vises

Vises are clamping devices used to hold a workpiece securely during operations such as sawing, drilling, filing, or shaping. In American usage the tool is commonly called a vise, with the plural vises; in other English varieties the spelling may vary but the function remains the same.

A typical vise consists of two parallel jaws, one fixed and the other movable, opened and closed by a screw- or lever-actuated mechanism. A handle provides leverage to tighten the jaws around the workpiece. Many vises include replaceable jaw faces, a swivel or rotating base for angled clamping, and sometimes an anvil surface for light hammering or shaping tasks. Some woodworking vises incorporate wooden jaws or inserts to protect delicate material.

Types include bench vises for general woodworking and light metalwork, machinist's vises for precise metalworking on a machine table, pipe vises for securing round tubing, and post or wall-mounted vises that clamp to a fixed structure. Jaw width and depth vary by model, with larger vises offering greater clamping capacity and rigidity.

Materials are typically cast iron or steel, with hardened steel jaws for long wear. Maintenance involves keeping threads clean, lightly lubricating the screw, and inspecting jaws and mounting for wear or damage. Proper use emphasizes parallel jaw alignment, controlled tightening, and protection of workpieces to avoid marring or distortion.