Woodwork, repairing automobiles, metalwork and assembling parts, and other DIY home projects require employing the help of a strong hand to hold your project still as you saw, drill, cut, thread, or more. This hand is often a vise that you mount on your workbench.
However, unlike your other online purchases, you should never take chances on a bench vise because to do your work well, you need to have solid confidence in the bench vise’s capability to endure and hold your piece tight without any slip. We want to have a solid partner that would keep a tight grip on your workpiece and not budge.
Hence, this article summarizes the five best bench vises that were tried and tested to help you land a deal that would give the best bang for your buck.
Best Bench Vises Comparison & Rating
1. Forward DT08125A Heavy Duty Bench Vise
Material | Ductile Iron |
Dimensions | 18.98 x 11.1 x 9.76 inches |
Weight | 35.2 pounds |
Jaw Opening | 5 inches |
If you are on the lookout for the best bench vise, you need to look for something sturdy, durable, and secured, while also offering flexibility in your work. Well, you don't need to look elsewhere because Forward offers all their with their heavy-duty bench vise which is designed to last and will never disappoint. The device has a really powerful grip, and would never budge. The three sets of jaws that it throws into the deal ensures versatility in the projects that you could clamp in this reliable piece of device. The heavy ductile iron build of both the stationary and floating parts is strong and flexible with full 360-degree rotation which could be locked down to any position that you need to work on. And when it says 360 degrees, it means 360 degrees! The bench vise also clamps tightly enough, even with round workpieces, and has microgroove tooth space for a more powerful grip. You could bear down on your piece with the necessary force and trust that this bench vise will keep hold of its grip without damaging your work. Truly, the most reliable bench vise available out there!
2. Yost 750-E Heavy-Duty Bench Vise
Material | Cast Iron |
Dimensions | 18 x 9 x 9 inches |
Weight | 34.1 pounds |
Jaw Opening | 4-⅞ inches |
Yost is definitely one of the leading brands of bench vise for a good reason. If you are searching for a sturdy and durable bench vise for a reasonable price, Yost’s 750-E Heavy-Duty Bench Vise fits the bill. The cast-iron build of the vise is so sturdy and is designed to last. Hence, you don’t need to worry about bearing down on your projects. In terms of functionality, the jaws align quite perfectly and clamp your workpiece pretty well. Further, the 360 two-way rotationality with lockdown pins is very handy in positioning your work at your comfort. The 360 degree is no bluff at all and the swivel is smooth and easy. The independence of the whole unit from the workpiece clamped in the jaw enables you to rotate the work at all degrees.
3. WEN 455BV Heavy Duty Cast Iron Bench Vise
Material | Cast Iron |
Dimensions | 13.25 x 5.88 x 6.5 inches |
Weight | 23.7 pounds |
Jaw Opening | 6 inches |
For its price tag, this sturdy and strong bench vise is quite a steal. Its heavy-duty 36, 000 PSI cast iron build was made to last. It takes a lot of effort to break this thing. Compared to the other bench vise, it also comes with an anvil which provides a bigger space for tapping work that requires a flat surface. The jaws align really well and hold tightly. The textured surface of the jaws supports the hold to ensure that your workpiece would not slip, whether it be plastic, wood, or metal. Operating the machine also earns a big thumbs up with its smooth spin in tightening and opening of the jaws. This vise would definitely not disappoint.
4. TEKTON 54006 Swivel Bench Vise
Material | Cast Iron |
Dimensions | 15.3 x 8.5 x 7.8 inches |
Weight | 38 pounds |
Jaw Opening | 4 ⅝ inches |
If you want a very reliable home or garage bench vise for an affordable price, you need to check out TEKTON 54006 Swivel Bench Vise. This sturdy vise is perfect for your carpentry or DIY tasks at home that require a strong grip. Made with cast iron, this product is definitely designed to last and endure. The serrated jaws which align perfectly mean business at gripping your project tightly as you build, bend, or shape. It secures your project and won’t let it budge so you could work in confidence that your piece is in tight and good hands. The base also swivels very smoothly to a full 120 degrees as promised so you could conveniently position your work at your desired angle.
5. Wilton 11104 Jaw Bench Vise with Swivel Base
Material | Steel |
Dimensions | 12 x 5.9 x 6.4 inches |
Weight | 15 pounds |
Jaw Opening | 3 inches |
If you are looking for a bench vise for your hobby or home projects, a heavy-duty bench vise might be total overkill. In that case, you might want to look into this lighter, smaller, and more portable bench vise. Wilton 11104 Jaw Bench Vise with Swivel Base would not take up much space in your work area while providing the functions required for your projects. It may be smaller but is pretty tough and sturdy. And even without pipe jaws, the grooved surface of the jaws could clamp small copper tubing without smashing it. All in all, it is a really good vise to have for light to medium-weight work at home.
Best Bench Vise - Buyer's Guide
You need a bench vise for a variety of purposes to secure your workpiece as you thread, cut, saw, bend, or shape. These could involve some heavy projects like automobile parts or some medium or lighter projects such as wood or pipe. The kind of projects you plan to work on must be your prime consideration when you choose your vise. Heavy-duty vise might be a bit of an overkill if you are only intending to use it for light home projects and hobbies. However, if you are thinking of more varied projects, it might be safer to go for a bench vise capable of handling heavier tasks and could easily adjust to smaller projects.
We all know that your bench vise is expected to endure a lot of hard work. Hence, you might want to check into its build. If you are concerned about budget and sturdiness, you may look for a cast-iron build that gives you a pretty tough piece for an affordable price. After all, you wouldn't want a device that would collapse after one blow.
Your bench vise must do what it must, Hence, you better check how good it could be at holding your piece. You might want to look into how much clamping power it offers. Clamping force of 5500 lbs is sweet. If you could get a deal for more, then that is even better. You could also look into the jaws’ design because textured jaws that align perfectly have better chances of holding your pierce.
Positioning your work at the best angle for you to work on could also be quite a challenge. Hence, a bench vise that offers flexibility and lives to that offer would be a great plus in your purchase. The ability to swivel in different directions would help you work more conveniently.
While we appreciate adjustability, you also need to make sure that the lock-down pins and screws are tight and strong enough to secure your piece into position as you work. It would also be good to check into the mounting holes’ spacing and durability to make sure unnecessary accidents will be avoided.
Best Bench Vise - FAQs
A bench vise is used to secure workpieces such as wood, metals, and pipes among others that you need to work on. This device usually features parallel jaws that must be adjusted to grip the pieces tightly in place so you could thread, cut, saw, or work confidently.
A good bench vise is a device that is made of a strong material such as steel or cast iron to bear the force that might be applied to it. Most importantly, it must be designed with jaws that provide a tight grip and good clamping force. You might want to look at a vise with a clamping force of approximately 5500 lbs or higher.
Yes. Round workpieces like pipes might be best secured in pipe jaws. However, the grooved jaw design of a regular bench vise with a great clamping force could also hold tubes pretty well without smashing them.
Most jaws are designed with a crosscut or grooved surface for better grip. However, if you are worried it would leave a mark on your workpiece, you could always look for a jaw liner, depending on the jaw width of your bench vise. These jaw liners could also be purchased online on Amazon.
