[paid4c4]

I have a big vise on my garage work bench but I'm looking for a vise more appropriate for working on 1911's at my smaller work bench in my shop. Any suggestions?
Thank You;
Bill

 

[Kruzr]

The Parrot vise from Grizzly works well.

http://www.grizzly.com/products/Parrot-Vise-/D3125

 

[TMyers]

I bought two of the Parrots from Grizzly. I kept one and gave one to my buddy. His stripped the first time he used it. Mine has been fine. Not bad for the money.

 

[BBBBill]

One of the smaller Wilton "bullet" machinist vices. US made, quality, won't break like Chinese scrap metal. The only down side is the price. Quality costs. They come in fixed or swivel, 3", 3-1/2", 4", 4-1/2", 5", 6", 8" jaw widths.

 

[Vin63]

I use my shop vises, but made a set of aluminum jaw covers and have a set of hard rubber covers for more delicate stuff.

 

[StrikerDown]

I bought a Parrot from Grizzly. It works well and it is similar to this one from Brownells:
http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-t...essories/bench-vises/multi-vise--prod361.aspx
The Brownells Multi vise would be my first choice if money were no object!

I also have a 3" Wilton Bullet Machinist vise I picked up, new in box, real cheap on eBay. It was well worth the $100.00 I paid but again if $ were no object I would get a larger version, 4.5 or 5 inch. In this size they get extremely heavy & Mass is your friend when breaking loose very tight parts, like sights. ebay has lots of Wilton's all the time in all sizes. They can be almost new or even WWII vintage! They last for a very long time with just a little bit of maintenance!

I don't expect the parrot to last for a real long time but for the price they are not too bad. Like most things made in China if you can disassemble it and clean the crap out of the bearing surfaces re-grease and re-assemble and you will be rewarder with a smoother operating, longer lasting tool!

Edit:
Here is a Shop Fox (same as Parrot) from Midway (on sale) http://www.midwayusa.com/product/511694/shop-fox-gunsmith-vise

 

[Bob T]

I have two 6" and a 4" Record, excellent vises. I picked up one of these so I could do light sanding and filing away from my bench(at my desk in the office)' and this HF thing clamps to any table and holds surprisingly well.

http://www.harborfreight.com/2-1-2-half-inch-table-swivel-vise-97160.html

 

[David Panciotti]

I have a big vise on my garage work bench but I'm looking for a vise more appropriate for working on 1911's at my smaller work bench in my shop. Any suggestions?
Thank You;
Bill

I have never wished I had a smaller vise, only bigger. I can see where you are coming from though.

I have had good luck with the 50 dollar 4 inch swivel vise Craftsman offers. It has reverseable jaws too.

 

[jtaylor996]

I got a blem parrot off amazon for cheap. They always have a few in stock.

 

[elktalker]

I have a parrot vise 3" jaws, great for most handgun work. A good vise is far from cheap, being low on funds bought from Lowes a super heavy decent made 5" jaw for $75.00. I was surprised at the quality coming from China & oh how I hate sending money to the enemy. I tore here down greased the shaft & works very nice. I may though have to very soon depart with them both.

 

[txtard]

Keep an eye on craigslist. That's where I found my 4 inch Wilton for 30 bux.

 

[frwillia]

I bought the Parrot to use while re-barreling and bedding rifles (I buy barrel blanks, chamber them, machine them to fit the action on my own rifles).

The Parrot vise was a mistake. The nut stripped about the second time I used it. Had to make a new one and a converted to 1/2-13 threaded rod. It still doesn't work as well as I'd like. If at all possible, buy the Brownell's vise the Parrot is a copy of. That said, the vise jaw pads Brownell's sells can be modified (slots milled out a bit wider) to fit the Parrot. Those work well.

Fitch