Sam wrote:
I am not sure if this is a good deal or not but thought I would pass it on. Amazon is running a Wilton 6.5 inch utility bench vise combo with 4lb BASH sledge hammer on special for $129.31. It appears to be a good DYI bench vise and hammer for the money.
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This is a pretty good deal. Last holiday season it was a few dollars more, and other dealers have this same bundle set for $150 to $166.
If you want exactly what’s offered here, $129 and change is a greater price for this bundle.
With this bundle, you get Wilton’s 6-1/2″ utility vise, with 180° swivel base and 30,000 PSI iron body construction, and a 4lb 12-inch BASH sledge hammer.
Vise Specs
- Model 676
- 6-1/2″ jaw width
- 5-1/2″ max opening
- 3-13/16″ throat depth
- 1/8″ – 2-1/2″ pipe jaw capacity
Wilton says that the vise has a 43 lb shipping weight, which disagrees with Amazon’s vague mention of a 21.3 lb weight. I mention this because 21 pounds would be very underweight for a vise this size, but Wilton’s spec sheet values put this concern at ease.
The BASH hammer by itself appears to be priced at $48 via Amazon. I couldn’t find many listings for the vise by itself outside of pricier listings on Amazon (via 3rd party), but there’s a similar vise (676U) that’s selling for $144 with free shipping via Amazon.
Wilton’s 676 and 676U vises are different enough that you cannot make direct comparisons.
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In any case, with the vise + BASH hammer bundle, Wilton describes the hammer as a free inclusion. The pricing seems to agree with this.
User reviews tend to be mostly positive.
This seems to be a decent deal if you’re looking for a bench vise this size and can use the BASH hammer as well.
Price: $129.31
Thank you Sam for the tip!
Jared
With them posed next to each other and painted the same color, just for a moment, I read the title and thought – “they put a vise on the end of a sledgehammer?”
Don Julio
Hah! I had the same double take.
Stuart
If it makes you feel better, look at this Home Depot product page for a different Wilton bundle.
It appears that the graphics editor also thought that the vise and Bash hammer were somehow a single combined product.
Jared
Ha! Yikes.
That product title doesn’t help either. Makes it sound like you would want to use those hammers on the “bash vice”.
Jammer
So to me it looks like this vise has the body/neck of a 4 inch vise that they just threw some 6-1/2 inch jaws on. Fairly light duty looking. Bundling with a 4lb sledge seems a bit misleading too. If you wanted to hammer on something clamped in that vise I’d bet the average person could easily break it.
JoeM
Agreed 100% about the observation. Though, I can’t see anyone seriously considering a sledge hammer on anything in the vise jaws. The Flat behind the jaws, sure. But this is obviously an entry level vise from a well known high-quality brand. Add in that your observation that it’s more of a 4″ vise with longer flat jaws (I see toothed angle/rounded jaws just below the flat jaws.) and even a beginner would not be using a 4lb Sledge on this. A Mallet, maybe a Deadblow… sure… but I think the sledge coming with it is just paired as a good deal for those starting out.
Something to demo to a beginner that they should invest in Wilton as they grow, if you catch my drift?
fred
If I can recollect back that far i think that I bought my first vise in 1968) – 6 inch vises weighed over 100 pounds. Heck – I think that the folks who shipped me my Athol 625 probably charged me for 100 pounds. I guess you could make a heavy vise that was not strong – but the old school thought was “the heavier the better” when it came to a machinist’s vise. That might give you some added meat in the castings should you need to whale on something held in the jaws. IMO – a regular blacksmith’s anvil and post vise are better tools if you are looking to do some hand forging – and that flat spot behind a machinist’s vise jaw isn’t a substitute for hundreds of pounds of anvil.
JoeM
I think that there are still 100lb 6″ wide Machinist vises still, fred. I’ve seen some really serious vises and gripping equipment used on the Tested YouTube channel before. Adam Savage (Of Mythbusters fame) got himself a Knee-Mill from Bridgeport. Over the years that Tested has existed, I have seen him add many extremely heavy things onto the bed of that mill, as well as into his Shop Lathe, and Drill Press. I’m not saying Adam is some sort of muscle-bound hulk, but seeing him strain, at his age, to move some of these items into place, I believe that weight aspect has only continued with newer materials for accuracy built in.
Also seen on the channel, some times when he has used a ballpein or deadblow on that flat behind the workbench vise to take out an imperfection in flat aluminum or steel. No blacksmithing, but certainly a little give-and-take for the metal object in the vise jaws at the workbench.
Here, again… I have never seen a full sledge used with a workbench vise. As you mentioned, a decent Anvil, or Anvil-Shaped-Object (I’m told the difference is the tempering and weight of the iron, steel, and even Titanium that are used in this weighted, shaped device.) is the ideal way to do any blacksmithing you may want to do with a hammer. in which case I do believe a sledge like the one shown by Wilton here would probably do a… pretty good?… job? I mean no offence to you fred, you know I hold you in the highest regard… but I will evade making an absolute statement about the use of such a hammer with any kind of blacksmithing, as you… well you have many decades more experience and expertise on the subject than I do. I would rather hear your thoughts, than generate my own.
But I do think the marketing value of these two objects in one kit are meant to demo what Wilton can do for a Metal-Working Tradesman that is just starting out. I am not convinced that the Sledge is meant to be used with the Vise at all. They’re just two products, from two major product lines, that Wilton makes for this trade. This package being a way to nail two birds with one stone, metaphorically. To endear themselves in the hearts and minds of those starting out in this trade type, and having the name “Wilton” very rapidly impressed on them for many of their needs once they go to upgrade either item.
Some people see a Knife, and they think of a Fork. Others may think instead, the Knife goes with a Sharpening Stone. Well, if a company makes Knives, and Flashlights, they may include a combo of both from similarly priced/value levelled lines of each. Is it because you will inevitably use them together? Not necessarily. Though you may keep them in the same place. That’s what I think Wilton has done here. Normally, people who would buy this vise alone, on other occasions, would probably lean toward this Sledge Hammer due to similar cost/value ratios. Putting them together, like the knife and flashlight combo, puts one company in their mind for both in their own purposes.
It just doesn’t mean they intend for people to use them together, that’s all. And, yes, I do agree that there are going to be some… not so wise… individuals who will do exactly that, and pay the price for it. I just don’t think they’re intending for them to be the target demographic… hopefully.
And I would absolutely adore hearing more about your experience with vises. I have sat in awe of your Museum-Level collection of Planing tools… the amount of real world experience, honesty, and detail, that you have about so many older techniques and trades… I love it… I have always loved older methods for doing things, and wished we could find ways to integrate them back into the modern disposable world. The knowledge in your head, forgive me if I’m overstepping my bounds here fred… But it truly gives me hope when I hear it.
fred
One of my acquaintances from long ago, went from being a veterinarian to being a blacksmith and farrier after he sold his vet practice. Giving where he lived – I guess the transition to farrier at least – might have been a natural transition. From what little he’s told me – he is very particular about his hammers and has made or modified some of them himself. I doubt that a hammer like this Wilton would be among his smithing tools – but I may be wrong.
Back to vises – I started with a 5 inch Starrett-Athol 625 on 1 bench. I next added added 4 woodworking vises (Wilton and Columbian) on 2 faces and 2 ends of a woodworking bench I built. I also have 2 pipe vises – an Erie Yoke vise and a Ridgid chain vise on a tripod stand. My bike tools include Park and Stein axle vises (more inserts than actual vises) plus a bicycle stand arm (Park S4WM) that I mount to a steel post in the garage. Over the years I’ve also accumulated 2 drill press vises, a smaller (3.5 inch) Parker machinist’s vise, a Yost Parrot vise, a Veritas woodcarving vise, a William NG inlay vise, a Swix ski vise set, several hand vises and Panavise tools. I suspect that my kids may sell all of this off one day – so they may all contribute to the used-vise market that one sees on eBay etc.
Josh
Recently saw this combo on Andrew camarata channel
https://youtu.be/jopS_6oj1y0
Bob
If you’re in the Seattle area:
https://seattle.craigslist.org/skc/tld/d/auburn-wilton-65-utility-workshop-bench/7306321592.html
Looks to be the same vise for $75 without the hammer. Surplus, scratch and dent.
Tim B.
Thanks for the link, Bob.. I’m in the Seattle area, and had never heard of that place… but seems like I might need to check out their Craigslist posts more often, and possibly drop in. We’ve been lacking in good places hereabouts to find surplus / outlet / scratch-and-dent deals for quite some time.
Yadda
Is this the same combo that was a spot sale for around $50 at Home Depot?
Stuart
Not quite. That one was $57, and since it was never restocked since then (https://toolguyd.com/holiday-tool-deals-12052020/), it could have been a “this has got to GO” clearance price.
Todd N
It also came with a 2nd 16″ hammer which, strangely, shipped separately. I haven’t used the vice yet but I really like the hammers.
Mac
Who can argue with a free hammer?