Brief History of Wilton Bullet Vises

[@TheCowboylogic]

Best machinist vice ever made.

[@randyroy4074]

Been a machinist 50 years. I collect all kinds of vises. I have 3 bullets. Hard to beat vintage Wilton on quality.

[@toebarsrealm3773]

I just overhauled my old wilton vise (1966 date stamp) and really enjoyed learning more about it. Vid posted on my channel if interested.

[@GoldmansGarage]

I’ll check it out

[@shopdoc]

I 100% agree on the quality of the Wilton versus the others. They are not at the same level of the older manufacturers mentioned here. Good info...thanks!

[@GoldmansGarage]

Nothing wrong with them. Still high quality. Just not in my opinion the highest. I also like the aesthetic of the older style reed athol prentiss etc

[@meFatuations]

You have not supplied any information to back your claim. Why do you 100% agree? Based on what?

[@shopdoc]

@@meFatuations haha! Well as far as providing information to back my claim…..I have none nor am I obliged to provide any. My claim is absolutely based on experience. I have owned hundreds of these vises and it is clear to me that Wilton vises are not in the same league when it comes to quality construction as Reed, Athol, Charles Parker, and others of the era. That is my opinion and it’s okay to disagree.

[@nicodemus7784]

i would be curious to see a video of you explaining how and why you rank vises and manufacturers. And to why you think of wiltons as lower tier compared to others.

[@GoldmansGarage]

@@nicodemus7784 I just might. However it comes down to overall manufacturing quality and durability. Wilton’s have a very cool aesthetic having taken the “bullet” form that York originally created and making it sleeker. The fine threading of the main screw and long rear pinned vise nut allow for very fine control on clamping for fine and detailed work. However for more forceful work the dynamic jaw and slide the jaws towers and especially the jaw shelf and the rounded slide are very fragile. If using the swivel base the connections are very thin. The majority of vise users in a shop environment are not known for the excessive care they give. Based on these and other elements I rank Wilton bullet style vises squarely in the middle to lower end. A jeweler or engraver will never notice the issues I see as flaws. A light home user or occasional user will never notice. A daily use for any sort of metal fabrication will notice quickly

[@nicodemus7784]

@@GoldmansGarage some of those are fair points, i love how precise my wilton is, that is why it took me 3.5 years to find and get my hands on one that i could restore that didnt cost me my first born. and why i bought a second larger 5 inch wilton right after i completed my restoration of my 4.5 inch, especially for the price that was asked. if i were a metal fabricator, i would probably buy one of the clunky beefy boys if i needed to beat on stuff but use the wilton for more general or delicate work. maybe i just have more appreciation for using the "right" tool for a given job. i have had a vintage jewlers vise for years that i pull out when i need to work on small stuff.

[@GoldmansGarage]

@@nicodemus7784 one of the items I’m seeking is a jewelers 1 3/4 or 2” prentiss vises. And I agree the right tool for the job when possible

[@nicodemus7784]

@@GoldmansGarage you break far fewer tools when you use the tool meant for the job you are trying to do. if you are wailing on piece of metal with a 3lb mini sledge, yeah, you may break your 3 inch wilton vise. lol yeah, i have no idea who made my jeweler vise, its like 2 inch jaw, clamps to a table top, worked great for small filing jobs. but even just considering the size difference between my 4.5 in and 5 inch wiltons, it should be obvious that they are not for doing all of the same jobs, the 5 inch is substantially beefier

[@GoldmansGarage]

@@nicodemus7784 if you ever have the opportunity to see any 8” vises. Reed athol prentiss Wilton etc. they dwarf the 5” they dwarf the 6”

[@ypaulbrown]

hey, I am 144.....cheers from Florida,

[@GoldmansGarage]

Welcome aboard!

[@ypaulbrown]

enjoy your passion........new sub here

[@GoldmansGarage]

@@ypaulbrown welcome and enjoy

[@JacobAHull-nx6rx]

2hat do you think of Columbian. I jus5 picked up a 504

[@GoldmansGarage]

Columbians are very underrated. Considered very reliable and great users. For some reason they are often undervalued and don’t command great price

[@meFatuations]

You have given absolutely no information why you rate Wilton below others is quality. This feels like misinformation since I looked up the other vices you mentioned and I see what appear to be inferior vices. The Wilton machinist bullet vice is an example of the quality that Wilton is capable of (made in the USA, even today). I am not providing information about why I think this is a great vice, but I am not making a video on the history of Wilton vices.

[@Dancing_Alone_wRentals]

I have a vise that was probably a cheaper clone of a Wilton. You are right...that Wilton name is second only to Skilsaw in popularity.

[@GoldmansGarage]

It was a truly brilliant strategy as I mentioned copied from Bridgeport (I’m sure other brands and makers did similar). By training in those specific brands and styles it made every graduate want the same tools they learned on.

[@Dancing_Alone_wRentals]

So true so true @@GoldmansGarage My Snap on addiction is rooted in the second shop I worked at. (I don't even recall what tools the first shop had). It was that second shop that taught me, so I too started buying Snap on.