A bit off topic (like that has ever made a difference in Open Discussion) but I think you might be a bit mis-led on the proper use of the Man Cave.

Man Caves are where we go to enjoy our "vices". Shucks, you're looking in the wrong places. I'd suggest package liquor stores, cigar emporiums and video stores for a vice or two.

Beer, stogies, profanity and indiscreet farting.

__________________

1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

Sorry, only the cigars hold any attraction for me and I can't smoke them on account of the wife. No, I think my garage will be a decent man cave for my hifalutin activiities when I get it all squared away as I want it. Epoxied floors, my landscape photos on the walls, a rifle cleaning bench, ample work space for miscelaneous projects...

- Peter.

__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

Find an old Wilton or Craftsman from way back when made of American Steel. You can't really go wrong with an old vise, they are not that technologically advanced LOL

I feel ya about finding a vise, took me some time to find one I liked. they just don't make good strong tools like that anymore.

__________________

I got a nice, big Wilton vice at a farm auction a few years ago for $35. I think the bidding would have gone higher, but the buyer was required to take the work bench the vice was bolted to. It was a big, rough-looking bench, about 11 feet long. I wrestled that bench on to my pickup and then wrestled it into a spare room in our barn. Looks like it was made to go there. It is a sweet vice.

See if your local school district is liquidating any old stuff. Usually some of those can be found in piles when old schools close the the wood/metal shop is upgaded at the new school.

I picked up 5 from my old high school for free and I have given all but 1 away. They are from the 60's and are super heavy duty.

Ironic. I work for a school district. We long since got rid of all our shops and shop stuff.

- Peter.

__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

I think that there are still some very nice, "good strong" vises made today - some still in the U.S.A. As noted earlier: bring money.

Really good old stuff for the right price will always yield more bang for the buck.

It's a damn shame.

At my high school they took over the shop and made it into a damn pottery class. We don't need a damn pottery class. We needed new tools and more materials so students could learn a trade. My area is full of kids that need to be off the streets and making pottery really isn't a career.

Have you tried craigslist?

__________________
-Typos courtesy of my mobile phone.

bench vise reviews

http://www.google.com/search?q=bench+vise&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1&rlz=#hl=en&expIds=17259,25907,27585,27955&sugexp=ldymls&xhr=t&q=bench+vise+reviews&cp=11&pf=p&sclient=psy&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&source=hp&aq=0&aqi=&aql=&oq=bench+vise+&gs_rfai=&pbx=1&fp=ea5733a97aebfa72


Alternative suppliers.

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg/search.shtml?op=search&N=12010&in_dim_search=1

http://www.mcmaster.com/#

http://www.google.com/search?q=bench+vise&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1&rlz=





.

__________________
ASE Master Mechanic

Prototype R&D/testing:
Thermal & Aerodynamic System Engineering (TASE) Senior vehicle instrumentation technician.
Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH).
Dynamometer.
Heat exchanger durability.
HV-A/C Climate Control.
Vehicle build.
Fleet Durability
Technical Quality Auditor.
Automotive Technical Writer

1985 300SD
1983 300D

https://www.boldegoist.com/

Too bad, I made a very nice bong in my high school shop class.

Off topic, but somewhat germain. My wife a few years ago recieved a NASA explorer schools grant to try to engender an interest in science in school kids. It involved some neat stuff, she and other staff went to several conferences at NASA centers such as the Cape, Nasa Dryden, etc. Wife got to see the shuttle in the VAB adn land an F18 on a carrier in the sim at Dryden, but I digress. Thing is that one of the events was to have actual NASA people visit the school and talk to the students, I think in my wifes case it was some engineers and one of the astronauts. Well, her school was a ghetto school and you'd think there was practically nothing in NASA that would relate to those kids worlds. But some of the engineers were apparently quite a hit when they were talking about the kind of fabrication and stuff that goes on there. Many of the kids were into working on vehicles, customizing, lowriders etc. Quite a few of them were amazed to see the kind of technical stuff that happens behind the scenes in an outfit like NASA. Hopefully it might have awakend them to a world they would not otherwise have thought of. Especially since "shop" classes as I said earlier, have long since dissappeared from our district.

- Peter.

__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

I get a lot of tools at garage sales; my vice was a $10 score.

I refuse to spend any time at home depot because of things like spending two hours trying to collect straight untwisted lumber. Our local yards let you pick as long as every thing is put back neatly. One delivers for a nominal (5$) fee and they deliver quality stuff, so now I just call them and the delivery guys will stack it anywhere outside I ask them to.

This thread reminded me I need to get a rifle cleaning bench set up in the barn.....right after I get the dart boards set up in the loft.

__________________
95 E300D gave away
77 300D, 227k, station car
83 300CD 370k, body gone away to the rust gods, engine is in a Yota pickup, going strong
89 190E 2.6- 335k, no more
79 VW FI Bus- 154k summer driver
59 VW Beetle ragtop- 175k
12 VW Jetta- 250k
74 MG Midget-78k