Haggerleases Posted November 17, 2020 Share Posted November 17, 2020 Hi all. Can anyone recommend a good quality small vise for 4mm scale loco building and so on? What's everyone using? Many thanks H. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete_mcfarlane Posted November 17, 2020 Share Posted November 17, 2020 I've got one of these and they are really good. They are clones of far more expensive Swiss made vices: https://www.cooksongold.com/Jewellery-Tools/Precision-Bench-Vice-prcode-997-1080?gclid=Cj0KCQiAhs79BRD0ARIsAC6XpaW7dHsnhJoawimoXy-r1WufiUIDSvQvxtvNnxtevc6TJIPX4GTYiCsaAqK7EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds There's a mounting plate that you screw to your work bench (or to a board) and the vice slides in with a locking lever to hold it in place. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
D-A-T Posted November 17, 2020 Share Posted November 17, 2020 Following a previous recommendation on here I also have the Cookson vice. It’s very well designed and manufactured. Thoroughly recommended. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haggerleases Posted November 18, 2020 Author Share Posted November 18, 2020 Thanks guys, looks good to me. Just what I was after. H. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hayfield Posted November 18, 2020 Share Posted November 18, 2020 When I bought my first property the previous owner left a large Record vice in the shed, this has been with me for over 40 years now and was shocked to find they are well over £100 now. For my railway/work room I bought a very heavy 4" vice exceptionally cheaply from Lidl, think it was £10 or £15, whilst not engineering quality does everything I want for 4 & 7mm modelling 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Daddyman Posted November 18, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 18, 2020 19 hours ago, pete_mcfarlane said: I've got one of these and they are really good. They are clones of far more expensive Swiss made vices: https://www.cooksongold.com/Jewellery-Tools/Precision-Bench-Vice-prcode-997-1080?gclid=Cj0KCQiAhs79BRD0ARIsAC6XpaW7dHsnhJoawimoXy-r1WufiUIDSvQvxtvNnxtevc6TJIPX4GTYiCsaAqK7EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds There's a mounting plate that you screw to your work bench (or to a board) and the vice slides in with a locking lever to hold it in place. It looks like the jaws can be replaced on this - is that right? As far as I can tell it's exactly the same as the one Eileen's sell for £90 (Cookson for £74.57 with postage). Dave Bradwell told me he got one of these (from Cookson) that was a dud, and a second that he still had to fettle ("required dismantling and filing and is still not there yet"). He recommended (a) getting the real deal Swiss tool that this is a copy of for £200, or failing that (b) actually going to Cookson to inspect if possible, but given the current situation, you're buying on a wing and a prayer. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
'CHARD Posted November 18, 2020 Share Posted November 18, 2020 Oh.... I saw the title and was avidly scanning the topic. Seems that I was mistaken, better up the strength of my medication. Again. 1 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PenrithBeacon Posted November 18, 2020 Share Posted November 18, 2020 Eileen sells good quality small vices. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
micknich2003 Posted November 18, 2020 Share Posted November 18, 2020 Here's my vice, a Record No2, 3/12ins jaws. My wife bought me it from the local "Junk Shop" for less then a "Tenner", being a strong Yorkshire Lass see also carried it home. I have used it for 2mm up to 3/8ins scales, also handy for domestic repair jobs. Moral of story, before spending Mega Bucks look around. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
2mm Andy Posted November 18, 2020 Share Posted November 18, 2020 (edited) Cousins sell a similar vice to the Cookson Gold one; https://www.cousinsuk.com/product/screw-down-1-45mm-jaw-watchmakers I don't have one myself so can't comment on the quality. Andy Edited November 18, 2020 by 2mm Andy 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hayfield Posted November 18, 2020 Share Posted November 18, 2020 Got the price wrong £20, still worth waiting for it to come round again http://offers.kd2.org/en/gb/lidl/pbDLo/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haggerleases Posted November 18, 2020 Author Share Posted November 18, 2020 I've got a Record Number 3, had it for years, but it lives on the dirty bench in the garage. It's great, and excellent quality, but too big and dirty for my workbench upstairs in the man cave. Just after a little vice for smaller, cleaner work. I had a little Record/Irwin vice but it was dreadful. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Daddyman Posted November 18, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 18, 2020 1 hour ago, micknich2003 said: Here's my vice, a Record No2, 3/12ins jaws. My wife bought me it from the local "Junk Shop" for less then a "Tenner", being a strong Yorkshire Lass see also carried it home. I have used it for 2mm up to 3/8ins scales, also handy for domestic repair jobs. Moral of story, before spending Mega Bucks look around. I've met her Mick! Serrated jaws to be avoided for our work though, surely? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Daddyman Posted November 18, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 18, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, 2mm Andy said: Cousins sell a similar vice to the Cookson Gold one; https://www.cousinsuk.com/product/screw-down-1-45mm-jaw-watchmakers I don't have one myself so can't comment on the quality. Andy Looks exactly the same as Cookson's/Eileen's for half/a third of the price. Might be worth a punt. I notice they also sell the Swiss one that these are copied off. Edited November 18, 2020 by Daddyman Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium polybear Posted November 18, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 18, 2020 1 hour ago, micknich2003 said: Here's my vice, a Record No2, 3/12ins jaws. My wife bought me it from the local "Junk Shop" for less then a "Tenner", being a strong Yorkshire Lass see also carried it home. I have used it for 2mm up to 3/8ins scales, also handy for domestic repair jobs. Moral of story, before spending Mega Bucks look around. Mrs MN carried THAT home?? Serious respect. A word of advice .....don't ever get in the way of of a right hook.... 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
micknich2003 Posted November 18, 2020 Share Posted November 18, 2020 David, I have a pair of Copper Clams for fine work. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
5050 Posted November 18, 2020 Share Posted November 18, 2020 16 minutes ago, micknich2003 said: David, I have a pair of Copper Clams for fine work. I use a couple of short lengths of aluminium angle with another pair fitted with some self-adhesive felt. If they get to worn I just cut another couple of pieces. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium polybear Posted November 18, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 18, 2020 42 minutes ago, 5050 said: I use a couple of short lengths of aluminium angle with another pair fitted with some self-adhesive felt. I have the same, though mine have cork tile glued to them - dense and flat, and not slippy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
5050 Posted November 18, 2020 Share Posted November 18, 2020 (edited) 17 minutes ago, polybear said: I have the same, though mine have cork tile glued to them - dense and flat, and not slippy Good idea, I'll try that! Plenty of ally angle left after an abortive idea of making fiddle cassettes. My vice is a 'Record Imp No. 80'. A 3" clamp on type with removeable/reversable jaws. Plenty solid enough for 4mm work (and some household duties too!) and, being clamp on, doesn't take up workspace unnecessarily. I've had it for MANY years and it's still solid. Worth paying for a good reliable brand IMHO. Edited November 18, 2020 by 5050 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
micknich2003 Posted November 18, 2020 Share Posted November 18, 2020 6 hours ago, polybear said: Mrs MN carried THAT home?? Serious respect. A word of advice .....don't ever get in the way of of a right hook.... 5 hours ago, 5050 said: Good idea, I'll try that! Plenty of ally angle left after an abortive idea of making fiddle cassettes. My vice is a 'Record Imp No. 80'. A 3" clamp on type with removeable/reversable jaws. Plenty solid enough for 4mm work (and some household duties too!) and, being clamp on, doesn't take up workspace unnecessarily. I've had it for MANY years and it's still solid. Worth paying for a good reliable brand IMHO. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
micknich2003 Posted November 18, 2020 Share Posted November 18, 2020 Polybear, here is "Mrs N", quite petite, but good strong Yorkshire stuff. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deano747 Posted November 18, 2020 Share Posted November 18, 2020 1 hour ago, micknich2003 said: Polybear, here is "Mrs N", quite petite, but good strong Yorkshire stuff. Little'n looks pretty mean too!!! Regards Deano Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deano747 Posted November 18, 2020 Share Posted November 18, 2020 Oh, and if you want quality and heavy duty, then Record vices!! Although I did pick up a small bench mounted 2 1/2" at a car boot for a fiver which is amazing quality, as in the jaws are parallel!! Pot luck really! Regards Deano Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
micknich2003 Posted November 18, 2020 Share Posted November 18, 2020 5 minutes ago, Deano747 said: Little'n looks pretty mean too!!! Regards Deano Deano, "Little Un" is now in her forty's, and grow up "Mean" and ruled her own kids with a "Rod of Iron". 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PenrithBeacon Posted November 19, 2020 Share Posted November 19, 2020 (edited) 59 minutes ago, Deano747 said: Oh, and if you want quality and heavy duty, then Record vices!! Although I did pick up a small bench mounted 2 1/2" at a car boot for a fiver which is amazing quality, as in the jaws are parallel!! Pot luck really! Regards Deano Many years ago I bought a small Record vice which I still have in a cupboard. It was necessary to screw it down to a small bench which made it very inconvenient to use. I now use a jewellers vice acquired from Eileen which is better in a confined space. Sometimes I use a machine vice for very small items or a hand held vice. A pair of pliers can be useful too. It's a good idea to have a number of options available but the 4mm modeller shouldn't need anything but small equipment. Edited November 19, 2020 by PenrithBeacon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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