Record 53EXXX Quick Release Woodworkers Vise with 'Dog' 10-1/2" Jaw Width (53ED)

by Record

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

The adjustable front stop or "dog" gives an additonal clamping facility when used in conjunction with a bench stop. Quick release action reduces fatigue and speeds up operation. They have long been popular in North America and have a growing popularity in Europe. Jaw width: 10-1/2 inches with 15-inch jaw opening.

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 43.4 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B0000223R4
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: 53EXXX
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #469,579 in Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Home Improvement)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The "End All, Be All" bench vice., July 10, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Record 53EXXX Quick Release Woodworkers Vise with 'Dog' 10-1/2" Jaw Width (53ED) (Tools & Home Improvement)

When looking at bench vices I decided to go for the gold, and this Record 53E is deffinitely it. The real advantage it has over every other vice that I looked at is the 15" jaw opening. I can't believe the number of projects that I can fit in it! The "Quick Release" is fantastic. This vice is the first time that I've used it and I don't know how I ever lived without it. It is sooo much faster than the old crank method. I've got mine set up on a bench with slots for bench dogs and the system is really slick. I can easily clamp down long boards that I want to sand or route. Truely the Cadillac of bench vices.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Built to last several lifetimes!, June 25, 2002

By 

AWH (St. Louis) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Record 53EXXX Quick Release Woodworkers Vise with 'Dog' 10-1/2" Jaw Width (53ED) (Tools & Home Improvement)

If you're in the market for a wood working vice, then your search is over... this is it! My first experience with a Record vise was nearly 25 years ago, and that vise is still today going strong; serving in day-to-day work without stopping! The vice requires a 3-1/2" thick tabletop (its not listed in the specs, but you should know this before ordering), that shouldn't be a problem if you have a professional type bench, however if you're expecting to mount it to something less, you'll need to provide some kind of wood blocking. The quick release lever isn't on my original, and in my opinion adds unnecessary complexity to the screw mechanism, and probably isn't nearly as strong since the holding power is provided with the assist of a small spring metal leaf, (although I'm sure the engineers at Record have tested it and proved that it will outlast anything else on the market!) I would have been content with just a basic screw mechanism.

One peculiarity, the adjustable dog doesn't sit flush with the jaws in the down position (it projects about a 1/4" of an inch) and sometimes gets in the way. Whether this is by design or manufacturing flaw is unknown - on the original it sits flush. Obviously, 20 seconds with a cut-off saw was all it took to fix this!

The only other complaints are as other have noted as well.... it *really* could use a stronger box for shipping (this is no joke! mine was almost busting through the bottom of the box!); an installation template would have been nice; a little more oil on the exposed metal parts (the one I received had some light surface rust on the jaw edges and rail guides); the holes for attaching wood to the jaws aren't threaded, (that was easily rectified with a tap set); they should have included the mounting hardware (I used 3" long x 1/2" dia. lag screws); and including a metal bench stop (to go with the dog!) would have been a nice addition as too!.

Overall you will not find a better woodworking vise at any price!

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sturdy, Well Built Vise, March 9, 2001

By 

Myron Smith (Greeley, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Record 53EXXX Quick Release Woodworkers Vise with 'Dog' 10-1/2" Jaw Width (53ED) (Tools & Home Improvement)

I recently built a new workbench, and figured it would be nice to attach a Vise to the end of the top. So I choose this vise after looking through several vises. It is one of the largest vises available (both jaw width and opening depth). I am not sure it is any better for my uses than a smaller versions of a similar vise (Record 52ED and 52-1/2ED), but it is a great vise. The quick release mechanism works great and makes it a much easier to use. The vise is quite heavily built and will withstand plenty of abuse. It is so handy, I don't know how I got along without it. The only bad thing I can say, is that it was very poorly packaged when it arrived (it was placed in a cardboard box with some paper), but the vise is well enough built that it survived the journey just fine.