Engineers Vice Buying Guide: Bench, Woodworking & Hobby Vices
An engineers vice (also called a bench or mechanics vice) is a cast iron or steel vice bolted to the top of a bench, with hardened, serrated jaws for gripping metal while you file, saw, drill, bend or tap. A woodworking vice mounts flush under the edge of the bench with smooth jaws that take wooden liners, so it holds timber without marking it. Pick the type to suit your material first, then choose jaw width, jaw opening and a fixed or swivel base to suit the work.
Types of vices
Engineers and bench vices
The vice most people mean: a heavy body bolted on top of the bench, a sliding jaw driven by a main screw and tommy bar, and replaceable hardened jaws. Many have a small anvil. Duty ratings differ:
- Standard-duty cast iron. The Groz BNV Standard Bench Vice range is made from grey iron castings and is described by Groz as designed for gripping and holding jobs, not for use where heavy hammering is anticipated.
- Professional cast iron. The Groz BV Professional Bench Vice has a heavier slide jaw and a large diameter main screw, intended for industrial applications and training workshops.
- Steel body. The Groz EBV Series Steel Vice is all-steel and built to withstand the shocks of hammering and chipping, with jaws hardened to 50 ± 5 HRC and a safety stopper so the slide cannot fall out.
Multi-purpose vices
Multi-purpose vices add pipe jaws to the usual flat jaws, often with a rotating head as well as a swivel base. The Groz Multi Purpose Vice 5in / 125mm has a 360° swivel base and a jaw head that rotates so you can switch between the standard serrated jaws and pipe jaws. Groz lists pipe capacity up to 137mm on that model.
Woodworking vices
A woodworking vice is built differently. It mounts under the bench so the jaws sit level with the benchtop, and the jaws are wide and smooth with holes or provision for wooden liners. Good ones have a "toe-in": the jaws meet at the top first so the full depth of the board is clamped evenly. Quick-release models let you slide the front jaw open or closed in one move and then fine-tune with the screw. Some also have a vice dog that works with a bench stop to clamp long boards along the top of the bench.
The Groz Precision Woodworking Vice range is cast in close-grained grey cast iron with steel guide rods and the toe-in feature. The ITM Premium Quick Action Woodworking Vice adds quick release and a height-adjustable vice dog.
Hobby, clamp-on and hand vices
For model making, jewellery, electronics and light DIY, a small vice is easier to use than a heavy bench vice. The Groz Hobbyist Vices have an integrated clamp, so you can clamp them to any work surface and take them away again. A hand vice is smaller again: you hold it in one hand, or grip it in the jaws of a bigger vice to bring a small part closer to you. The Groz Hand Vice tightens with a large wing nut.
What to look for in an engineers vice
Jaw width
Jaw width is the size a vice is sold by: a "4in" or "100mm" vice has 100mm-wide jaws. For a home garage 100mm to 125mm is common. Workshops that hold larger sections or do heavier work tend to go to 150mm or 200mm.
Jaw opening and throat depth
Jaw opening is the widest the jaws will open, and it limits the largest part you can hold. Throat depth is the distance from the top of the jaws down to the slide, which limits how deep a part can sit. They are not always the same as jaw width. For example, Groz lists the BNV 5in at 125mm jaw width and 125mm opening, while the EBV 100mm steel vice opens to 120mm on 100mm jaws.
Body material
Grey cast iron is rigid and absorbs vibration, which makes it good for filing and sawing, but it is not meant to be hammered on hard. SG (nodular) iron and steel bodies are tougher. If you plan to bend, peen or chisel in the vice, choose a model whose maker says it is built for that, such as the steel-bodied Groz EBV.
Fixed base or swivel base
A fixed base is simpler and very solid. A swivel base lets you turn the vice so long work clears the bench or so you can reach the job from a better angle, then lock it. Some vices come with a swivel base built in. For the Groz BV Professional range you can add one later: the Groz Swivel Base rotates through 360° with firm locking at any position, and it can be removed to convert the vice back to fixed base. Check the swivel base matches your vice size, because each one is made to suit a specific model.
Mounting
An engineers vice should be bolted through the bench top, not screwed, and the bench needs to be solid enough not to rock when you lean on a file or tommy bar. Position the vice so the fixed jaw sits just past the front edge of the bench; that lets long work hang down past the bench front. Woodworking vices mount under the bench, so check the thickness and edge of your benchtop before you buy.
Soft jaws
Serrated steel jaws grip hard but will mark aluminium, brass, plastics, threads and finished surfaces. Soft jaws fit over the existing jaws to stop that. The ITM Soft Vice Jaws come in aluminium, aluminium prism (with grooves for round stock), fibre and rubber faces, are held on by two magnetic tabs, and are supplied as a pair in 100mm, 125mm and 150mm widths to match common vice sizes.
Comparison: in-stock vices
| Vice | Type | Jaw width | Jaw opening | Base / mounting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Groz BNV Standard Bench Vice 5in | Engineers, cast iron | 125mm | 125mm | Fixed base, bench top |
| Groz BV Professional Bench Vice | Engineers, cast iron | 75mm to 200mm | See product page | Bench top; swivel base sold separately |
| Groz EBV Series Steel Vice 100mm | Engineers, steel | 100mm | 120mm | Fixed base, bench top |
| Groz Multi Purpose Vice 5in | Multi-purpose with pipe jaws | 125mm | 125mm | 360° swivel base |
| Groz Precision Woodworking Vice 7in | Woodworking | 175mm | 200mm | Under bench |
| ITM Premium Quick Action Woodworking Vice | Woodworking, quick release | 175mm | 210mm | Under bench |
| Groz 4in Hobbyist Vice | Hobby, clamp-on | 100mm | 75mm opening depth | Integrated clamp |
| Groz Hand Vice 4in | Hand vice | 40mm | Not listed | Hand held |
How to choose by job
- General garage and home workshop: a 100mm to 125mm cast iron bench vice such as the Groz BNV 5in handles filing, sawing and holding parts for drilling.
- Trade or training workshop: the Groz BV Professional comes in five sizes, and you can add the Groz Swivel Base for the 6in model (bases are also listed for the 5in and 8in).
- Hammering, bending and chipping: pick a steel body such as the Groz EBV Series Steel Vice.
- Pipe and round bar: the Groz Multi Purpose Vice has pipe jaws built in.
- Joinery and furniture: a woodworking vice such as the Groz Precision Woodworking Vice 7in or the quick-release ITM Premium Quick Action.
- Models, jewellery and small parts: the Groz 4in Hobbyist Vice or a Groz Hand Vice.
- Finished or soft materials in a metal vice: add a pair of ITM Soft Vice Jaws sized to your jaws.
Care and use
- Tighten with the tommy bar by hand. Do not extend it with a pipe or hammer it; that can crack a cast body or strip the screw.
- Keep the screw and slide clean and lightly oiled.
- Hammer over the anvil or the fixed jaw, not the sliding jaw.
- On woodworking vices, fit timber liners to the jaws so tools and work never touch the cast iron.
FAQ
What is an engineers vice?
It is a heavy bench-top vice with hardened, serrated jaws, made for holding metal while you work on it. "Engineers vice", "bench vice" and "mechanics vice" are used for the same thing.
What size vice do I need?
Go by the biggest part you hold regularly. Check jaw opening and throat depth as well as jaw width. A 100mm to 125mm vice suits most home workshops; heavier work usually calls for 150mm or more.
Can I use an engineers vice for woodwork?
Yes, for occasional jobs, with soft jaws or timber packers to stop the serrations marking the wood. For regular joinery a woodworking vice is better because it sits flush with the bench and clamps the full depth of a board.
Is a swivel base worth it?
It helps with long pieces or frequent angle changes. For small parts held square to the bench, a fixed base is fine.
Browse the full range in Vices, or see Clamps & Vices for woodworking vices, soft jaws and clamps.