A workbench without a vice is just a table. A vice holds your workpiece securely while you saw, plane, chisel, drill, file, or glue — freeing both your hands for the actual work. But vices come in many types, and the right one depends on whether you work mainly with wood, metal, or a mix of both.
Types of Vice
| Type | Jaw Width | Best For | Mounting | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engineer’s vice (metalworking) | 100–150mm | Metal filing, grinding, bending, general holding | Bolted to bench top | £25–£80 |
| Woodworking face vice | 175–250mm | Holding boards for planing, sawing, chiselling | Bolted to bench front | £30–£100 |
| Quick-release vice | 175–250mm | Same as face vice, faster jaw adjustment | Bolted to bench front | £50–£150 |
| Record-style vice | 175–230mm | Traditional woodworking, the classic British vice | Bolted to bench front | £40–£120 |
| Tail vice (end vice) | Varies | Holding long boards flat for planing (with bench dogs) | Built into bench end | £60–£150 |
| Portable/clamp-on vice | 60–75mm | Small jobs, no permanent workbench | Clamped to any surface | £10–£25 |
Engineer’s Vice (Metalworking)
The classic workshop vice — a heavy cast-iron or steel vice that bolts to the bench top. It has flat, hardened steel jaws (often replaceable) with cross-hatched serrations for gripping metal securely. Most models include a small anvil surface on the back of the body for light hammering and bending.
An engineer’s vice is the most versatile single vice for a general-purpose workshop. It holds metal for filing and drilling, grips pipes, clamps parts for welding prep, and handles dozens of other tasks. For DIY use, a 100mm (4-inch) jaw width is adequate. For heavier work, go 125–150mm (5–6 inch).
Important: When clamping wood in an engineer’s vice, use soft jaw covers (aluminium, copper, or plastic) to prevent the serrated jaws from marking the wood. Most quality vices include magnetic soft jaw covers. The Axminster vice range includes well-regarded options from Record and their own brand.
Woodworking Vice (Face Vice)
Mounted to the front edge of a woodworking bench, a face vice has wide, smooth jaws designed to hold timber without marking it. The jaws are lined with hardwood or have replaceable wooden jaw faces. The vice is positioned so that the jaw sits flush with the bench surface, allowing you to plane or chisel right up to the vice without the tool hitting metal.
A quick-release mechanism is worth the extra cost — it allows you to slide the jaw open and closed rapidly without turning the handle, then engage the screw for final clamping. This saves significant time when constantly adjusting for different workpiece thicknesses. If you’re setting up a dedicated woodworking bench, our workbench building guide covers the full construction including vice mounting.
Which Vice Should You Buy?
If You Do Mostly Metalwork and General DIY
Buy a quality engineer’s vice (4–5 inch). It handles the widest range of tasks and is the most useful single vice for a general workshop. Brands: Record, Stanley, York. Add soft jaw covers for occasional wood holding.
If You Do Mostly Woodworking
Buy a quick-release woodworking vice (7–9 inch). It holds timber securely without marking, and the quick-release makes workpiece changes fast. Brands: Record, Eclipse, York.
If You Do Both
The ideal setup is both — an engineer’s vice on one end of the bench for metalwork, and a woodworking face vice on the front edge for timber. If you can only have one, start with an engineer’s vice and add a woodworking vice later.
Mounting a Vice
- Position — mount the vice so one jaw sits flush with the bench edge (engineer’s) or bench face (woodworking). This allows long workpieces to hang past the bench without obstruction
- Height — the ideal vice height puts the top of the jaws at your elbow height when standing. This gives comfortable working height for most tasks
- Bolts — use heavy coach bolts (M10 or M12) through the benchtop with washers and nuts underneath. The vice will be under significant clamping force, so the mounting must be rock-solid. Never rely on screws alone
- Bench strength — a vice transfers all clamping force into the bench. A flimsy bench will flex and move. The bench needs to be at least 50mm thick at the mounting point and ideally bolted to the wall or weighed down
Tips for Vice Use
- Don’t over-tighten — clamp firmly enough to hold, not enough to crush or dent. Over-tightening marks softwood and can distort thin metal
- Protect the workpiece — use soft jaw covers, scrap wood, or leather when clamping finished surfaces
- Never hit the vice handle with a hammer — this can crack the casting. If you need more clamping force than hand-tightening provides, the vice is too small for the job
- Keep the screw lubricated — a drop of oil on the leadscrew every few months keeps the action smooth
- Clamp near the base of the jaws — clamping at the top of the jaws creates a lever that can spring the jaws apart. Clamp as low as possible for the most secure grip
