Wilton has come out with new Tradesman and Mechanics Pro vises, designed for industrial and heavy duty applications.
The new Wilton Tradesman vises feature a fully sealed one-piece spindle nut assembly, a redesigned spindle assembly with replaceable Tommy bar, a precision-machined slide, and machined steel serrated jaw inserts with a black phosphate anti-corrosion coating.
Advertisement
Wilton says that the Tradesman is their top-selling bench vise, and a shop-favorite in many industries, including manufacturing, fabrication, automotive, construction, and oil and gas industries.
The new vises will be available in 4 sizes:
New Wilton Tradesman Vises, with Sizing by Jaw Widths
- 4-1/2″ – model 1745, SKU 28805, MSRP $480
- 5-1/2″ – model 1755, SKU 28806, MSRP $590
- 6-1/2″ – model 1765, SKU 28807, MSRP $660
- 8″ – model 1780A, SKU 28808, MSRP $980
The bullet-style Tradesman vise has a fully enclosed and sealed spindle assembly, which serves to keep debris out and lubrication in, for smoother and maintenance-free operation. Wilton says that, compared to other vise styles, the rear spindle nut also provides an even straight-line pull that decreases backlash and increases clamping force, while also extending service life.
The spindle assembly has been redesigned, and features a replaceable Tommy bar, which Wilton says allows for decreased cost of ownership if this component is damaged.
The serrated jaw inserts and pipe jaws are user-replaceable.
Advertisement
The precision-machined steel slide bar is designed to eliminate movement of the front jaw, regardless of how wide or narrow the jaw opening.
It also features an oversized striking anvil that Wilton says is “built to take a beating.”
- 60,000 PSI ductile iron body, jaws, base
- 360° swivel base with double lockdowns
- 4-bolt mounting system
- Locking nuts and base have serrated edges to prevent slippage during use
- Striking anvil
The new Wilton Tradesman vises are made in Taiwan, and will be replacing current SKUs.
The new Mechanics Pro vises, which have lower price points, feature an enclosed spindle, precision machined slide, a needle roller thrust bearing design, and 360° swivel base.
New Wilton Mechanics Pro Vises, with Sizing by Jaw Widths
- 4-1/2″ – model 845M, SKU 28810, MSRP $$240
- 5-1/2″ – model 855M, SKU 28811, MSRP $310
- 6-1/2″ – model 865M, SKU 28812, MSRP $400
- 8″ – model 880M, SKU 28813, MSRP $600
- 10″ – model 8100M, SKU 28814, MSRP $830
The new Wilton Mechanics Pro vises are similar but built a little differently from the Tradesman vises. Their enclosed spindle protect internal components and the vises are permanently sealed and lubricated.
Wilton says that these are not “me too” vises,
These are not “me too” vises, saying:
What distinguishes these heavy duty vises is their premium materials, and other structurally sound intrinsic features such as an enclosed spindle, precision machined slide bar, innovative needle roller thrust bearing design, and 360 º swivel base.
- 60,000 PSI ductile iron moveable jaw and base
- 360° swivel base with double lockdowns
- Striking anvil
The new Wilton Mechanics Pro vises are made in China, and will be replacing current SKUs.
Both styles of vises have a lifetime warranty.
First Thoughts
I asked: Will these new versions be replacing existing SKUs? For instance, will the made-in-Taiwan stock no. 28805 #1745 vise be replacing the USA-made 63199 #1745 vise?
Their reply: Yes, the new stock numbers replace the old.
*sigh*
Looking at pricing, the USA-made 5-1/2″ Wilton Tradesman vise, model 1755 with SKU 63200, is $590 via Amazon. The imported 5-1/2″ 1755 vise, SKU 28806, is $590 via Tool Nut.
I need to investigate this further before I can comment, but my first impression is one of panic. Will this be my last chance to buy a USA-made Wilton bullet-style Tradesman vise?
Mexivin
It’s funny to see a company become the only game in town, and then proceed to compete against itself.
PETE
I wish wilton sill made their socketstik. In was a ratchet that had an integrated socket holder built into the handle. Super handy for on the go tool bags.
Raoul
My only experience with Wilton was a sledge hammer I bought through Amazon that was one of the most poorly finished tools I ever purchased. The machine facing was off and incomplete, handle was crooked, and hole in the handle not drilled straight. I exchanged for another that wasn’t much better. It really lowered my perception that Wilton was of any good quality.
Mexivin
Rauol, they did change the design on the “bash hammer” line. It is better now than when it fist came out. If the head is more squared, then it is the older one. The new one have heads that are slighty curved/tapered. Hope this helps.
DRT
I am fortunate enough to own a Wilton Tradesman. It is by far the best vise I have ever used. If you have ever wanted a truly great vise, now is the time to get off the wallet.
fred
And so it continues – sad that another USA-Made toolmaker now moves production completely to Asia.
My big machinist vise is a 50+ year old Starrett-Athol – but I also have a smaller Parker. I have a pair of Wilton woodworking vises and a pair of Columbians (a company bought up by JPW). I also have vises from Reed, Ridgid and Yost. If I had to buy a new vise going forward – I guess I might be stuck buying an Asian-Made vise.
In one business we used some Step Vans and had Wilton Vises welded onto the back. They were what Wilton called “all weather” – not sure that they will continue to be made:
https://www.tools-plus.com/wilton-10500.html
But if you have the need and can still get one – now seems like the time.
Bruce
I found an old one under the bench that I immediately put to use on the welding table. It’s an awesome vise. That said, if they can keep the quality as they move to China, I’ll live with it. It really is a superior design.
The What?
Are these made of cast iron or cast steel? They look like malleable cast iron covered in hammered rustoleum spray paint. I’ve got 3 wilton bullet vises that I inherited that were made well before my time back in the early 40’s and 50’s prior to the Schiller Park vises. From what I’ve been told, those are best ones that Wilton made. Small, medium, and large. All 3 are cast steel and the name and number is stamped on all 3 of em. Wilton Chicago USA.
Stuart
The high strength parts are ductile iron. Other non-specified parts are machined or possibly from lower PSI iron.
Rob Potson
So with the example Stuart listed, the old USA made version, and the newer Taiwan made version both cost the same amount, 590 bucks. Why would I buy an overseas vise for the same price?
Luckily there are still other manufacturers making USA vises. Morgan Milwaukee makes USA made vises, Some of Yost’s vises are USA made, Ridgid sells german made vises (rebranded Peddinghaus), and I’m sure there are others slipping my mind at the moment.
The Wilton bullet style is pretty iconic, but as a foreign made vise it now puts them alongside alot more competition to compete against.
John
Holy mother of god! Now made in China and they want that much money. I think they may have just shot themselves in the foot!
Jim Felt
Have you bought the latest model Nikon (once made in Japan) Camera?
At least Canon is still “Made in Japan”… (And Hasselblad!).
Now think how that would’ve sounded in the 1950’s?!
fred
In the 1950’s I was more into German Cameras. My dad had this bug put in his head that a better camera would make him a better photographer. He was really only after snapshots – and did not have the time or didn’t want to invest it into learning things like composition. On one of his trips to Germany – he came back with a used Contax II, a batch of exposed Agfa film and some disappointing pictures. I got the camera to play around with. It was my introduction to 35mm photography. It had a fast – sharp 50mm lens – and I think I learned how to use it fairly well. It certainly was the envy of some of my elders at the local camera club. By the time I got to university – working as a photographer on the daily newspaper – it was their Linhoff Technika IV that I carried around.
Now. I’ve become my dad – so to speak – but on my travels in Europe I carry a Canon SX700 in my pocket – still wishing I had not traded that Contax for my first Nikon F.
TonyT
https://www.cameraquest.com/zconrf2.htm
Looks sweet. My dad had a Zeiss range finder in the 1970’s (don’t think it was a Contax though), and after it broke he went to Canon SLR.
I think the current crop of mirrorless cameras (from Sony, Olympus, Panasonic, etc) have a bit of the rangefinder vibe, but I’m not taking a lot of pictures these days. If I do get back into photography, I’ll probably go mirrorless (Sony or Panasonic), or all in one Sony (RX10 or maybe RX100).
fred
Many Zeiss (as in Zeiss Ikon) camera users migrated to Nikon (Nippon Ikon) I believe with the crop od rangefinder cameras – like my Contax – the lens screw mount was similar on the rangefinder (S series) Nikons.
Zeiss always seemed to play second fiddle to Leitz (as in Leica) – and the Canon rangefinder cameras were a bit more akin to the Leicas than to the Contax. But when the Leica M3 was introduced it represented a new highpoint – and I’ve heard that the Japanese decided to concentrate on SLR’s rather than try to compete with the Leica.
TonyT
Always fun info. Zeiss got out of the camera business a long time ago, but they’re still making lenses (e.g. they make the super expensive lenses for ASML’s lithography machines) and I believe are heavy into medical. Not sure if they still make microscopes, but at work we have an old Zeiss one (but our newer Meiji stereo zoom and Dinolite USB zoom are the one that get used).
Leica still makes microscopes and very expensive cameras; you can use Leica rangefinder lenses on modern mirrorless cameras with an adapter.
A bit more on semiconductor lithography: ASML (based in The Netherlands) used to have competition from both Canon and Nikon, but both of those companies dropped out, and don’t make machines for the latest semiconductor processes.
fred
My wife wanted a pair of compact binoculars for river cruising. I bought her this Zeiss – which she likes:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1338513-REG/zeiss_522039_9901_000_10x25_victory_pocket_binocular.html
I paid $649 for mine in 2013 – I’m not sure their worth the $880 being asked fro them today.
Bobby
I just ordered. Capri 4” forged steel vise. After weeks of research, I finally pulled the trigger. Seems like a good deal for the Capri after seeing how much these are for ductile iron.
Nathan
sad if that means all wilton vises will be made overseas. I suspect it might – these are what I would call their bread and butter devices – or the most sold of their line.
So I can see golly you know how we could make another million next year – make these elsewhere. . . . . .
meh whatever. I will I guess keep looking if I need to buy a vise in the future. I have a wilton and I have a yost. course that might well be all I ever need too.
Stuart
It’s possible that costs are rising to the point where they’d have to drastically bump up list pricing.
Or, they might want to use existing facilities to make new vises.
It’s a complex issue, and not one we can understand without knowing and understanding more of they “why,” which is unfortunately inside information we might never be privy to. Because of that, it can be unfair to judge the reasoning, although it’s perfectly fair to be upset or disappointed about the outcome.
Brandon
I’m also very disappointed in this. A really nice Wilton has always been one of those “some day, when I’ve made it” things. On the up-side, I won’t have to feel guilty buying the much cheaper Taiwan-made FSV series vise from Yost when they go on sale next: forged steel instead of ductile iron, *and* half the price? Yes, please.
mattd
Just so you are aware they seem to have cancelled the FSV series and instead they use a cast “austempered ductile iron” that is supposedly stronger. So if you order a FSV you may wind up getting an ADI instead. As you can see on their site ( http://www.yostvises.com/products/bench-vises/professional-grade/forged-steel-bench-vise.html) they are out of stock on many of the FSV sizes and will not be getting them back in as far as I know. Also the ADI’s are made in china not Taiwan. even still a 6″ Yost ADI is regularly priced in the $150 range on sale so now that you don’t have to consider made in USA there is really no reason to buy a wilton other than the name. which is too bad.
Brandon
Thank you for the heads up, I will look into the ADI line.
Joe framer
Truly pathetic….owning 2 older Wilton USA made vises, they are all I’ll ever need or my kids will need…
….sales will go down and long-term they will loose.,just like Craftsman. I hope the USA workers keep their jobs .
….Some companies like Tekton are making more tools in America and reaping the rewards for doing so,
Jim Felt
Hmmm.
Do we here really expect the provobial “next generation” to actually want to own let alone use a vise? Will electric vehicles and modular built housing warrant a literal vise? Will HS shop classes exist?
Asking for the next generation.
Todd Barry
well said Jim, if its not video game related were doomed, lol
fred
I can tell you that we were finding it harder and harder to hire reasonably skilled workers. Across our businesses we were usually looking to replace retiring plumbers, pipefitters, HVAC technicians, welders, machine operators , carpenters etc., We offered good wages and benefits for our locales – but often got lot of but woefully lacking group of applicants – or cops and fireman who had some skills but wanted to work off-the-books or part time only. I hired my last few employees in 2012 before selling up and retiring – so I don’t know if things have improved. Jim Felt is right in that HS shop classes and vocational schools seem to have vanished in my neck of the woods.
Rory
Need a good vise? Have a look down under!
For what is being paid in North America you could source a quality Aussie made product.
http://www.dawntools.com.au/vices
Todd Barry
Thankfully I have several older Wiltons made in USA and my most used is from 1949 and it will outlast me and be around long after I expire!
JoeM
Correct me if I’m wrong here… but isn’t this the same Wilton company that everyone chimed in with when DeWALT came out with… well… THAT Vise? Everyone said it was a rebrand of an identical (or near-identical) Wilton.
Not a complaint, just a confirmation for myself… Is THIS the Wilton that people were talking about with the DeWALT bench vices? I’d rather a more… Squared base instead of the bullet shape, just personally. I’d excuse the rounded end that acts like an anvil, but for the most part I am not seeing… well… anything… It’s a Vice by a company that has been recommended above my usual DeWALT… If they still have any of the older models for sale anywhere, I’d be okay with that.
Just not too fond of this… uh… Art Deco? inspired redesign? Normally I love old 20’s and 30’s design era stuff… but this seems… I dunno… ironically flat to me?
Am I making sense or just rambling like a loonie off his meds again?
kman
I am saddened to see this happen again. Another company offshoring production. I understand why – the bottom line and yes it matters. Why else be in business? However, if you cheapen your product and send it overseas it could be painful in the long run. What we all need to think about is NATIONAL SECURITY. What happens if 80% of our manufacturing no longer exists in USA? Can we easily order our parts and materials from overseas if we ever (and hopefully we never will) are at war with these same countries? It could get very ugly very quickly. History is an indicator of how fast things can change. I think we should set some type of limit to what we are willing to outsource and how much in general. It may cost us more as a country but in the long run what are the costs if we can’t make, order or get what we need when we really need it?
loup68
How can they morally charge the same exact price between a made in USA vice and then make a duplicate in Taiwan and sell it for the same price with a straight face?
GM pulled this same crap when they moved their car wiring harness production to just over the border into Mexico and the prices not only stayed the same, some actually went up.
I had a nice Wilton vice at work and was sorry that I could not keep it when they closed my plant.
Steve Johns
Alot of you guys forget that Morgan vises are USA made and they are still in business today. They make an awesome vise and I think they’re better than Wilton. They just dont have all the advertising behind them. They too are a very old company. Just not as well known. Wilton is not the only big dog on the street.
michael ferrara
i am the original owner of a over 40 year old wilton air vise part # 101162 & 101163 & bullet end # 261012c with pump’ part # 4860-2 . both vise & pump are in excellent condition. Been searching for their value, with no luck. all information will be appreciated.
Jim Dirosa
I just bought a new Wilton tradesmen vice for $500. When I open the box the handle was bent and it looked like a piece of crap. I looked at the box and it said made in China , I was shocked. I have a lot of Older Wilton vices made in the USA that are very good. I hate to say it but I’m done with Wilton !
Mitchell
I don’t have time to manufacture vices; I’m too busy engaging in them. Funny, my USA made vice didnt have the cancer warning . Are we outsourcing manufacturing at the price of introducing carcinogins? I made a cover for my vice; keeping the dust off makes a difference. 🙂
Emilio E Gonzalez
It really is a shame that companies like Wilton, Starrett and others have gone for bigger profits than pride in USA made.
Where does it end?? New Balance USA made sneakers cost $190!! I don’t mind paying more for USA made and better quality anything, but when workers can’t see a minimum wage increase, who can buy USA made anymore?
I’ll keep looking for a USA made vintage Wilton or other make.
VQ
Look at Milwaukee Tool and Equipment Co (No not Milwaukee Tools that got sold to the Chinese years ago) Vises. Still made in USA. There are still some but nor nearly enough.
What the heck, I might just make my own and then it will be made in the USA…..