Choosing the right vice is all about matching the tool to the material you are working with and the force you need to apply. Using the wrong type of vice can ruin a workpiece or, worse, break the tool itself. In this blog post, we’ll discuss different types of vices that can be used for holding materials in place.
Type of vice to use for holding materials
Here’s a breakdown of which vice you should use depending on your project’s requirements.
1. The Bench Vice (The All-Rounder)
A bench vice is a heavy-duty vice bolted to most garage workbenches. It has serrated steel jaws and includes a small built-in anvil. It is suitable for sawing, filing, or hammering. You can use soft jaw covers when working with soft materials to prevent the serrated teeth from chewing through the surface.
2. The Woodworker’s Vice
A woodworking vice has flat, large jaws – often lined with wood to distribute pressure over a wide area. It is suitable for furniture making, planing wood, and cabinet making. You can use it to prevent racking and to ensure the wood is not dented or crushed under pressure.
3. The Drill Press Vice
This vice is designed to be bolted to the worktable of a drill press or milling machine. It is ideal for holding metal or wood in place while drilling precise holes. You can use it for holding a workpiece by hand during a drilling operation. It allows you to keep your hands away from the bit.
- Machine vice
A machine vice is a highly precise tool designed for high-accuracy work on machines like shapers, mills, and grinders. While a bench vise is used for rough work, a machine vice is built for stability and tolerance. The jaws and surface are ground to be flat and square, ensuring that your workpiece is positioned parallel to the machine table. They are designed to bear the lateral forces of a cutting tool without the part shifting even a fraction of a millimetre. Machine vice has smooth and hardened steel jaws to avoid marking the finished metal.
Safety rules to follow when using a vice
Vices are primarily used to keep materials and objects in place in the workplace. You may know that they have two jaws. One jaw is fixed, while the other jaw can be movable. You can place the object or material between the jaws by rotating the lever. The lever is turned to move the movable jaw towards its stationary jaw, thereby creating the clamp. You need to follow the safety tips given below when using a vice:
- Avoid over-clamping
The first safety rule to remember when using a vice is to avoid over-clamping. Over-clamping can come from excessive tension or clamping force. Vices are substantial. However, overlapping could break the objects or material between the jaws and lead to injuries.
- Check for damage
Before you use any type of vice, make sure to check it for any damage. The longer you use vice, the higher the chance of breaking. For example, if you see cracks in your vice, avoid using it. Using a damaged vice can lead to accidents or injuries to the body.
There are different types of vices available at Ajay Industries. All of them are manufactured using durable materials.
- Wear safety glasses
Safety glasses are required while using the vice. According to research, more than 20,000 workers suffer an injury to their eyes each year when they avoid wearing safety glasses. Excessive or forceful clamping effect could lead to shrapnel that explodes from inside the jaws. When you wear safety glasses, you can easily shield your eyes from shrapnel.
- Mount with fasteners
You can use a self-centring vice only if it is attached to a stable and solid surface. Most vices are made to be mounted on the workbench. They have threaded holes on the bottom. The vice can be installed on a workbench by putting fasteners through the threaded holes and then attaching it to the worktable. After mounting, the vice should not shift or move.
- Lubricate the vice frequently
Remember to lubricate your vice frequently. Vices have a variety of moving components, so they should be lubricated frequently. For instance, the jaws are moved, and the lever will also move. When these parts move, they produce friction. Over time, all this friction could weaken the vice to the point that it cannot secure and clamp objects effectively. This can be prevented from happening by lubricating your vice frequently. Applying lubricants to the moving parts will reduce friction while protecting the vice against premature failure.
Conclusion
There are different types of vices to use for holding materials available at Ajay Industries. We are one of the top hand tools manufacturers, ensuring to manufacture and supply the best quality vices.
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