Kurt clone advice sought

comes with swivel base.

I paid $200 for a used 6 inch Kurt to a local machinery supplier, and later $50 for a swivel base - you should be able to get them for the same (I went to Skulsky machinery which is near me)

I'm thinking of buying a new milling vice. A 4" would work fine, and i suppose a 6" would also fit, but nothing larger.

While Kurt sets the standard, it's pretty dear, unless one scores on eBay.

There are a number of Kurt clones, some of which cost almost as much as the real thing. (What were they thinking?)

Anyway, I'm interested in peoples' experience with the various clones. Which are good, which are bad, and why.

Thanks to all.

Joe Gwinn

I've had the ubiquitous 6" Chinese clone for quite some time, maybe 10 years. It was accurate and square, and works well. I suspect a real Kurt may lock down just a little better, but this one does quite well. The swivel base is total crap, and I removed it pretty quickly, as it allowed the vise to rock. I can't vouch for the new ones, 10 years later.

Jon

My standard are these:

Out of reach for me. Have worked with them, they are great! Power intensifier built in. No need for a long handle.

Be seated when reading the price.

Nick

I am interested. Is it eBay item 320091949497? It sure sounds like you.

Please contact me by email. Address is real.

Joe Gwinn

email sent

--I've been using a Kurt clone for years; it finally bit the dust when one of the two 1/2"-13 threaded jaw attachment holes stripped out on the movable portion. I'm planning to get a Kurt to replace it. The other thing to know about the knock-offs is that the distance between the 1/2" holes is probably some weird-ass metric number; 93.5mm comes to mind. Best thing to do is to measure this precisely, then stamp it onto the top of the vise. The next time you need to make soft jaws you'll be glad you wrote the number down. --As for the 4" vises yes, the Kurts cost a bundle, but the company stands behind their product and if it ever has a problem they'll fix it. Had something go bad in mine and it came back good as new. Not cheap, the fix, but worth it when I consider how many parts I'm cranking out with it... I've yet to see a decent 4" knock-off. My favorite small vise was the one made for the old Clausing milling machines, but I haven't seen one in a looong time. Check around used machinery dealers and you might get lucky..

Howard is on my speed dial.

Gunner

Never worry about theory as long as the machinery does what it's supposed to do. Robert A. Heinlein

I have an Enco 4 inch knock off... It served me well for quite a long time...

But one day I needed to remove the jaws... and when I went to put them back, try as I might they wouldn't align correctly, just at the last second after dialing them in, when I went for the final torque down, they'd move... I finely took them off and did a close inspection.. lo and behold the holes in the jaws were not flat bottomed like they had been counterbored, they were cone shaped like the tip of a drill bit!!! (try holding that that with an allen bolt and see what ya get)....

All I can assume is that they bolt the jaws on and then do a final grind on them in place... (can you say cheap!)

My 'quick and dirty' solution was to machine some brass plugs, (coned on one end, flat on the other).. and pressed em in... Volia ...

FWIW I've had the vise for over 10 years and it's been OK, but it sure ain't no Kurt.. :-)

--.- Dave

I believe it. Kurt will be jealous.

They look very nice, but I've not seen them here.

Joe Gwinn

Dammit! *That* is tool gloat!

Nick

If that is so, please pick 6 non repeating numbers between 1 and 47 for me. ;)

Wes

I don't know which clones are better than others. But if you buy a clone, I recommend you disassemble it and clean up the ball and socket buried inside. If you do that, it will take less force to tighten the vise and it will work well.

Dan

To buy even more Allmatics? :-)

Nick

I bought a *drill* vice that was at the right size. Sides ground to size and angle, so it could be laid on the side. Problem was -as expected- the quick-clamping mechanism was not good enough for milling. Parts simply fell out after some minutes of milling. So I threw that stuff away and replaced it with an ACME rod. Also got a (recycled) axial needle bearing (that is really the trick*)) and I am *very* happy with it now. Replaceable jaws, parallel to within 1/100 mm etc.

The vise cost me 300.- EUR new plus a bit for the ACME and the nut and some work for the knurled handle and a part to hold the ACME nut.

Nick

Wes, those 6" or so vises are heavy and expensive to ship, so you'd need to look locally. Do you have local liquidations/bankruptcy auctions going on?