Best Bench Vise For Your Workshop In 2021 | Buying Guide

When it comes to tools in your workshop, a vise is one of the most useful and versatile. Whether you’re holding wood, metal, or plastic, a bench vise allows you to work quickly with stability and ease of use that is hard to match.

Compared to other kinds of vises, a bench vise is going to stay semi-permanent in your shop, so you want to make sure that you have the right one that will last for years to come. So, with that in mind, we want to take a look at some of the best bench vises on the market.

Best Bench Vises – Comparison

IMAGE	NAME	FEATURES	PRICE
	Performance Tool W3904	Weight: 9.3 Pounds Jaw Opening: 7 Inch Throat Depth: 3 Inch	Check Price
	Yost Vises 750-DI 5″	Weight: 63 Pounds Jaw Opening: 5 Inch Throat Depth: 4 Inch	Check Price
	Yost LV4 Home Vise 41/2″	Weight: 9 Pounds Jaw Opening: 3 Inch Throat Depth:2.37 Inch	Check Price

Best Bench Vises – Reviews

1. Performance Tool W3904 Hammer Tough 5″

When picking out the best bench vise for your workshop, there are a few key features that you should look at to make sure that you’re buying the right model for your needs. First, we want to discuss the size and dimensions of the vise’s various components so that you can understand what they mean and how they work.

With this model, it’s a five-inch bench vise, which means that the width of the jaws themselves are five inches (the total amount of contact with whatever material you’re using). The second measurement is the jaw opening. In this case, it’s seven inches. That means you can open the jaw of the vise that much to hold anything, whether it’s a wooden panel or a pipe.

Finally, three-inch throat depth is how far down the material can sit inside the vise. When working with larger pieces, it’s helpful to either get a model with a more extended throat depth so that you can hold it easier.

Knowing the size of the vise you need will help immensely in choosing the best model for your workshop. In this case, the vise is ideal for a variety of smaller jobs and more casual work. We like that it comes with a quick-release lever that makes it easier to insert and remove any piece you’re working on at the time.

Overall, this is a decent vise for home workshops and hobbyists. It’s not as durable as professional-grade models, but it will get the job done. A powder-coated finish helps ensure that this vise will last a long time, and steel pipe jaws help hold any material even sturdier while working. Best of all, you can attach magnetic pads if necessary, as well as replace the jaws if they dent or wear down over time.

2. Yost Vises 750-DI 5″ Heavy-Duty Multi-Jaw

For the most part, bench vises are capable of holding a wide array of materials, thanks to the flat sides of the jaw piece. However, if you’re working on something circular like a pipe, then you want to make sure that it won’t slip out by accident and either damage the piece or create a safety hazard.

With this two-in-one model from Yost, you get the best of both worlds. That being said, if you’re not planning to work with piping that often, then it’s probably better to get something else so that you don’t have to work around that side of the vise.

What makes the pipe vise different than the standard version is that the jaw has two angled sides. They form a V shape so that the pipe can stay stable while working. Best of all, each side has self-aligning teeth so that you don’t have to worry about the piece shifting.

On the other side of the vise is the standard flat model with steel pipe jaws. To use either side, all you have to do is rotate it to fit your needs. The dimensions of both vises are five inches for the jaw opening, five inches of contact and four inches of depth.

Because this vise is made of heavy-duty steel and comes with four mounting brackets (instead of three), it’s an ideal choice for both hobbyists and professionals alike. That being said, the pins used to tighten the various components are not made of the same steel, so they might bend under higher pressures.

3. Yost LV4 Home Vise 41/2″

We’ve already seen the quality that a Yost Vise can provide, but if you wanted something a bit smaller and more subdued, then this version may be the right choice for you. Like the other model above, this vise comes with two grips – one for flat surfaces and one for piping. However, instead of having two sides to the clamp, the pipe grip is directly below the flat jaw.

The size of the pipe jaws are only suitable for relatively thin pipes, so keep that in mind. Nonetheless, because they are below the standard jaws, this vise is better suited for people who aren’t sure if they’re going to work on piping or not. Those jaws are out of the way enough to make it more of a convenience than a burden.

One element of bench vises that make them even more versatile is the inclusion of an anvil. While we highly recommend buying a full-size anvil if you plan on using it a lot, the fact that there is one on the vise is highly convenient. If you have to reshape your material or hammer something quickly, having an anvil on the back makes it so much easier to do so.

This vise comes with a swivel head that can rotate up to 240 degrees for your convenience. Also, with four mounting brackets, you can be sure that this model will stay stable. Everything about it is built solid, although the pin for tightening is made of a lighter metal than the rest of the vise, so keep that in mind.

4. Wilton 11104 Wilton Bench Vise

When it comes to bench vises, we’ve covered all of the primary features. As we mentioned earlier, one of the most vital aspects to pay attention to is the size and width of the jaws themselves so that you can make sure that the vise will work for your needs.

In this case, we have a four-inch vise with a four-inch opening and 2.5-inch throat depth. This vise isn’t made for larger pieces, but it will work wonders on smaller projects that need stability. The high-strength steel construction holds up to a lot of abuse, and a swivel rotating head helps you get more versatility out of this tool.

One thing that we like is the fact that the jaws are textured to help you get a better grip on your material. That being said, if you’re working with relatively softwoods or plastics, keep in mind that the texture will imprint on the material. In those cases, you may want to add magnetic covers that won’t affect the final appearance of the piece.

This vise also comes with an anvil on the back for added convenience and usefulness. Overall, this is a decent option for many hobbyists or DIYers.

5. TEKTON 8-Inch Swivel Bench Vise | 54008

So far, we’ve been looking at relatively small and modest bench vises. While four and five-inch models are suitable for many different needs, they are not ideal when working on larger materials and pieces. If you’re working on bigger projects, you’ll need a vice like this one from Tekton. With an eight-inch width, you can be sure that you’ll get the grip you need for pieces both big and small.

The overall dimensions of this vice are as follows. 7.5-inch jaw opening, and 3.75 inches of throat depth. Coupled with a massive 5.5 by a six-inch anvil on the back and you have a professional-grade bench vise. As long as you have the space for it, we highly recommend this model if you need more grip and better stability.

This vise also comes with a 120-degree rotating swivel base for convenience. The steel is rated at 30,000 PSI, meaning that you shouldn’t have any trouble working on rugged materials like steel. However, the jaws are serrated to provide better grip, so keep that in mind if you want to avoid marring your final piece.

6. Eclipse Quick Release Woodworking Vise

So far, we’ve been looking at bench vises that mount to the top of your working surface. These vises are ideal for many different projects, but they are not great for when you have to work on large or cumbersome pieces. Instead, a woodworking vise like this one from Eclipse is much better suited to the job.

In this case, the vise mounts to the bottom of the table via two mounting brackets. This way you can get much more space for cutting longer pieces of wood. The sides of the vise are wider (nine inches) and deeper (four inches) to provide extra stability while working.

Overall, if you plan on cutting a lot of wood, then this is an excellent vice to have. While we would prefer additional mounting brackets for extra stability, this vice is perfect for most woodworking projects. It comes with a quick-release handle so that you can operate more efficiently.

As with most other woodworking vises, this unit has an adjustable stop on the side (also known as a dog). This stop is perfect for when you have to make sure that your wood doesn’t slip off of the side of the vice while working.

7. IRWIN Heavy-Duty Workshop Vise, 6″, 226306ZR

Compared to most of the best bench vises on this list, the Irwin Heavy-Duty Workshop Vise is pretty standard. It doesn’t come with any special features – it’s merely a well-made vise that will work for a wide variety of projects.

This model is made of heavy-duty cast iron, and it comes with all of the usual features. The base swivels a full 360 degrees so that you can maneuver as necessary while working. It has a six-inch jaw, which is more than enough for most projects (although other sizes are available).

This vise includes a captured safety jaw to help prevent slipping, as well as a serrated edge to provide an even better grip. As we’ve mentioned, though, you may have to use a jaw insert to protect your piece from any damage.

Overall, this is a decent vise that will work well in any workshop.

8. Milling Machine Lockdown Vise

If you’ve ever used a milling machine, then you know that they can be tricky to master. One of the biggest issues you’ll face is the fact that the device can cause your pieces to shift and spin around, causing damage or ruining the effect you were trying to do.

For that reason, we have a lockdown vise. This particular model is only meant for milling machines, so if you don’t have one, then you’ll want to buy a different vise for your needs. That being said, when it comes to holding your pieces in place, this vise is excellent.

The secret to this model’s performance is the fact that pressure causes the sides to come together, not pull apart. Thus, no matter how much milling you have to do, you can be sure that your piece won’t come loose in the process. To give you some perspective, this vise is rated to withstand up to 80,000 PSI.

9. Grizzly G7062 Multi-Purpose 5-Inch Bench Vise

9Our final bench vise is another two-in-one model. This unit from Grizzly is not only built tough, but it’s made to handle a wider array of projects. On one side, you have standard flat jaws that can hold most pieces. On the other side, serrated v-shaped jaws ensure that you can work with pipes and other round objects with ease.

One thing we appreciate about this best bench vise is that it comes with rulers for both rotation and depth. This means that you can get precise measurements on both, which ensures that you can work smarter and more efficiently.

Another thing we appreciate about this vise is the weight. At 50 pounds, it may be cumbersome to put into place, but once it’s mounted, it should last for a long time. Durable cast iron construction means that this vise will outlast most others, and the heavier weight provides additional stability while working.

Overall, whether you plan on working with pipes or not, this is an excellent vise to have in your workshop.

10. PanaVise 301 Standard PanaVise

For the most part, bench vises are designed to be as heavy-duty as possible. They are made of high-quality cast iron or steel so that you can grip large blocks of wood or metal without worrying about the vise breaking under pressure.

While those models are great for standard woodworking or shop projects, what if you need a vise for arts and crafts? In those cases, this PanaVise is going to be your best option.

This best bench vise is different from everything else we’ve seen because it’s built for smaller, less intense projects. Whether you’re soldering jewelry or clipping wires, this vise is much more agile and maneuverable.

The secret to this vise’s performance is the fact that you can rotate the base, as well as the head of the fastener itself. Also, you can tilt the top from side to side, meaning that you can adjust this unit on three axes. No matter what kind of project you’re working on, having this kind of versatility is a huge benefit.

This vice also has a relatively high heat tolerance (up to 300 degrees), in case you’re working on a project that needs to use a blowtorch. The jaws are flat and have nylon covering so that they don’t damage softer pieces (i.e., plastic).

Overall, if you’re a hobbyist and you need a flexible vise for your next project, you will love the PanaVise.

Final Verdict:

We’ve looked at a wide array of different bench vises, which means that it’s almost impossible to narrow our top pick to just one. Instead, we’ll offer a couple of different options so that you can be sure to get the one that fits your needs.

For Heavy-Duty Use: We like both the Tekton 8-inch and the Grizzly 5-inch Vises. Tekton is remarkable because of its massive size and performance, but if you don’t have that much room in your workshop, the Grizzly is built tougher than most other models on this list.

For Light Use: We love the PanaVise for hobbyists and crafts workers, but we also appreciate the ease and simplicity of the Yost LV4. We appreciate that that vise comes with pipe jaws, making it even more versatile.

Overall, each of these vises is highly rated, but our top picks should be the best part of your workshop.