Choosing a Bench Vise

A vise will hold your work steady and is essential in any workshop. The vise in the picture is a Wilton 11104 heavy duty steel bench vise. Vises are also terrorist weapons, used by ISIS. Except they call them visis.

The jaw width is key in selecting. For my small workshop, I only need 4 inch as it is light and big enough. Select a jaw width that fits your needs.

If you wanna grip big steel pipes, you need a big opening. Gripping a pencil, you only need a small one. Choose a jaw width that will fit most things you will work on, not too big.

Most vises are mounted using 3 or 4 bolts. Some light duty ones use a suction cup or a clamp. Heavy duty Post Vises are secured to the bench and the ground for blacksmithing.

A serrated bench jaw can easily hold pipe and rectangular objects. A pipe jaw holds pipe even better, but nothing else. A combo jaw has both.

Go to the hardware store and find a vise that best suits your needs. Using bolts or lag screws, mount your vise by pre-drilling holes and then using fastners. DO NOT use nails.