The newer ones simply aren’t as well made and don’t have the durability of their predecessors?I’d go for a good old one rather than a new one.
There are plenty of vice spotters here to tell you the ins and outs of the makes but I have a few record ones and am happy with them.
I've been in the same boat, and would second the "old is better" advice. A 6" Jaw Vice is though a very big and heavy beastie - unless you're planning on some very heavy engineering it might be a bit big?I’m succumbing to the idea of an Irwin Record 6” would this be a good place to start?
^^^Absolutely!
if you want an indestructible vice, go for a older record “all steel” version.
Can’t beat a Ridgid toolI'm fortunate in that I've already got old 4" and 6" Record vices but wanted a quality, smaller vice that I knew I could bolt down to my welding bench; after much toing and froing I ended up buying a new German-made forged steel vice made by Peddinghaus and sold by Ridgid tools in the UK. It arrived next day and I'm mighty impressed with it - I went for the small 100mm:
I nearly got a nice Fortis all-steel but was too slow! I also fancied finding a nice Woden or such like just to be different... but my Record came up on Marketplace 5-miles from my houseKeep an eye open for some of the oddball brands - everybody knows Record, but there were some really good quality vices made by less well known companies that might represent a better bargain.
My guess is wild swings with big hammers .The quick release levers always seem to get snapped as well. I’ve no idea how that happens.
Why didn't you buy British?I'm fortunate in that I've already got old 4" and 6" Record vices but wanted a quality, smaller vice that I knew I could bolt down to my welding bench; after much toing and froing I ended up buying a new German-made forged steel vice made by Peddinghaus and sold by Ridgid tools in the UK. It arrived next day and I'm mighty impressed with it - I went for the small 100mm:
Why didn't you buy British?
Apparently still made here.
After leaving the EU why give the Germans money?
It's about trying to keep jobs in Britain which helps the whole economy. Sadly nobody in this country gives it a thought these days. And then they wonder why we are struggling.Must admit I didn't see them; I didn't think that any vices are or were still manufactured in the UK - in fact everything would suggest that production of vices in the UK ceased in 2000 when Record sold off their tooling and production and Irwin tool over? It may well be that Technology Supplies still have sufficient stock to still sell 'British' vices.
(Also, the spacing on my welding table is 100mm and I knew that I could directly bolt on the one I've bought without adaptation.)
Why not? I've also bought Lorch (German) TIG and Böhler (Italian) MIG welding machines over the last year or two so what difference should it make? Oh, and my car is a Japanese-built Mazda.
It's about trying to keep jobs in Britain which helps the whole economy. Sadly nobody in this country gives it a thought these days. And then they wonder why we are struggling.
Not having a go at you personally people need to stop and think. Do they really want to put Britain first or not?
Why didn't you buy British?
Apparently still made here.
After leaving the EU why give the Germans money?
TSL Design Technology Equipment for Schools | Part of WF Education
High quality design technology equipment and furniture for practical technical education in schools and collegeswww.technologysupplies.co.uk
It's about trying to keep jobs in Britain which helps the whole economy. Sadly nobody in this country gives it a thought these days. And then they wonder why we are struggling.
Not having a go at you personally people need to stop and think. Do they really want to put Britain first or not?
The photo shows the casting still has Sheffield England on it so maybe old stock or something?I'd be somewhat wary reading too much in to that, most retailers don't claim they are made in Britain.
If you check out RS they do list country of origin on most of their products now - and some of the "Record" vices are shown as GB, but most of them are "Irwin Record" and these show CN.
So they may simply be old stock in the supply chain - once exhausted no guarantees what you get will be made here. I believe Irwin has no UK production left.
Likewise, I am also fairly sure Faithful vices are not UK made either, in fact that site is the only one that appears to mention it.
I'd like to buy British, but the simple fact is we are not the manufacturing power we used to be, and in a lot of cases you are just buying Chinese that is sold by a British importer at a higher price, nothing particularly patriotic about that.
I'd rather buy a quality tool, regardless of where it comes from in the world. If it happens to be made in the UK, so much the better, but quality and function are the priorities for me.
I agree I would rather buy something Chinese direct than pay triple for the same thing.
Do they really want to put Britain first or not?
I was trying to illustrate the point that if you are buying something made in China anyway then why pay an importer 3x as much for the same thing.Erm...
Ah, gotcha - sorry, misunderstood!I was trying to illustrate the point that if you are buying something made in China anyway then why pay an importer 3x as much for the same thing.
If there is a British version of something I always try to buy it.
Not always easy to tell of course.