A bench vise is a versatile workshop tool that exerts a firm grip, to hold the workpiece securely for performing all the desired operations (easier manipulation). From welding, cutting, to sawing, this Bench vise serves for many purposes and having this at hand is vital.
It offers a degree of versatility when mounted on the workbench. To obtain a great precision in your work, you have to own this bench vise. As a buyer, one has to keep these 3 main things in their mind to get their best and most suited one.
- Jaw Width – It is the size of jaws in inches. Prefer to choose the bench vise with larger jaw width, why because it offers a better grip, even while working with larger objects.
- Throat Depth – It let you know about the space availability between the jaws. It is the distance between the jaws and inner base of the bench vise. If working on large objects, choose a vise with large throat depth and vice versa, as per your project requirement.
- Jaw Opening – It tells about the horizontal space between the two jaws (how far the jaws open) of the bench vise. Check the maximum width (2 – 10 inches) of the jaw opening to ensure fit the wide object easily inside the bench vise.
Also, you have to consider various other factors like rotation angle, construction material, mount type and so on while purchasing, which are clearly explained in the below “Buying Guide”. Also, to reduce your selecting and shopping time, we came up with a list of best-selling bench vises. Go through them to know all the essential information required to purchase the best bench vise, as per your requirement.
Best Bench Vise : Table
| Bench Vise | Jaw Width | Throat Depth | Warranty | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yost Vises Bench Vise | 4 ½ inch | 2.6 inch | 1 year | Check On Amazon |
| HFS Bench Vise | 4 inch | 3 inch | 1 year | Check On Amazon |
| Gottinfurt Bench Vise | 3.3 inch | 4 inch | 3 years | Check On Amazon |
| WILTON TOOLS Bench Vise | 6 inch | 4 inch | Lifetime warranty | Check On Amazon |
| Forward Bench Vise | 5 inch | 2.6 inch | 10 years | Check On Amazon |
| Olympia Tools Bench Vise | 6 inch | 2.75 inch | N/A | Check On Amazon |
| Yost Vises 465 Bench Vise | 6 ½ inch | 3.75 inch | 3 years | Check On Amazon |
| IRWIN Bench Vise | 5 inch | 3 inch | Lifetime warranty | Check On Amazon |
| Capri Tools Bench Vise | 6 inch | 3.5 inches | Lifetime warranty | Check On Amazon |
Best Bench Vise: Reviews
1. Yost Vises Bench Vise
Yost is one of the most popular brands out there if you are looking for a bench vise. It offers a wide range of options, including the one present here.
The Yost LV-4 bench vise is present in the 1st position in this article as it is the cheapest option present in this article. And even then, it is capable for most workshop jobs without any issues due to its 4 ½ inch jaw width. It has a throat depth of 2.6 inches and a jaw opening of 3 inches that is quite decent for its given price.
But since this is a budget bench wise, it only has a 1-year warranty. Thankfully, the build quality offered by it is decent. You also get a swivel base in this bench wise that has a maximum angle of 240 degrees for ease of use.
Best Features
- 4 ½ inch jaw width
- 3-inch jaw opening
- 6-inch throat depth
- 1-year warranty
- Swivel base with 240-degree rotation angle
- Decent build quality
- Small and compact
- 4 mounting tabs
Components
- Bench Vise
- User manual
- Warranty card
2. HFS Bench Vise
HFS is a highly rated brand of bench vise that offers multiple bench vise models. And you can find a great affordable option from HFS in this article.
Since this HFS heavy duty bench vise is an affordable option, it only comes with a 1-year warranty. As per its name, you get a swivel base in it with a rotation angle of 360 degrees. Thankfully, you can lock this swivel base if needed for excellent stability. It offers a jaw width of 4 inches along with a throat depth of 3 inches.
And as you get a maximum jaw opening of 4 inches in the HFS bench vise, it is a great value for money option that can hold most workpieces without any issues. Despite its 1 year warranty, you get an excellent build quality since it is made out of cast steel.
Best Features
- 4-inch jaw width
- 4-inch jaw opening
- 3-inch throat depth
- 1-year warranty
- Swivel base with 360-degree rotation angle
- Cast steel construction
- Lock for the swivel base
- Replaceable jaws
Components
- Bench Vise
- User manual
- Warranty card
3. Gottinfurt Bench Vise
Gottinfurt is one of the known brands of bench vise that provides quality products at an affordable price.
You get a 3.3-inch jaw width in this bench vise that is made out of steel and easy to replace. It also offers a throat depth of 4-inch and a jaw opening of 2.5 inches along with a base clamping range increase to 4-inches for different thicknesses. All of these things allow this bench vise to offer an excellent grip while working with your power tools. Also, you get a swivel base in it with a rotation angle of 360 degrees, making it perfect for various clamping angles.
This 2-in-1 clamp-on universal home vise uses cast steel construction for corrosion resistance that allows it to have a tensile strength of 30,000 PSI. This is quite useful as you also get an inbuilt anvil in this bench vise. You can use the screw and handle smoothly and easily with its smooth guide rail. You need to push the jaws and press the quick release button to position quickly and clamp, thanks to its one-click position. It is designed for professional, workshop, home usage, general purpose, or light work.
The protective cases will harden and hammered the jaw to enhance its strength and hardness for its long-lasting durability and reliability. But the best part about this bench vise is that it offers a 3-year manufacturing warranty to its users that makes it highly reliable.
Best Features
- 3-inch jaw width
- 5-inch jaw opening
- 4-inch throat depth
- 3 years warranty
- Swivel base with a 360-degree rotation angle
- Smooth guide rail
- Cast steel construction for corrosion resistance.
- Inbuilt anvil of 1.4 X 1.7 inches in size
- Tensile strength of 30,000 PSI
- Replaceable steel jaws with great grip
Components
- Bench vise
- Other required accessories
- User manual
- Warranty card
4. WILTON TOOLS Bench Vise
Wilton can be another great option if you are looking for heavy-duty bench vises. And the Wilton bench vise present in this article can be a great pick if you want a large-sized option.
It offers a jaw width of 6 inches along with a jaw opening of 6 inches. And since it has a throat depth of 4 inches, you can easily fit even large-sized objects in this bench vise without any issues. Another great thing about this bench vise is that it offers a high strength steel construction along with a lifetime warranty that makes it quite reliable.
You get a double lockdown swivel base with a 360-degree rotation angle. And this offers high stability while working on any project. Another great thing about it is that it also comes with an inbuilt anvil that can be used for hammering.
Best Features
- 6-inch jaw width
- 6-inch jaw opening
- 4-inch throat depth
- Lifetime warranty
- Swivel base with 360-degree rotation angle
- Inbuilt anvil
- Double lock down mechanism
- High strength steel construction
Components
- Bench Vise
- User manual
- Warranty card
5. Forward Bench Vise
Forward is a lesser-known brand that makes various bench vise models. And the Forward option present in this article is quite reliable.
It offers a long 10-year warranty due to its high strength gray iron construction. This makes it a highly reliable option when compared with other bench vise options out there. You get a jaw width of 5 inch along with a similar jaw opening of 5 inches.
And it even offers a large throat depth of 2.6 inches that makes it quite a large option when compared with others.
You also get an anvil in this bench vise that can be quite useful for tapping and hammering jobs without needing a separate anvil. Just like various other bench vise options out there, this one also comes with a swivel base with a rotation angle of 360 degrees.
Best Features
- 5-inch jaw width
- 5-inch jaw opening
- 6-inch throat depth
- 10-year warranty
- Swivel base with 360-degree rotation angle
- Inbuilt anvil
- Gray iron construction
- High clamping force
Components
- Bench Vise
- User manual
- Warranty card
6. Olympia Tools Bench Vise
Next we have a bench vise option from Olympia in this article that is a highly rated product. And it is quite large when compared with other bench vises.
Despite its small and compact size, it can offer a 6-inch jaw width. You also get a 2.75-inch throat depth and a jaw opening of 6 inches that makes this one ideal for industrial applications. It even offers an easy to lock swivel base that provides a rotation angle of 270 degrees for easily working on all kinds of objects.
Just like various other bench vises out there, this one also offers an inbuilt anvil. And this can be quite useful as you get a cast iron construction. This also means that this bench vise can last for a long time without any issues.
Best Features
- 6-inch jaw width
- 6-inch jaw opening
- 75-inch throat depth
- Swivel base with 270-degree rotation angle
- Cast iron construction
- High grip
- Inbuilt anvil
Components
- Bench Vise
- User manual
- Warranty card
7. Yost Vises 465 Bench Vise
As mentioned earlier, Yost makes a lot of bench vise models. And we yet another bench vise from Yost that is much larger than the previous one.
Yost’s Model 465 bench vise is present in the 2nd position in this article as it is the largest option in this article. And since it is slightly expensive than the last Yost bench vise, it comes with a 3-year warranty.
You get a jaw width of 6 ½ inches along with a jaw opening of 5.5 inches. As it offers a throat depth of 3.75 inches, you can easily hold most workpieces easily.
Due to its large size, it can offer a high clamp force of 4950 pounds and a torque rating of 116 ft-lb. In other words, it provides an excellent grip while holding different kinds of objects using this bench vise. Just like the previous bench vise from Yost, this one also has a rotating base with a 360-degree angle for ease of use.
Best Features
- 6 ½ inch jaw width
- 5-inch jaw opening
- 75-inch throat depth
- 3-year warranty
- Swivel base with 360-degree rotation angle
- 2 point lockdown for stability
- High clamp force of 4950 pounds
- Torque rating of 116 ft-lb
Components
- Bench Vise
- User manual
- Warranty card
8. IRWIN Bench Vise
IRWIN is a comparatively less popular brand if you are looking for bench vises. But it also offers some great options including the one present in this article
IRWIN’s 4935505 bench vise is a decent option since it offers a jaw width of 5 inches. You also get a throat depth of 3 inches and a jaw opening of 4.9 inches. This allows you to use this bench vise with most workpieces without any issues.
Another great feature of this bench vise is that it comes with a swivel base with a rotation angle of 360 degrees.
But the best part about this bench vise is that it comes with a lifetime warranty. And this makes it highly reliable along with its highly durable cast iron construction. You also get an inbuilt anvil in the IRWIN bench vise mentioned in this article.
Best Features
- 5-inch jaw width
- 9-inch jaw opening
- 3-inch throat depth
- Lifetime warranty
- Swivel base with 360-degree rotation angle
- Inbuilt anvil
- Easy to adjust handle
Components
- Bench Vise
- User manual
- Warranty card
9. Capri Tools Bench Vise
Looking for a large heavy-duty bench vise, then this Capri Tools 10516 bench vise will be your best option. This vise is made of 90,000 PSI tensile strength drop-forged steel, which is three times stronger than cast iron and thus provides a more clamping force of 8800 lbs.
It comes with a jaw width of 6 inches along with a jaw opening of 8 inches. Also, it has a throat depth of 3.5 inches, which makes it easy to fit even large-sized objects in the bench vise without any issues. It comes with an inbuilt large steel anvil that provides a larger work surface and smooth finish. This can be ideal for bending and shaping metal.
It gives you the double lockdown swivel base with a 360°rotation angle and thus offers high stability (ultimate grip) while working on any project. Capri Tools offers a lifetime warranty on this product whereas the machine and pipe jaws are replaceable.
Best Features
- 360°rotating swivel base
- 6 inches of jaw width and 8 inches of jaw opening
- 5-inch throat depth
- Corrosion-resistant black oxide handle
- Tensile strength of 90,000 PSI
- Adjustable guide rails to increase precision and smoothness.
- Forged steel construction.
- Lifetime warranty
- Inbuilt large forged steel anvil
Components
- Bench Vise
- User manual
- Warranty card
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Bench Vise
When picking a bench vise, consider factors like your needs and preferences. Whether you’re a pro or a hobbyist, the right vise boosts productivity. Let’s explore key factors to help you choose the best one for your workshop.
1. Types of Bench Vises
Bench vises are indispensable tools in workshops, providing a secure grip on workpieces for various tasks ranging from woodworking to metalworking.
- Fixed Base Bench Vises: Fixed base bench vises are commonly mounted on workbenches. They have a fixed jaw and a sliding jaw for clamping tasks. Ideal for woodworking, metalworking, and assembly work, they offer stability and come in various sizes.
- Swivel Base Bench Vises: Swivel base bench vises have a rotating base, offering flexibility in workpiece positioning. This feature allows for precise alignment and access to multiple sides of the workpiece, ideal for tasks in metalworking like machining and welding.
- Combination Bench Vises: Combination bench vises merge fixed base and swivel base features, giving stability and flexibility in one tool. They include a swivel base that can be secured for stability or swiveled for adjustment, catering to various tasks like woodworking and auto repair.
- Woodworking Bench Vises: Woodworking bench vises are made for securely holding wood during cutting, shaping, and assembly. They have wide jaws with wood or rubber inserts to protect delicate surfaces. Some have quick-release and adjustable clamping for easier work control.
- Mechanic’s Bench Vises: Mechanic’s bench vises are tough tools designed for heavy-duty jobs like fixing cars and maintaining machines. They’re made of strong materials, usually have steel jaws, and can handle a lot of force. Some even come with features like pipe jaws and anvil surfaces.
2. Durability and Construction Material
It’s crucial to prioritize durability, especially if you’ll be using it for tough jobs. Look for vises made of top-notch materials like cast iron or steel. These materials are super strong and last a long time, so your vise can handle daily use without wearing out. Also, go for vises with precise machining and strong welds to make sure they last even longer.
3. Jaw Width and Opening Capacity
Consider the width and opening capacity of the vise jaws. This impacts its suitability for various projects. Check if the vise can securely hold the materials you’ll use. For larger objects, opt for a vise with a broad opening. Adjustable jaws are beneficial for working with diverse sizes and shapes.
4. Swivel Base and Anvil Surface
A bench vise with a swivel base helps you move your work around easily, so you can work from different angles and be more precise. This is handy for tricky projects where you need to make lots of changes. Plus, the vise has a flat surface called an anvil that you can use for things like hitting and shaping metal, so you don’t have to grab extra tools.
5. Mounting Options
Some vises come with built-in mounting holes for easy attachment to workbenches or similar surfaces. Others may require additional hardware or adjustments for installation. Make sure the vise’s mounting system fits your workspace and ensures a stable connection to prevent shaking or instability during use.
6. Additional Features and Accessories
When you’re looking for bench vises, think about ones that have extra features and attachments to make your work easier. These could be things like built-in pipe jaws to hold round objects, different jaw inserts for delicate materials or quick-release mechanisms for faster clamping. Think about what you need most and pick a vise that has those features to help you get more done.
What Can We Use This Bench Vise For?
First, one should know what exactly can we do with a bench vise. So, here we came up with a list of a few tasks, a bench vise will perform.
- Sawing / Cutting – A bench vise will let you cut through the material (either metal or wood) easily, quickly and effectively. When the material is firmly hold in place without moving, then you can use a saw to cut the material with more power.
- Drilling – A few tasks like drilling requires precision and stability, especially while working through specific marking or measurements. The bench vise will fix the material stable in a place and let your work easily without any messy.
- Sanding / Filling – In general, this project requires some time but with the usage of bench vise, you can make it easier and quicker. It provides stability while you’re applying pressure and thereby reduces the chances of accidental damage. This will let you perform the sanding project smoothly.
- Gluing – A bench vise is quite helpful while gluing a material. One can easily apply glue to the material in a particular area when it is fixed in place. Complete the whole project after the area has fully dried.
What are the Main Parts of a Bench Vise?
It is not that simply to choose a bench vise without knowing about its parts. The handle material, lead screw and body are important parts along with good anvil space (either to weld or nail something together). So, we will let you know about each part of this bench vise and help you to choose the best one, as per your requirement.
1. Jaws
The jaws allow you to place the object in between them to hold it effectively. While selecting the bench vise, you should not only consider the jaw’s size but also its style. V-style jaws used to hold round items like metal tubing and flat jaws hold flat objects like wood. The flat style jaws are commonly used type. A few models come with replaceable jaws which prevent you to suffer wear and tear from extensive usage.
The jaws can be made of metal, plastic, wood & rubber, in which metal is considered as best for most of the applications. The jaws have two different parts – Sliding jaw (opening/moving) and static jaw (stationary).
- Sliding Jaw –Whenever you turn the handle, it moves and puts pressure on the workpiece you kept to clamp. So, it is considered as sliding/dynamic jaw used to open and hold the material.
- Static Jaw – It won’t move and act as unmovable object, in which the sliding jaws will use this static as a backstop to apply pressure as you turn handle.
Here are a few key points you have to keep in mind about jaws.
- Always select the changeable jaws, which allows you to use for different projects.
- Check the material used for making jaws and whether it meet the project requirement or not.
- For best results, select a jaw with at least 4-inches width.
- In case, if you’re working with soft material, then prefer to choose a plastic & rubber jaws.
- Keep an extra piece of metal jaws to replace your broken default jaws while working.
- Its must to check that the jaws are forming like a flat surface by closing properly without leaving any gaps.
2. Slide
As we explained that the sliding jaw will apply pressure while turning the handle. This slide will attach the jaws to hold the object. Although, there are various types of slides available but the vise with square type slider is durable than round one. The slider needs to move in & out with no issues. In case, if you find it hard to go in and out then simply take it out, clean it thoroughly and grease them to make it work properly.
3. Main Screw / Lead Screw
One of the most essential part that extends into vise. We generally apply force on the handle to move the sliding jaw towards the static jaw. One can easily find this screw gets attached to the handle. It should be made to withstand and maintain the pressure required to hold sliding jaw in place while operating the bench vise.
In general, this main screw is invisible in most of the bench vises but may appear/open for some cheap models. It should be made with best quality material to make their threading not to break down and holds the strength and pressure of the vise.
4. Handle
The jaws of the bench vise can be handled with this handle. So, the main operation starts by turning the handle to tighten the jaws. Also, remember that not to choose bench vises that comes with fixed handles. Choose the vise that made with premium grade stainless steel to prevent it from bending while applying pressure to rotate it and also, it is not too short for operating.
5. Anvil Spot
It is a place used to straighten the nails or flatter or harden the material which is just welded. If the vise won’t have sufficient anvil space then the user hammers the jaw place, this would break and damage the jaws. The anvil space will provide sufficient place to do shape their material slightly by using it as a base to hammer small objects. Mostly used on metalworking bench vises.
6. Base
To make the bench vise stay in place while working, it needs to have a strong & durable base. Without proper base, we can’t hold the clamping tension, anvil hitting and thereby jaws in proper place. They are vacuum base, which is used only for small repair jobs. Always, prefer to pick a swivel base, as it allows to turn around, usually 360 or 180-degress, as per your need.
This swivel base provides flexibility while working with any large tubing’s or non-standard materials. Mostly used while sanding down a wood piece or cutting a pipe.
7. Pipe Jaws
These are small jaws located in the mid of the vise to clamp the pipes and weld, cut and screw them without moving. Mostly used to work with piping. Although, a few models have changeable pipe jaws but it works well if you don’t use them regularly. In case, if you work with pipes then select a bench vise that comes with this pipe jaw options.
Tips While Using this Bench Vise
Proper usage along with some care and regular maintenance will help the bench vise to work effectively with longevity. So, the user has to know a few things which you should do or won’t do on a bench vise and thereby enhance it long working lifespan.
- Clean the Tool before & after Using – The workplace gets messy with the scraps and bits while working with machines. These particles may get stuck in the delicate segment of the tool and thereby results in damaging the machine. So, wipe off the tool workplace before and after using.
- Regular Checkup – Doing a periodic inspection of this table vise while performing an intricate and extended job. Always check each and every element to ensure that it is properly aligned for working. Also, wear protective equipment while drilling or sawing.
- Lubrication – Regular cleaning and oiling the bench vise will extend its working life. Simply after wiping the machine, you have to lubricate some parts to ensure for free movement (oiled & greased). Also, make sure to check stability by re-tightening the screws and bolts.
- Protect from Weather – Make sure to cover the machine properly while it is not using. It will prevent the buildup of rust, dirt and dust. This will prolong the tool’s lifespan and protect it.
How to Install a Bench Vise?
It won’t be a difficult task to mount, if followed the right instructions. Here is a step by step process used to install your bench vise.
One has to attach the bench vise to the worktable and this can be done in two ways.
First Method
- Simply clamp on the bench vise with adjustable clamp.
- These clamps underneath and above the bench top to make the vise stay steady in that place.
- Although this method is easy to attach but it is not universally accepted, as it makes you feel less secure.
Second Method
Another method is fixing the bench vise directly on the top of the workbench with nuts and bolts.
- Place of the Vise – First of all, select the place to install this bench top vise, to work quietly without any disturbance.
- Drill Bolt Holes – Mark the place where the vise hole come before drilling. Also, allow 1/2 – 3/4 inch below the top of bench before drilling.
- Bolt Vise – Place the bolts in the holes drilled within the mounting bracket. Place lock washer or simply add glue to keep your vise in place. Finally, it is ready to use.
Also, baseplates and stands are available in the market to increase the height of the vise. This will be helpful while doing detailed work like marking out measurements or soldering iron marks. One can also use mini vises which are easily installed on the stand and used while seating or standing.
Bench Vise FAQs
Ans: It is a mechanical device used widely to hold a workpiece and let you work handsfree. One can easily attach this vise directly to the workbench before starting their work. It is specially designed with various features like jaw opening, jaw width and throat depth to let hold the object being worked while drilling, sawing or welding. It increases the overall quality and reduces the work time.
Ans: There are various replaceable jaw inserts available but a few popular ones are – screw-on inserts, T-style inserts and U-style inserts. Each type has different installation methods and its better to check its user manual for its installation and usage.
Ans: A ductile rod is a strong, durable and hard to break rod. It is used to hold high PSI tensile strength and heavy hammering. If you are searching for high tensile strength then choose a bench vise that has ductile rod.
Ans: Impact resistance is termed as the hitting measure of foot pounds a material can absorb. For instance, a cast iron can absorb 2-foot pounds and ductile iron has 7-foot pounds. If you’re a heavy user or welder then check this impact resistance before buying.
Ans: A heavy-duty vise is mostly used for heaviest and commercial applications with extensive usage. So, one should look for a few features like 360-degree swivel base, changeable jaws with a set of jaws and quick release jaw, while purchasing the heavy-duty bench vise to grab best results.
Ans: A swivel base is always important to consider why because it provides flexibility and versatility while working. It is used especially, if you want to position an oddly shaped piece of metal or wood for cutting or sanding them. You can able to adjust the vise and prevent any unwanted rotation to save your time. A few critics say that fixed bench is sturdy and withstand more pressure and less risk of movement during work applications.
Conclusion
A bench vise is one of the most important things to have in any workshop. It allows you to easily use power tools on any workpiece while keeping it completely stable. Thus, we have mentioned some of the best bench vise options in this article. We have also mentioned their features along with a detailed buying guide. Although, if you still can’t choose the perfect bench vise for you, here are some of our recommendations:
- The Yost Vises 465 Bench Vise is one of the biggest options present in this article. It offers a jaw width of 6 ½ inches along with a throat depth of 3.75 inch. You get a jaw opening of 5.5 inches along with a 3-year warranty with this bench vise that makes it an excellent option.
- Although if you want one of the most reliable bench vise options, then you can go with the IRWIN Bench Vise that comes with a lifetime warranty. It can offer at an affordable price tag since IRWIN is a highly reliable brand that provides this 5-inch bench vise with a throat depth of 3 inch.
- If you are on a budget, then the Yost Vises Bench Vise can be another great option. Even though it is the cheapest option present in this article, you get a jaw width of 4 ½ inches, a throat depth of 2.6 inches along with a jaw opening of 3 inches. And it offers all of this along with excellent build quality and a 1-year warranty that is quite decent for its given affordable price tag.
Make sure to share your thoughts in the comments section. You can also post any questions down there if you have any!
