Things To Know When Buying A Bench Vise

Nice video. Though I don’t think it’s ever really recommended to ever use a cheater bar or sledge hammer on the tightening bar. There’s also now austempered ductile iron (ADI) vises rated at 130,000 psi tensile strength which for similar size comparison are supposed to be “stronger” than forged steel vises.

Good review

The negative on cast iron is the 30,000 psi tensile strength. If that is the limit of someone's budget, go for it and just be gentle with it, and it will serve them well. A little more money can buy ductile iron (60,000 psi). Much more likely to break a cast iron vise, because the metal is brittle. But this one will likely serve just fine. If anyone really wants a very strong vise without breaking the bank, look up the Yost ADI (Austempered Ductile Iron). Rated at 130,000 psi, which makes it 4x the strength of cast iron, and double that of ductile iron.



Reply

Hey,
Thanks for the vidoe. I have just gotten the IRWIN Multi Purpose Bench Vise (5") (4935505). This vise is very good and not only looks cool, but very well built. It is about 130-150USD but this is still on a cheaper side. (Amazon also has it).

My first and last vise is a secondhand one, free or allmost free and verry good quality. My first one was a Triump, second one sambre-et-meuse 125 it opens 270mm steel cast.

My first bench vise was a 4 1/2 work pro but just upgraded to a 6" forward.. the 6 inch is so much bigger and more solid. I definitely abused the first one but it stood up to the test

Penningshaus Ridgid with lift is pretty sexy!

Well done video !! Honest, true information. No "B.S.". Thanks. This helped greatly choosing a vise for myself. Blessings to you and yours.

They made some good vintage vises world wide you have to test the strength and good reviews good hunting!!!

Thx for a review for this DIY guy(me). In your opinion, is there any advantages to having a swivel option on a vise?

Good review. I agree with you on that some people give bad reviews because their using a tool wrong.

Great video. Out of all your research, what do you think about the 5" Dewalt? I watched a strongest vise video and it seemed to hold up really well, but then I read some bad reviews on amazon. Weird thing is I can't find anywhere to buy it either. Did they discontinue it maybe?

How wide does the 4 and a half vice open up? Lookin to buy a bench vice but I need one tho open up 5 inches or more. Let me know👍

Super cool

I beat the hell out of my shitty old 3" vice, never had an issue

My vise is cast and it is cheap..... got it from a estate sale😩🙁

The Irwin & Central Forge vises can't be rated more than 10,000 or 15,000 psi.
You cannot achieve a 30,000 psi rating from grey cast iron.

Vises rated at 30,000 or 60,000 psi are cast from ductile iron.

Also... the reason a lot of people broke the Central Forge & Irwin vises, is because they are hollow cast grey iron. They are weak even for general light duty use.

Thanks. I'm not so afraid that buying a similar (if not the same) vise at HF would be a waste of money anymore. All the affordable (to me) models are made overseas now, even lower-range Wiltons. Therefore, if made in USA isn't even an option for me right now, it's good to know Harbor Freight isn't really any riskier than any other, despite any reviews saying that they're low quality or broke too easily. I'm finding similar negative reviews of ALL the overseas vises, so thanks for helping me understand what's what.

My jaws broke while i was trying to lock in my barrel rod, it kept slipping

i was thinking of buying a general purpose vise and thinking about the harbor freight 6 inch, after seeing your video i went to harbor freight with my 20% coupon and bought it , thanks !

Thank you for the useful inf

I have a very heavy, huge, old vise It looks great but it is made in China should i worry about it? I know when you buy a pipe wrench you want to avoid the cheap China made and go with made in USA so I dont know if I should try to sell it

Great video, very informative, keep them coming!

Mate, let's stop for a second and be reasonable. There is a reason these are big and heavy; if they can't take a beat, they are crap. They have an anvil, which tells me you are expected to beat the crap out of them. I bet you, you don't know for what the 30k psi stand... Hint: Not for clamping power! You should be able to bend a metal sheet or a rod with any of those; you should be able to unlock a torqued screw with any of those. Should you expect performance at that price-point? Nope! When it comes to a vise, I have my own criteria: #1. It's the most important tool in anyone's set-up; #2. It should hold whatever you clamp; #3. It should hold a torque found on your machinery of the type you own and this is how you should decide what vise is best for you. You should be able to verify the torque setting on your torque wrench - that's my point; #4. It should be smooth; #5. It should have the least amount of play you can afford. This being said, I have a recommendation for you, but you will have to go as high as $250-ish... It's a German made vise called Ridgid Peddinghaus F45. It's forged, comes with a lifetime warranty and you won't believe you wasted time of your life with anything else. It's sold in the US of A at ZORO and also for order at Home Depot. You might be looking at Wilton US made ones which run starting at about $350, but they don't come close in any of the mentioned categories. stay safe and get only the best, as an old guy told me in a hardware store 30 years ago in Germany, while l was looking at a cheap drill: The next one will cost you whatever you spend on this crap on top of it's price... Great lesson...

Could you provide a one year later update?

Today restore a old rusted crappy vise it's good for the soul!!! You will feel like a hundred bucks!!!

Good advice. Thanks

top man - thank you for sharing your research - subscribed in first minute - keep it coming please sir

You couldn't say the weird gun? G word? You're gay

Thanks for the info! My first bench vise is from harden steel but the "washer" part keeps falling off that clamps it to the table 😑. Don't think I can peen it over so its time to upgrade!

Vice? I have no vice, I'm as pure as the driven snow! But I drifted..

My favorite bench vise is a Wilton Tradesman made in USA (beware many Wilton's are imported now) . For a low cost vise the 5 inch Harbor Freight rotating/swivel all purpose is not bad for the money. Too many people think vises are arbor presses, bending brakes or Anvils, Also people use cheater bars and hammers on the handles another bad idea and even hammer on the swivel clamps. The handles of a vise are designed at the factory to limit screw torque to within the design limits a bent handle is a sure sign of vise abuse. Well done review, Derick you have a clear idea of what a gray iron bench vise can and can not do and conveyed your message well.

Are dewalt bench vises good ?

Cool, informative. Thanks, good to know.,👍

yep your comment about them being a third hand is correct. they're a very strong third hand and not made to absorb big blows with hammers. people online are beyond fucking stupid they'll buy this for $50 and think it performs as a $600 forged steel vise of the same size and.
My Vise is a red grizzly 50LB one. I'm a mechanic and do random small stuff on it. more than enough for me.