Bench Vice
A bench vice is what you reach for when you need both hands free and the work held dead still for cutting, filing, drilling, or tapping.
On a proper day in the workshop, a decent workshop vice stops jobs turning into a wrestling match. Whether you need a small vice for light fab or a metal working vice for heavier steel, pick one with solid jaws and a smooth screw so it clamps square without chewing the work. Get the right size bolted down and you will wonder how you managed without it.
What Jobs Are Bench Vices Best At?
- Holding steel, bar, and box section solid while you hacksaw, file, deburr, or dress edges without the work twisting in your hands.
- Clamping parts for drilling and tapping so the bit runs true and you are not chasing the piece round the bench when it snatches.
- Gripping fixings, pins, and awkward fittings for repair work when you need controlled pressure rather than battering things with grips.
- Supporting repeat jobs in a workshop vice, where you are cutting multiple lengths or fettling brackets and need consistent clamping every time.
- Using a portable vice or bench clamp setup for site or van work when you need a stable hold but cannot bolt a full metal vice down.
Choosing the Right Bench Vice
Sorting the right bench vice is simple: match the jaw size and mounting style to what you actually clamp day to day.
1. Jaw width and opening
If you are mostly on small fixings and light brackets, a small vice is easier to live with and still grips properly. If you are regularly clamping wider flat bar or box section, go bigger so you are not hanging work out the side and fighting flex.
2. Fixed bench mount vs bench clamp
If it is staying in one workshop spot, bolt the workshop vice down and it will feel solid for years. If you need to move it between benches or jobs, a bench clamp or vice clamp style makes sense, but only if the clamping base is stout enough not to creep under load.
3. Metal vice build and jaw type
If you are doing regular steelwork, look for a proper metal vice with rigid cast body and replaceable serrated jaws so it bites without slipping. If you also clamp finished parts, plan on using soft jaw covers so you do not mark the work.
Who Uses Bench Vices?
- Metalworkers, fabricators, and maintenance fitters who need a metal working vice to hold stock square for cutting, drilling, and tapping.
- Chippies and joiners for workshop prep and repairs, especially when a vice clamp is quicker and safer than trying to hold small parts by hand.
- Mechanics and plant lads for gripping seized bolts, bushes, and brackets on the bench where controlled pressure beats swinging a hammer.
How a Bench Vice Works for You
A bench vice is just a controlled clamp, but the way it mounts and grips makes the difference between safe, accurate work and a job that keeps moving.
1. Screw clamp pressure
The handle turns a screw that pulls the moving jaw in straight, giving you steady pressure you can feel. That is why a vice is better than grips for drilling, filing, and tapping, because it holds without sudden slip.
2. Jaw grip and alignment
Serrated jaws are meant to bite into steel so it does not creep when you are cutting or leaning on a file. If the jaws do not meet square, the work will twist, so a solid body and tight slide matter more than fancy extras.
3. Mounting is half the strength
A workshop vice only works as well as the bench it is fixed to. Bolt it through a sturdy top with decent washers or a backing plate, otherwise the bench flexes and you lose grip when it matters.
Bench Vice Accessories That Save Your Work and Your Time
A couple of simple add ons stop damage to finished parts and keep your clamping consistent on repeat jobs.
1. Soft jaw covers
Soft jaws stop you chewing up threads, polished metal, or painted parts when you clamp down hard, which is exactly what happens with bare serrated jaws on a metal vice.
2. Replacement vice jaws
If the jaws are rounded off or damaged, the work will start slipping and you will over tighten to compensate. Fresh jaws bring the bite back and keep the vice clamp doing its job properly.
3. Mounting bolts and backing plate
A solid bolt down with a backing plate stops the bench clamp effect where the whole vice shifts under load, especially when you are cutting or trying to crack something free.
Shop Bench Vices at ITS
Whether you need a small vice for light workshop jobs or a bigger metal working vice for daily steelwork, we stock the full bench vice range in different sizes and mounting styles. It is all held in our own warehouse, in stock and ready for next day delivery so you can get clamping properly on the next shift.
Bench Vice FAQs
What is the difference between carpenter's vice and bench vice?
A carpenter's vice is built for timber and usually has wider jaws and faces that are kinder to wood, often designed to sit flush with a bench for planing and chiselling. A bench vice is the general workshop option, typically a metal vice with serrated jaws and a tougher body for gripping steel, fixings, and parts without flexing.
What is the work of bench vice?
Its job is to hold a workpiece rigid and square so you can cut, file, drill, tap, or assemble safely with both hands on the tools. It is basically your third hand on the bench, and it stops parts spinning, snatching, or sliding when you put proper pressure through them.
Do I need a fixed bench vice or a vice clamp style?
If you do regular workshop work, bolt a bench vice down and you will get the most stability and safest clamping. A vice clamp or bench clamp is handy for occasional use or moving between benches, but it will only be as solid as the clamp and the bench edge you are gripping.
Will a small vice hold metal properly, or will it just twist?
A small vice is fine for light sections, small brackets, and fixings, as long as it is mounted firmly and you keep the work close to the jaws. If you are leaning on a hacksaw all day or clamping wide stock, you will feel the limits fast, so step up in size rather than over tightening and risking slip.
How do I stop a workshop vice marking finished parts?
Use soft jaw covers or pack the jaws with aluminium, copper, or timber so the serrations do not bite in. A metal working vice is meant to grip hard, so without soft jaws it will mark anything softer than the jaw material.
