Wilton 21400 #745 5″ Mechanic’s Vise Review

posted in: 5 Inch, Bench Vises, Reviews, Wilton | 0

wilton 21400 mechanics vise
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Most people that thinker in the garage are well aware that a vise can be a great benefit when added to your workbench whether you work on vehicles, wood projects, metalwork, or any other type of fabrication. Wilton offers a large selection of bench top vises, and through many years of great vise design, have established quite a track record of making top caliber tools. Wilton was founded in Chicago, Illinois in the early 1940’s and has stayed a strong American brand for the last 75+ years that they have been in business.

The Wilton 5-inch 21400 #745 Mechanics Vise is extremely capable and is as functional in a home garage as it is in a professional shop. Made from a heavy-duty 30,000 PSI (pounds per square inch) cast iron and powder coated in a blue-gray finish, the Wilton 5” Mechanics vise offers a recipe for long lasting durability under heavy use. The jaws open 5-1/4 inches and offer a throat depth of 3-3/4 inches. It will also hold a pipe from 1/4 inch through 2-1/2 inches in diameter in the secondary pipe jaws which make the vise extremely versatile. The vise also features a large, impact resistant anvil surface which provides a nice backstop for light hammering operations.

The square slide mechanism completely encloses the lead screw to keep it free of debris which will reduce thread wear and required maintenance over time. Metal jaw inserts are held in place via countersunk screws and can be easily removed and replaced as needed. The factory steel jaws feature a serrated cross-hatch pattern that offers ample grip but these can also be swapped for jaws made from softer materials so you can grip parts without the risk of damaging more delicate items. The base will rotate 360 degrees and is held in place with two lockdowns, which are located on either side of the slide mechanism for ease of use. The lockdown handles are each chrome plated for corrosion prevention and durability and offer good looks to boot. Overall, the vise measures 16-inches by 10-inches wide and 10-inches tall.

As far as available purchasing options, Amazon’s competitive pricing makes them the first place we’d check when considering a purchase. Overall, the Wilton 21400 is a tremendous vise and is an extremely good value for the quality that you get and as such, we give it a strong recommendation. That said, if the Wilton doesn’t quite suit your needs, feel free to have a look at our guide to buying the best bench vises!

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