Review on 🔒 Panavise 008102 PanaVise Standard Base: Secure and Reliable Solution for all your Holding Needs by Tay Fair

I bought this vise for electronics work as it is widely available and looks better than cheap alternatives. I like this vice, but it has some problems and some easy ways to fix them. Some of them. I'm glad I have it as I needed a vise strong enough without a vacuum, but some issues are just annoying. . This is not the pinnacle of human production. There are burrs, excess metal around the edges of the mounting holes, uneven surfaces, etc. They can be filed, washed or tightened to your heart's content and in some cases just left alone as they don't hurt when used. . I know this isn't a premium vise, but for the price I'd rather not do it myself or risk cutting myself taking the vise out of the box. Mine came with a greasy dent in the plastic. the handle and the outside of the round ball are damaged. Some look like dents, others like manufacturing defects. The two hemispheres that hold the shaft of the vice head also show a similar level of craftsmanship. Not the greatest, but not the worst either. They work but certainly don't slip like clockwork. What really annoyed me was that things generally didn't go so smoothly. You feel metal on metal and get jerky movements. This is mostly easy fix: I disassembled the base (and bought the vise head separately) and wiped it down with 99% isopropyl alcohol. It helped get rid of the metal debris that seemed to be everywhere. I then smeared on some mineral oil to lubricate everything and rubbed the outside. Everything that moved was well lubricated with oil, including the threaded rod attached to the handle and the hemispheres, which were lubricated inside and out. Don't apply too much, but after they're smeared, twist them with your fingers until they spin with little effort. Trust me, once you've cleaned and oiled it, you'll feel like you're getting a lot more bang for your buck. It still won't slide perfectly, but at least you won't feel slippery and everything will be much smoother. The weight is ok. When the vise head is in place, it can be tilted. I bought an extra weighted base for mine which helps and is an expensive piece of metal with holes in it. If you really want it to be strong, bolt it to the bench even if you have a weighted base. I like the extra base for the extra height I get. For light work it should mean and maybe suit your needs but YMMV. Some people complain that it is not suitable for sawing. I don't know why anyone would buy a vise like that for a job like this. The right tool for the right job is certainly important here. I have mine for making cables and for making electronics and it's doing a great job. If you plan to saw wood, get a matching vise made from two heavy blocks of steel. I'd say they're good enough for the job they seem made for - the hobbyist or even the professional who needs to do light work and may be on a budget - although for the price the craftsmanship sucks and sucks. I expect more from a tool, especially one that is so widely used and recommended.