A bench vise is a versatile tool for holding objects in place, commonly used in carpentry and mechanical work. Consider type, size, and mounting location when choosing one.
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Have you ever had that feeling that you could use an extra set of hands? A bench vise is the extra set of hands. Bench vises are convenient pieces of equipment to keep around the workplace, and there are a few things you should consider before purchasing one. In this guide, we will let you know what a bench vise is and how to make sure you get the right one.
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What is a Bench Vise?
A bench vise is used to hold an object in place while it is being worked on. Most bench vises are bolted to a workbench, and they stay stable while the work is being done.
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Bench vises are adjustable and allow you to change the amount of pressure exerted on the item you are working with. Bench vises are common in mechanical workshops, machine shops, woodworking shops, and metalworking shops.
What is a Bench Vise used for?
Many different trades will use a bench vise. Most commonly, you will see them used in carpentry and by mechanics. Any shop will benefit from having a bench vise in place.
While it is typically used as a supporting device for mechanical work, bench vises can be used as a fixture to hold woodworking and metalworking tools in place.
Types of Bench Vises
There are many different types of bench vises; we will go over the most common ones. Each one offers benefits that make them unique and desirable. Fireball Tool has an in-depth guide here.
Benchtop Vise
A benchtop vise is bolted near the center of the table. They are made solely to raise the material above the work surface and remain sturdy and steady. Since they are on the benchtop, there isn’t much room for angled cutting around the vise. They are more often used as machinist or millwright tool than woodworker tool.
Front Vise
A front vise is what most non-workers think of when they think of a bench vise. It attaches to the front of the work bench. This style provides more angles for cutting, which makes it a useful woodworking vise.
End Vise
And end vise is a bench vise that attaches directly to the end of the table. It’s usually more permanent and provides a balance of sturdiness between benchtop and front vises.
Where To Buy a Bench Vise
A Bench Vise is available at many supply companies. Be sure to buy from a trusted retailer due to fraud & quality control.
Bestseller No. 1
- Built to Last: The swivel vise is forged from sturdy 60,000 PSI ductile iron, with a powder coating on the surface for a rust-proof finish. High-quality nuts and screws increase durability. Replaceable serrated jaw plates are made of premium carbon steel for superior grip. Go above and beyond and knock out all those tough projects!
- Large Anvil Area: The strong design comes in handier when you take the 2.9" x 3" anvil into consideration. Jaw Width: 6" / 15.2 cm. Jaw Opening: 5.9" / 15 cm. Throat Depth: 3.5"/ 8.8 cm. Creates up to 20 k.N / 4496 lbs of clamping force.
- Considerate Vise Kit: The updated accessories of this vise are now more thoughtful than ever! Comes with a set of nuts, screws, a manual, and magnetic jaw pads for hassle-free installation. No need to purchase extra fittings. They can be easily installed on your bench upon arrival. Set up and get to work!
- Adapt to Any Situation: The base can rotate an entire 360°. You can choose to tighten it in any direction you need to work at your fingertips. It allows an ever greater degree of accuracy as there is no need to keep inserting and removing the piece you are working on.
- Multifunctional Sturdy Jaw: The multi-jaw fits both flat material and pipe or tube workpiece. Pipe Clamping Diameter: 0.6"-2.9" / 1.5-7.4 cm. It is perfect for small projects and is highly adept at securing tools for sharpening, grinding, cutting, tapping, etc.
SaleBestseller No. 2
- HOME VISE: Is the perfect tool for your home workshop. Made from heavy duty 30,000 PSI Gray Iron castings, 3x stronger than cast iron vises.
- TECHNICAL SPECS: Jaw Width: 4.5" x Jaw Opening: 3" x Throat Depth: 2.6" x Pipe Capacity: Min 0.6” D x Max 1.85". Mounting hardware is not included.
- SWIVEL BASE: Vise head rotates 240° and equipped with a large 3.5" x 2.7" (8.9CM X 6.9CM) anvil work surface.
- HOW TO USE: Make sure vise is securely mounted to the workbench and the swivel base lock is secure. Open the vise by turning the vise handle counterclockwise. Place item between the serrated jaws. Close the vise by turning the vise handle clockwise until the item is snug in the serrated jaws, continue to tighten until you can no longer move item. Don't over tighten as this may damage item and/or the vise. When finished working on the item, turn screw handle counterclockwise to release the item.
- YOST VISES QUALITY: Every Yost Vises tool is engineered to have high standards of quality, strength, and durability. We value quality over quantity and manufacture products that are safe and easy to use. We offer lifetime tech support to back our quality guarantee.
SaleBestseller No. 3
Rolin Vise Bench Vise 4-1/2 Inch With 240 Degree Swivel Base Clamp Tools Home Vises Rotation Base
- Jaw width: 4.5 inch ,Throat Depth 3 inch, Max opening 4.3 inch
- Easy installation: light structure perfect fit home workshop. easy to installation and dismantling on workshop, improved base design to reduce lateral movement
- Rotation base design: Easy lock at any angle within 240-Degree, bring operation and positioning simpler and flexible
- Professional function designed: Comprehensive functions include woodworking and metalworking such as sanding, gluing, sawing
- Large Anvil Operation Area：Anvil operation area is 1.93x1.97 inch (4.9x5.0cm) strong iron material, smooth and flat surface, large operation area can meet various striking requirementssawyer, drilling, and gluing assistant
SaleBestseller No. 4
MYTEC Home Vise Clamp-On Vise，2.5"
- HOME VISE: Net weight 3.31 lbs, Maximum width of jaw opening 2.5 inch, Jaw width 2.0 inch;
- EASY TO INSTALL: This bench vise can be installed on the edge of all kinds of desktops. The table board up to 2.4 inches thick can be clamped. Convenient and quick to install and remove;
- PROTECT TABLE TOP: During installation, there is no need for punching on the table, with 2 rubber washers to prevent table scratch and 2 jaw washers for protection of the parts (To ensure good use of rubber gaskets, please refer to the product picture before use. Adjust the fixing chin to a larger opening first, then install the rubber washer in the planned corresponding position, secure it in the end);
- WIDE RANGE OF USES: This vise can hold a variety of parts，O-shape Swivel base allows vise rotating up to 360-Degree, Even if you are left-handed, you can rotate the vise to the position that suits your work;
- TIPS: Please carefully browse our product photos to understand the size of each part of the vise before place an order. We promise you that if you have any dissatisfaction with this product, you can enjoy the refund or exchange service at any time without any reason.We welcome you to contact us at any time, we will provide you with a satisfactory solution.
SaleBestseller No. 5
- Jaw Width: 125mm (5"), Jaw Opening: 125mm (5"), Throat Depth: 67mm (2.6"), Clamp Force: at least 5500 lbs (24 k.N), Item Weight: 33 lbs
- More Durable and Sturdy: Material upgrated, stationary body and floating body of DT08125A vise are all made from industrial-strength ductile iron, PSI 60,000
- More Clamping Options: DT08125A bench vise is equiped with 3 sets of well-machined jaws: replaceable top jaws with microgroove tooth, built in pipe jaws(φ 3/5" -2 1/2") and V-jaws, secure grip and smooth slide
- More Versatile and Flexible: The 360-degrees rotating front head and swivel base enable easy clamping of objects at any angle, making bench vice more efficient to work on complex workpiece
- Multifunctional Dual-Purpose Vise: The 5inch vise is suitable for both industrial and DIY home use. You can perform a range of tasks including grinding, cutting, and tapping work on the large reinforced anvil. Easily mounted and solid lockdown(We provide 3 sets of mounting screws and bolts)
Bench Vise Requirements & Considerations
The most important thing to consider when choosing a bench vise is what type of vise you will need.
Type
If you are a woodworker or a machinist or a welder, there will be different bench vises designed for you. There are also combination bench vise options in case you will be using your vise to hold a variety of materials. The jaw is important to consider – such as a having flat jaws or a curved pipe jaw. Consider your primary use case and how you’ll be using it most.
Size
A vise is measured from the length of the jaws from end to end, and it is basically telling you how much contact your vise has with the workpiece.
Opening
Vises will only open a certain width. If you continually work on a seven- inch wide material and you buy a vice that only opens five inches, you will be in a bad situation.
Where It Will Be Mounted
If you buy a heavy-duty vise, you must make sure you have a sturdy workbench. If your workbench cant handle the weight of the vise plus the abuse it will take while you work on your materials, then you must purchase a sturdy and robust workbench to start. Some vises also come as a swivel bench vise, which trades some sturdiness and clamping force for versatility.
How Do You Use a Bench Vise?
When using a vise, you must first open it wide enough to accommodate your material. When you place your material in, you can close the vise down until it is tight, holding your work piece in place. If you are working with a delicate material make sure you have it protected as the teeth of a vise can be damaging.
Bench Vise FAQs
Here are some common questions about Bench Vise.
How should I maintain a bench vise?
The jaws should be well lubricated to free them from any gritty material that has accumulated during use. Machine have a tendency to become jammed when they do not have proper lubrication and this will increase the wear on the machine tooth surfaces.
How big should your bench vise be?
A bench vise should be selected based on its size, grip strength and clamping range. A larger- jaw opening is good for objects with irregular shapes while a smaller jaw opening allows closer control. A vice’s width also needs to correspond to the work surface of your table.
How can you stay safe when using a bench vise?
A bench vise should only be used when it’s mounted securely in place to avoid unintended releases that may occur when it slips or rotates out of position. Use care not to over-tighten the knobs to prevent damaging material you are working with, keep protective elements in place during use to prevent injury from cuts/pinches, always engage the secondary safety mechanism if available before tightening down material being clamped, check all bolts regularly for tightness.
Next Steps
Have you ever had that feeling that you could use an extra set of hands? A bench vise is the extra set of hands. Bench vises are convenient pieces of equipment to keep around the workplace, and there are a few things you should consider before purchasing one. In this guide, we will let you know what a bench vise is and how to make sure you get the right one.
