, 25% off and free shipping, they came second day air. It was by far the best price I could find, occasionally they will have 35% off workholding, which should include vises.