Bench Vise: Rotating or Fixed Jaws?

[Spyguy]

I'm thinking about buying a new bench vise. Every vise I've used in the past has had rotating jaws, and I've used that feature. But I've noticed that most (all?) of the high end vises have fixed jaws. I suspect that's because fixed jaws are stronger, more rigid, and more precise. But for general gunsmithing and other home shop use, it that worth giving up the utility of rotating jaws?

Thoughts and recommendations appreciated.

[Killer Bee]

a lot depends on your budget.. my top choice for home use such as gunsmithing, engine work, or general hobby use, would be a Wilton or Columbian rotating machinist vise.. less slop, smoother operating, and finished square and flat in the right places.. also easy to find jaw attachments like soft jaws, smooth, offset etc. that will bolt on..

now if you're looking for something to bang on like heavy iron work and metal bending and such, then a harbor freight mechanics vise would probably do..

Either way, the more ways of adjustment the better.. typical home garage work will probably not exceed the strength rating of any decent made vise..

might also consider two different vises for different types of work.. mayber a smaller, more versatile precision machinist vise on one corner and a larger, mechanics vise on the other.. that's what I have prepared for setup as soon as my garage is cleared out from a recent project.. I've used that setup before and although the vises are different sizes, they can come in handy working together holding longer work..

I grabbed this out of the garage journal.. I browse there occasionally for answers to these kinds of questions..

Need a good bench vise...Is Wilton the only option?

good luck!

[TexasJackKin]

I like the swivel type vice for most home / gunsmith type applications. Just be sure when you mount it that the rear jaw is mounted out past the edge of the bench, so you can hold longer pieces vertically, a lot of people miss that point.

[Jay-El]

I like the swivel type vice for most home / gunsmith type applications. Just be sure when you mount it that the rear jaw is mounted out past the edge of the bench, so you can hold longer pieces vertically, a lot of people miss that point.

If I understand you correctly, a vise mounted at the front left corner of a workbench should have the left side of its rear jaw overhanging the left end of the bench so it can hold a long piece vertically adjacent to the left end of the bench.

Do I have that right?

[Dragginpanda]

Swivel vice for me. Worked on both, and hands down I prefer the swivel due to the angles I need to get at and work on.

[dpr]

I've been using a Brownells Multi Vice for about 12 years and like it and will probably will buy another. Other guys in the shop have vices with rotating jaws. For certain jobs they do have an advantage but it's rare enough I like the Multi Vice better.

[Alex$]

I have 4 or 5 vises, with the exception of the largest vise they are all rotating jaw with some type of "anvil" surface for shaping metal. I would rather use my anvil for real shaping, don't really like the idea of using a cast vise as an anvil.

By far, the large 6 or 8 inch vise gets the most work. (can't recall of the top of my head the size) It was a Costco special about 10 years ago.

[heidad01]

If I understand you correctly, a vise mounted at the front left corner of a workbench should have the left side of its rear jaw overhanging the left end of the bench so it can hold a long piece vertically adjacent to the left end of the bench.

Do I have that right?

^^^ Yes you got it. That is good advice from an experienced guy who knows what he is talking about.

Think about having to file the end of a barrel or any long rod. With this set up, you have the best chance of filing on a surface facing up as opposed to mounting horizontally which is a pain to mount and to work on.