Thanks for the link on WIlton parts.
If you don't have a least one decent vise in a solid mount, you don't have anything. In 1991 I bought this Wilton model 500 machinest's vise for the ungodly price of $291. I'm pretty sure the same vise, new, would set you back most of 1K today.
I built the mount from a piece of 4140, drawn over mandrel, seemless, hydraulic tubing-it was for a two stage ram of some sort, polished internally and externally, with 1/4 inch wall. I welded flanges on it to mount the vise and to bolt it to the floor. I didn't need a swivel feature, as it is mounted far enough away from the bench that I can walk all the way around it.
The mount has been filled with spent lead shot, making it a "dead blow" vise mount.
The Wilton jaw caps have rubber faces on an aluminum body, and have been all I have needed so far for delicate work.
Not mentioned by the buy-an-old-vise guys is the fact that the newer Wiltons have a keyway and a key on the jaws that keep them in perfect alignment as you draw the vise down. Having used one, I wouldn't buy a vise that didn't have that feature today. You don't get that on the cheaper Wiltons, either.
Best,
Ted
