Angle Tight II Precision CNC Machine Vise at Enco

I have frequently bought from Enco because their prices are much better than other places especially if you shop from the Enco flyer. Recently a machinists vise came up on sale. It is a presumably Chinese copy of a Kurt vise and seemed a good deal. However, while all the "good" vises such as Kurt or Parlec gave some kinds of specs for repeatability, flatness or parallelism the Angle Tight II ads listed nothing but holding force.

So I emailed Enco...
toEncoTechandParts@use-enco.com
dateThu, Sep 24, 2009 at 2:49 PM
subjectAngle Tight II Precision CNC Machine Vise PN SU327-5893 Questions



I am interested in the Angle Tight II Precision CNC Machine Vise PN SU327-5893 that is on sale right now for $159.95.

I want to use it as an inexpensive CNC vise but there are no specs published in the flyer or the catalog.

What are the specs for accuracy, flatness or parallelism of the jaws? Is the bed ground to flatness?

Also, do Kurt style soft jaws fit the vise?

I am sure with some of this information on the ads the product would sell better.

Thanks,
Very quickly I did get a reply:

fromEnco Parts
date
Thu, Sep 24, 2009 at 3:25 PM
subject
RE: Angle Tight II Precision CNC Machine Vise PN SU327-5893 Questions

Hello Gary

Unfortunately I do not have any specs on the vise you are looking at. We would have to measure the vise jaws and the kurt jaws to see if they will fit properly.

XXXXXXX XXXXXX
Enco Tech.
400 NV Pacific Hwy
Fernley, NV 89408
Ph. 800-873-3626 xXXXXXX
Fax 800-965-5857

Note that I have removed the person's name and extension.

This floored me. Enco Tech support doesn't have any information on their product? Why would there not be manuals or spec sheets sitting on the tech support person's desk describing what I think is a staple product for a machinist supply company?

Based on this I bought a Parlec off Ebay NIB even cheaper than what Enco had it for on sale.

But I felt I should communicate my dissatisfaction with the (non) Tech Support...

toEnco Parts
dateSat, Sep 26, 2009 at 12:51 PM
subjectRe: Angle Tight II Precision CNC Machine Vise PN SU327-5893 Questions

Based on not having any specs and not getting my questions answered I bought a Parlec vise from another company.

This vise may be a good deal as many of your Chinese tools are. But for a vise which sets the precision of all parts made in it machinists have to know what the specs are. And you should know the dimensions of your products and have at least the manual to refer to. Maybe you will sell these to hobbyists but machinists need specs.

Based on this I would rate Enco low on customer service although I have bought from you in the past.

A lot of people complain about Enco in the web for both quality and service. Price wont last as a good selling tool. Service is very important especially when you are known for selling inexpensive foreign made equipment.

Thanks and just my 2 cents.

Have a good day.

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