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PROPER USE AND CARE OF HAND TOOLS
 

VISES
Machinist's | Utility | Automotive | Woodworkers | Clamp-on | Pipe | Drill Press | Milling Machine | Specialty | Do's and Don'ts


INTRODUCTION
The vise, sometimes called the third hand (but no hand can grasp work as firmly as a vise) is the indispensable tool in the tool room or home workshop. Vises are usually mounted on a workbench or a similar firm support, to hold the material to be worked on. There are eight basic categories of vises and many special purpose vises. While most of these vises can be used for a wide variety of work, it is important to select the vise most suitable for the prime application and strong enough for any work required.

TYPE

Machinist's Vise

Utility or Workshop Vise

Automotive Vise

Woodworker's Vise

Clamp-On Vises

Pipe Vise

Milling Machine Vise

Drill Press Vise


FIG. 27. It is important to mount any vise with the stationary jaw projecting slightly beyond the edge of the workbench so that long work can then be clamped in the vise without interference from the edge of the workbench.

CHIEF APPLICATION

Heavy industrial work

For light work and home workshop

Service station work

Carpentry and general wood work

Light work requiring portability

Plumbing and pipe work

For milling machine work

To hold work on a drill press

 

 

THE MACHINIST'S VISE

This designation applies to the strongest, heavy-duty vises made. They are designed to withstand the great strains in industrial work and similar applications. These vises are available in jaw widths of three to eight inches. Models are made with stationary bases, swivel bases, pipe jaws (combination vises), with replaceable jaw inserts, and even with jaws that swivel.

Special purpose vises include the sheet metal worker's vise (thin, tapered jaws that allow close work) and hydraulic models with a rapid movement of the sliding jaw. Smooth jaw models and copper jaw caps are available to prevent possible marring of the work.

FIG. 28. The Machinist's Vise should always be bolted, never screwed, to the workbench.

 

 

THE UTILITY VISE

The utility, or workshop vise, is a lighter duty version of the machinist's vise. It usually has pipe jaws located below the flat jaw facings and comes in jaw widths from three to five inches. The Acme thread, or the screw that draws the jaws together, may or may not be exposed. Most models are made with swivel bases and replaceable jaw inserts.

FIG. 29. The Utility Vise, like the machinist's vise, should also be bolted to the workbench top, never screwed in place.




 

THE AUTOMOTIVE VISE

The automotive vise is specifically designed for the automobile aftermarket such as service stations, garages and automobile and truck agencies. This vise has the combined features of the machinist's and workshop vises. It has the pipe jaws and economy of the workshop vise with a machined bench plate having a 360 degree swivel and the positive lock feature of the machinist's vise.

FIG. 30. The Sheet Metal Vise has a deep throat and thin, tapered jaws to allow for close work. The jaws on this type of vise are smooth.


FIG. 31. The Clamp-on Vise can be quickly mounted at the edge of any convenient work surface.

 



WOODWORKER'S VISE

The woodworker's vise is used when working with wood. To protect the work, and to get a good grip on large pieces of wood, the jaws on these vises are much larger than the jaws on other vises, generally being four by seven inches and even larger – four by ten inches. This type of vise is available with a rapid-action nut which allows the movable jaw to be moved in and out quickly with the final tightening by turning the handle a half turn or so.

Woodworkers' vises usually have drilled and tapped holes so that liners of wood can be mounted in the jaws to prevent marring the work.

A well-equipped shop may have a metal-working vise mounted at the left side of the workbench and a woodworking vise mounted at the right.

FIG. 32. The Woodworker's Vise is bolted to the underside of the workbench. Mount it so the top of the vise jaw is flush with the surface of the bench and flush with the corner of the bench.




 

CLAMP-ON VISES

These are generally used for light-duty work. Instead of being bolted to the workbench, they are clamped to the workbench with a sort of C-clamp arrangement. One of their benefits is their portability as they can be quickly moved from place to place.

Smaller vises for working with wood also have a C-clamp arrangement for mounting. These are known as saw horse vises, or carpenter's vises. These vises usually have pre-drilled holes for attaching wood faces. This vise is "L" shaped which makes it ideal for holding work in either a vertical or horizontal position. These vises are favored by carpenters for use at a job site.

FIG. 33. Clamp-On Vise designed for woodworkers is portable and holds work horizontally or vertically.

 

 

PIPE VISES

Pipe vises are especially designed to hold pipe or round stock. They are often mounted on trucks and beams as well as on workbenches. They are available with capacities to hold pipe up to eight inches in diameter. The two main types are the yoke vise and the chain vise, with the latter specially designed to hold irregular work. Both types are available with tripods and are called tripod vises. A clamp kit vise can be mounted without drilling holes for temporary attachment where light-duty work is to be performed.

Pipe vises are made in a number of different forms, including vises with bolt holes for permanent mounting and portable vises with clamp attachments for temporary mounting on benches, studs, posts, etc. Yoke pipe vises should not be used for holding or pulling vertical pipe.

FIG. 34. Yoke Type Pipe Vise is bolted to the workbench. Note the hinge at one end and the hook at the other so that the pipe need not be "threaded" through the vise jaws to worked on.


FIG. 35. The Chain Vise is designed to hold pipe as well as irregular work. Work is released from the vise by loosening the nut and then removing the pipe – or other work – from the vise. This allows the pipe to be installed or removed without having to slide its entire length through the vise.


FIG. 37. The Clamp Kit Vise can be temporarily mounted without drilling holes, sometimes on the nearest 2x4, for light-duty work.


FIG. 36. The Yoke Type Vise and the Chain Vise are available in portable workbench models with a tripod stand.

 

 

THE DRILL PRESS VISE

As its name indicates this vise is used in conjunction with a drill press. The jaws are made so that it will accept round, square, or oddly shaped work and hold it firmly in place. Some have a quick release feature – the movable jaw can be quickly moved up to the work, or away from the work, without turning the handle. The handle is then used for the final half-turn or so to loosen or tighten the jaws.

FIG. 38. The Drill Press Vise should be securely bolted to the drill press table through the lugs provided in the base of the vise. Some drill press vises, as shown in upper drawing, are adjustable for drilling holes at an angle.

 




MILLING MACHINE VISE

These vises, used with milling machines, have a swivel base graduated in the degrees of a circle; also available with an air-hydraulic operating system.

FIG. 39. Milling machine vises, used in machine shops, are made with graduated swivel and stationary bases. They are also available for power operation using an air-hydraulic system. Caution: Make sure the base is securely bolted to the bed of the machine.

 

 

SPECIALTY VISES

Hydraulic Vises. Two types are available. One kind has a built-in hydraulic booster-reservoir to multiply the power of your hand as the handle is turned. The other type, used in production work, operates by means of an air-hydraulic system controlled with a foot pedal. The big advantage with such a vise is the amount of time saved in installing and removing the work and the extra tightness with which they hold the work.

Model Maker's Vise. (Also known as the Hand Vise). A light-duty vise with 2 inch jaws, hand held for use with small work. The jaws are tightened by means of a thumb nut. Model railroad fans and model airplane workers use these vises.

FIG. 40. The Model Maker's Vise (also known as the Hand Vise) is usually hand held as shown for holding small parts to be assembled or worked on. It can also be mounted on a larger vise when the use of both hands is required. Caution: Do not over-tighten the jaws of the vise.

Vacuum Base Vises. These vises even require less work to mount than the clamp-on vises. Their base consists of a rubber pad which is arched into a concave shape by means of a lever. When the vise is placed on a smooth surface and the lever is turned, a vacuum is created that firmly holds the vise in place. These vises of course are designed for comparatively light-duty work.

FIG. 41. The Vacuum Base Vise can only be fastened to a smooth non-porous surface. A handle, moved as indicated, creates a vacuum that secures the vise to the table's surface. Such vises are used for light-duty work only.


FIG. 42. This type of vise is designed so that it can be flipped to hold the work in a vertical position as shown in the small illustration. After flipping, an auxiliary handle is sued to keep the jaws in their new position.


FIG. 43. The Hobby Vise, used by model makers and kindred folks, has a clamping arrangement in its base that allows it to be tilted in practically any direction and then firmly locked in place.


The air-hydraulic vise opens and closes by means of a foot control. It locks on to the work with a force of more than 2,000 pounds. Made with stationary and swivel bases in jaw widths up to six inches.

 

 

DO'S AND DON'T'S WHEN USING A VISE

  1. Use bolts in all the holes in the base of the vise.
  2. Use lock washers under the nuts.
  3. Do not use the jaws of the vise as an anvil.
  4. When work is held in the vise for sawing, saw as close to the jaws as possible (to prevent vibration). Be careful not to cut into the jaws.
  5. When clamping extra long work, support the far end of work rather than putting extra pressure on the vise.
  6. Avoid clamping work with heavy pressure at the corner of the vise jaws as they may break off a corner of a jaw.
  7. Wear safety glasses when hammering or pounding on an object held by the vise.
  8. Replace a bent handle.
  9. Replace worn jaw inserts.
  10. Adjust for play between nut and screw or replace them when excessive play develops in the handle.
  11. Lightly oil all moving parts.
  12. Never use an extension handle for extra clamping pressure.
  13. Use jaw liners with a vise if there is any possibility of marring the work.
  14. If the threaded part of the vise is exposed, keep it free of chips and dirt.
  15. Discard any vise that exhibits the slightest hairline fracture.
  16. Never pound on the handle to tighten beyond hand pressure.
  17. Never try to repair a vise by welding or brazing.

FIG. 44. Use a vise large enough to hold the work without strain. Base of vise should be bolted to a smooth even surface to prevent unnecessary stresses to base when vise is in use. Note that Careful Cal has the vise bolted to the bench.

RIGHT


FIG. 45. Don't try to bend a heavy rod in a light vise. Harry has now ripped the vise from its moorings. And he still couldn't bend the rod shown.

WRONG

 

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