Precision Pin Vise Source

Find vintage Sterrits and pay for them…..that’s my opinion anyways…..good tools ain’t cheap, and cheap tools ain’t good,….

Pat

I'm also interested in said pin vises, but I can't find "Sterrit" on the internet.

Suspect poster meant "Starrett."

I bought an X-acto one--three good small chucks, but lacks the rotating piece that sits in your palm; just a wooden handle.

MicroMark has several. Can't comment on quality.

@Ken Wing posted:

Suspect poster meant "Starrett."

I bought an X-acto one--three good small chucks, but lacks the rotating piece that sits in your palm; just a wooden handle.

MicroMark has several. Can't comment on quality.

Yeah, …spellwreck got me Ken, ….I did indeed mean Starrett,……I have about 10-15 of them floating around here in the machine shops, …..ancient as all get out, but highly accurate ….

Pat

FWIW, Amazon has a bunch of them listed.  As Pat says, not cheap, but readily available.

Search for Starrett pin vice.

I have 2 or 3 different  brands.   The Xacto one is the best and my favorite.   Mine has a swivel head.    I have another from tool salesman, that is junk.   Won't hold anything under about 1/16 inch.  

I have a few as well including Starrett. For a swivel model Tamiya makes a fine tool.

Pete

After doing a little bit of research I bought this one, BUT I haven’t used it yet.

Starrett are high quality tools a set of four will either S-162 or S-166 pin vises will last you a life time. I’ve had mine for 50 years.

I have a set of Starret pin vises, and have used them regularly for decades.  As discussed above, they are very high quality tools.

But I also use the  Shaviv #29057  HC1 Pin Vise Handle

You can get it on Amazon:

Amazon.com: SHAVIV 29057 - Handychuck HC1 Pin Vise Handle : Tools & Home Improvement

Its large size makes it both very easy to control and minimizes fatigue on the plam of your hand

I love every Starrett tool I have, and Brown and Sharp, and Greenfield, and South Bend, and Pratt & Whitney, and Morse, and I need to go down to the basement to reconnect with all the others. These tools were made for the ages. Even my freebie Fafnir 6" rule is awesome. I think my Delta drill press has absorbed some of the magic, too. I'm sure I'm forgetting some of the other brands foundational to our country's manufacturing success  that reside in my basement. I honor them all, and they continue to serve me well.

@Ken Wing posted:

I love every Starrett tool I have, and Brown and Sharp, and Greenfield, and South Bend, and Pratt & Whitney, and Morse, and I need to go down to the basement to reconnect with all the others. These tools were made for the ages. Even my freebie Fafnir 6" rule is awesome. I think my Delta drill press has absorbed some of the magic, too. I'm sure I'm forgetting some of the other brands foundational to our country's manufacturing success  that reside in my basement. I honor them all, and they continue to serve me well.

You hit all the the good names I know and love!….in the railroad shop, it’s South Bend 9, Snap on, Starrett, Delta drill press, Delta bench grinder/wire wheel, Hanson, Klutch mini mill, ….the list can go on!..

Pat

FWIW, to present an alternative view, this was given to me many years ago, and it's worked quite well for me.  I like the convenience of having all the collets inside the barrel so they don't get lost.  It fits my hand quite well, I really have no complaints with it.

OH GREAT!

Another set of tools I need to buy.......

Not that I'm complaining.......

Bob

@harmonyards posted:

Find vintage Sterrits and pay for them…..that’s my opinion anyways…..good tools ain’t cheap, and cheap tools ain’t good,….

Pat

Pat,

Yep, Truer words were never said about good tools.  I have Starrett micrometers but never knew about the pin vices.  This is good info as well as Aloris AXA lathe tool post.  

Have a great Thanksgiving,

Rob

@swrr posted:

Pat,

Yep, Truer words were never said about good tools.  I have Starrett micrometers but never knew about the pin vices.  This is good info as well as Aloris AXA lathe tool post.  

Have a great Thanksgiving,

Rob

Well, I cheated with the tool post, ….I bought the knock off version, ….still a wedge type, ….( piston type are junk IMO) …..130.00 bucks vs. 750.00 was an easy pill to swallow,……the reviews for the knock off were really good, so I went for it,…..wedges are very stable, and the tools hold solid,…..I’m glad I went with it,…..if I bought an Aloris for the RR shop, labor rates would’ve gone through the roof!!…..

Pat

Pat,

Thanks and more good info.  I did not know the issues with the piston type of tool post.  Which brand did you go with? Phase II, Bostar?

All, sorry for the topic drift but there really should be a topic on useful tools for O Scale machining.

Rob

@Ed Kelly posted:

I need several precision pin vises for the numbered bits, 40 through 65 or so.

#40 - #65 are pretty good sized drill bits. I very rarely use a pin vise for any drill bit larger than a #61 or #60.

When using drill bit #60 or larger I'm using my variable speed drill press, particularly so if it's more than a few holes to be drilled.

@swrr posted:

Pat,

Thanks and more good info.  I did not know the issues with the piston type of tool post.  Which brand did you go with? Phase II, Bostar?

All, sorry for the topic drift but there really should be a topic on useful tools for O Scale machining.

Rob

I don’t think tools on a tool thread is a drift??……maybe??…….anyways, I bought an AXA from Jeff Besos ….actual brand unknown, …..let’s just say it came over on the Orient Express ……😉

Pat

Manhattan Supply Company has a set of 4 Mitutoyo for $26 that are very good.          j

Opened up a few drawers in my tool chest and found a few other names: Fowler, Millers Falls, Union Tool, and Cleveland Twist Drill.  Somewhere I acquired a box of the latter's center drill bits in varied sizes that were never used, including by me yet. Since I don't remember what I own, it's like Christmas to open these drawers. Almost forgot to include my Lufkin radius gauges in a leather case that is mostly disintegrated.

Before I started going to York, my big event on the calendar was the annual antique tool sale and auction in Damascus Maryland.  Used to pick up Starrett pin vises for $5-$10. It’s still a disease, but I’m holding steady on tools at the benefit of new trains. Just a sample of my tool disease.

This is not a disease, You are a curator.

Thanks to all who responded.  I did check out the Starrett and several others but the price was more than I want to spend at this stage of the game.  I did order the Tamiya which was suggested by Texgeekboy.  It should come Tuesday.  I will get back to you after I have tried it out.

Thanks again,

Ed