Found a Record vise

[wood wrangler]

After reading how some people don't like Chinese-made vises because of the quality of the metal and the lower-precision tolerances, I set on tracking down a Record vise of the English vintage. Surprisingly, it didn't take me long to find one on Craigslist for much less than the $200-300 eBay prices!

I just got a 52ED, 12 yrs old but never mounted, for $75 plus shipping!

Now I'm halfway thru making a proper workbench to hold it - which finally gets me away from using my BT as a table. And having to clear it off all the time to cut something.

If I can get thru making my first set of drawers, I'll finally start to feel like I can get stuff done! Well, maybe once I successfully make panel doors for the first time....

[cabinetman]

Congratulations...great find, and a great price.

.

[LCHIEN]

Here's some good info on mounting record vises:
http://www2.woodcraft.com/pdf/77A01.pdf

You got a good deal.
Don't read this:
http://www.bt3central.com/showthread...=Big+lots+vise

[Pappy]

I scored 2 several years ago in one of the Big Lot frenzies. Both are still in the boxes and I couldn't tell you where they were made. At the price I paid, probably China.

Good find on an original.

[Stytooner]

I got one back then too, Pappy.
Mine has the quick jaw lever. I don't recall where it was made, but I guess I have used mine almost daily since then and it still works great.
I am NOT a light user either.

[gsmittle]

Just for the record YOU SUCK!!!!

g.

[Stytooner]

Pun intended?

[cabinetman]

Mounting wood faces on the jaws will protect your work. You might use some magnetic sheet to make them removable/interchangeable.

.

[gsmittle]

Pun intended?

Yep!

g.

[DaveStL]

Setting a Record

Hi, haven't posted in a long time, but saw this thread and thought I'd share some experience. Good score, BTW.

I built a new workbench top recently, installed my old Record 52 1/2 ED on the left front, and purchased an Anant 7 1/2" from Amazon for the other end. LCHIEN's link is pretty much what used to come with the Record vises. I used the "Flush Mount Behind Apron" method and inset a cheek that covered more of the face into the apron. If you do that, be prepared to shim to get the inner jaw face square w/ the bench. The English vise took more shimming than the Indian, but they are different models.

Anant reportedly purchased the Record tooling. Highland used to say so on their website, but they no longer carry those vises. Here's an old BT3Central thread on the subject:
http://www.bt3central.com/showthread.php?t=25314
I'm not sure if the the 52ED was a 7 or 7 1/2".

Nice vise, have fun w/ it!

[wood wrangler]

Thanks guys. Yeah, lots of things had a time when they were super cheap and I don't fret missing the best of the sales. I've sold some old game stuff that I got for nothing brand new years ago (discounted Walmart clearance shelf) and made 5x that on eBay. That pays for those super awesome sales you miss and bang your head for it.

Overall, I like to think I'm coming out ahead. About 10 yrs ago I got a PC router (690?) with three bases (std, plunge and D) for like $180 new. I've only recently starting getting good use out of it - and snagged a router mounting kit for the BT after starting to make my own. So the std base is permanently under the saw and I still have two for hand work (haven't used the plunge yet though). And this weekend I hope to pick up a bunch of old Pony 3/4" pipe clamps from a pro cabinet maker who's unloading then @ $10 ea.

Now I gotta get those drawers done for the new workbench and get the vise mounted.....

[Carpenter96]

I recently had the opportunity to get a Record vise for free, and installed it on my workbench, what a difference from my old Tiawanese vise. Even the Lee Valley vises (We have a dozen at work) don't even come close to the quality of the old Record. Regards Bob