Do you find trouble keeping objects stable while you’re working on them? Well, it’s time to get a bench vice, which can handle a large amount of clamping pressure without breaking.
Bench vices are an integral part of any workstation whether it is fixed or movable. It is a mechanical device used to clamp an object securely in order for construction to be completed on it. The primary function of any vice is to hold an object safety and strongly so that it can be worked on. Bench vices make work such as sanding, finishing, sawing, and welding easier by freeing the operator’s hands to perform the needed task.
Things to Consider for Buying the Right Bench Vice
Sometimes, selecting the most suitable type of metalworking bench vice can get challenging. The following things will help you select the right vice:
Throat Depth of the Vice: It is one of the most important things to consider while selecting a bench vice. Before you buy a vice, you should check its throat depth from the top side of its jaws to the top side of the slide underneath the jaws. If the throat depth is huge enough, it will allow you to hold larger workpieces. It is, therefore, suitable to unwind the vice to its fullest to make sure it is capable of holding your workpiece.
Size of the Objects Used with the Vice: This point is related to the one above. You have to have an understanding of the size of the object that is to be used with the vice you wish to buy. Metalworking bench vices can have different jaw widths, such as as2, 4, 5, 6, and 8 inches. As the size of the object to be held in the vice goes on increasing, so does the jaw’s width.
Overall Weight of the Vice: Another thing to consider is the construction and the overall weight of the bench vice. Although the jaw width of two vices is the same, their weight may differ. You should compare the two vices to understand the difference in their construction. You should check whether your workbench is capable of bearing the weight of a heavier vice.
Use of the Vice: Last but not least is how are you going to use the bench vice? Are you planning to use the vice as an anvil and make use of hammer over it? In case hammering is involved in your work, then you should go with a vice that has a large rear anvil and is made up of strong material.
By considering the above-mentioned points, it will help you make the selection process of the bench vice much easier.
