What engineer’s vice sizes are available?
What engineer’s vice sizes are available? |
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Engineer’s vices are available with a variety of different jaw widths, ranging from small and light-duty models to large and heavy-duty models and many in between. The whole vice gets bigger as the width of the jaws increases, so as to be in proportion with the jaws. | |||
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The following dimensions apply to all types of engineer’s vice: | |||
Weight |
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The weight of a vice can range from 12 lbs up to 180 lbs (5-80 kg approx.), depending on its size. | |||
Jaw width |
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The jaw width is how wide the jaws are from one side to another and is measured by the horizontal distance along the top of the jaw edge.
Smallest available: 75mm (3″ approx.) Largest available: 200mm (8″ approx.) |
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Jaw opening |
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The jaw opening of a vice is how far the mouth of the jaws can open.
Smallest available: 60mm (2.5″ approx.) Largest available: 300mm (12″ approx.) |
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Throat depth |
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The throat depth is how deep the jaws of a vice are and is measured by the vertical distance from the top edge of the jaws down to the top of the screw/slide.
Smallest available: 50mm (2″ approx.) Largest available: 200mm (8″ approx.) |
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How to choose an engineer’s vice |
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The smallest type of engineer’s vice tends to be the mechanic’s ones, as they are designed for lighter-duty work and general tasks around the home, such as cutting or sanding.
As engineer’s and fitter’s vices are designed for heavy-duty industrial use and can weigh anything up to 180lbs, these vices would be ideal if a user needs to clamp large or heavy pieces of metal. |
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The size of the vice needed depends on the shape and material of the workpiece in hand. If a user wishes to clamp large and heavy objects, then a vice with a greater jaw width/opening and throat depth would be useful, as they have a greater capacity and less restrictions than smaller vices. This is due to their design, which allows them to hold longer or wider workpieces without any risk of breakage. | |||
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For more information on vice dimensions, see | |||
