You can pay a lot of money for a professional bench vice. Hundreds of pounds if you go to a pro-vice supplier. My first (and only) bench vice was Hilka - not a great make in 1979, and may have cost not much more than a tenner. But it's done me well over the years. Originally blue, I refurbed it many years ago and painted it black. Suddenly last week an urge overcame me to replace it.
After much searching, I decided on a Clarke 5" jaw swivel vice. These come in at under £50, and are a bit rough cast, but plenty good enough for the home mechanic.
here's the old Hilka, looking tired, with the new Clarke behind - perspective is a funny thing though. From this angle they look to be a similar size.
But side by side, it's very different.
Here I've liberated the swivel, and you can see how it works. The vice bolts to the middle ring which sits under the ring on the right which is bolted to the bench.
Here the old vice is removed, and the new vice is stripped for painting. Second from the left is the female elongated nut which fits inside the anvil section, and this was a bit loose. Note that the vice is located directly over a bench leg, which takes the strain when hammering something mercilessly from above.
Here the base has been primed, and placed ready for the holes to be drilled. I found a piece of scrap aluminium which will provide a good base on which the swivel can turn. I also found an offcut of L section which has slotted down the front.
Holes drilled.
Here you can see the fixings. Long through bolts with penny washers & lock washers. All dabbed with Locktite. The base is now painted - it looks silver but is VW Jade Green - I had a can in the garage. It's a Passat colour. The base is well greased for ease of turning.
Base now bolted down. Female elongated nut in place. Jaws removed for fettling.
Re-assembled with L profiled offcuts as jaw protectors.
Compare this to how it looked when it arrived...........
