Kit arrived well packaged. Pieces were wrapped in heavy-duty air cushion film. Wood is clean, straight-grained. Grooves and threads are machined with great precision, smooth surfaces, no torn fibers. Using it with a shop-made brass garter. Clamps securely with moderate torque (18" handle, white oak jaws). Also put some paraffin on the threads to get absolutely smooth action.
An absolute joy to use!
I originally bought one for my Lie-Nielsen #51 shooting plane. Besides taking and holding an extremely sharp edge, the MagnaCut chips significantly less than the factory A2 blade. The MagnaCut edge lasts at least 3 times longer than the A2 in the hard and abrasive woods that I use. I liked the first one so much I went back and bought several more. I use a diamond plate for restoring a chipped edge and Shapton GlassStones for honing and polishing. The Shaptons are slower, but they do work.
Not sure if you mean how the vise or my back is holding up? The back is eternally grateful for the vise.