Traditionally, while working on workpieces, individuals had to hold the workpiece with one hand and perform tasks like sawing or welding using the other hand. It was a time-consuming task. In this modern era, with the invention of the wood bench vise, now, people can perform different tasks, like sawing, drilling or filing, without holding the workpiece because a vice acts as an extra pair of hands. Vices are attached to a workbench to help you hold workpieces made from different materials, like wood, metal, and other materials, in place while you work.
Different types of vices are available at Ajay Tools to support different types of functions and are manufactured to be used with specific materials. In this blog post, we’ll discuss different types of materials that a vice can hold securely.
Types of Materials that a Vice Can Hold
A vice specializes in holding a wide range of materials, mainly determined by the type of jaw (smooth, soft, or serrated) and the vice’s construction. Primarily, vices are manufactured to hold materials for filing, cutting, assembly, or drilling, with specific types designed for different, usually rugged or delicate materials. Here’s the list of commonly held materials:
- Metal: Aluminum, brass, steel, and copper, usually held with serrated, hardened steel jaws for a firm grip.
- Wood: Wood and timber products are usually held with smooth-jawed woodworking vices to prevent damaging the product.
- Tubing and pipes: Plastic pipes or circular metallic pipes, gripped by specialized pipe vices with V-shaped jaws to prevent slipping or rolling.
- Delicate materials: Delicate or fragile items usually require soft jaw covers (aluminum or plastic) on the vice to prevent scratching or marring.
- Irregular or small objects: Small components, wires, pins, or jewellery pieces, usually managed by hand vices
Material Security by Jaw/Vice Type
- Serrated jaws: These types of jaws are ideal for maximum grip on rough materials like pipes or raw steel. However, avoid using a vice with serrated jaws for softer materials.
- Smooth jaws: These are primarily used for holding polished, finished, or soft materials without causing damage.
- Soft jaws/covers: These are made from wood, plastic, or aluminum, ideal for holding delicate parts, aluminum, or finished pieces.
- Pipe jaws: V-shaped jaws are designed particularly to securely hold cylindrical pipes or stock.
For optimal safety and efficiency, it is suggested to match the material to the right type of vice and use soft jaw covers to prevent damage.
Can a vice hold both hard and soft materials?
Yes, you can use a vice to hold both hard and soft materials, but it usually needs adapting the jaws to prevent damage to softer materials. While standard types of vices come with hardened steel jaws, which can be used to hold hard materials, smooth jaws of a vice can hold soft materials.
What determines how securely a vice can grip a material?
The vice’s grip security on a workpiece is usually determined by the clamping force applied, the surface interface between the workpiece and the jaws, and the stability of the vice mounting. A secure grip prevents materials from slipping during operations like filing, cutting, or drilling, while reducing damage to the workpiece.
Should you use padding or soft jaws in a vice?
The choice between using soft jaws or padding in a vice depends on the material or workpiece you are clamping and the type of work you are performing. Both serve the main purpose of protecting the material from damage. You need to use padding when:
- You are clamping delicate, finished, or soft materials that you don’t want marked or scratched.
- Plastic, magnetic rubber, or aluminum pads can be attached quickly and removed as required.
- Rubber pads can conform to the shape of the part, preventing shifting or slippage on irregular or rounded objects.
You need soft jaws when:
- You are in a machining environment where material should be held securely without deformation.
- Soft jaws can be machined to match the contour of a specific part perfectly.
- Once machined for a specific component, soft jaws allow for high-precision, consistent, and fast re-clamping.
- Soft steel jaws provide a more rigid and better hold than plastic padding, while still preventing damage to the workpiece.
Conclusion
If you are looking for the best quality vice to hold different types of materials or workpieces, you can contact Ajay Tools. We offer a wide range of vices, including bench vices, drill vices, machine vices, and table vices. You can explore each category and buy the right one.
