How to Choose the Right Vice

The design of the bench vice hasn’t changed much in years. It's still a very handy tool to have, but with so many on the market, it's hard to choose the right one. Make the wrong choice however and you will have years of frustration trying to use a vice that doesn’t hold parts firm or isn’t big enough to accommodate your workpiece. But how can you tell which is the right bench vice for your workshop and what should you consider when making a purchase?

What you Will Use the Vice For

Different types of vices will suit different jobs. A woodworker will want a different vice to a machinist, model maker or homeowner.

What to Check when Buying

Size matters when you are purchasing a vice. You want one that is big enough to handle the projects but not too big that your budget or workbench suffers.

Length of Jaws - a 4 to 5-inch length of the jaws from end to end will be able to handle a household DIY job but may not be sufficient for a woodworker.

Throat Depth - the throat depth is measured from the top of the jaws to the top of the slide below. The longer the throat, the larger the pieces it can hold.

Weight – if you are going to be whacking the vice with an anvil, you will want a vice that can take the punishment. However, don’t always go for the heaviest vice you can find if your workbench isn’t a solid construction.

Rotation – consider if you want your vice to be able to swivel 360 or 180 degrees once mounted on the bench.

Mounting – if you want to move your vice off your bench or move it around regularly then you will want one that can be easily removed. Look at the way it's mounted to the bench – bolts, suction cap or clamp – and find the one that will suit you best.