- Aren’t you in Need of Clamping your Workpiece at Woodworking or Metalworking?
- Can you all the Time Hold those Tightly Enough Merely by Hands?
- This is Why and that is When you Need a Vice – a Clamping Device or Mechanism?
Technology has brought about wild variations in these tools. Let’s go a bit in detail.
The vise is an important mechanical apparatus for a craftsman or mechanic. It is used to hold a workpiece stationary which is an integral tool for different woodworking and metalworking applications. There are different types of vises available with different features. This common mechanical device comes handy to hold the workpiece during the operation such as drilling or sawing.
Vises are commonly found attached to the workbench. These are called Woodworking vises. But there are ample varieties in this mechanical device. Vises are constructed with two parallel jaws in it. One of the jaws is fixed and the other one move that helps to hold different types of items.
15 Different Types of Vises
A vise is a common mechanical device for crafting, sawing or drilling. You will find a lot of vises with a different variety. We are going to talk about those kinds of vises below so that you can understand and buy the suitable one for your crafting jobs.
1.Woodworking Vise and Its Uses
Woodworking vises are made of wood. It commonly comes attached to the workbench faced with wood. The facing wood is called cheeks and it helps to avoid marring the job. Most of the time, the movable jaw may embrace a retractable dog which is useful to hold items against a bench dog.
The adjustment of vises is important while working. The woodworking vise wages a split nut that enables the screw to engage or disengage the movable jaw. Following this mechanism, the movable jaw may move in or out uninterrupted throughout its complete range of motion. It also supports speeding up the adjustment. The woodworking vise features thread types of Acme or Buttress.
Traditionally the workbench vises are faced vises that come attached to the front face of the bench cornering the left end or end vises. It can be attached to the right end of the workbench. You will find different varieties of woodworking vises. The most common woodworking vise is the leg vise featuring a long extension down to the floor. It improvises the adjustment with the spacing of the bottom surface of the leg that may clamp the piece of different thicknesses.
Check Out: Top 8 Best Woodworking Vise Reviews & Buying Guide [Step By Step]
2. Metal Working Vise – Engineer’s Choice
Metalworking vise or machinists vise is the ultimate choice for engineers’. That’s why it is also known as Engineer’s vise. This one is used to clamp metal in place of wood. It is a requirement for your work while you are in need of cutting or filling something made of metal.
The metalworking vise is made of cast steel or metal able cast iron. But most of the time you will find them made by cast iron. And for sure the iron has a high range of psi. Mostly it contains 55000 psi cast iron or 65000 psi ductile iron. Some of the vises come with cast iron body and the channel bar made of steel.
The cast iron is popular because of its feature and nature. Cast iron is basically 30 ksi grey iron that is rigid, sturdy, and cheaper than other similar metal. Some vises feature replaceable jaws which may be engraved with serrated or diamond teeth for the different purpose of work. It has soft covers made of aluminum, copper, wood, or plastic to protect the delicate job.
The engineer’s vise should be placed onto the top surface of a workbench. The face should be outward and the face of the jaws would place just forward the front edge of the surface. It does not necessary to attach with the workbench until the working surface is stable. It also features a swivel to move around the surface and an anvil on the back of its body.
There are also other vises specifically for the homeowner that is not made of cast iron but of pot metal. Typically it features the low-grade iron featuring a tensile strength of less than 10 ksi. It also comes with an exposed screw at the homeowner’s vises.
Get Knowledge: 8 Best Bench Vise Reviews For All Time
3. Vacuum Vise – The Hobbyist’s Requirement
Vacuum vise is not as sturdy as other vises mentioned above. The vacuum vise is commonly used to hold the circuit boards or model airplanes. So you can describe it as a tool for hobbyists. This vise is backed up with a suction cup. It also features an articulated joint in the middle which allows the vise to pivot and swivel.
So naturally, this vise is only suitable to hold the softer things. Jewelers may use it as a very effective tool.
Get More Information: Best Vacuum Vise for Newbies: What You Must Learn When Choosing the Best Vise?
4. Pipe Vises – The Plumber’s Tool
Pipe vises are used for holding a pipe. It is a must for plumbers. Pipe vises are important while cutting or threading a pipe. Pipe vises are also sturdy and useful for both soft and heavy-duty workings. Typically the pipe vises are made of similar metals to engineer’s vises. There are two types of pipe vises available in the market – the chain vise and the yoke vise.
The chain vises require a chain to secure the pipe while in operation. On the other hand, the yoke-type vises require a screw to fasten the holding grip.
5. The Clamp-on Vise – The Alternative of a Light-Duty Bench Vise
The clamp-on the vise features softer jaws and a smooth grip. It is mostly used for wood, plastic, or light metalworking. But some of them feature serrated jaws for having a better grip on metal. You may find some unique vises in the market that are combined with both of these features in a rotating design. You can also use it to secure any object during the operation on this object.
6. Combined Vise
You will find some unique vises available in the market featuring both yoke and chain design respectively. They are added using a rotating design to provide both bench and pipe jaws to manipulate. These are common to plumbers.
7. Hand Vises
Hand vises are most commonly used in various workplaces or the garages of hobbyists. You can use it easily in your hand or fasten it with the bench vise. It is used to get a grip on softer things in woodworking or jewelry.
Hand vises are made of cast iron or low-grade iron. But it is very useful to protect your fingers from the metalwork. It is used to hold smaller objects while in operation. People customarily use it in grinding, drilling, sanding, or shaping.
Hand vises feature two smaller jaws to hold the lighter things. It features an attached handle to maintain the set of the jaw to clamp on your object. The v-grooves vise can be tightened using the wing screws available on top of the jaws.
8. Cross Vises
Cross vises are other unique vises that are movable in cross directions. You can easily maintain the vise manually without any kind of interruptions.
Cross vises are mostly constructed with a mix of iron and steel. This structure is perfect for clamping and creating a stable surface to drill accurately. The user-friendly design of the cross vise allows the firm clamping of the objects.
Cross vises also feature removable handles and necessary throat depth. The cross slides are perfect for drilling objects
Read More Valuable Information: Best Cross Slide Vises: Top Reviews and Buying Guide
9. Off-Center Vises
Off-center vises are different from other vises available. It is usually used to create holes in an object. If you look at it you will find multiple places to hold objects with it. You can use it to hold more objects together while working on it.
The off-center vise is made of aluminum. The procedure of drilling is simple because the vise is controlled by a knob and a set of two heavy threaded bolts including a couple of smaller rods. The knob controlling an adjustment and the setup is easier than you think. The aluminum made parts are placed on a heavy plastic base that needs drilling on first use. It helps to reduce waste from drilling.
10. Angle Vises
An angle vise is a machine vise that can be able to tilt an object while in operation. The main feature of the angle vise is the tilting of the vice when the base remains stationary on the surface. This tilt rotation supports an object creating holes clamping the object at a convenient angle.
Angle vise is commonly used for drilling or milling. Most models of angle vise follow a calibrated quadrant on their side which allows an accurate set up for the vise. Some vises also come with a swivel that allows 360 degrees calibrating while drilling or reaming.
11. Sine Vises
Sine vises are designed for special purpose operations. It can precisely hold the object at a very accurate angle. You can calculate the sine of the angle when you adjust the device. That’s why it is called the sine vise. It is not a very sturdy one like other vises.
Sine vises are required for extreme accuracy. This screwless vise comprises two cylinders. One cylinder maintains the rotation axis and the second cylinder gets positioned precisely in a known distance.
12. Rotary Vise
A Rotary Vise is different from a conventional Vise. It is a little complicated-looking and far more developed than its kind. The difference between a rotary vise and a conventional vise is the rotation. Conventional vises contain jaws that rotate. But in a rotary vise, the jaw rotates by an extension horizontally of its own.
It is used to fit the height adjustment of hook size with the shank at a more or less vertical angle. It also helps to construct the twisting position of the hook. It has a rotation lock to control the rotation and a lock for movable jaws.
13. Die Maker’s Vise – The Third Hand for Makers
Die maker’s vise is also known as the third hand for makers. It is lightweight and easy to use which can glide effortlessly along a low-friction track. Die maker’s vise is suitable for all kinds of makers. But it comes with some extra jaws for a 3D printer.
It is used as a tabletop vise including a silicone pad. It is constructed with aluminum and low friction plastic material. It is very useful in your home work and tasks.
14. Saw Vises
Saw vises are used to hold the saw in order to fix the teeth of the saw or sharpen them. Saw vise features the Acme threaded screw assembly. It also contains enough leather to line the jaws and the hinge. You just need to set the wood at the edge of the vise and fix or sharpen your saw in no time.
15. Pin Vises
Pin vises are used to build miniature woodwork. It is a very handy tool for those who work to develop small-scale miniatures or models or with jewelry. Overall it is required to fix the smaller things like a wristwatch.
It is designed like a long pen-handle including an adjustable throat or collects. The collet can be tightened or loosened to hold a very small manual for drilling.
Final Thoughts
In every type of work, you need a vise to make your things stable and more accurate. In this article, we have covered almost all types of vises in the market including their user guide. From the bigger workplace to your home, the vises are handy everywhere. You just need to buy a suitable one for you.
If you are a heavy-duty type, you need a machine or woodworking vise. For miniature models, pin vise works best.
Table of Contents