PanaVise (or other vise recommendation)

[southpier]

is it a worthwhile investment or superfluous piece of kit?

and if so, which of the bazillion variations is most helpful to start?

[1930fordpickup]

They are nice to use. I have the one that has a suction cup base. I just use it on a piece of tile for floors on my work area. The vise can be moved on and off the bench fast that way it is not in the way when not in use. I like mine. I do not use it all the time but when I do it is worth the money.

[DrGlueblob]

I've had mine for many years. It's a suction-base model but I ended up deep-sixing the rubber gizmo because it wouldn't work reliably. Now, with just the metal base it has become a most-used tool on my bench.

With any vise, find one that you can close the jaws together without any 'slop'. The Panavise has a fine adjustment with no slop.

Btw, the model you have pictured is THE one to get.

Edited January 9, 2015 by DrGlueblob

[southpier]

thanks.

I do think I owe it to myself!

[DrGlueblob]

Yeah, they're a mite expensive, but go to any high-end electronics shop and that's all you'll see.

Stick your finger between the vise jaws.. You can tighten this baby in such fine increments, its rare to break a fragile part in it. You can get metal jaws as an option, but the plastic ones that come with the vise work better for just about all applications. In fact, tool geek that I am, I've never needed any of the optional bases or heads Panavise offers. So I 'saved' money right there.

[Foxer]

After hemming and hawing for years looking at vises' I got the Panavise you picture. It's bolted to my side bench and has seen much duty. I am completly appy with everything about this tool.

[Miatatom]

You can get a cheap knock off at Harbor Freight for $16.99. I've got 2 of them, bolted to 2x6s. They work great!

http://www.harborfreight.com/2-3-4-quarter-inch-articulated-vacuum-vise-3311.html

[southpier]

thanks for that link. know how sometimes you'll see something - a cocker spaniel for instance - and notice it for the first time? now that i'm "in the market" for a hobby vise, they're popping up like dandelions.

saw one in the big box store, and the same one is less than 15$ @ amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Bessey-BVVB-Vacuum-Base-Vise/dp/B0057PUR88

i'll probably end up with a panavise based on user feedback, but it's fun to see the options.