Received the vise from Orange, early March order. Indeed, it's a work of art. Not being Houdini manually, from now on I would prefer to scratch most of my rifles instead of the vise.
Gunsmithing Orange Vise/Area419 Collab
- Thread starter _Windrider_
- Start date
Vise came in handy, just putting some of the "pieces" of the next build together.
That will be a hell of a race…Had the vice for months. Still waiting for the jaw kit to be re-stocked.
Mine came in yesterday. Ordered March 8th. I got a jaw set last time they did a run.
Hey all, so last week we had a long and fruitful conversation with Orange. Early in the launch of this product it caught them offguard, as they had never before received consumer attention, and they were a little loose with the way they managed direct orders, which I think frustrated them, us, and a lot of customers, as we created a demand that massively outpaced their production ability. This, plus what has happened with raw material prices and availability, created something that became a bear.
Going forward I think you'll see (but maybe not until August/September) a much more orderly availability and release timing of all parts, with all parties being more protected from unknowns and frustration. Everyone lives and learns, this is no different. We will have many more jaw kits available pretty soon, we have a large batch being anodized now, and hopefully later this year things can be much more straightforward for everyone.
Going forward I think you'll see (but maybe not until August/September) a much more orderly availability and release timing of all parts, with all parties being more protected from unknowns and frustration. Everyone lives and learns, this is no different. We will have many more jaw kits available pretty soon, we have a large batch being anodized now, and hopefully later this year things can be much more straightforward for everyone.
Been waiting months for these to be restocked, so great news... but went through checkout only to find the massive price for international shipping. It used to be about $90, now over $200! Will reluctantly have to pass.
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I would add that while USPS is still a palatable service, the foreign counterparts are often very slow and sometimes unreliable, I feel your pain @MotoSinge, as mine was also an intl order. I drank the koolaid because I really wanted those jaws and at least UPS will deliver them in a few days...while chasing local Customs and Mail service will cost me much more in term of time and hassle....moreover it's a 6# box as @TheOE800 said so it wil lnot be cheap anymore in the covid or post-covid era. I added some bits to the order just to sweet that pill.
Sorry, you seen Czech hookers???Fair point. Just disappointed. You US guys get all the good stuff!
This is something we have struggled with over time - the use of USPS can reduce international rates, but the number of shipping failures, either damage, lost, or passed to a foreign carrier that never delivers, has led us to only using UPS, and only using their more express options. It's more expensive, but the product is delivered, quickly, and without damage.
For those that have a standard bench vise and don't want to blow a lot of dough on the orange vise, yet want to have similar jaws (Arca and Pic Rail section) take a look at these jaws https://www.sawtoothrifles.com/product/dependabite/
There is one good rotating head vise still made in the UK
. It is installed on UK warships, among other places: https://swindens.co.uk/So expensive they don’t list a price. Based on Wilton prices, I imagine north of $1.5k for the 4”, and they make up to an 8” ($$$, or actually £££).
Another one that seems to be decent is Polish and is made by Bison. I have heard zero about it, but they make good vises: https://www.bison-america.com/produkt-25712-1271.html
Notice the black bar sticking out the rear…I think that fits in the slots to really lock in any rotation. Apparently $950.
Both of these are made of high quality cast iron. What is the Orange vise body made of, btw? Their website doesn’t seem to say (mentions other bit’s materials, but not the vise body). Perhaps I’ve missed it. Not being disparaging, I just don’t know and am curious.
And then there is this: http://www.monsterballvise.com/
Probably a bit sturdier than an Anvil-30.
And for the fuck of it:
The anvil in there is about 230-260 lbs IIRC.
I have a bit of a vise obsession that you all have recently reactivated, damn you!
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Did you see the vise the guy made on the Fireball Tool channel?There is one good rotating head vise still made in the UK
View attachment 8025673
So expensive they don’t list a price. Based on Wilton prices, I imagine north of $1.5k for the 4”, and they make up to an 8” ($$$, or actually £££).
Another one that seems to be decent is Polish and is made by Bison. I have heard zero about it, but they make good vises: https://www.bison-america.com/produkt-25712-1271.html
View attachment 8025674
Notice the black bar sticking out the rear…I think that fits in the slots to really lock in any rotation. Apparently $950.
Both of these are made of high quality cast iron. What is the Orange vise body made of, btw? Their website doesn’t seem to say (mentions other bit’s materials, but not the vise body). Perhaps I’ve missed it. Not being disparaging, I just don’t know and am curious.
And then there is this: http://www.monsterballvise.com/
View attachment 8025678
Probably a bit sturdier than an Anvil-30.
And for the fuck of it:
View attachment 8025679View attachment 8025680View attachment 8025681View attachment 8025682
The anvil in there is about 230-260 lbs IIRC.
I have a bit of a vise obsession that you all have recently reactivated, damn you!
There is one good rotating head vise still made in the UK
View attachment 8025673
So expensive they don’t list a price. Based on Wilton prices, I imagine north of $1.5k for the 4”, and they make up to an 8” ($$$, or actually £££).
Another one that seems to be decent is Polish and is made by Bison. I have heard zero about it, but they make good vises: https://www.bison-america.com/produkt-25712-1271.html
View attachment 8025674
Notice the black bar sticking out the rear…I think that fits in the slots to really lock in any rotation. Apparently $950.
Both of these are made of high quality cast iron. What is the Orange vise body made of, btw? Their website doesn’t seem to say (mentions other bit’s materials, but not the vise body). Perhaps I’ve missed it. Not being disparaging, I just don’t know and am curious.
And then there is this: http://www.monsterballvise.com/
View attachment 8025678
Probably a bit sturdier than an Anvil-30.
And for the fuck of it:
View attachment 8025679View attachment 8025680View attachment 8025681View attachment 8025682
The anvil in there is about 230-260 lbs IIRC.
I have a bit of a vise obsession that you all have recently reactivated, damn you!
That Bison-American vice looks almost exactly even down to the color (except for the little black key you pointed out) like a vice I ordered from the old Craftsman (Sears) tool catalog about 15 years ago for the shop at work.
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Was/is it a good vise? Does it hold the selected rotation independent from the jaw clamping force? (Even though it doesn’t have that black lock bar thing)
I ask because some rotating vises do not separate jaw clamp force from rotation clamp force / rotation lock. These tend to be the vises with the locking button/pin on the rear (doesn’t look like the Bison black thing, more like a cylindrical pin). The Yost DI, for example, is such an offender.
Super irritating to have to loosen the workpiece in order to rotate. Wastes time and invites dropping the work.
Also wasting time is that strange method the Orange bench vise uses for both horizontal and vertical rotation. The vise really needs to use a tool-less method…seems like a vestige from their CNC workholding clamps.
That’s pretty neat! He must have been aware of the style of vise that I posted. I that vise I posted was made of cast iron vs steel (I think).
Thanks for that. That Fireball dude seems intent on one-upping old monster vises.
In jest:
+
Although I think the Monsterball wouldn’t be up to the task.
But I agree it would be cool to see a giant Panavise.
On the cheap, a woodworker’s front or end vise would work well for gunsmithing if there is enough jaw overhang to be able to get a rifle near vertical. No rotating but add wood jaws with leather or rubber coating and they work well. Good ones are $200-$300+.
USA made one, quick release, $269:
Milwaukee Tool - Quick Release Bench Vise
Built by the Milwaukee Tool & Equipment Company, this is an excellent option for building a quick release bench vise and getting a high quality product made in the USA.
www.lakeerietoolworks.com
Yes, it was locked. Great vice. How er the horizontal rotation lock could have had better lockup.
I see rifles being involved in my life for many years to come and have invested in orange bench vice & area 419 jaw kit. Vise yet too arrive, from what i can tell moveable jaw is held in place with large SHCS, what size hex key is used for this?
Thanks, I see what you mean about jaws and swivel etc. looks like an enormous hex key used too move jaws. I won’t have anything like that big on hand and wanted to get on and order something before vise arrives.
Anyone know what hex is used for jaw fastener?
The jaws have a clamp assembly with a 5/16 low profile socket cap screw that uses a 5/32" Allen.
On there machining vise it is 3/4" to move the moveable jaw. The bench vise has a handle.
The two hex key sizes are all you need to use the vise.
On there machining vise it is 3/4" to move the moveable jaw. The bench vise has a handle.
The two hex key sizes are all you need to use the vise.
