
- Jaw Width: THE way vises are measured and referred to since the history of vises began! This is the number most model...
- Open: How far the vise opens. This is a subjective measurement as usually when the spindle of the vise is engaged the...
- Throat: The distance from the top of the jaws to the top of the slide. This dimension represent how deep a part you can...
How to measure the opening of a vise?
This is a subjective measurement as usually when the spindle of the vise is engaged the slide is not fully seated in the body of the vise and is not strong enough to take the punishment of a hammer blow. I tend to measure the opening of a vise with the slide sticking out of the rear opening of the body of at least 1/4".
What do the numbers on a vise mean?
Jaw Width: THE way vises are measured and referred to since the history of vises began! This is the number most model numbers reference e.g. Charles Parker 954 (last number in model is jaw width) Open: How far the vise opens.
What size vise is equivalent to a Bessey 6?
It has a maximum opening of 5.25″, a throat depth of 2.75″ and weighs 44lbs. So a “little” 3.5″ jaw vise is almost the match for the Bessey 6″ vise in every way except for jaw width.
What are the different parts of a vise?
Rear Jaw: Opposite the Front Jaw and often referred to as the Static jaw. Jaw Support: The section of the base that sticks out and provides structural support to the movable section of the vise (Slide). Usually an integral cast feature of the main body of the vise. Slide: The section of the vise that slides in and out of the main body of the vise.

How do you measure the size of a vise?
The jaw width is how wide the jaws are from one side to another and is measured by the horizontal distance along the top of the jaw edge. The width of the jaws' surface indicates how much of a workpiece will be covered.
How the size of vice is stated?
Explanation: The size of the engineer's vice is stated by the width of the jaws.eg. 150mm parallel jaw bench vice.
What size is a number 3 vice?
3 Mechanics Vice 4in : Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools....Technical Details.ManufacturerAutoMotion Factors LimitedProduct Dimensions36.8 x 19.2 x 18.8 cm; 500 GramsItem model number3Size100mmColourGrey10 more rows
How big is a 6 vise?
18 x 8.7 x 9.7 inchesEnhance your purchaseMaterialCast IronItem Dimensions LxWxH18 x 8.7 x 9.7 inchesColorBlackStyle6-Inch Shop ViseItem Weight42 Pounds1 more row
How can vice be specified?
A vise or vice (British English) is a mechanical apparatus used to secure an object to allow work to be performed on it. Vises have two parallel jaws, one fixed and the other movable, threaded in and out by a screw and lever.
How is bench vice specified?
A bench vice is made of cast iron or cast steel and it is used to hold or clamp work for filing, sawing, threading and other hand operations. The size of the vice is stated by the width of the jaws. e.g. 150 mm parallel jaw bench vice.
What size is a number 1 vice?
Irwin Record No. 1 Mechanics Vice 3.inMaterialHardened Steel,Metal,IronBrandRecordItem dimensions L x W x H27.9 x 26 x 6.5 centimetresColourGreyStyleSafety1 more row
What size is a record number 2 vice?
Product DetailsBrandRecordJaw Width3 1/2″Jaw Opening3 1/2″Throat Depth2 1/4″ConditionUsed
What size is a record No 1 vice?
75mm1 3″ (75mm) Mechanics Vice 1ZR.
Is a 4 inch vise big enough?
For general household DIY, a 4- to 5-inch vise is large enough to handle most tasks. (This measurement is the length of the jaws from end to end and is maximum amount of contact your vise has with the workpiece.)
Are Wilton vises Made in USA?
Top positive review. Be aware that Wilton produces these in Tawian now under model Number 28806 1755, the 28806 models are overseas made (not China but Tawain). Tawain tools produced for sale in the US seem to have better quality than their Chinese counterparts. The 63200/1755 models are USA made.
How do you identify a Wilton vise?
The identifying company and model information can be found on the sides of the back jaw. You can tell the age of the vise by looking at the bottom of the guide rail (with the vise opened wide). As can be seen, it is stamped with 4-53.
What are the 4 vices?
These are generally: the three Theological Virtues (Faith, Hope and Charity) and the four Cardinal Virtues (Prudence, Temperance, Fortitude and Justice) and the seven Vices/Sins (Pride, Envy, Sloth, Anger, Covetousness, Gluttony and Lust) although they vary.
What are examples of vices?
There are many vices. Some of the most commonly referred to vices include greed, anger, lust, envy, gluttony, pride, and sloth (laziness). Each of these is a character trait we find in people which is, on the whole, undesirable.
What does my vice mean?
A vice is a habit which is regarded as a weakness in someone's character, but not usually as a serious fault. I spend too much on clothes; that's my only vice.
How big is a record no1 vice?
Mechanics Vices – Heavy Duty Features: The Mechanics' vice is the most commonly used vice in the IRWIN® Record® range. A full line of replacement parts are available. 3″/75mm jaw width. Weight: 5.4KG.
Vise Total Weight
A quick search on amazon will reveal there are vises as small as 1.5lb (.68kg), and as large as 220lbs (99.7kg). You could make the argument that the 1.5lb vise is not an engineers vise, but these vise names are not standardized, so it may be a bit pedantic to do so.
Vise Jaw Width
The jaw width is a measure of how wide the jaws are along the horizontal axis.
Vise Jaw Opening
The jaw opening is a measurement of how wide the mouth of the jaw can open. There can be quiet a range of jaw openings, but most vises will fit in between 2.5″ and 12″ (63.5mm-304.8mm).
Vise Throat Depth
The vise throat depth measurement measures how deep a vise is vertically from the top of the vise jaw down to the leadscrew/slide.
What size bench vise should I buy?
With all of that as a background, I’ll offer up what I tell most folks when they’re trying to decide the appropriate bench vise size. Assuming we’re talking about a quality vise, most people never need more than a 4.5″ jaw model. I’ve noticed that most welding and fabrication shops seem to buy 4.5″ and 5″ models because that’s big enough. If you’re working on heavy equipment or big trucks, a 5″ or larger model might make sense, but there is one major consideration with the big vises you’ll want to take into account, and that is height.
How much does a Bessey 6 inch vise weigh?
Home Depot offers a Bessey 6″ vise on a swivel base that weighs 44lbs. It opens 6″ and has a throat depth of 3″. That’s a pretty typical big box store vise, and is actually on the large side of what they normally offer. If you only have a Lowe’s nearby, they offer an Irwin 6″ mechanic’s vise that has very similar specs (6″ opening and 3″ throat depth) but only weighs 31lbs.
What size jaw is a Wilton machinist vise?
Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I managed to stage a lineup of Wilton machinist vises that only missed two sizes, the 2.5″ jaw and 8″ jaw models. The vintages vary a little bit between the models, but the oldest is from the 1967 (the 2″ baby) and the newest is a recent production model (the 5″). Generally speaking, the new versions are slightly larger and heavier than the older versions, but the changes weren’t all that drastic and don’t alter the overall concept.
How to check if a vise has a swivel base?
If the vise has a swivel base, check that the base doesn’t have missing/cracked mounting tabs/ears. Check that the swivel base itself doesn’t have any cracks. Flip the vise over and make sure the internal parts of the swivel base aren’t cracked, damaged, or repaired.
What is the crack in the front of a vise?
Essentially, the front half of the vise breaks off the slide, or develops a crack from being overstressed. Another is the ledge that sticks out from the front of the main body to support the dynamic jaw as it extends forward. That area also cracks, or breaks off from being overstressed.
What is the center bolt on a swivel base?
Many models with a swivel base will have a large center bolt that keeps the main body of the vise centered on the swivel base. Sometimes people lose, or remove those center bolts, and finding one is next to impossible.
Can you replace jaws on vintage vises?
Some vises were made with jaws that can be replaced, and some were made with the jaws integral to the jaw supports. Some jaw patterns for vintage vises are readily available while others would require contacting a machine shop and having them make a custom set, which will likely be cost-prohibitive.
Can you close a vise with a handle?
If it’s really bad you might be able to close the vise with the handle , and have to pull it open by hand. That isn’t a deal-breaker, but is a good negotiating point if you’re the buyer. One thing to look for is when you unscrew the vise all the way, some will start to bind.
Is a vise worth restoring?
If a vise has obvious signs of welding or brazing, it’s probably not worth restoring. It might function fine, but the value is gone for all but the most unusual and rare models. Also, if you find cracks or pieces broken off, there’s a good chance the vise isn’t worth repairing.
Does X make expensive vises?
What that means is that just because brand X makes some expensive vises, doesn’t mean that all of their vises are high quality.
What is a vise?
A vice or vise ( American English) is a mechanical apparatus used to secure an object to allow work to be performed on it. Vises have two parallel jaws, one fixed and the other movable, threaded in and out by a screw and lever . Light duty homeowner's vise holding a brass check valve.
How much psi is a vise?
However, most heavy duty vises are 55,000 psi cast steel or 65,000 psi ductile iron. Some vises have a cast iron body but a steel channel bar. Cast iron is popular because it is typically 30,000 psi grey iron which is rigid, strong and inexpensive.
What is a vise made of?
Woodworker's vise with entirely wooden jaws. Woodworking vises are attached to a workbench, typically flush with its work surface. Their jaws are made of wood or metal, the latter usually faced with wood, called cheeks, to avoid marring the work. The movable jaw may include a retractable dog to hold work against a bench dog .
What are the different types of vises?
Other kinds of vise include: 1 Hand vise 2 Compound slide vise; a more complex machine vise. They allow speed and precision in the placement of the work. 3 Cross vise, which can be adjusted using leadscrews in the X and Y axes; these are useful if many holes need to be drilled in the same workpiece using a drill press. Compare router table. 4 Off-center vise 5 Angle vise 6 Sine vise, which use gauge blocks to set up a highly accurate angle 7 Rotary vise 8 Suction vise 9 Diemakers' vise 10 Saw vise – used for sharpening hand saws 11 Pin vise (for holding thin, long cylindrical objects by one end, or used as a drill (scale modeler's pin vise)) 12 Jewellers' vise 13 Fly tying vise, used to secure fishing hook in fly tying 14 Leg vise, which is attached to a bench but also supported from the ground so as to be stable under the very heavy use imposed by a blacksmith's work 15 Trailer hitch vise 16 Shaker broom vise 17 Rigging vise, otherwise known as a triangle vise or splicing vise, which has three jaws. Used to close thimbles and splice rope, cable, and wire rope. 18 Fractal vise, used to hold workpieces with complex forms
What is an engineer's vise?
An engineer's vise, also known as a metalworking vise or machinist 's vise, is used to clamp metal instead of wood. It is used to hold metal when filing or cutting. It is sometimes made of cast steel or malleable cast iron, but most are made of cast iron. However, most heavy duty vises are 55,000 psi cast steel or 65,000 psi ductile iron. Some vises have a cast iron body but a steel channel bar. Cast iron is popular because it is typically 30,000 psi grey iron which is rigid, strong and inexpensive. The jaws are often separate and replaceable, usually engraved with serrated or diamond teeth. Soft jaw covers made of aluminum, copper, wood (for woodworking) or plastic may be used to protect delicate work. The jaw opening of an engineer's vise is almost always the same size as the jaw width, if not bigger.
What is a combination vise?
A combination vise combines an engineer-style vise with a subsidiary set of curved serrated jaws below the main for clamping pipe. A pivoting base is standard.
What is a rigging vise?
Rigging vise, otherwise known as a triangle vise or splicing vise, which has three jaws. Used to close thimbles and splice rope, cable, and wire rope.
What is the front jaw of a vise?
Front Jaw: The jaw closest to you when operating the vise, sometimes referred to as the movable ja w or dynamic jaw. This is due to the fact that it's usually the jaw that moves when the spindle is turned. (Except on European vises like the FPU/Bison where the Rear Jaw moves)
What is a vintage vise handle?
Vintage Vise Dictionary. It's always good to know how to speak vise! Handle: The working end of the vise, where your hands grasp to turn the spindle. Most handles are made from steel and have some form of end caps to prevent the handle from slipping out of the meatball.
What is a Wilton vise?
Wilton vises are famous for using a round slide design (iconic bullet shape) and a key to keep the slide from rotating. Vise Measurements: Nothing causes more confusion when searching online for a vise.
How many turns of spindle on Wilton vise?
In the case of Wilton vises, 2 turns of the spindle should be enough engagement for full clamping strength. This still may not be the strongest position for the vise if you are swinging a large hammer at what you have clamped in the vise, so proceed with caution.
What is the throat dimension?
Throat: The distance from the top of the jaws to the top of the slide. This dimension represent how deep a part you can clamp into the vise.
Is Vise a good forum?
This information was compiled from the users at GarageJournal.com and to view most vise images linked in the details require a membership there. It's a great forum and highly recommended.
What is the base of a vise?
The base and three sides of the vise are ground flat, enabling mounting on its base, either side, or upright.
How to maintain a vise?
Maintain your vise by replacing seals, springs, and other commonly worn parts.
What is a toolmaker's vise?
Designed for precision grinding and inspection, the construction of these vises ensures workpieces are held perfectly square. They are also known as toolmakers’ vises.
What is a vise for milling?
Designed to hold your part on 4- and 5-axis milling machines, these vises provide rigid clamping while exposing five full sides of the workpiece. This allows even complex parts to be completed in a single operation. You must cut a dovetail into your material before the vise can grip it.
What is a vise body?
The vise body and stationary jaw are one piece for high repeatability, even under heavy clamping loads. Ground flat on the base and three sides, these vises ensure accuracy whether mounted on the base, either side, or upright.
How do two vise heads work?
Two vise heads tilt and rotate 360°, locking in place to hold work at any angle.
How do jaws move in a vise?
The jaws move inward at the same time to consistently position your workpiece in the center of the vise.
How to measure round head screws?
Round-headed countersunk screws only sink part-way into a surface, so the rounded top will stick above the surface. Start measuring from the bottom of the rounded top. To measure any other types of round-headed screws that aren’t countersunk, measure from the flat underside of the screw head to the tip.
What do you need to measure screws?
It’s pretty easy to do—all you need is a measuring tape or a ruler and the screws in question. Just make sure to measure the screws correctly using the imperial system or metric system, depending on how the measurements are listed on screws where you will be buying them. You can always do both just to be sure! Steps.
How to measure thread width?
Measure the width of a thread in fractions of an inch to get the diameter. Use a ruler or measuring tape to measure from one side of a thread to the other using the nearest fraction of an inch. This diameter for screws in the imperial system is represented by either a gauge number or in fractions of an inch.
What is the pitch of a 2mm screw?
Most screws in the metric system have 1 pitch that corresponds to each diameter. For instance, 2 mm screws have a pitch of 0.4 mm. Tip: Screws sold with metric system measurements on the packaging will list the diameter first and the length next.
How many threads per inch?
Thread counts in the imperial system generally range from 35-40 threads per inch.
Where does the countersunk screw meet?
For a countersunk screw with a rounded head, also called an oval countersunk, you start the measurement where the oval top and the countersunk half meet in the middle. In other words, where the oval top would rest on the surface.
