Is this a clamp or a vise?... a lot may depend on how you use it and your definition, however, I will give it a spot in both categories even if attributed to overlapping functionality.
I’m sure most of you have been pissed off by that guy that always spruiks about this “Zyliss clamp” when you go to any of the woodworking shows (at least here in Aussieland). Most people tend to totally ignore him and those that don’t, seem to get intimidated by its variety of diversified applications, amassed and launched at them in a few inconceivable minuted. It’s not that I’m a bigger sucker than most, but I tend to hone in on certain features and concentrate on them when making a purchase.
The most impressive features I gleaned from the presentation was its 1. Portability…
verified by my eagerness to convert from corded to cordless as soon as the tool becomes available and I can afford it at the time… otherwise I just wait a few months, but will surrender.
2. Quick adjustment button…
a feature that was quite novel about 20 years ago, when I bought my first one.
3. Versatility in orientation,
4. Lock/unlock handle,
When I moved to downtown Churchill, I found that I was continually moving the Zyliss from the workshop to my upstairs back patio where I did a lot of DIY projects. On my next wood show visit, I decided to buy another one.
Whether the patent had expired or the item changed owners the apparent quality/surface-appearance had declined
(original on left) and the latest one I bought was re-branded from Zyliss,
to Z-vise2,
The operational functionality and accessories remained what I consider a high standard, however, the lack of quality finish on the surfaces and welds were obvious. I will emphasise that this did not affect its performance.
When it comes to accessories, the contents of this 2nd purchase container
speaks for itself. Not that they are useless, I just either didn’t have a need for most of them or I already had an alternative.
These are some of my favourite uses,
and for holding tools,
It has a drill holder,
unfortunately, it only fits the old fashioned corded ones.
The main downside I have found with these clamps is that the demo guy sucks you in with the ease of use. He uses his clamp at the bench’s end
where the full 360 ° rotation of the handle is permitted, however, that is somewhat limited when mounted in the middle of a work surface,
fortunately, the quick action button can reduce that needed rotational requirement significantly and the releasable handle can be re-positioned.
This may be redundant in most workshops, however, you may find it priceless if you tend to do a lot of work off-site.
I inherited something very similar from my FIL, haven't even bothered to set it up and see what it offers as I already have vises stashed all over the place. Maybe worth a look-see, seems to have a bit of utility but I'm shocked, shocked I say that you are not using the proper Festool branded vice to hold your sander!
You might just get stripped of one green bar on your official FT nighty!
May fleas infest my armpit... and hide in my nostril hairs!
The only decent Fe$tool clamp is their VAC-SYS and I'm a guilty lucky owner of that extravagance. Lucky cause they are no longer available due to cost. Would love to have done a review, but it'd only be bragging due to unavailability, and not too many owners would be prepared to part with theirs. So I think that green bar stays in my jocks.
If you have one from the FIL, dig it out... may be redundant in the workshop, but when I was working, lived in the city and mobile, I used to carry mine in the boot of my car, along with this cordless saw (next to my tyre inflator), currently out of my car due to a trade in... the car not the saw. Incredible how often I found the use for both away from home.
If your first cut is too short... Take the second cut from the longer end... LBD
I picked up one of these vises at a yard sale a few years ago basically still in its box and unused. I used it a few times before I built a good work bench for my shop. I've kept it with the idea that it would be handy work holding when traveling or camping. You could easily clamp it to a picnic table or even just a 2x4 clamped to something else.
--Nathan, TX. Hire the lazy man. He may not do as much work but that's because he will find a better way.
"Vundervise" with a "Woodshop" logo so probably a magazine promotional. Made in Taiwan, aluminimum, but I'll have to check it out (with accessories) since it looks similar in size to what you show.
Incredible how often I found the use for both away from home.
Some of the New Jersey "Wise Guys" in the States are giving you a knowing nod right now 😎
Handy kit for dismembering found wood and other dismembering "needs"
I got in the habit of the cordless saw in the boot as I used to buy my timber from a wrecker, who also sold great Jarah offcuts/rejects, perfect hobbyist size and quality. He only loaned a blunt handsaw if you couldn't fit it into the car... bloody hand tool???, gimme a break!
Also our local Bunnings would not break down MDF sheet goods, health hazzard. I was often seen in the car park with the sheet goods propped on disposable pallets, cutting into car sizes with the cordless. I may never repeat that practice anymore, however, just never stopped carrying it.
Unfortunately in remote downtown Churchill, about all one can pick up at a garage sale, on the tools side, is some mallet and chisels (for stone) and on the fashion stakes a lot of obsolete oversized "bi quadkinis".
"Vundervise" with a "Woodshop" logo so probably a magazine promotional. Made in Taiwan, aluminimum,
Both of mine are aluminium, however, you can see the difference in the finish between the two... fortunately functionality doesn't seem to be affected.
Made in Taiwan?... wow!... I remember as a kid we'd poo-poo any "made in Japan" logo... hell I'd kill for that now... with the Chinese swill being currently dished up, I'd kill for a "made in Taiwan" logo.
If your first cut is too short... Take the second cut from the longer end... LBD
I did some serious research and your "Zyliss" was a Swiss made vunder-tool. Probably when Julie Andrews and her troupe of non-yodelling child-spawn came waltzing in over the Alp's, the Swiss just stood there and thought WTF?. At that point secret Taiwanese agents stole the vise plans and created the version I have Obviously they thought it so wonderful, thinking the way the Swiss pronounced "Wonder" they misspelled the name and even trade marked it.
Ok, so being curious, I set the thing up for a glamor photo
Somewhere I should have the other red plastic jaw cover. Not sure what the two thingies to the rear are for
SplinterGroup ..... Not sure what the two thingies to the rear are for
The two thingies at the back... you should have 2 of the left thingies... The right thingie can be combined with one of the left thingies, to hold a piece much like you would in a lathe between a dead centre at one end,
and the other left thingie mounted on the clamp as the other dead centre.... you now have a manually operated lathe... all the hand toolies will think you're a hero.
The right thingie can be used as a "dog" so you can have a "tail vise" in the middle of your bench.
Just watch those left thingies as they have sharp edges that can leave ring imprints on your work, much like, but bigger than a live/dead centre if you use too much pressure.
PS. You need to do an about (360°/2) turn with your mounting clamps.
If your first cut is too short... Take the second cut from the longer end... LBD
I've used those "chucks" when using a spoke shave or even when chamfering the corners with a plane and the "dog clamp" (auxiliary clamping jaw) for hand planing longer boards. And that "drilling machine holder" in the upper picture that Duckie's picture showed can be used like a drill press. See lower right below.
There are a bunch of other configurations shown in the manual including ways to tilt and pivot the jaws.
--Nathan, TX. Hire the lazy man. He may not do as much work but that's because he will find a better way.
Hell I didn't realise I had mine for so long... Basically I seldom use the accoutrements (other than the jaw pads)... I've forgotten all the things it could do if you are in a tight spot... Found this old CD... yes CD made from a VHS tape.
If your first cut is too short... Take the second cut from the longer end... LBD
Nice video!, at least there are no "but wait, there's more!"
I'm thinking Ill just put mine to use in the back room for electroncis work and other "clean room" type stuff. Seems a tad dandy for use as a bench vise for heavy material hogging on a 2x12.
Well butter my butt and call me a biscuit, I found the second turning center, spare jaw, and the remaining plastic jaw covers. Also found the brief instruction manual and all "included" parts are accounted for.
I'm thinking Ill just put mine to use in the back room for electroncis work and other "clean room" type stuff. Seems a tad dandy for use as a bench vise for heavy material hogging on a 2x12.
They're not the b'all, but making use of it is a helluva lot better than hidden in a corner. Once you get to using it, you'll find some crazy uses... even impart gratuitous torture on yoursaelf during those boring nights pottzy always whinges about... send him some pictures!
If your first cut is too short... Take the second cut from the longer end... LBD
Pretty cool! I bought a Profi-King PLUS after seeing one of my carving associates using his at the carving club. Got it off ebay for less than the original purchaser paid. The old imprinted credit card receipt was in the box, too. Remember those? The vise had never even been used!
