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Thread: Small mill vice

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Tamworth, NSW
    Posts
    202

    Default Small mill vice

    I am looking for a small vice for my BCA jig borer (mini mill if you will) and wondered what members miht reccoemnd? There are lots on ebay and similar sites with chinese origin and of course they all say they are precision but I have no idea of teh actual quality. I would like to support local businesses and found Dawn makes a screwless 50mm vice that looks like it has the right sze for me but we are getting close to $500 for one of these. Of course without seeing and using one of these versus a lower priced unit I have no idea of how much difference there may be between them. Other brands that I have heard are very good include Vertex and Kurt but upon looking at these they are making the Dawn look not so dear.

    Anyone used one of the Dawn tolroom vices? What has your experience been at the lower end of the market?

    Link to Dawn vice: Toolmakers Vices (dawntools.com.au)

    The vice will be mounted onto a rotary table so no desire of rotating bases etc.

    At the moment I have one of these and am not particularly impressed by it's quality.
    SIEG 100mm Quick Clamp Machine Vice (ausee.com.au)

    Ian

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    South of Adelaide
    Posts
    1,225

    Default

    I don't think those toolmakers vices are made here in Australia. They look exactly the same as the generic ones from china, and it doesn't say any where that they are made in Australia.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Tamworth, NSW
    Posts
    202

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by snapatap View Post
    I don't think those toolmakers vices are made here in Australia. They look exactly the same as the generic ones from china, and it doesn't say any where that they are made in Australia.

    I didn't think of that - I assumed Dawn would make these but maybe not?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2020
    Location
    Freo
    Age
    68
    Posts
    141

    Default

    Check out M&G Productions. I have bought quite a lot from them and they do seem to sell good stuff.

    http://www.mag-pro.com.au/goods.php?id=454 100mm? $140
    Precision tool vices QKG73_Machine Tool Access._M&G Productions 73mm? $70

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2020
    Location
    Cowaramup WA
    Posts
    28

    Default

    There's a Dawn catalogue from 2017 online that shows which of their products are Australian made. Unfortunately the 50mm Toolmakers vices are not. They also mention the Aussie made vices have a 25yr warranty, however no mention of any warranty at all on the other products. You'd assume there would be a higher level of QC with a Dawn vs an Ebay vice, but you're paying a pretty high premium for it.

    I've always found Vertex to be good quality for the price, though there doesn't seem to be much available in Aus. Rotagrip in the UK seems to have a fair selection, and reasonably priced, though you'll likely get stung on postage.

    General Tools in SA has a 3" Vertex Quick set vice, but that's probably a little large for the BCA.

    I've had a 75mm Import Toolmaker vice for awhile; it has been fine for milling, but I can see the irregularities in it when tramming it in.

    As usual it'll come done to what you want to use it for.

    Dave.

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