Olympia Tools 4" Mechanic's Bench Vise - Perfect for DIY & Auto Repair

I bought this vise mainly for the rotating jaws. I'm an artist blacksmith and a rotating jaw vise is great for holding things in different positions for welding and wire brushing. It is a replacement for a cheaper version of the same vise that I used for a few years and just broke. After searching the web, I found many posts about the cheaper vise breaking just like mine did, so I opted not to buy another one of that brand, even though the cheaper one is only about $70. The difference between this Olympia vise and the cheaper ones is that the Olympia is CAST STEEL rather than cast iron like the cheaper ones. Cast steel is more ductile, so less prone to break than the cast iron versions.As other reviewers have said, the locking mechanism is a bit weak as well as quirky. However, this type of vise does not need a heavy duty locking mechanism. When you tighten the jaws, the head will not rotate. (In fact the cheapy version I had did not even have any kind of locking mechanism - you had to hold it to keep it from rotating.) The locking mechanism just keeps the jaws from rotating while you're closing the jaws on the workpiece. Once there's a little pressure you don't need a locking mechanism.The lock is indeed quirky - on mine anyway. Unfortunately there is no manual with the vise and no description of how to use the locking mechanism. At first glance you might think it's a threaded set screw - wrong. It is spring loaded, so you might think it's a spring loaded pin that engages detent holes - wrong again. If you turn it in either direction, it will jam against the cylinder that the jaws ride on and lock the jaws in that position. What's disconcerting is that when it jams like this, the pin shifts at a slight angle. I would much prefer a threaded set screw or pin/detent mechanism, so may at some point take it apart and modify it like a previous reviewer described. I'd also suggest that Olympia make it clear how the mechanism works by including a note either inside the box or printed on the outside.Update November 26, 2012: I took the vise apart to see if I could "fix" the locking mechanism. The end of the pin inside the vise is a cam. Turning it should lock the vise, but I don't think they paid much attention to machining it properly so it works. Mine would cant at an angle, I think due to an irregularity in the casting around the pin hole. Also, the spring is just way to weak to put any pressure against the cylinder. My "fix" was just as another reviewer mentioned. I removed the pin and threaded the hole. As luck would have it, the hole is just about the right size for a 5/8" coarse tap. After tapping it, I screwed in an old bolt I had lying around and just hand tightening with a rag wrapped around the bolt head was enough to top the head from rotating. I'd give this vise another star with the locking mechanism fixed.Sturdy and steady for the biggest bang for my buck! Love it.Pretty heavy, sturdy and fir a good price. Haven't had any issues with it thus far. Thought I haven't bolted it to my work bench yet but it still works for me.Seems sturdy and well built. My only complaint is it doesnt come with bolts to secure to bench. Was pumped to get it up and running now it’s just sitting there til I can run to hardware store.Not horrible but not great. Gets stuck on the release but it done hold whatever you need.Looks good and strong. Painted and texture-coated. Now need to try the time test.This is my initial impression, if I don't update it, assume I've been tweaking away with this thing in the mean time because I have.The shrouded screw is nice and it does not have very much play in it. I think I will need to wear the paint off of it to get it to crank fully smooth but that's fine because it is machined properly. All its motions work well. The only thing I don't really like is that the "feet" where you bolt it are not solid. That isn't going to pull this out of my shop even if it breaks because I will just fill it with weld and drill it but it might be bad for some. The actual design of this vise is what brought me to it. It appears to be superior in design to many so called better brands. They may have better steel but time will tell. Even lower grade steel will hold out if designed properly and placed with enough mass in the right places. It does have a yellow base and a "hammer-tone" finish that is just this side of over-the-top. If you don't like it, beat it up by using it. The anvil was nice and flat and I plan to make good use of it so if that doesn't hold out against my Estwing mini-maul you will hear of it.Bought this vice 10 years ago, broke it recently and as I am checking out replacements I realise that Olympia tools says they have a lifetime warranty, Yeah right, But indeed I was wrong!!!! Replaced vice for FREE!!! This company is the BEST!!!Très satisfait