Pin Vise recommendation

[Bill H]

Thanks all, based on these stellar recommendations I just bought a Starrett!

Thanks again,
Bill

[mmagliaro]

My Starrett 165 arrived today. 

You won't be disappointed.  The whole thing is just more precisely made than your average hobby store pin vise.   The collets, the threaded nose that goes over the collets, the handle, are all heavy and operate smoother.  The 4 jaws of the collet are in a dead-straight cross that closes dead-on in the middle, and however the metal is tapered in that collet, it gets a wonderful "grab" on the bit without having to crank on the nose to keep the bit from slipping.

It's a darn nice tool.

[narrowminded]

My Starrett 165 arrived today. 

You won't be disappointed.  The whole thing is just more precisely made than your average hobby store pin vise.   The collets, the threaded nose that goes over the collets, the handle, are all heavy and operate smoother.  The 4 jaws of the collet are in a dead-straight cross that closes dead-on in the middle, and however the metal is tapered in that collet, it gets a wonderful "grab" on the bit without having to crank on the nose to keep the bit from slipping.

It's a darn nice tool.

The devil is in the details!

[garethashenden]

The devil is in the details!

And you get what you pay for!

[mmagliaro]

And you get what you pay for!

In fact, I think you get more in this case.  I have other pin vises that are "pretty well made" from Mascot and others - some with the large wooden ball end or a large black plastic ball end.  They all cost about $10.
The Starrett, at $30, is much better then 3 times as good as those.   So $30 is a great deal.