Bench Vise question

I find myself in need of a new bench vice as my current one was a garage sale item that has seen more abuse than it deserved. My issue is that all vises share one design element that I don't want: the swivel base is locked in place by friction, provided by a teeny, tiny little handle. I can never apply enough force to keep it from rotating without bending the little handle to a curl.

Anyone know of a bench vise that can be securely locked into position in a series of stops or uses a better locking system?

i had one at a shop that was drilled out and a bolt welded in with a nut we tighten with a socket. you could probably get away without drilling the whole tightener out by cutting off the tiny slide handle and just weld a nut to the stock.

The better, bigger vises have a friction lock on both sides that you can tap with a hammer to lock into place. Mine doesn't move at all once it is locked this way no matter how hard I beat on it.

The good ones have a lock on each side that is operated with a wrench or heavy handle. Tap the wrench/handle with a deadblow and you'll end up moving the bench before the vice lets go.

Good reading: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=62716

Or find an old blacksmith's vice if you don't want/need one that pivots.

Find an old Record vice, before Irwin bought the name and moved production to China.

I've got a couple Record #4s and none of them swivel.

After breaking old and cheap vises finally bought a Columbian made in USA bench vise w/ swivel 15+ years ago for $275 sold through Sears. Swivel locks hold fast no matter the amount of beating and I've really wailed on it. Prolly last vise I'll ever need. Old timer told me some things ya don't wanna cheap out on, a bench vise is one. He was right.

You might want to haunt the gov auctions they have a nice selection but they are all in ontario.

Vises of Canada

Or you could make a pilgrimage to Knoxville.

Vice in Tenn.

I've never owned a vice with a swivel base, never will, and I currently own six. Buy a Record, and for the record (haha), the Chinese ones aren't hugely bad.

I have an old Wilton brand bolted to my bench. Belonged to my Dad, I'm fifty and he had it before I came along. Not a swivel, but it's tough..

My HF vise has locks on both sides. I've ripped a vice in half but never had one slip.