It happens far too often – you’re working on a delicate new project when suddenly your hand slips. One of...
It happens far too often – you’re working on a delicate new project when suddenly your hand slips. One of two things can happen – either you damage a section of your project (that’s the good news) or you injure your hand. Whatever the outcome, neither is good.
Want to avoid these inconveniences from occurring? Lucky for you, we’ve compiled together a list of the top bench vises on the market to ensure that you and your projects won’t come into harm’s way. Read on to find out what high-quality products you should consider.
The LV-4 Home Vise – painted with a durable blue powder coat – features a newly-improved base. Working with oddly-shaped products has never been easier due to the 240-degree rotation this vise offers. And don’t worry about mounting – the base features four pre-created mounting holes. All you need is the 3/8-inch bolts (sold separately), and you’ll be good to go.
The Acme Threaded Main Screw is zinc plated and highly durable. One feature that we love is the locking C collar, which handily provides quick engagement and disengagement of the main screw. However, the Pipe and Machinist Jaws cannot be beaten and are a commendable 4.5-inches wide. Considering Pipe Jaws aren’t usually found on inexpensive models, we highly recommend this vise.
This blue-steeled light-duty beauty is ideal for small jobs that need to be completed on the go or for onsite construction. Only weighing four pounds, this vise is lightweight and portable. However, its weight doesn’t detract from its overall quality – this vise can be fitted on to table tops up to two-inches thick.
Very popular among gunsmiths and professional woodworkers, this vise is made from cast iron and steel and even has an anvil and pipe jaws incorporated into the design. Worried about clamping pressure? Irwin Tools’ product is able to clamp products up to 1,250 pounds. If you need a light-duty portable vise, then look no further.
Wilton’s Bench Vise is a formidable addition to your woodworking bench. The manufacturer knows that its product will last and provides a lifetime warranty. The grooved steel jaw inserts hold any object in place, and the body of the vise is constructed from high-strength steel.
Featuring a large anvil work surface, this vise rotates 120 degrees and opens up to four inches. Users rave about the two locks to prevent any unwanted swiveling on the base and the three lug nut holes that secure the vise to the work table. You’re not likely to find many vises like this around.
Now we’re venturing into the realm of heavy-duty vises that can resist a little more wear and tear. Performance Tool’s Eight-inch Machinist Vise may look intimidating with a sheer-black durable power coat finish, but this product is ideal for DIY novices who wish to work with larger items.
Featuring a 360-degree swivel base for difficult tasks and a polished anvil, you can’t go wrong with this vise. The manufacture is so confident with its products that it offers a lifetime warranty. And since this vise is steel jawed and features diamond serration for a secure grip, it’s a product that keeps on giving.
TEKTON’s 4-Inch Swivel Bench Vise is the kind of product that instantly makes you question what you’ve been doing without it for all these years. This product is practically indestructible. Considering it’s constructed from 30,000 PSI cast iron with serrated steel jaws, we really can’t see your vise breaking anytime soon.
Whether you’re using this vise for woodworking or smaller household work, it works wonders with the smooth T-bar handle with an Acme-threaded screw. TEKTON ensures that this vise is simple to install by creating three mounting holes that will anchor the vise securely to your workbench.
Yost’s Heavy-Duty Forged Steel Bench Vise is both beautifully manufactured and innovative. This bright-red, powder-coated vise features oxidized attachments, and the body of the vice is made out of 75,000 PSI Forged Steel. If you frequently work with tricky, misshapen products, the vise features a 360-degree swivel base with two lock downs to keep items in place.
Need to bend or shape metal? The durable and highly practical anvil work surface is made of forged steel, standing out from the crowd of traditional cast iron vises. The guide rails are even adjustable for smooth operation. A phenomenal vise for an affordable price.
Say hello to Grizzly’s Multi-Purpose 5-Inch Bench Vise. This must-have product is an essential tool for our workbench. Let’s start with our favorite feature: the degree indicator on the 360-degree rotating jaws, which allows its user to view how far they’ve already turned the vice. Why don’t more vises offer this ingenious feature? We absolutely love it.
Incorporating five-inch jaws with an average depth throat, the levers are fantastic for tightening whatever you’re working on and are ideal for users who constantly switch items on the job. The versatile swiveling base comes in handy and truly allows a worker to own their laziness – no need to walk around your work!
This blue Lockdown Vise is durable in every way. Not only that, you’ll never get injured due to a slippage. The horizontal force created by tightening the handle pushes the semi-sphere within the movable jaw and thrusts the movable jaw downwards.
Want to move your jaw plates? This vise allows them to be positioned with four different settings, providing the user with high clamping power. Alongside the perfectly aligned precision gowned jaws, it’s a product that’s hard to beat.
Its rotating ability is this product’s top feature. Both the head and the base of Capri Tools’ vise can rotate 360-degrees – the head locks with a pull pin at 12 different points, while the base can move wherever you desire.
Manufactured from ductile iron, a 10-year warranty is provided. No surprise there considering many users find this product to be indestructible. One additional benefit is the 90,000 pounds of clamping force, allowing your item to be securely placed. This rotating vise puts other products to shame with its adaptability and versatility.
Do you have a small project to complete that requires a secure hold yet you cannot seem to find an affordable vise? PanaVise’s Vise is ideal for small home repairs and hobbies such as jewelry making and circuit board wiring. Its most commendable feature is the single knob that offers three different head movements of 90-degree tilt, 360-degree turn, and 360-degree rotation.
The jaws can be used with heated products up to 200-degrees Fahrenheit and operates with intermittent heat of up to 300-degrees Fahrenheit. What we just love about this vise is its comparability with all PanaVise base mounts and the addition of three bolt circle, which means it can be installed without any problems.
You’ve finally decided to take the plunge and look into purchasing a Bench Vise. Good for you – now you’re one step closer to obtaining greater precision in your work. Yet so many prospective buyers give up at the last hurdle due to there being so much to consider. Don’t let this dissuade you! By informing yourself about the top features, you’ll be sure to purchase a quality product.
Depending on the size and shape of the object at hand should largely alter your choice of vise. If you typically work with larger and heavier objects, consider opting for a vise with a larger jaw, ranging from size 4″to 8″. Likewise, if you often work with peculiarly shaped items, look into purchasing yourself either an offset or rotating vise.
The amount of money you plan to splurge on your new gadget should correspond to the amount you’ll use it. There’s no point in flinging your hard-earned cash at a model which will sit about in your garage gathering dust. On the other hand, if you plan to use your vise every day, ensure it includes features which enhance its durability, such as replaceable serrated jaws chrome-plated which resist corrosion.
You want a vise which generates no additional hassle, especially when it comes to removing and inserting different work. Vises with quick opening features are available if you frequently work with several products at once.
The benefits of working with a vise are numerous. Here’s our top three we consider to be the most useful:
Do you have work-working project that needs completed? By holding the wood between the vise, both hands can be used, reducing the risk of hand fatigue and overall injury.
‘But using sandpaper is simple, right?’, non-DIYers state. Unfortunately, no. It can be incredibly difficult to apply sandpaper to a piece of wood without damaging your product. By securing the item into place, you can now add finer detail to your project without any consequences.
To use a drill effectively, it is vital that you do so on a surface that won’t move an inch. Working with a vise will guarantee accuracy when operating a precise tool of this type.
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Those DIYers who endlessly complain about how difficult it is to mount and install a bench vise haven’t followed the right instructions. In reality, all you need is a little determination combined with a little strength and you’ll be good to go! Just ensure you ask yourself the right questions beforehand.
Are you going to be installing a bench top vise? Where can you work quietly without being disturbed? These are all questions which must be considered before installation can take place.
If you’ve decided to install a bench vise like most DIYers, mark where the vise holes will be before drilling though the bench top. It’s important to allow for half to three-quarters of an inch below the top of the bench and the jaws to make room for the wood face.
Now it’s time to place bolts in the holes provided within the mounting bracket. One top tip is to place lock washers/add glue to keep the vise in place. Now, you’re ready to go!
The beauty and downfall of bench vises is that they all work differently depending on which model you opt for. In general, bench vises are used to hold down an object in a secure manner so it can be worked on and decreasing the likelihood of the operator becoming injured. Likewise, the operator’s job is made easier due to the bench vise holding down the object being worked upon rather than their hand, increasing overall quality and decreasing work time.
Sliding or Dynamic Jaw – This feature is arguably the most important part of any bench vise. A sturdy dynamic jaw will provide precise clamping on any object you wish to adjust or amend. Without a durable jaw, you’ll be buying a new bench vise in no time. Fixed Body or Static Jaw – This is where things start to get complicated, so bear with us! The static jaw is usually the heaviest of the two jaws and remains stationary during work, unlike a Sliding or Dynamic Jaw described above. Typically, you’ll find the static jaw fixed to the body of the vise itself. Handle – Do we really need to explain this component? The purpose of a handle on a bench vise is to act as a lever that turns the lead screw, which then moves the dynamic jaw. Simple, right? We recommend purchasing a handle with changeable anti-pinch rubber rings to protect yourself against any injuries. Warning – Never add a cheater bar to a handle! Although this will extend the handle of your vise and therefore generate greater force, the warranty of your vise runs the risk of voiding the warranty. Main or Lead Screw – This part of the vise is attached to the handle through the nut and rotates and moves the dynamic jaw open and closed. You’ll often find Acme threads to be the most reliable, due to allowing for precise operation and longevity. Jaws – These are located at the top of both the dynamic and the static jaw and hold the work piece in place. Ideally, these should be hardened and serrated for maximum durability. In high-quality vises, it’s often possible to attach snap on jaws if working with a tricky product.
The importance of incorporating a swivel base really depends on the job at hand. If you’re working with an oddly shaped object then we’d recommend this feature, as this allows for adjustment of the vise position on the bench. A quality swivel base will include a side clamping screw, which will stop any unwanted rotation from occurring by keeping it fixed with this locking arrangement. So, what are the advantages? As well as being versatile as you’re able to adjust the vise, there’s no need to constantly open and close jaws to reposition your workpiece. You’ll be saving time and keeping yourself safe from injuries. However, many critics argue that despise these benefits, a fixed bench is a lot sturdier, can withstand more pressure, and guarantees less risk of the vise moving during work applications. Unfortunately, in comparison to a fixed base, the models incorporating a swivel base are a lot more expensive! As always, we cannot make this decision for you but ensure that you know your priorities before opting for a model containing a swivel base.
We know what you’re all thinking. What vise, out of the multitude of high-quality products we’ve pitched today, would we install into our own workshops? It would have to be the Yost LV-4 Home Bench Vise. It features a 240-degree rotation, so you can easily work on oddly-shaped items. It’s also simple to mount and features a locking C collar, which is very convenient. This is a great option when it comes to ease of use.
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