10 Best Bench Vises [ Reviews ] - BestOfMachinery

We purchase every product we review with our own funds — we never accept anything from product manufacturers. At first glance a bench vise seems a straightforward item. Basic, robust engineering, with a simple function, and intuitive use. But go shopping for one, and you'll find you have a harder choice than you expected. Size, materials, jaw options, and more. Suddenly, it's not best bench vise garage journal 50ml a simple purchase.

After getting to grips with a whole bunch of different vises, the five above are those that came out on top. A brief explanation of their features and benefits accompanies each one. For a full breakdown of the components and materials that make a top bench vise, you can read the following report.

It provides all the knowledge you need to compare and contrast bench vises on your own. They all fall under the umbrella of bench vises, so for the sake of simplicity, we'll use that term through the remainder this review.

A woodworker's vise is built into the bench. Jaws are steel or iron, but usually have wooden faces, to prevent marking the workpiece. The front moving jaw meets the rear jaw at the same level as the bench top. The mechanism is underneath the bench. A post vise — or blacksmith's vise — is a strange beast.

Partly fixed to the bench, like a carpenter's, partly above the bench, like a machinist's, it also has a leg that extends to the floor, best bench vise garage journal 50ml it can support greater weights.

There are all kinds of handheld vises. There are machine vises not to be confused with machinist vises for use with pillar drills and milling machines. Best bench vise garage journal 50ml, lightweight vises, frequently called jeweler's or watchmaker's vises, are miniature versions of the bench vise, but may be able to clamp at multiple angles.

Some have suction bases. Jaws are often plastic or nylon so they don't mark delicate components. All metalworking vises are of a similar construction. The rear jaw of the vise is part of the base. It has two, three or four bolt holes to fix it to the bench. The rear jaw does not move forward or backward, but the whole assembly may rotate.

An anvil area is often incorporated. A winding handle is attached, in front of the jaw. Rotation of the handle moves this jaw, closing or opening the vise. Occasionally the beam is a round tube, with the threaded bar inside, though this is not common.

A bench vise has to exert considerable grip and, because it performs numerous tasks, it usually takes quite a pounding. Though you best bench vise garage journal 50ml strike the vise itself with a hammer, best bench vise garage journal 50ml often happens. So it needs to be tough. Low-cost bench vises often use steel, which is light and cheap. It's fine for light duties and for hobbyists, but it doesn't have the high resilience a professional would need.

The best bench vises are made of cast iron, and two variants can be found: gray iron and ductile iron. Gray iron isn't about color, it's used to indicate the presence of graphite flakes. It's the most common form of cast iron, used in everything from vises to stove tops.

It's highly resistant to wear, doesn't rust easily, and isn't affected much by heat. Its only drawback is a lower structural strength than ductile iron. It doesn't take impact well, and in extreme cases can fracture. For this reason, anvil sections on this kind of vise are often made of a steel plate, welded on. Steel will absorb impact — hammer blows, for example — without cracking, though it is possible to dent it.

Ductile iron also contains graphite, but the particles are round. This gives it considerable extra strength and high ductility — hence the name. As a result, ductile iron is resistant to cracking, and anvil sections can therefore be made from the same material as the main body.

Except in the very cheapest bench vises, jaws are removable. They come in many different shapes, sizes and materials. Jaw covers are also available. These can be wooden, plastic, or nylon. They simply slip over the existing jaws for different gripping applications. As with replaceable jaws, engineers often make their own. Jaws start from just two inches wide, but four inches is common for an entry-level bench vise. It's a good size for a hobbyist's tool.

Sizes increase by half-inch, or one-inch increments, depending on manufacturer. Six inch jaws are probably all most home engineers will need, though eight inch jaws are widely available. Jaw openings vary enormously. Mostly, they depend on the length of the slide. This can be a major restriction on the size of item you can hold, so it's important to get it right.

Some DIY bench vises only allow an opening of four inches. Professional-grade tools with reversible heads can open as wide as best bench vise garage journal 50ml inches. Because of the way a bench vise is constructed, throat depth varies little.

Even a cheap bench vise will have a throat depth of between two and a half or three inches, yet only a few top-quality models exceed four inches. Many bench vises have a quick-release feature. A finger operated lever, attached below the front jaw, releases the screw thread.

This allows the jaw to slide back and forward freely, and therefore more quickly. Best bench vise garage journal 50ml the lever re-engages the thread. The vise can't be fully tightened until this is done. Swivel bases are common, and a useful addition.

It makes it easier to position different parts of the workpiece in front of you, rather than having to move the piece itself. A few vises have rotating heads that can carry best bench vise garage journal 50ml sets of jaws.

This gives fast access to the second set, saving you the time it would take to change jaws completely. They can be very heavy. If they become detached they can fall and cause injury. They can also be extremely difficult to re-align. Never use extension bars on the handle. The supplied handle will apply the maximum pressure intended. Trying to exert more can potentially damage the vise, or cause injury to the user.

Best bench vise garage journal 50ml you've finished work for the day, open the vise jaws slightly and leave the handle in the vertical position. If you leave it horizontal, it can catch you at hip height when you pass, leaving a surprisingly painful bruise. There are some very cheap bench vises around, but bear in mind that these tools exert a tremendous amount of pressure. Metal fatigue and stress fractures are common with poorly cast models.

Not a lot of money for a tool you'll probably never wear out. Versatility is an important consideration when it comes to bench vises, and the Yost D2 is definitely versatile. Reversible jaws and a lockable swivel base should provide enough flexibility for most clamping needs. Great all-around vise. The 8-inch jaws are the widest among our top five contenders.

Decent midrange model has the advantages best bench vise garage journal 50ml cast iron, durability and tensile strength, but also some of its disadvantages brittleness in cold, rust issues. While not a heavy-duty bench vise for professional use, it is still a good choice for hobbyists and weekend warriors.

Versatility is its strongest selling point. Decent price point for a light to medium duty bench vise. Designed primarily for home use, such as hobbies, small repairs, and product best bench vise garage journal 50ml. We appreciate its exceptionally low price point and its solid steel construction.

If home users need a third hand for holding pieces, the Wilton is the right choice. This bench vise is an affordable alternative to professional-grade vises designed for heavy duty use. Woodworkers and gunsmiths will especially appreciate the size and depth of the jaw assembly. BestReviews wants to be better. Please take our 3-minute survey, and give us feedback about your visit today.

Best Bench Vises Updated December

Nov 26,  · The VISES of Garage Journal Part 1 of 4. Shows Images of the various bench vises that have been posted on the forum of "The Garage Journal". All 4 parts (3h Author: sezardon. Jul 31,  · 1. A fellow from the Garage Journal Vises Forum sent me a copy of the Patent. It was dated So the question of manufacture date has been answered. 2. Here's a picture of the naked vise body during my restoration. There was no Bondo in the body. I was very impressed in how well it was made. 3. Here are some pictures of the finished restoration.

Wood Bodied Hand Planes Is Ace Hardware Open July 4th Work Under Sink Drawer Unit Diagram Woodworking Projects Drill Press 95