Parrot Vise

[Thomas James]

FYI. A Parrot Vise clone is on eBay for $58.29. Looks identical to the Shop Fox version. I ordered one. I will compare it to the two Shop Fox units we have. This version is green.

[Palle Clausen]

I got one of those a couple of years ago. I think I paid around $40.

Very good quality, use it every day.

[Carl Dickinson]

I use a couple of them. One that I got from Garret Wade has an additional fitting that allows for positioning around an additional axis. But it's a lot more expensive than the regular parrot vise. I was lucky to get a gift certificate from my son that helped to make it affordable. If you want to look it up it's called the Ultimate Versatile vise. Here's a couple of pics.

[Thomas James]

Review: The Green eBay Model (there are no markings on the vise) does the job. However, the Shop Fox vise is a higher quality vise. 

1. There are more surfaces ground smooth on the Shop Fox. The jaw sides, the mating surfaces for using the vise sideways. The jaw guide rails also have finish that is not ground smooth on the eBay one.

2. The fit and finish all around is slightly lacking on the eBay Model   

3. The lower adjustment arm is mounted with a spring pin rather the peened metal pin on the Shop Fox.

4. The jaws on the Shop Fox are roughly 1/4" taller.

If I get another one - I'll go with the Shop Fox. 

[David]

When my Parrot went bad (too much wear on the threads after a dozen years) I made the mistake of ordering one from Amazon. The one I got was junk compared with the old one. Poor machining and finishing, mismatched surfaces. I returned it and got a refund, then ordered one from Grizzly, which was much much better. Lesson learned.

[jeff nelson]

Has anyone put a hand wheel on their parrot style vise ? if so, which one, where did you get it and how did you do it. Thanks