From: none@none.com99   
      
   On 1/21/2026 11:50 AM, Bob La Londe wrote:   
   > My CNC machines have limited work envelopes.  As a result I have   
   > modified a number of screwless vises to maximize use of the work   
   > envelope.  3 are 6.6 x 11.8 and only after I reconfigured the software.   
   > I long ago figured out a modified 5 inch vise with jaws machined back or   
   > other modifications worked best for y, and a 6 inch was an "okay   
   > compromise for X.  In fact a pair of 5 screwless vises modified to match   
   > would give the most working envelope.  I only have one five inch   
   > screwless vise.  I've been using six inch on the other two machines.   
   >   
   > Technically they are 4.72 (120mm) wide by 5.91 (150mm) jaw opening.  In   
   > the past I have just machined away part of the jaws, to provide wide   
   > opening, and small step jaw, and clearance for through holes in mold   
   > plates.  I think this time I'll do it differently.  Machine a grove on   
   > the flat tops of the jaws to add a secondary jaw.  Z height is limited   
   > on the smaller machines, but since I am almost exclusively machining   
   > plate no thicker than an inch it shouldn't be an issue to raise the work   
   > piece a little.  If I do have to work on somethign outside my normal   
   > scope I am charging extra for it anyway, so taking down the default   
   > setup is not a big deal.   
   >   
   > I have been wanting some screwless vises in this size class for a while,   
   > but they all seem to be over priced compared to smaller and even some   
   > bigger options.  A while back I found some from Tormach of all places. I   
   > put six of them in my shopping cart and saw I qualified for free basic   
   > shipping.  I didn't want to spend the time, and I forgot about them.   
   > Yesterday I was looking up something else on the Tormach website and saw   
   > they were still in my shopping cart, still a great price, and still free   
   > shipping.  I figured I better get them while they were still available.   
   >   
   > Now I might have some use for that surface grinder Jim was talking   
   > about, or maybe I'll just mill them and call it good enough.   
   >   
   > Anyway, the main point of this post was to let you guys know about them   
   > if any of you have a use. https://tormach.com/120mm-toolmaker-vise-   
   > screwless-33111.html   
   >   
   > Its a good enough price I was tempted to buy extras, and wait for them   
   > to run out, then resell them on FleaBay.   
   >   
   >   
      
   I received shipping notices on the 6 new vises this morning.  6 separate   
   shipping notices.  They only weigh 32 lbs each, so there is no reason   
   they couldn't have condensed that into 3 under 75 pound packages and   
   saved some shipping, or maybe 2 "heavy" packages.  Since they are   
   willing to eat six shipping charges it tells me they are just happy to   
   get rid of a product that wasn't moving for them.  It also tells me that   
   once they are gone they probably won't be coming back.  $121 +tax with   
   free shipping (atleast for six of them anyway) is insanely cheap.  Even   
   if they turn out to be average quality Chinese screwless vises that's   
   still cheap.   
      
   Just so you know, I have been looking for something this size for a   
   while, and they seem to generally no longer be available, except from   
   Suburban Tool, and while quality from Suburban is exceptional their   
   price is the opposite.  Everything from Suburban Tool is expensive.   
      
   This size (5 inch nominal wide) used to be about as common as other   
   sizes.  I think a 5 inch screwless/grinder vise cheap enough you don't   
   mind modifying it might be about the best compromise for small machines.   
     I know a mill vise can have the jaws swapped around, but they are much   
   heavier and take up a lot more space for their nominal work envelope.   
      
   I also have some one inch and two inch vises in this style to make   
   moving a small part from one machine to another easier and maintain   
   orientation.  I call them insert vises, although I don't know if that is   
   their correct name or not.  They are just small and pretty darn square.   
      
   If these check out okay, I just might order a dozen more.  (If they   
   aren't gone, by then.)***   
      
   *** I am letting you guys know so you have a chance to snatch one up if   
   it would be useful for you.  Years ago, in the hardware business I ran   
   across a listing for a CVA 12ga shotgun in our hardware catalog   
   (TrueValue/CoterCo) for $25.  The next cheapest regular 12ga at the time   
   was costing us around 50-60 dollars and we sold them in the hardware   
   store for 89.95.  79.95 for five at a time to the farms for pet   
   management and depredation management.  At the time CVA was known for   
   their black powder gun kits.  As far as we knew that was all they sold.   
   I ordered one through the hardware store for myself to check it out, and   
   it was decent.  It had one very minor flaw.  They pin that locked the   
   forend in place just went onto a hole in the wood forend.  I drilled   
   mine out, and pressed in a piece of rigid copper tube.  Problem solved.   
   We decided it was good enough for the farms, and my dad decided to every   
   one they had in stock.  They were all gone.   
      
   There are either of two options about a deal that seams to good to be   
   true.   
   1.  It probably is.   
   2.  It will be gone before you get a second chance.   
      
   --   
   Bob La Londe   
   CNC Molds N Stuff   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)