Replies

1. 
   RickL | Feb 24, 2006 08:03pm | #1

   I've seen one in a friends shop and it looks pretty good. I have a couple of full size Emmerts and the clone looks like a good quality copy. They are so versatile. Once you try one you will know.

2. 
   tangomike | Feb 24, 2006 08:39pm | #2

   it's smaller than a genuine Emmert and a lot "looser" in the tolerances but all-in-all it's a good value for a competent vise. I have one on my bench. If I was to buy another one I think I might be persuaded to plunk down the extra $$ for Veritas' Tucker Vise.

1. 
   RickL | Feb 24, 2006 09:14pm | #3

   I'm not exactly sure of the scale but I believe the clone is a copy of the smaller Emmert. I see a lot of Emmerts on ebay and such. I think you could buy a full sized Emmert for the price of the Tucker. I've never paid over $250 for and Emmert and will buy any I see at a reasonable price. Great trading stuff.

1. 
   tangomike | Feb 24, 2006 09:36pm | #4

   Rick, I think you are right, perhaps a Type U2, U4, or U5 Emmert? The reason I would get a Tucker is that I think it is a better vise than the Emmerts... quick release, better swivel mechanism, better alloy.

3. 
   JsHerbel | Feb 24, 2006 10:32pm | #5

   I've had one for about five years and I don't know how I got along without it. It's very solid and has taken a pounding from me. Everything moves smoothly and locks securely. It's nice to be able to move a piece where I want oit witbout having to contort my body to work on it.

4. 
   DCarr10760 | Feb 25, 2006 06:03am | #6

   I've had one for several years and generally it is pretty good.

   A few things though.  When it arrived, the handle casting (connects the wooden handle to the screw) was in pieces, caused by poor packaging and rough handling by a delivery man who probably felt that he wasn't being paid enough to haul around 80lb. boxes of cast iron.  I called Highland Hardware and they said, "It happens often enough so we keep stock of that part and they sent another to me in a coulple of days.

   The cross hole for the spring pin retainer was not drilled on the replacement however.  Fortunately I was able to locate and drill the hole at the machine shop where I work and it went together fine.  I wondered to myself how easy it would've been for someone to do it with a hand drill...

   The other issue is that the main body of the vise is hung off the top of the bench with a large hinged mounting plate.  There is a great deal of slop between the hinge leaf and pin, causing the vise to rock or shift slightly, particularly when it is raised above the bench (and is no longer butressed by the bench apron). 

   But the most irksome problem with it is that the lever allowing the front jaw to pivot so that you can hold tapered work is so loose that gravity pulls it down when the vise is open.  This causes the front jaw to fall out of parallel as you close the vise.  This is easily overcome by holding the work piece in one hand, holding the lever steady in the second hand while turning the screw handle with your tongue.  It's a pain in the bass.  There probably is a simple adjustment that I havent found yet to tighten this, but I forget about the problem until I use the vise, then when it happens I cuss and struggle and when I am done I forget again. 

   But it works fine and seems well-enough made.  Plan on spending an hour or so cleaning off cosmoline and 10 minutes with a mill file breaking sharp edges and make yourself a new handle so you can throw the Asian mysterywood one away.

   Cheers,

   David C