Bench vise
A clamp fixed to a bench that holds work between jaws, its parts, and the difference between face and leg vises.
A bench vise is a clamp fixed to a workbench. It holds work between two jaws so that it can be sawn, filed, planed or fitted without moving. It is the main fitting of many benches, and the one that most sets a workbench apart from a plain table.
Parts
- Jaws
- The two faces that grip the work. The front jaw is often lined with a removable wooden face, so that the metal does not mark the work.
- Screw
- The threaded bar that drives the moving jaw. Its thread sets how fast the jaw closes.
- Handle
- The lever or wheel that turns the screw. It is turned by hand and does not need extra force to hold work firmly.
- Guide rod
- A bar or rail that keeps the moving jaw parallel with the fixed jaw as it opens and closes.
- Mounting
- The bolts, brackets or screws that fix the vise to the top, the apron or a leg. The mounting carries the force of every clamp.
Face vise and leg vise
The two common types clamp work in similar ways, but they are fixed in different places and suit different work.
| Feature | Face vise | Leg vise |
|---|---|---|
| Position | Fixed to the front or end of the top | Fixed to the front leg, with a wooden leg that carries the screw |
| Holds well | Work on the top's edge or stood upright | Long boards and wide work laid along the front |
| Main limit | Opening depends on the depth of the top | The leg must stay sound and fixed tight |
Using a vise safely
- Set the work square in the jaws before tightening.
- Do not hold work too large for the jaws to grip.
- Tighten by hand. Do not strike the handle with a hammer or lengthen it with a bar.
- Check the mounting bolts before each heavy job.
- Keep the dogs and stops clear of the jaws when setting work.