Fireball vise

[K30]

Well, I REALLY wanted a big heavy vise, for all kinds of stuff, especially truck and tractor repairs. I was considering a big Wilton, but the price is just nuts. All the ex-farm ones around here are basically trashed beyond all reckoning (dudes around here can f**k up an anvil in a sandbox), or just go for stupid amounts. So, when I ran across Fireball going into production on their vise a little over a year ago, I jumped on the pre-order the second it opened.
About 14-15 months later I finally got it!
I cannot overstate the gravity this thing has, shipping weight was 295lbs, and there's no way the crating weighs more than 15lbs. So, yeah, she's got some iron.
So far I'm impressed, the finish is quite decent! It appears to not have any filler under the paint, and the castings look pretty nice. The machined surfaces are smoth to the fingernail, and it shipped well greased. The action is very very smooth and there's very little play in the moveable jaw in any direction. The blued (?) Fittings have a pretty ok finish; definitely not done by the Colt Python guys.
Jaw serrations are actually really excellent! They're a pretty truncated pyramid instead of sharp, so they're probably able to hold some things without destroying the surface. I'll see if I can get a decent closeup.
I'll have to go get some transfer punches and borrow a mag drill to mount it up, but I'll update if I find something people should know about.

Crate



Shots on the work table










Jaw serrations

 

[C-Bag]

+1. It looks like an incredible vise and knowing Fireball it is. “Worth” is such a hard thing to gauge but I’m glad you can afford to show support for Fireball.

 

[rodm1]

Out of my budget but it's nice to be able to buy a quality peace in this day and age! I would like the belt grinder!

 

[rwm]

I think you are going to have to tell us if this was worth the price and if we all need must have one.

 

[Firstram]

Can you rotate the base so the fixed jaw is overhanging the edge of the bench? It would be a shame to lose the ability to clamp long parts vertically.

 

[682bear]

That is a good looking vise...!

-Bear

 

[K30]

Can you rotate the base so the fixed jaw is overhanging the edge of the bench? It would be a shame to lose the ability to clamp long parts vertically.

It looks like it, i can measure to see by how much.

 

[C-Bag]

shipping weight was 295lbs

WOW, I missed that detail the first time through! Aye carumba that’s a hunk iron. Back in the day when I was working the rice ranch and servicing tractors and crawlers that would have been handy. Luckily I’m not doing that stuff anymore. The thing I really appreciate about Fireball is he has a very clear view of what works and is necessary. I hope you enjoy your vise.

An update a year from now would be appreciated.

 

[NCjeeper]

Looks like a beast of a vise.

 

[extropic]

Congratulations on buying such a nice piece.
I expect it can provide good service for many many generations.
No doubt you've watched the test video.
I wonder what it will look like in 100 years?
Teach your children well (Graham Nash).