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Vises and Their Many Uses

A limitation of being human is that you are limited to using only two hands, while a benefit of being human is our ability to build and use tools. Unless you’re working with a friend, you’ll often find yourself in need of an extra hand to hold something in place. The vise steps in to fill in where we are otherwise lacking.

Vises serve a variety of purposes and assist with projects in numerous fields. 

What Is a Vise?

A vise is a mechanical tool that uses pressure to hold pieces in place or applies pressure to keep multiple objects together. Vises can be used with various materials, including wood, metal, and plastics.

Different types of vises use different mechanics to perform their duties. Some vises use mechanical means to achieve results, while others use electronic means to create a vacuum to apply pressure.

What’s the Difference Between a Clamp and a Vise? 

A vise is a mechanical tool that holds two objects together using a screw to apply pressure; a vise is composed of two jaws where the pressure is applied.

A clamp is a brace, band, or clasp that holds things together using various means not limited to a screw. 

Though they can sometimes be used interchangeably, vises have several advantages.  Vises tend to be stronger, often have replaceable parts, and come in different types customized for different materials and projects.

Where Are Vises Used?

Woodworking

One of the most common applications of vises is in woodworking. Woodworking — often a solo hobby — lends itself to using a vise. While c-clamps can be used in a pinch, a vise can greatly expand the list of achievable projects.

Woodworkers usually find that vises speed up project setup and hold materials steadier than clamps and produce more accurate results. Multiple types of vises are used in woodworking. 

Woodworking vises are usually bench vises — despite their name — can be used on any surface. These vises attach to the surface, and many can swivel, allowing you to work from multiple angles.

When working with bench vises, you need to be aware of the inner surface of the jaw of the vise, which may damage your woodworking project when pressure is applied. These vises can be used at home by hobbyists or in large industrial applications depending on the size and setup. 

Heavy-Duty Bench Vises

A subset of bench vises, heavy-duty bench vises are meant for industrial applications. These vises have replaceable parts that can be swapped out over time as they wear down.

Heavy-duty vises comprise multiple parts which include serrated forged steels jaws, precision slide bars, and an ACME-threaded main screw. 

Medium-Duty Bench Vises

These vises are made for smaller applications where heavy-duty bench vises would be overkill. These vises are usually made from iron and have replaceable components. Depending on the intended use, either smooth or serrated plates can be used.

Front Vises

A front vise is usually positioned at the corner of a workbench. These vises are used for holding vertical pieces during the assembly of projects, and they free up both hands to work with other tools.  

End Vises

Unlike the front vise, end vises are positioned at one end of a workbench.  These vises hold materials lat on the workbench, holding them steady while you are working on them. These vises vary in size — from a few inches to the entire length of the workbench.  

Vacuum Vises

These vises are usually used by hobbyists because of their flexibility. Unlike other vises permanently attached to your workbench, vacuum vises are easily moved to new locations and therefore don’t clutter up small workspaces. 

Plumbing‌

Because plumbers often work in small spaces and with wet materials, vises play a crucial role in their work. Plumbing vises can vary greatly in size depending on the size of the piping that needs to be held in place. 

Plumbing vises are generally meant to be mobile since they are often used at job sites; however, you may use them at workbenches or tripods.

Pipe Vises

As the name implies, pipe vises are meant to hold pipes. These vises are used to hold pipes in place during welding or scoring. The pipe jaws are round and create a very secure method of holding pipes while you work.  

Chain Vises

Just as important as the pipe vises, chain vises are used to secure pipes. Unlike other types of vises, chain vises use v-shaped supports to hold the pipes in place while a chain clamps over the pipe.

Chain vises are well-suited to larger applications because the only limit to the size of the pipe is the length of the chain. The setup of a chain vise takes longer than other types of vises because the chain needs to be threaded between the jaws of the tool.

Yoke Vises

These vises can also be called hinged vises or adjustable jaw vises and use a screw to hold the pipe in place. The jaws of the vise are serrated to hold the pipe in place better. These vises can either be attached to a workbench or used in mobile applications.  

Metalworking

Metalworking vises are used or holding metal in place. Because of this and the nature of metal, these vises tend to be stronger and have jaws that may damage other types of material such as wood.

To use a metalworking vise with softer materials, the jaws can be covered with a jaw cover to prevent damage. 

Though they may be made out of any material, they are often made out of steel or cast iron because of the strength needed.

Metalworking vises come in various sizes and generally have replaceable pieces, which are necessary because of the wear and tear they experience.  Metalworking vises are meant to be used in a variety of positions and usually swivel to allow a wide range of setups.

Automotive Work

Because automobiles are complicated machines composed of many parts, several types of vises may be used in this type of work.  Metalworking vises can be used during the tooling of parts, and bench vises can be used during construction. Because of the various angles used in automotive work, a rotating bench vise may be appropriate.  A rotating bench vise allows you to move your parts over 180 degrees.  

How to Decide Which Vise to Get? 

When purchasing a vise, there are several considerations.  

Price

The first consideration — as with most purchases — is to determine your budget. Vises range in price based on quality, intended use, size, and brand.  

Industrial vises intended to be used on a regular basis will be more expensive than those intended for a home hobbyist. Determining your price point before shopping will ensure that you don’t spend more than you intended.

Intended Use

As mentioned above, there are different types of vises for woodworking, metal, or plumbing.

You’ll want to make sure that you know what materials you’ll be using the vise on and get the right type of vise for that material. Buying the wrong type of vise can lead to damage to your raw materials or frustration when the vise does not have the features you need.

Lifespan

If you intend to use the vise on a single project, your needs will differ from someone who is looking for a vise to use every weekend.

If you’re looking for a vise that’ll serve your needs for years to come, you’ll want to find a vise that has replaceable parts that you can swap out over the years if they become worn down.

Size

Knowing what types of projects you tend to do will assist you when looking at the various size of vises. While larger vises can be used on smaller projects, they will also take up more space in your workshop and may get in the way on small, technical projects. You may need to acquire vises of various sizes to fill all your needs.

Brand

Picking a respected brand — such as Capri Tools — will ensure that you’re buying a quality product from a company that stands behind its tools.  

Additional Features

Some vises have additional features such as quick release mechanisms, which allow for easy removal of your project from the vise’s grip. The quick-release mechanism also allows you to move the vise to various positions as you work on different portions of the project. 

Add-Ons

If you want to use your vise with different materials, you’ll want to determine whether the vise you are looking at has jaw covers intended to be used with those materials. While you can sometimes rig up a cover yourself, having a customized cover made for your vise can ensure that it’ll function as intended.

Have More Questions?

If you have more questions about which type of vise is right for you or your project, the experts at Capri Tools can help guide you to the right product.

At Capri Tools, we believe that the right tool can make all the difference, and we stand behind our products. With our long history of delivering quality products at reasonable prices, we are confident that our vises and other products will meet the needs of hobbyists and professionals alike.

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