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PracticalStudent.com
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Metalwork - Bench Tools - VicesThe Bench Vice
The body and jaws of the Bench Vices found in the school workshop are usually made out of Cast Iron, which is strong in compression but brittle under shock. As a result they should not be hammered. There are also steel vices available but they are more expensive. The screw thread that a Bench Vice uses is called a Buttress Thread. This Type of thread withstands heavy thrust in one direction yet unscrews easily in the opposite direction.
Soft Jaws
The Hand Vice
The Pin Vice
The Machine Vice
The Toolmaker's Clamp
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The Bench Vice, which is sometimes called
the Parallel Vice, is used to clamp or hold
workpieces. The body is screwed to the
workbench to provide secure holding.
If you are installing a Bench Vice there are a few
points that you should take into consideration. 
The Jaws Faces of the vice are made from
hardened steel. There are also serrated which
is a criss-cross pattern which provides a firmer grip
on the workpiece. The Jaws Faces are screwed to
the Sliding Jaw and the Fixed Jaw so
that if they are damaged they can be replaced.
It is often a problem when working, that the
hardened steel serrated jaws on the Bench Vice will
mark the surface of the piece. This is especially a
problem when working on soft materials.
To prevent this problem occuring Soft Jaws are used. Soft Jaws fit over the jaws of the
Bench Vice and are made of a soft material. You can
easily purchase Soft Jaws made of sheet steel
and a soft rubber.
The Hand Vice, which you can see to the
left, is especially useful when working on the
drilling machine, or working with small parts that
need to be clamped together.
To the right you can see a chuck type Pin
Vice, and to the left is an open jaw type Pin
Vice.
Both types are used to hold small pieces.
The chuck type pin vice is better when you are working
with round bar. The vice to the right is holding a
drill bit. The open jaw type pin vice is used more
appropriatly with small flat work pieces.
Both types are hollow in the middle to allow you to
work with material of any length.
The Machine Vice is used with the Drilling
Macine, generally. You can see the slots in the side
of the base of the vice which enable the user to screw
the Machine Vice to the Drilling Machine table.
The jaws of the Toolmaker's Clamp are made
from Case Hardened Mild Steel. They are made in
a range of sizes, and when buying or using one you
should state the length of jaw that you would like. Toolmaker's Clamps are used for holding a
number of parts together while drilling, marking out,
or cutting to shape, etc.