Best Bench Vises in 2022

Last update: January 10, 2023

Do I need a vise on my workbench?

A vise is one of the most important tools you can have on your workbench. It allows you to clamp your workpiece in place so you can work on it more easily. There are many different types of vises, so you can choose the one that best suits your needs.

Do I need a woodworking vise?

A woodworking vise is a great addition to any woodworking shop. It allows you to secure your workpiece in one place while you work on it, and can be an invaluable asset when sawing, planing, or shaping wood. There are a few different types of woodworking vises available on the market, so it’s important to choose the one that best suits your needs. If you’re just getting started in woodworking, a simple bench vise may be all you need. However, if you’re looking for a more versatile vise

How do I know my vise size?

There are a few things to consider when purchasing a vise. The first is the size of the vise. Vises come in a variety of sizes, from small to large. The size of the vise will determine the size of the workpiece that can be held in the vise. The second thing to consider is the type of vise. Vises can be either bench-mounted or floor-mounted. Bench-mounted vises are attached to the workbench and are ideal for smaller projects. Floor-mounted vises are larger and more heavy-duty, and are

Is cast iron good for a vise?

Cast iron is a good material for a vise because it is strong and durable. It is also resistant to wear and tear.


Yost 5" Rotating Vise 750E (Size: 4-7/8") Review:


This vise is excellent. The operation is so effortless that you can lock it up solidly with just one finger. When the jaws are tightly closed, the swivel head may become rigid. Simply relax your lockup, turn the head in the desired direction, and then re-lock it. You should consider purchasing a solid steel vise if you want to pound on something with a hammer every single day. This is made of cast iron and works well for cutting, filing, and other light- to medium-duty tasks. It will last you a lifetime if utilized just for this kind of task. I have never personally seen or used a better cast iron vise than this one. It is unbeatable in terms of price, quality, and functionality. If you're seeking for a cast vise that can withstand years of constant usage and abuse, you won't find one. This is not the sturdy steel vise that your grandfather has used for 70 years and can still withstand abuse. They should all be made of solid steel and bomb-proof, I agree. This is the best option for mild to moderate use unless you can find one used for a fair price, have one given to you in a Will, or have a large sum of money to spend.



Yost Vises 455 5.5" Heavy-Duty Utility Combination Pipe and Bench Vise Review:


I've had my Japan-made Craftsman 391-5180 3.5 for approximately 40 years "I eventually pushed the bench vise too much, which stretched the screw and damaged the grooves that the nut slides in. After some investigation, I chose the Yost 445 4.5 "A near substitute would be a bench vise. The Yost's base rotates 360 degrees and features one locking screw on each side. Detents on the base prevent it from turning without the need to tighten the locking screws. The Craftsman's adjustment range was less than 180 degrees, and it only had one locking screw with no base detents, so you had to make sure it was VERY tight to keep the vise from spinning. The lead screw on the Yost has a preload spring that is fairly firm. To make the washer between the handle and the jaw easier to spin, I had to lubricate both sides of it. The Craftsman's handle had greater play but less friction because it lacked a preload spring.- Unlike the Craftsman screw, which was machined, the Yost's screw appears to be cast. (Consider Japanese vs. Chinese quality.)- Light oil was the only thing covering the screw. I generously applied thick grease on it, which made turning it even simpler.- The adjustable jaw on the Yost has more lateral movement than I had anticipated; it has about the same amount as the Craftman did after over 40 years of use. "Rubber washers protect the handle from unwanted slipping," the description reads. The washers, however, are not secure enough to prevent the handle from slipping when bearing its own weight.I'm confident that it will fulfill my needs, but I have a hunch that it won't be as durable or resilient to abuse as the Craftsman was throughout the years.Why, given that I have more negative than positive things to say about the Yost, did I not purchase another Craftsman, specifically the 51854. I'm not sure. I doubt Sears will still be around to honor the warranty if I needed it because the company looks to be rapidly declining. The Yost has a better swivel, but otherwise both vises are pretty comparable. The capacity, weight, size, cost, and warranty are all essentially the same.



Yost Vises 750-DI 5" Heavy-Duty Multi-Jaw Rotating Combination Pipe and Bench Vise with 360-Degree Swivel Base and Head Review:


I adore this item. In terms of shop tools, it is a common rule that anything that advertises as a multifunctional tool will be, at best, average at all of the jobs it advertises working for. There are extremely few exceptions, like this vise. The greatest quality vise I've found at this pricing bracket, and the swiveling head is really useful. Although it is not a $1500 US-cast vise (and this one is NOT manufactured in the US), it is still a fantastic value at $200. There are no voids in the casting, no strange rough patches, the machined surfaces are neatly milled, and the powder coating is evenly applied, which makes this casting clearly superior to others you will find for the same price. When I first obtained this vise, I completely disassembled it and re-lubricated all of the sliding surfaces with high-quality grease. I then carefully filed some of the sliding surfaces because some powder paint got on them, but other than that, everything about it works perfectly.The lead crew was the only weak point I could find. Because the ACME threads were cut a little haphazardly, I put it in the lathe and used a fine triangle file to smooth off the thread faces. The lead screw rotates smoothly once the small cleaning operation is over. Another minor issue is that if the vise jaws are vertically orientated and you turn the object about its vertical axis, the mounting bolts will be struck by the jaws. It's manageable enough, but I think it should sit a little higher to prevent that. I'd want to make one final observation regarding the rotating vise jaw locking pin. It is compact, therefore BE SURE the jaws are DOWN before banging your workpiece around. If you hammer on a workpiece that is lightly fastened, the tiny pin appears to shear off very quickly. Although it hasn't happened to me (yet), it seems likely.



IRWIN Tools Multi-Purpose Bench Vise, 5-Inch (4935505) Review:


First off, I believe this vise is decent for the price. You are allowed to spend several thousand dollars to avoid some of its idiosyncrasies if you really want to. I just got the vise, but I have a lot of tools and am an experienced fabricator. As time goes on, I'll update this evaluation. The pipe/tube clamp (vise) should have two axes, one for the blue cast jaws and the other for the machined raw steel, I immediately recognized. As you can see in the photographs I've provided, the blue casting prevents your material from going deeper into the jaws while still being secured by the raw steel. This means that the machined steel clamp is really only good for the depth of the machined jaws itself. Since you can rotate the vise around the "x" axis to clamp round stock (pipe/tube) in the cast blue jaws in either a vertical or horizontal position, this is not a deal-breaker.



PanaVise Model 201 "Junior" Miniature Vise Review:


From the little "third hand" I was using, which consisted of two swiveling alligator clips and a magnifier on a cast base, the PanaVise is a significant improvement. (That previous one was fine for a year or two, but it is small, easy to tip over, and the magnifying connection is deteriorating even with only very infrequent use.) Even though the PanaVise is bolted to a breadboard, it is nevertheless lightweight and sturdy enough for light work. Despite being listed as an extra, the speed knob was actually already included with my vise. Well done, PanaVise! Curiously, the two jaws have differing groove patterns, with one jaw having two grooves in each direction and the other just having one. When mounting the printed circuit board and working close to the wheel's edge, having two grooves in each direction would allow you a bit more flexibility. They would also keep the wheel out of the way.



DeWalt DXCMBV6 6 In. Heavy-Duty Bench Vise with Swivel Base Review:


You need to handle a tool, or you caught someone stealing from you but they say they didn't? The right tool for the job is this. It is hefty, so mount it to a strong bench first. Because of how securely the gripping jaws grip metal, especially lighter metals like brass, they are a bit sharp, so you'll probably leave marks on other items. For projects that you don't want ruined, it's worthwhile to invest in a few of those plastic jaw liners with magnets. This vice is powerful, whether you're filing down metal, honing sword blades, or breaking fingers! The plastic liners should not be used for the final step since your suspect's thumbs will slide out. Use your bare jaws to really twist down; those fingers won't come loose until you release him. In just one more eighth round, he will reveal his darkest, most secretive secrets. He'll be a useless, urine-soaked wreck after another eighth of a turn, but at least he'll tell you to whom he sold your TV after he broke into your store.



Yost Tools F9WW Yost 9" Front Vise Review:


I've owned a good number of vises and "woodworking" vises, but this is a completely different creature. I've used a shoulder vice, a couple of end vises, and moxon/twin screw vises, but the 10" yost model is almost in a new league. I had to adapt my current bench for thickness because I wouldn't set the 10" model on it if it weren't absolutely "stout" (went from 1" to 2" thickness). On this gentleman, I put in an 18" x 4" x 1.5" cut with full knowledge that spreader clamps would be needed to prevent racking. This actually hasn't been necessary up until now. For dovetailing and other vertical work, I was a fervent supporter of the shoulder vise (used with a t-track and hold down clamp for edge work and occasionally, deadmen). It didn't even rack enough to warrant replacing my shoulder vise, which is why I was afraid to switch. I made this decision without giving it much thought in an effort to "get away with" using just one vise. The size of this vise and Yost's reputation are what drew me to it (cost was just a bonus).The fit and quality are superb. Threading is as buttery smooth.excludes the handle. I only used a hickory blank, a draw knife, and a belt sander because I don't turn. No issue.There aren't any directions, but installing a vise is about as simple as it gets.One more point: The thread size and screw size almost completely eliminate the requirement for a quick release mechanism. Professional woodworkers might not mind saving a few more seconds, but they are likely searching for a different class of vise altogether. moves forward VERY fast.



Yost Tools F10WW Yost 10" Front Vise Review:


I've owned a good number of vises and "woodworking" vises, but this is a completely different creature. I've used a shoulder vice, a couple of end vises, and moxon/twin screw vises, but the 10" yost model is almost in a new league. I had to adapt my current bench for thickness because I wouldn't set the 10" model on it if it weren't absolutely "stout" (went from 1" to 2" thickness). On this gentleman, I put in an 18" x 4" x 1.5" cut with full knowledge that spreader clamps would be needed to prevent racking. This actually hasn't been necessary up until now. For dovetailing and other vertical work, I was a fervent supporter of the shoulder vise (used with a t-track and hold down clamp for edge work and occasionally, deadmen). It didn't even rack enough to warrant replacing my shoulder vise, which is why I was afraid to switch. I made this decision without giving it much thought in an effort to "get away with" using just one vise. The size of this vise and Yost's reputation are what drew me to it (cost was just a bonus).The fit and quality are superb. Threading is as buttery smooth.excludes the handle. I only used a hickory blank, a draw knife, and a belt sander because I don't turn. No issue.There aren't any directions, but installing a vise is about as simple as it gets.One more point: The thread size and screw size almost completely eliminate the requirement for a quick release mechanism. Professional woodworkers might not mind saving a few more seconds, but they are likely searching for a different class of vise altogether. moves forward VERY fast.



Bessey BVVB Vacuum Base Vise Review:


Since I have been using Panavise products for years, they have earned a solid reputation for product innovation and quality. However, the cost of a basic desktop vise for electronics and hobbies has increased a little too much for my hobby budget.I started looking for a more affordable answer, and the only true competition I could find was the Bessey. The pricing was absolutely reasonable, and the reviews were mostly favorable.It ended up being one of my better discoveries. It is well constructed with materials of the highest caliber. The broad locking collar around the ball joint is simple to operate and firmly locks down the head in a single action. It latches nicely to suitable surfaces. The included rubber grips on the jaws have a tendency to slip and even slide off in some situations, if I were to criticize the vise at all. With a few tiny adhesive Velcro patches to hold them in place while you clamp down the object to hold, it was a simple fix. It's hardly noteworthy and doesn't even justify dropping the rating to 4 stars.You won't regret making this purchase.



SE 3" Universal Table Vise Review:


Excellent vice for home improvement jobs that are tiny in scale. This vice is the ideal addition to the little vacuum vice I previously used on a flat table surface. Unfortunately, the clamp aperture on my tiny metal vice was only 1" and would not open widely enough to grasp the edge of the table. This vice addressed that issue with a healthy 2" opening and a detachable bottom clamp (see photo). Another delightful surprise is the little Vee groove that has been carved into one of the jaws' faces both horizontally and vertically. This makes it possible to hold circular things without having to worry about them trying to roll into your jaws. As-is, snap-on rubber covers protect the jaws to prevent them from scratching delicate surfaces. As you can see in the photographs, these protectors feature a rubber tab on the back that keeps them firmly attached to the jaws; they did not fall off by accident at all. The head pivots down at 45 degrees on each side while rotating 360 degrees. The head can pivot all the way to 90 degrees (perpendicular to the edge of the table) thanks to a notch in the base, but it won't rotate in that position. Cast aluminum is used in the construction of the table clamp's jaws and base, along with chrome-plated steel tightening screws, a plastic bottom tightening knob, and rubber protective covers for the jaws and clamp's top. Overall, a fantastic mid-sized home hobby vice.


Is Yost a good vise?

There are a lot of different opinions out there about Yost vises, but overall they seem to be pretty well-liked. Many users say that they're easy to operate and provide a good grip, while others find them to be durable and reliable. Some users have had issues with the jaws slipping, but it seems like this is more of a rare exception. Overall, it seems like Yost is a good option if you're looking for a quality vise.

What is a good workbench vise?

A good workbench vise is one that is sturdy and can hold your workpiece securely while you work on it. You should also look for a vise that is easy to operate and has a smooth jaw action.

What is a mechanics vice?

A mechanics vice is a heavy-duty vise designed to grip large objects securely while being worked on. The jaws of a mechanics vice are typically much wider than those of a standard vise, and the vice is also designed to be bolted down to a work surface for stability.

What is the best vise brand?

There are a lot of different vise brands out there, and it can be tough to decide which one is the best for you. Here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing a vise brand: -What kind of material do you want the vise to be made out of? -How much money are you willing to spend? -What are the reviews saying about the different brands? -What kind of warranty do you want? After taking all of these things into consideration, you should be able to narrow down your

What is the difference between a clamp and a vise?

What is throat depth on a vise?