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1227 Review
31 Karma

Review on πŸ”§ Yost Vises 906 AS Heavy-Duty Steel by Will Kern

Revainrating 3 out of 5

Sturdy, form fitting, and finished Harbor Freight

This vise is a real mix - better than I feared but worse than I hoped, especially with the Yost name. First of all, I'm not a pro, just a homeowner tired of breaking "home appliances". My first thought for a vise was to buy a used one, but there is a really terrible choice in my area at this price point. After months of searching, I decided to try something new. Pros: These grips definitely feel sturdy. To be honest, that's overkill for me. My main concern with this purchase was getting something that wouldn't break. The world is full of reports of cheap cast iron bench vises with casting defects or contamination breaking in half when you need it most. I was hoping that with this vise the material (cast steel) and weight would prevent this. Personally, it inspires confidence, although I haven't tested its limits. The jaws in my example align, which was an issue based on some reviews. Once clamped, it stays fast and tight. Bad: fit and finish. So far from online snaps, this is almost a different product. Absolutely none of the finishes are what I would call "treated". More like sanding burrs all over the place on a 40 grit sander. The ruffled coat in my example had a few stains that were missed or rubbed off in transit. And sloppiness! Slop is just about anywhere Slop can be. The main bolt locking pin flexes a mile, causing the grip to tilt. It wobbles and wobbles when adjusting as the fit of the stem in the body is approximate at best (no way of adjustment). The main screw is 90% tight for reasons I can't diagnose. I've taken it apart and done my best to clean it, but most of the issues are just flooding. To be honest it's on par with what I've done. Bought from Harbor Freight for fit and finish. I think you get what you pay for and not a penny more.

Pros
  • Power & Hand Tools
Cons
  • Slightly Crumpled