A vise is a necessity in any workshop. This mechanical tool stabilizes a workpiece while carrying out various construction tasks like drilling, grinding, and cutting. A vise will speed up the sanding process and help you make saw cuts that are smoother and plane strokes that are more steady when used in conjunction with a stable workbench. In woodworking, woodbench vises differ from metal bench vises in that they are typically coated with a scratch-resistant substance. In most woodshops, you'll find wood and metal vises however in this article we will cover just metal vises.
Here are my lists of the Best Benchtop Vises for 2023 and they are all ideal woodworking vises for your needs.
Pony is a good brand. A heavy-duty vise that clamps without compromise.
This simple PONY 5-inch has a Multi-Jaw function that can clamp flat material, pipe, and tube. Preventing slippage, scrapes, and damage to the objects you clamp. It has a robust gray iron construction that makes it more resilient and hard-wearing than vises made of common materials.
The Anvil area is 2 x 2 inches with a throat depth of 3.5 inches, the jaw opening is 8 inches and the jaw width is 5 inches. The clamping force can maximize up to 6614 lbs. It also includes three fixed mounting tabs to hold the bench vise on the table securely. This is suitable for home bench use and woodworking shop projects.
Another best feature that you will love is the 360-degree swivel design and a swivel base that provides accuracy while you are working with hand tools, which enables you to not continually insert and remove objects while you are working.
Heavy Duty 6” IRWIN Workshop Vise that you will love to abuse.
The IRWIN 226306 6-inch heavy-duty workshop Vise is made of cast iron material and provides high clamping forces for heavy-duty applications. This vise is a best-sellers because it's got a strong grip and is durable.
For heavy-duty usage, a captured safety jaw stops the slide from moving out. The swivel base moves simply and rapidly into place. The Anvil and pipe jaws provide a secure hold. It also has strong steel jaws that keep clamped objects firmly in place. It weighs 30.6 lbs and has a dimension of 15 x 7.5 x 9.5 inches. It offers a solid foundation for your woodworking needs.
This IRWIN vise has a clamping force capacity of more than 3,000 pounds. giving high clamping forces for heavy operations. Your workshop would benefit greatly from having this vise.
The Shop Fox D4328 Quick Release Vise was built and designed to last.
Shop Fox D4328 Quick Release Vise has been carefully made to last for many years with no issues. A strict quality control program, careful attention to detail, and robustly manufactured parts guarantee reliable and safe function.
Its specifications include the 9-inch Jaw Width, Mounting height (workbench thickness) of 2-1/4 inches, and 10-inch max jaw opening with 25 lbs of weight. Construction made in cast iron provides sturdiness and years of steady service.
The quick-release lever disconnects the screw which results in quick and effective woodworking operations. It has also a sliding dog feature that holds long materials to the bench that, when not in use, simply retract out of the way.
Shop Fox D4328 vise can handle and fit on workbenches with 2 1/4 inches thickness and more. With the use of a shim, it can also be lowered and adjusted to 1 1/2 inches in thickness. The pre-drilled jaws make it possible to create and install customized non-marring jaw faces to secure the surfaces of workpieces.
A bench vise that lasts a lifetime.
Forward has been building tools for almost 70 years. This Forward HY-DT150B-6IN is a multi-jaw type of vise perfect for home and commercial use. The ideal heavy-duty vise is a Forward 6-inch because it can be operated by an amateur artisan, in the workplace, and even outdoor operations. It is totally closed to keep out rust, dirt, and water. This vise can last a lifetime if used normally and carefully.
The Forward vise offers three sets of powerful and strong jaws for gripping function; the Machinist Jaws, built-in pipe Jaws, and the V-Jaws. The jaws are replaceable and it has microgroove tooth spacing, created from high-strength steel for superior grip.
Other features include the self align pipe jaws that may be easily adjusted to the work components, offering strong gripping pressure while minimizing marring. It has also a larger anvil size of 3.2x 2.6 inches that offers additional area and operational possibilities. For extra stability and ideal work positioning, the vise's head may be rotated 360 degrees. This vise is very practical for regular work and woodworking industries.
It’s a beast.
This Forward CR80A-8In is perfect for both personal DIY and professional use. Made from ductile iron with a high strength all throughout (PSI 60,000). Considered as the best heavy duty or industry vise. Because it is totally closed to keep out water, dirt, and corrosion, it can be used in a workshop or even outdoors. If the vise can be used typically, it will last a lifetime.
Specifications include 8 inches jaw width, 9 inches opening, 4.1 inches throat depth, and 8818 lbs (4000kg) clamping force. Dimension is 19.3 x 8.4 x 9.7 inches. The swivel base rotates the full 190° that allows you to select to tighten it to any direction you need to work in.
This vise is superior bite force that is 2 times stronger compared to the other brand because of its 60,000 PSI ductile iron. Also, the clamping force and durability are increased by using premium nuts and screws.
It offers multifunction installation. You can use this in your workstation for grinding, cutting, and other tasks. The anvil can also be used for tapping work. It is very helpful for daily work in the woodworking industry.
Precision: The Best of the Best
The brand is Kanca Design Forge Safety, 5 inches jaw opening, made of ductile iron material designed for heavy operations and impact-resistant applications. The item's dimension is 13 x 5 x 5.5 inches and 25 lbs weight.
The jaws and anvil of this Kanca-Castillo, CAS-125 are induction hardened for a purpose of long-lasting and durable use. It also offers more anvil area for comfortable work experience. The tensile strength is 90.000 PSI.
Another feature is the extra large span where craftsmen can work on larger project materials. It also provides replaceable nuts, constructed of hardened steel, and genuine cast vises. This Kanca-Castillo 5" vise can produce excellent quality and dependable performance for your woodworking projects.
7.) Forward 6-Inch
This Forward has 6 inches jaw opening, 3 3/8 inches throat depth, pipe capacity diameter is 3/4 inches to 2 1/2 inches. It features a high-strength ductile iron body with 60,000 PSI, an ideal guide bar made of U-channel steel, and rubber washers that can keep the handle from slipping and reduce noise. Designed with an orange coating and chrome plating that protects from water, rust, and dirt.
The removable top machinist jaws and installed pipe jaws offer a grooved tooth feature which improves the grip and offers more clamping force up to 5,500 lbs. It also offers accurate control because of its serrated jaw plates designed with carbon steel (45-56HCR). The pipe jaws offer powerful strength capacity that you can use to refine, construct, twist, or fasten materials in your workshop.
It offers also a more adaptable feature of a 360-degree swivel base that offers limitless clamping space and increased safety. The dual-locking nut is designed for safety and stable installation. This vise has strong and durable construction and best match for your project needs. A larger anvil offers additional space and operational advantages.
This vise is a professional industrial type you should have for your workshop.
8.) Yost Vises ADI-6
Extremely Strong Grip
This modern style Yost Vises ADI-6 offers extreme power, made of 130,000 PSI austempered ductile iron. Lightweight and strong vise capacity built to last for a long time. The body is four times as powerful as cast iron. It offers an extreme power that offers more clamping force for difficult projects. The Forged Steel Vise is light without sacrificing clamping power.
The dimension of 20 x 10 x 8.5 inches with a red powder-coated color and 42 lbs weight. Jaw width is 6 inches, jaw opening is 7.875"(20cm), throat depth 3.7"(1.905cm), minimum pipe capacity 0.75" to 3.5"(8.89cm) maximum. Other features include zinc-plated machinist and pipe jaws, the handle, lockdowns, and easy-to-replace hardened steel are sharpened. The 360° swivel base is interlocking(geared) that comes with two lockdowns, an ADI base, and three mounting holes.
Yost offers forged steel bench vises supplied with easy-to-replace machinist and pipe jaws.
Precision-machined jaws deliver greater gripping surfaces than cast-in-place jaws. You can easily replace only the parts and not the entire vise.
The large machined anvil workspace is highlighted in the Yost Forged Steel line of vises. This large work surface is smooth-machined and intended for metal forming or bending. Made of forged steel and is more sturdy than work surfaces found on traditional cast iron vises.
This Yoast vise also offers machining precision that functions smoothly and accurately. The two Allen sets on the side are flexible just in case the bar breaks down. Also, modifying the Allen sets ensures that the vise closes flush each time while using it.
This Cognative 6" is constructed of extremely strong Ductile iron 60,000 PSI with a blue fine powder-coated body. It comes with a longer zinc-plated handle for comfort and eases to use and for long-term applications. The ductile iron body is designed for stronger clamping force up to 2500kg(5500 lbs). The jaw width is 6 inches(150mm), the jaw opening is 6.1 inches(155mm), and the throat depth of 3.4 inches(87mm).
This vise is powerful and professional perfect for woodworkers, fitters, and other craftsmen. This vise is simple to use because it has a straight scale and a round style for more highly accurate work and easy installation on the bench with a 360-degree swivel base.
The jaws' design is finely ground, with nice flatness, and wear resistance, and does not easily break down. It has also a smooth and flat guide rail surface that produces smooth movement because of its fine grinding that minimized errors. Mostly, this vise offers comes with superior quality with a ductile iron 60,000 PSI, reliable clamping, easy to use and install, and high versatility.
10.) Wilton WS8 Shop 8”
This Wilton WS8 Shop comes from a Wilton Tool brand that designed the first bullet-design machinist vise in the year 1941. Each Wilton vise is a workhorse in every way. They have become a must-have for any workshop, for both beginners and experienced professionals.
This is made of iron castings with a tensile strength of 30,000 PSI. Comes with a 360-degree swivel base and double lockdowns for fast and simple positioning. The jaw width is 8 inches, maximum jaw opening is 8 inches, 4 inches throat depth, and 3/4-3 inches pipe jaw capacity. The material is made of ductile iron, and cast iron, with a dimension of 22.2 x 9.3 x 11.4 inches. It comes in a gray color and is 65.3 pounds item weight,
The built-in Pipe jaws can handle a variety of pipe sizes. It comes with a large work surface for an anvil. The top serrated jaws are easy to replace. It comes also with a pinch-point safety guard made of rubber.
Most Powerful Grip
This Wilton 745 Mechanics Vise offers an extended life feature through its replaceable hardened steel top and pipe jaws. When it comes to stability performance, it comes with 360-degree swivel base rotation and double lockdowns. It includes also four mounting posts and sealed construction.
This vise is designed for durable use because of its ductile iron rated at 30,000 PSI. It can perform smoothly performance due to the fully enclosed spindle that maintains lubricants in and residues out. The large anvil can accommodate a wide range of materials. Dimension is 15.8 x 10 x 9.4 inches with 45.6 pounds weight.
With these industry-leading features and a lifetime warranty, you will surely love to add this Wilton 745 Mechanics Vise as an investment in your workshop.
Thank you for reading my review lists of best benchtop vises. Now, it is time to choose and decide which one is best for your woodshop. After reading this, surely you will have the best choice of Bench Vises that will be a good addition to your shop.
Mostly, choose the one that is a suitable and a perfect match for what you really need specifically in your woodworking projects. Surely, you will find it very useful and helpful in your woodworking projects.
Read also my latest review for 13 Best Woodworking Benches 2023. For all your woodworking needs, feel free to contact me and we will discuss more details about it.
Disclaimer on Affiliate Links: Some of the tools mentioned in this article are affiliate links, but please know I only recommend tools I truly believe in and trust. There's absolutely no additional cost to you.