A machinist’s vise is a heavy-duty metal vise attached to a work area. It has a fixed and moving jaw and can be lined with wood or plastic. It can be bolted to a worktable and has a swivel or angular rotation base. It can be used for various projects and is different from a machine vise used in industrial manufacturing.
A machinist’s vise is a heavy-duty vise made of metal. It is attached to the top of a work area, unlike a woodworking vise, which is attached to the side. A machinist’s vise is also called an engineer’s vise, metalworking bench vise, or fitter’s vise, and is spelled “machinist’s vice” in British English. Using a vise adds a greater degree of safety because the craftsman can work on an object without holding it.
The basic vise has a fixed jaw, a moving jaw and a screw to adjust the moving jaw. The jaws are screwed together to hold an object. The typical machinist’s vise jaw is 3-8 inches wide (about 7-20 cm). By comparison, a carpenter’s vice is much wider, typically 7-10 inches (about 17-25 cm).
The jaws of the vise could be lined with wood or plastic to avoid damaging the object. Some jaws have a rough finish to prevent slippage. Other jaws are designed to hold a variety of shapes.
There are two main differences between machinist’s vises and other vises: the thick metal construction and the holder. A machinist’s vise is bolted to the top of a worktable. Its heavy metal construction gives it the ability to tolerate repeated and heavy use. Depending on the base, a machinist’s vise could have multiple functions.
The benefit of a stationary base is better stability, but a swivel base is appropriate when the mechanic’s vise will be used for a variety of projects. A swivel base can be rotated 360 degrees, allowing you to rotate the item in any direction. Some machinist’s vises also have an angular rotation so that an object can be held diagonally instead of vertically.
While commonly used when working with metal, a machinist’s vise can also be used to stabilize many types of materials. Can be used in sawing, drilling, sanding or gluing projects. The variations in its bases and jaws make it a very versatile tool.
Machinist’s vises are not to be confused with machine vises. A machine vise is mounted to a machine and typically used in industrial manufacturing environments. It often has a computer controlled hydraulic or pneumatic release system for its jaws. A mechanic’s vise is manually operated and typically used in a private workshop.
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