![]() The downside-and we expected this-was visible imprints in the wood from the corrugated jaws. The anvil is relatively small-about 4 inches by 4 inches-but it’s suitable for hammering small items. We also used the anvil on the back to flatten a copper pipe with a hammer. We drilled holes in boards, and the Wilton vise held them securely-no slipping. We could loosen stuck-on pipe fittings using a wrench without the pipe slipping in the jaws’ grip. The Wilton bench vise has a 6-inch jaw width and strong gripping power-we tightened several items in its jaws, including pipes, iron bars, and wood. It rotated smoothly to any angle we chose. We then loosened the lever for the swiveling mechanism, allowing us to swivel the vise’s upper portion and retighten the lever to lock it into position. The heavy-duty bench vise jaws moved smoothly and evenly-no sticking or hanging. We tested the handle-and-screw action of the vise by loosening and opening the jaws and then closing them again. Bolts were not included, which is standard, because the manufacturer doesn’t know how thick a user’s workbench will be. ![]() This entailed marking the location of its four holes, drilling the holes, and then bolting it in place. Like most bench vises, it comes fully assembled with a cast iron construction all we had to do was mount it to the top of our workbench. After testing, we added and averaged each vise’s points and used those to help determine the most appropriate use and category.Ĭoming in as our top pick is the Wilton 6-inch bench vise-a formidable workshop tool. The better the product performed, the higher the points it received. We loosened stuck-on fittings with the help of wrenches, sharpened chainsaw blades, planed and routed wood, and used a power drill to drill holes in the items.ĭuring the tests, each vise was awarded points based on a rubric. Once mounted, we used the vises for gripping several common items, including boards, pipes, and other pieces to see how well they stabilized the items as we worked on them. We used lag bolts and carriage bolts, ranging from 5/16 to ⅜ inch in diameter, but other bolts would also be suitable, depending on where and how the vise is mounted. We gave some preference to reputable manufacturers, such as Wen and Wilton, but we also looked at lesser-known brands if they had high customer ratings.įor the actual testing, we mounted each vise to a workbench using our own bolts and nuts, which are typically not included with purchase because workbench thicknesses vary. ![]() Then we selected models for testing from the brands we trust the most in the category. First, we drew upon personal experience with woodworking, automotive repair, welding, and plumbing to determine the most important features of a bench vise. Photo: Glenda Taylor How We Tested the Best Bench Visesīench vises are essential workshop helpers, and putting together a list of the best models to test was no small task. Check back for our honest reactions after getting our hands on best picks.
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