If you’re thinking of replacing your Vice Jaws, the first thing to know is….not all Vice Jaws are equal! This page will (hopefully) explain why our ViceWorks Hard Jaws are a cut above the rest (literally).

The Knurl 

ViceWorks Hard Jaws have a ‘File-Cut’ knurl

This is one of the most important elements and is the principle reason why our Jaws are superior. The image below shows a ViceWorks Jaw. 

The process we have developed produces a knurl that ‘bites’ into the material being held… due to its  ‘file-cut’ pattern. This knurl can only be achieved through a process of ‘cutting’ the face of the jaw in a linear way, using a single point cutting tool.  This achieves a superior knurl.

Other Jaws 

The images below shows the ‘knurl’ on other Jaws…as supplied by most manufacturers. As you may see, these Jaws are nothing more than groves in the face which provide no ‘Bite’, unlike our ViceWorks Hard Jaws. 

Material

ViceWorks Hard Jaws are made from cold drawn Engineering Steel, fully machined and Case Hardened.

Hardness

Our Jaws are Case Hardened to a Rockwell value of 56 to 58 (HRC).

Case Hardening ensures a strong yet wear resistant Vice Jaw, far superior to the 'mass produced' products which have swamped the market for decades. 

Our Hard Jaws are what they say on the tin, ‘Hard’. 

Precise

All our Jaws are CNC machined to ensure a repeatable and precise product.  

Shop for Hard Jaws

Pls click on one of the images below, to find Jaws made to fit the make or brand of your vice. We make replacement HARD JAWS to suit every Vice ever made in the UK, plus many more.

 

 

Types of Fibre Jaw

We manufacture two different types of Fibre Jaw, the difference being the material used to produce the metal frame and the design of the ‘Tabs’. 

Single Tab

Manufactured from sturdy 1.2mm aluminium frames, these jaws are best used where the following factors are preferred:

Working environment constraints

• Non ferrous material
• Low-Spark
• Corrosion Resistant

Ease of installation/removal 

 

Double Tab

Double Tab jaws have the following advantages:

Firm Attachment to Vice

• Additional tabs ensure the jaws remain in place during fitting/bench work.

Heavier Duty

• Available in structural grade steel, the Double Tab jaws are better suited to heavier duty applications.

 

Materials

Frames

We manufacture our Fibre jaws with frames made from Aluminium or Steel.  All frames are CNC profiled and folded, not stamped.   

Fibre Pads

All our fibre jaws are made with the same Fibre material, which is specifically produced for us, for our Fibre Jaws. The fibre material is.   

Vulcanised Fibre Composition

• A very strong, laminated composite (NOT PLASTIC)

Chemically resistant, to:

• Oil and Greases
• Water Resistant
• Solvent, Petrols and Mineral based spirits. 
  

Heat and Flame Resistant

• Unlike 'plastic' jaws, the material will withstand exposure to heat and flame.  

Stress Tested

We test our fibre material to ensure it stacks up to our expectations.  The images below show sample materials undergoing stress testing

Oil Based Test

The sample below was submerged in an oil solution for 7 days. No delamination was observed and the material remained serviceable, maintaining its core material properties   

Solvent Based Test

The sample below was submerged in a solvent solution for 24 hrs. No delamination was observed and the material remained serviceable, maintaining its core material properties   

How to order the right size for your vice

To suit RECORD and Irwin Vice

If you have a RECORD or Irwin Vice, we supply the Jaws to suit the Vice model number, for example, the No23 pictured below.

Click here or on the image below to be taken to our collection to suit RECORD and IRWIN Vice 

All other Vice brands   

We also list our fibre jaws by the nominal width of the Vice they are to be used on.  So, if your vice has 5 1/4 inch standard jaws, you should purchase a set of 5 1/4 inch fibre jaws   

Click on the image below to be taken to our collection to suit Vice by size  

How will our Fibre Jaws be supplied? 

Our jaws are supplied ready to fit, only requiring the end tabs to be bent around the ends of your vice.  This ensures the jaws will fit to your specific casting.  

Click here to view our Full Range of Soft Jaws

We take alot of pride in the refurbishment of the Vices we sell, to such extent that they can sometimes be just too good to use!

Please click on the images relating to the type of Vice you're looking for. 

PLEASE NOTE: All of our refurbished vice are unique, we do not have a container coming from China with new stock. To this end, if you need something that is not listed, pls drop us a line as its likely we have a donor Vice waiting to be refurbished. 

Mechanics Vice (Non Quick-Release)

Various Companies made a version of the Mechanics Vice, but there are a couple of typical features which can help determine if this type is suitable for you. 

1. Range of Jaw Widths from 2 to 8 inch
2. No Quick Release Feature, meaning the lead screw and nut are 'full', arguably allowing for more Torque to be applied. 
3. Jaws are typically 3/4 high on Vices with a Jaw width of 4 inch or under and 1 inch high on larger Vice. 
4. Typically cheaper than the 'Quick Release' types of Fitters or Heavy Duty Vice. 
5. The material used is always exclusively ductile Iron (SG Iron)

 

The Fitters Vice

Various Companies made versions of the Fitters Vice, but there are a couple of typical features which can help determine if this type is suitable for you.

1. Generally speaking, fitters Vice are a larger/bulkier design with a heavier construction (if compared to a Mechanics Vice with the same width of Jaw)
2. Generally, a Fitters Vice is Quick-Release, but there are some exceptions to that rule. This allows the sliding Jaw to be quickly opened or closed without having to use the lead-screw.
3. The material used tends to be a mixture of ductile Iron (SG Iron) or Steel. Steel are typically used where a manufacturer claimed the Vice was 'Indestructible' or 'Heavy Duty'. 
4. Due to the Lead Screw and 'Half Nut' design on Quick Release Vice, there is a view that these can not tolerate continuous and frequent loads of severe Torque to the Lead Screw.  This is the reason 'Plain Screw' versions of Fitters Vice were also produced.

 

Heavy Duty Vice

 

Various Companies made versions of the Heavy Duty Vice, but there are a couple of typical features which can help determine if this type is suitable for you.

1. Usually Cast from Steel, opposed to Ductile Iron (SG Iron). As such they tolerate higher levels of stress and strain. 
2. Jaw width typically start at 4 inch and increase to 8. The larger models (6 inch and above) generally have thicker and higher Jaws (1 1/4 x 5/8)
3. Like the Fitters Vice, these generally come as Quick Release however there are lots of 'Plain Screw' Vice in circulation, for the reasons stated within the Fitters Vice section. 
4. Due to the Design, the 'throat' of the Vice is larger, meaning you can hold larger or bulkier items in a Heavy Duty vice, compared to that of a Mechanics or Fitters model of the same Jaw Width.

 

Summary

Back when the UK were the world leaders in Manufacturing and Industrial power, there was quite literally a 'Vice for every operation'. However, irrelevant of the Vice you purchase from the ViceWorks, you can be assured it is as good as it can be, and has been for the last 30 to 100 years. 

Buying a refurbished Vice from the Viceworks is an Investment in a product you can rely on, which is not something you can say about buying a new Vice... as so many will testify to and why I am in business. 

Not all our Vice are VAT qualifying. If this is an issue, please get intouch.