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10 Best Bench Vises (Review) In 2021

Last Updated: January 6, 2021
Best Choice
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Yost LV-4 Home Bench Vise
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Best Value
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Yost Heavy-Duty Industrial Bench Vise Tool
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Premium Pick
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Forward 8-Inch Bench Vise
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Unclutterer
by Unclutterer
Published 06:54 am
Show Contents
Contents
  • 1. Yost LV-4 Home Bench Vise
  • 2. TEKTON 4-Inch Swivel Bench Vise
  • 3. Olympia Tools 38-604 Bench Vise
  • 4. Pony Jorgensen Medium Duty Woodworker's Vise
  • 5. Yost Heavy-Duty Industrial Bench Vise Tool
  • 6. Forward 5-Inch Heavy Duty Bench Vise
  • 7. HENGDA Mini Table Clamp Small Bench Vice
  • 8. Wilton Tools 6-Inch Shop Bench Vise
  • 9. Forward 8-Inch Bench Vise
  • 10. WEN 5-Inch Heavy Duty Cast Iron Bench Vise
Award
Brand
Rating
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Award:

Best Choice
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Brand:

Yost LV-4 Home Bench Vise

Rating:

10
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Award:

Premium Pick
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Brand:

Forward 8-Inch Bench Vise

Rating:

9
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Award:

Mini Model
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Brand:

HENGDA Mini Table Clamp Small Bench Vice

Rating:

8
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Award:

Best Value
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Brand:

Yost Heavy-Duty Industrial Bench Vise Tool

Rating:

7
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Award:

Budget Pick
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Brand:

Olympia Tools 38-604 Bench Vise

Rating:

7

The Best Bench Vise

A good bench vise can be used for all sorts of applications, from sawing wood to welding, and most bench vises are designed to be multi-purpose in nature. If you've never used one before, a bench vise is something you secure to your work bench with either bolts or a clamp. You then open the jaws of the vise and close them firmly, securing your workpiece in a stable, fixed position ready to carry out whatever job you need to do. Some people nickname their bench vise their 'second pair of hands' because it truly is one of the most useful pieces of equipment you can buy for your home or workshop. Choosing the right bench vise isn't always straightforward, because there are so many options to consider! For example, do you need a vise with an anvil, so you have somewhere to carry out hammering jobs? Do you need pipe jaws built-in in your device? Do you want a stationary vise or one that swivels and provides greater versatility? Whether you are a professional tradesman or enjoy some DIY at home, this guide to the best bench vises will help you choose the most suitable vise for your needs. It includes Yost vises, along with vises designed for all kinds of applications, from light-duty tasks around the home to jobs requiring a bit more muscle! We'll also look at the factors you need to think about when choosing the best vise for your requirements, including how to check that the jaw specifications are suitable and what to take into account when preparing to install your vise in your workshop.

1. Yost LV-4 Home Bench Vise

Best Choice
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Key Features

    Jaw width: 4-1/2″

    Jaw opening: 3″

    Throat depth: 2.4″

    30, 000 PSI cast iron construction

    Holds 0. 6″ D to 1. 85″ D pipes and tubes

    Anvil: 1. 75″ x 2″

    Swivel base with 4 mounting tabs

    Blue powder coat finish

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Yost LV-4 Home Bench Vise
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The best of the bench vises we reviewed is this high-quality model from Yost. The Yost LV-4 Home Bench Vise is manufactured from cast iron and with steel jaws, this vise has an improved base design with 4 holes to allow you to mount it to the workbench. This stops it from moving side to side during use. For perfect positioning, the vise will rotate 240 degrees on its base. The main screw is zinc plated and uses an acme thread, whilst the locking C collar allows you to quickly engage and disengage the main screw. The built-in pipe jaws are perfect for holding small pipes with diameters ranging from 0.6″D to 1.85″D. The blue powder coat finish of the bench vise ensures that it is durable and will give you plenty of services, allowing you to take on all kinds of light-duty applications around your home and garage.

    Pros

    Jaws are a little larger than most vises at this price point

    Very strong

    Easy to store

    Has built-in pipe jaws

    Ideal if you have limited space

    Great value for money

    Cons

    Mounting bolts not included

    Anvil and tightening bar are small

    Slight slope in the pivot

2. TEKTON 4-Inch Swivel Bench Vise

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Key Features

    30, 000 PSI cast iron construction

    120-Degree swivel base

    Polished steel anvil

    Jaw opening: 4-1/2″

    Throat depth: 2-3/8″

    Replaceable nonslip serrated steel jaws

    Three mounting holes

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TEKTON 4-Inch Swivel Bench Vise
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The TEKTON 4-Inch Swivel Bench Vise comes with three mounting holes to securely anchor it to your workbench, allowing you to work with confidence. This is a medium-duty vise, more than up to the task of assembling parts, doing metalwork, or repairing vehicles. It has a very durable 30, 000 PSI cast iron construction and a 120-degree swivel base, so it’s possible to position your work just where you need it, with lockdown nuts holding it securely in place. The steel jaws are serrated and non-slip, holding your workpiece firmly in the desired position, and they can also be replaced if needed. In addition, this vise includes an anvil, providing an additional surface for any hammering work you may have. The perfect alignment of the jaws and the smooth operation of this vise make it a pleasure to use.

    Pros

    Heavy and well built

    Very smooth action with no slop

    Jaws align perfectly

    The swivel base allows for perfect positioning

    Screw glides smoothly without binding

    Good value for money

    Cons

    No mounting bolts supplied

    Template provided for installation is inaccurate

    Arrives with excessive shipping grease which can take time to remove

    Tightening rod is quite small

3. Olympia Tools 38-604 Bench Vise

Budget Pick
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Key Features

    20,000 PSI cast iron construction

    4-Inch jaw width and jaw opening

    2-1/4-Inch throat depth

    Heavy reinforced 4-lug base

    Anvil horn for shaping

    Heavy-duty machined spindle and hand

    Replaceable steel jaw faces

    270-degree swivel base

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Olympia Tools 38-604 Bench Vise
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Our top pick, if you’re looking for a great bench vise at a budget price, is the Olympia Tools 38-604 Bench Vise. It may be low in price but it has some excellent features including a reinforced 4 lug base for security and stability as you work, a polished anvil with an anvil horn for shaping, hardened steel jaw faces that can be replaced if necessary, and permanent pipe jaws. A 270-degree swivel base allows you to position your work exactly as needed and this vise is very durable, with a tough powder-coated finish. The heavy-duty spindle handle is extremely strong, with a spindle guard offering protection against dirt and chips.

    Pros

    Comes with permanent pipe jaws

    Compact size ideal for small spaces

    Strong spindle handle

    Nice polished anvil top

    Durable, heavy-duty construction

    Good value for money

    Cons

    Tension spring is tight, making one-handed operation difficult

    Lower swivel lock does not lock particularly tightly

    No mounting hardware supplied

    Jaw alignment is not perfect

4. Pony Jorgensen Medium Duty Woodworker’s Vise

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Key Features

    7-inch jaw width and 8-inch maximum opening capacity

    Made from cast iron and steel

    Solid steel dog in the front jaw

    Designed to mount to the face of a wood workbench

    Double guide bars

    Designed for medium-duty home, shop, or professional use

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Pony Jorgensen Medium Duty Woodworker’s Vise
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The Pony Jorgensen Medium Duty Woodworker’s Vise is ideal for medium-duty home and shop use and designed to be mounted to the face of woodwork benches, with the top edges of the jaws flush with the top of the bench. There is a solid steel dog in the front jaw that holds oversized work securely on the bench top when the vise is used in conjunction with a bench stop. An Acme thread main screw and twin guide bars of plated steel allow for smooth operation and the grey iron castings have an orange baked enamel finish. This is a high-quality bench top vise, with continuous screw action and double guide bars. There are also holes drilled into the jaw for you to protect your work by attaching wood facings (not included).

    Pros

    Great clamping force

    Can handle oversized work when used with a bench stop

    Pre Drilled holes in the jaw for wood facings to protect your work

    Smooth operation

    Installation is simple

    Sturdy and durable

    Cons

    No installation instructions

    No installation hardware provided

    Metal dog is somewhat flimsy

5. Yost Heavy-Duty Industrial Bench Vise Tool

Best Value
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Key Features

    Exclusive interlocking gear base

    360-degree rotating base

    Jaw width of 6.5″

    Jaw opening of 5.5″

    Throat depth of 3.75″

    Pipe Capacity: 1/8″ x 2.5″ D

    Replaceable hardened steel serrated jaws

    30,000 psi cast iron construction

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Yost Heavy-Duty Industrial Bench Vise Tool
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Offering the best value for money of all the bench vises in our review is the Yost Heavy-Duty Industrial Bench Vise Tool, which features an exclusive interlocking gear base that attaches it very securely to your workbench or mounting area, enabling you to work with confidence. Providing the high quality you expect from Yost vises, this model has a smooth 360-degree rotating base that you can lock down at two points, plus a high clamping force of 4,950 lb and torque rating of 116 ft-lb. That makes this light-duty vise more than capable of strongly gripping anything from metalwork to vehicle repairs. It also has a large capacity, with replaceable serrated top jaws made of hardened steel and grooved pipe jaws that can hold round or irregularly shaped objects firmly in place.

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    Pros

    Large capacity

    Cast iron and steel construction

    Very strong clamping force

    Includes pipe jaws

    Base rotates a full 360 degrees

    ‘U’ channel bar provides extra durability

    Large anvil

    Cons

    No mounting hardware included

    Rubber washers in the handle are too loose to stay in place and stop the handle from sliding

    Template provided for mounting is inaccurate

6. Forward 5-Inch Heavy Duty Bench Vise

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Key Features

    Heavy-duty vise

    360-degree swivel base

    PSI 60,000 ductile iron construction

    5-inch jaw width

    5-inch jaw opening

    2.6-inch throat depth

    Replaceable jaws with microgroove tooth space

    Self align pipe jaws

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Forward 5-Inch Heavy Duty Bench Vise
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This multi-purpose bench vise is built for heavy-duty applications including angle grinding and cutting. The Forward 5-Inch Heavy Duty Bench Vise has a large anvil and high clamping force, plus a good throat depth and wide jaw opening to enable it to hold securely on to your workpiece. Its 360-degree swivel base allows you to position your work exactly as needed, and the head of the vise can also be rotated up to 360 degrees. It’s built to last, with durable ductile iron construction.

    Pros

    High clamp force

    Large capacity

    High strength ductile iron construction is very durable

    Large anvil

    Better grip provided by microgroove tooth space

    Head of the vise can be rotated by 360 degrees for versatility

    Cons

    No installation hardware provided

    Pipe jaws cannot be replaced

7. HENGDA Mini Table Clamp Small Bench Vice

Mini Model
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Key Features

    Made of cast iron

    Swivel lock clamp

    Carbon steel jaws

    1.2-inch jaw width

    Non-slip clamping

    Suitable for work surfaces up to 1.2 inches thick

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HENGDA Mini Table Clamp Small Bench Vice
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Not all vise tools need to be big and strong – sometimes a mini vise is just what you need! If you’re looking for something that will hold small items like jewelry or electronics, or for something to help with model making, then HENGDA Mini Table Clamp Small Bench Vice is definitely your best option. Despite its small size, this is a strong vise made from cast iron. You can easily attach it to any desktop or work surface with a maximum thickness of 1.2 inches and it’s just as easy to remove. It clamps firmly in place and is nice and stable when in use. It’s also light, portable, and easy to store. Its jaws open to a width of 1.2 inches and are made of high-quality carbon steel.

    Pros

    Strong and durable

    Stable when in use

    Lightweight

    Portable

    Easy to assemble and disassemble

    Operates smoothly

    Cons

    Some sharp edges

    Jaw pads are flexible and occasionally pop off

    Only capable of relatively light-duty applications

8. Wilton Tools 6-Inch Shop Bench Vise

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Key Features

    30,000 PSI gray cast iron body

    360-degree swivel base

    4 mounting posts

    Easy gliding U channel

    Rubber pinch safety guards

    Lifetime warranty

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Wilton Tools 6-Inch Shop Bench Vise
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If you’re looking for a robust, heavy-duty vise that will give you lots of service, then this may be the best bench vise for you! The Wilton Tools 6-Inch Shop Bench Vise is built to last, with a durable 30,000 PSI gray cast iron body. It has a large capacity, with jaws that open 6 inches making it more than capable of standing up to a range of tasks. It remains stable even when put to the test, as its double lock downs and 4 lug base design make it incredibly secure. As you would expect from a quality bench vise, this is a heavy model, but this only goes to reinforce the fact that it won’t need replacing anytime soon! A lifetime warranty on this great quality bench vise allows you to make your purchase with absolute confidence.

    Pros

    Robust and durable

    Comes with built-in pipe jaws

    Mounts securely and provides great stability

    Swiveling base is very secure, with double lockdown

    Large capacity – jaws open 6 inches

    Operates very smoothly

    Cons

    Excessively heavily greased for shipping

    Swivel locking handle is a bit small

    The pipe jaws are rough cast

9. Forward 8-Inch Bench Vise

Premium Pick
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Key Features

    Strong 60,000 PSI ductile iron construction

    360-degree swivel base

    Chrome-plated handle with rubber washers to prevent sliding

    8-inch jaw width and jaw opening

    3.5-inch throat depth

    Replaceable serrated jaw plates

    Dual locking nut for secure installation

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Forward 8-Inch Bench Vise
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The best wood bench vise in our premium category is this beast from Forward, which has a jaw width and jaw opening of 8 inches and a throat depth of 3.5 inches. Tough and durable, this heavy-duty vise is made from high strength ductile iron. The Forward 8-Inch Bench Vise has a generously sized anvil and replaceable serrated jaws made from carbon steel. Another great feature is its built-in high strength pipe jaws, that can accommodate pipes with diameters ranging from 1″ – 2 3/4″. The chrome-plated handle uses rubber washers to prevent it from sliding and to reduce noise and the vise has a 360-degree swivel base that allows you to position your work just where you need it. There’s also a large, 3.7-inch x 3.7-inch anvil for tapping work.

    Pros

    Large capacity

    Comes with built-in pipe jaws

    High clamp force of 5,500 lbs

    Tough and durable

    Good sized anvil

    Perfect jaw alignment

    Cons

    No installation hardware provided

    Not powder coated

10. WEN 5-Inch Heavy Duty Cast Iron Bench Vise

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Key Features

    5 inch crosscut jaws that open to 6 inches

    36, 000 PSI cast iron construction

    Over 2950 lbs of clamp force

    Built-in anvil

    Base swivels 120 degrees

    Three-point attachment to work surface

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WEN 5-Inch Heavy Duty Cast Iron Bench Vise
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One of the best heavy duty bench vises on the market is this model from Wen, with its 5 inches, crosscut jaws that open up to 6 inches wide. The WEN 5-Inch Heavy Duty Cast Iron Bench Vise is made from tough and rugged powder coated 36, 000 PSI cast iron, it offers you more than 2950 pounds of clamp force to securely hold your workpiece in place. It comes with an in-built anvil measuring 3. 4 by 3. 5-inches – ideal if you need a flat surface to put in use your hammer for hammering work. To enable you to position your work correctly it has a base that swivels more than 120 degrees. There are three mounting holes to attach it to your work surface so that it feels stable and secure when you use it.

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    Pros

    Solid, heavy construction for this price point

    Anvil is a good size and provides extra space for hammering jobs

    Stable during use

    Large capacity

    Excellent value for money

    Perfect jaw alignment

    Cons

    Angle of rotation is fairly limited compared to other bench vises

    No mounting hardware included

Features To Consider With Bench Vises

Jaw Width

This is a measurement of how wide the jaws of the vise are and represents the actual area that your vise will be in contact with the piece you are working on. This means it is very important to think about when choosing the best bench vise for your needs. If the objects you need to hold are large and heavy, then the jaws will need to be wide enough to clamp on to them securely. Most bench vises come with jaw widths of either 4, 5, 6 or 8 inches. For most general, household or DIY applications, jaws with a width of 4 or 5 inches will be perfectly adequate. For heavy-duty or industrial applications it would be best to look for a bench vise with a larger width.

the best bench vise

Jaw Opening

The width to which the jaws of your bench vise will open is a critical point to consider when making your purchase. You need to think about the size and type of the pieces you will be working with and choose accordingly. For example, for small items, you will not need the jaws to open particularly widely - but if you need to use your bench vise to clamp on to large metal pipes, then you will need a significantly larger opening size. Always check the specifications carefully before making your selection.

Throat Depth

The throat depth of a bench vice is usually proportionate to the width of the jaws. It is measured from the top of the jaws to the top of the slide beneath and the longer the throat depth, the larger the objects you can hold securely. This is obviously another important factor to take into consideration as you choose the best vise for your home or workshop as it limits the size of the objects you can work with.

Swivel Rotation

Some bench vises will swivel to a certain extent and the larger the angle to which they will rotate, the better! Of course, the very best vise benches will rotate a full 360 degrees. Not only does the swivel rotation of the vise allows you to position your workpiece just where you need it, but it means the vise is able to accommodate oddly shaped items far more easily.

the best bench vise

Size

The overall size of the vise bench you choose is important for several reasons. As mentioned above, the sizes of the specific parts are essential in terms of thinking about the object you'll be working with. But the overall size of the vise is important in terms of the space you have available for it. If your workspace is limited, then look for a compact vise. A small vise won't take up too much room on your work surface, but will also be easier to store if leaving the vise permanently mounted just isn't an option.

Mounting

When choosing the best bench vise for your home, check the specifications for mounting. If your vise does not come with the necessary mounting hardware you will need to buy this separately, so make sure that you know just what you need. If you decide to go for a particularly heavy vise, then it is crucial that you make sure your work bench or surface is strong enough to support its weight. This is even more important when you consider that - if your vise comes with an anvil - you are likely to be doing some heavy pounding on it!

PSI

The tensile strength of bench vises is expressed in PSI (pounds per square inch). The higher the PSI number, the stronger the vise. Typically, cast iron bench vises have PSI numbers at the lower end of the scale (generally from around 20,000-60,000 PSI). A vise made of forged steel will likely have a much higher PSI, sometimes in excess of 90,000.

the best bench vise

Bench Vise FAQ

Q: What are some common vise uses?

A:

A bench vise is a very useful piece of equipment and once you have one you'll wonder how you ever managed without it! Once secured to your bench, the vise can be used for all kinds of woodwork and metalwork, including planning, sawing, finishing, sanding, drilling, and welding. Our review even contains details of a mini vise, that can be used for finer work like making jewelry or repairing electronics. Some vises come with little extras that make them even more useful - in fact, a couple of bench vises we reviewed had a built-in pipe jaw, which is useful for holding both pipes and other rounded objects. Vises may also include an anvil, which provides you with an extra flat surface on which to carry out any hammering work you may have.

the best bench vise

Q: Where should a bench vise be placed?

A:

A bench vise should be placed at the foremost right-hand corner of the bench (if you are right-handed) and at the foremost left-hand corner of the bench (if you are left-handed). It's important when installing your vise to make sure that it won't interfere in any way with the legs of your bench. Whilst it's possible to install your bench vise in the middle of the bench, the corner is best. And it's essential to use the corner of your bench vise swivels, otherwise, you won't be able to make full use of this handy feature. If you buy a stationary vise, it's best to allow the jaw face to overhang the bench a little. This is because some larger pieces of wood might hang below the tabletop when clamped into position.

Sources

    A Guide to the Different Types of Vises - Thomas

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