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BlogUse the Best Plastic Vise Jaws When Working
Last updated: 16 Apr 2024A vise is a tool that most home improvement enthusiasts have. It helps keep workpieces down so they don’t move while you work on them. They are also an excellent way to stay safe while you work with tools such as saws and hammers.
The vise is made up of two clamps, one that stays in place and another that can be tightened according to your preference. But a vise is not only used for DIY projects, but most painters will also use it to keep their canvases steady while they paint. Even more important than a vise are the vise jaws that help keep your workpieces in place.
There are many different types of vise jaws, such as hard and soft ones. If you’re looking for some great plastic vise jaws in 2023 for your next DIY piece, keep on reading! In this guide, we will talk about all there is to know about vise jaws.
- Best Overall: JCL Nylon Multipurpose Vise Jaws Shop Now ➔
- Runner Up: WORKPRO Plastic Vise Jaw Shop Now ➔
- Best Design: Friction Works Plastic Vise Jaw Shop Now ➔
- Most Stable: HORUSDY Plastic Vise Jaw Shop Now ➔
- Suitable For DIYers: GarMills Plastic Vise Jaw Shop Now ➔
View all ContentsComparing the Best Plastic Vise Jaws of 2023
Best Overall
Elevate your workshop experience with the JCL Nylon Multipurpose Vise Jaws. As a versatile and reliable accessory, these jaws are designed to enhance the functionality of your vise. They are crafted from durable nylon, meaning they have been engineered to withstand the demands of various applications. These jaws not only ensure longevity and dependable performance but they can also adapt effortlessly to various projects thanks to their multipurpose design.
From metal and wood to plastic and more, these jaws are an indispensable tool for any DIY enthusiast, woodworker, or metalworker. What sets these vise jaws apart is their commitment to protecting your workpieces. The non-marring nature of the nylon construction guarantees that delicate surfaces remain unscathed during clamping. In turn, they eliminate the worry of unsightly scratches or dents. These jaws provide a secure grip without compromising the integrity of your materials, making them our number one choice.
Pros
- Durable nylon construction
- Designed for multipurpose functionality
- Protect the surface of workpieces
Cons
- Limited heat resistance
Runner Up
With this purchase, you get 6 pairs of vise jaw pads with both standard pads and ones with grooved edges that are good for irregular shapes. These vise jaw pads are compatible with most clamps and presses, making them a great option since they come with multiple pieces. Each jaw is lined with soft pads, so your important workpieces don’t get damaged while you work on them.
The soft pads will gently clamp down on surfaces without leaving any scratches or marks. What’s even more remarkable is that the grooved pads easily hold onto round shapes so that they don’t slide around while you work on them. You don’t have to use screws to attach these vise jaws to your table since they come with strong magnets. These magnets help them stay in place without moving an inch. You can use these soft pad vise jaws on multiple surfaces like wood and even tubing.
Pros
- Comes with 6 pairs of vise jaws
- Grooved jaws are great for round surfaces
- Strong magnets help keep them in place
- Compatible with many different tools
Cons
- Magnets are on the smaller side
Best Design
Looking for a high-quality set of bench vise jaws that are made in the U.S.? Look no further than the Friction Works Plastic Vise Jaw. These innovative jaws have been reimagined from the ground up to provide superior hold and protection for delicate surfaces. With eight N48 spec neodymium rare earth magnets force rated at 7 pounds each, these jaws provide the strongest magnetic vise jaw pull force on the market. The exclusive magnet retention system features an innovative internal bracket that secures the magnets to the vise jaw caps with a stainless bolt, solving the biggest failure point of all soft jaw pads for metal vises.
In addition to their superior hold, these jaws are made from a proprietary fiber-reinforced polymer composite with a shore hardness of 80-D, providing an incredibly tough jaw face that is safe for use on cerakote, chrome, aluminum, wood, plastic, painted surfaces, and more.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Secure and sturdy
- Incredible durable
Cons
- Could be a bit longer
Most Stable
These 4.5” vise jaw pads are very versatile and can be used with most vise benches. They are also compatible with other vise tools such as clamps and drill presses. There are 4 magnets embedded into these plastic vise jaws that help keep them in place while you work.
These vise jaws are made of sturdy thermoplastic polyurethane and come in bright orange color. What’s great about these vise jaws is that they can be used in many different ways, not just for home improvement projects. Whether you’re into gunsmithing or making jewelry, you can easily use these vise clamps to keep your workpieces perfectly still. Another pro about these vise jaws is that they have both a flat and a grooved side for all sorts of surfaces. The soft material won’t leave any marks on your important workpieces.
Pros
- Perfect for multiple projects
- Has both smooth and grooved side
- Has 4 powerful magnets
- Compatible with most vise tools
Cons
- Not heat-proof
Suitable For DIYers
Not only do these magnetic vise jaws come in fun colors, but you get multiple pieces with each purchase. With this two-pack, you won’t have to worry about running out of vise jaws, even if you use them a lot. These magnetic vise jaws have a grooved surface that helps hold objects with irregular shapes in place. There are also strong magnets embedded into these vise jaws to help them attach to your vise bench with ease. Whether you have a drill press or a clamp, these vise jaws are versatile and will attach with ease. Make all your DIY projects a breeze with these easy-to-use magnetic vise jaws.
What’s even cooler is that the soft pads will prevent any damage to your important workpieces. These vise pads are made of a soft material, but they are sturdy enough to hold things down firmly. Even if you have delicate tubing, these vise jaws will hold it down.
Pros
- Multiple pieces included
- Has grooved surface
- Soft enough to prevent damage to your workpieces
- Sturdy enough to hold things in place
Cons
- Material isn’t heat-proof
Buying Guide for Plastic Vise Jaws
A good vise bench is great for many different reasons. Firstly it’s very versatile and can be used for many different projects. It is also a tool that can be used by your whole family.
In fact, you can use it for all sorts of things like woodworking and even making delicate pieces of jewelry. The plastic vise jaws work best because they often have a soft padding, which allows them to clamp down gently on objects without damaging the surface. If you have questions about vise jaws, this buying guide will help!
Factors To Consider When Buying Plastic Vise Jaws
Here are just some factors to keep in mind when you’re shopping for vise jaws.
Magnets
Although there are some vise jaws that you can attach using screws, it’s much easier to use vise jaws that have magnets embedded into them. This allows you to attach the vise jaws to your bench without any extra hassle. It’s important to make sure that the vise jaws you are buying have strong magnets so that they stay in place.
The reason why strong magnets are important is that you don’t want the jaws moving while you’re working on an important DIY project. Most vise jaws will have heavy-duty magnets inside them, making them easy to use and remove once you are done.
Grooved surface
Most vise jaws will come with two surfaces, a smooth one and a grooved one. The standard smooth one can be used for normal objects. However, objects with irregular shapes might be harder to clamp down using a standard vise jaw.
This is why a grooved surface can work wonders, especially if your object is round in shape. The grooved surface clamps onto such shapes with ease, keeping them in place for you to work on.
Durability
Just like with any other work tool, you need to make sure that the vise jaws you are buying are durable. You may think that plastic is not a durable material but it actually works really well and also lasts a long time. The only downside of plastic vise jaws is that they can’t be used for projects that require high heat.
For projects that require heat, you are better off using metal vise jaws. But for most projects, a pair of plastic vise jaws will work well.
Budget
Not everyone can afford high-end tools. It’s better to set a budget before heading to the market for the purchase. Sift the market or online stores for a pair of plastic vise jaws that fit your budget and choose the best one. We recommend being somehow lenient with the set budget if you get great value in return.
How To Take Care of and Maintain Your Plastic Vise Jaws?
Your vise jaws require good care in order for them to stay working for a long time. A bench vise can be quite pricey, which is why you want to take the best care possible. Here’s how you can easily maintain your bench vise.
Keep them clean
Dust and debris may form on your vise jaws if you don’t keep them clean. You don’t need to pull out the power washer since cleaning it is easy. You need to give it a good wipe-down with a damp cloth.
After you are done cleaning the vise jaws, it is important to keep them oiled as well. The parts that need to be oiled are the joints and sliding sections. Doing this keeps the jaws moving smoothly without jamming.
Piling frequently can also help prevent rust from forming on your bench vise. Make sure to open up the jaws before your oil to easily reach each part.
Keep them dry
Since vise benches are made of metal, they can rust easily when exposed to wetness. This can hinder the way they work and can be an annoying situation to deal with. After you are done cleaning your bench vise, make sure you dry it well so that rust doesn’t form on the body or jaws.
Another way to make sure your bench vise doesn’t get rusty is to get a cover for it for when the weather is wet or humid. A plastic cover works well, especially during rainy weather. If your bench vise does get rusty, you don’t need to worry since many chemical rust removers work well.
But as long as you keep it dry, you don’t have to worry about it getting rusty.
Keep replacing
It’s a good idea to replace your vise tools such as clamps after a while. This is because constantly using them can often wear them down. A good hack is to buy vise jaws that come in packs of two, so you don’t have to worry about replacing them as much.
What Safety Precautions Should You Take While Using Plastic Vise Jaws?
Safety is important even when you’re using a bench vise. To start off, make sure that you wear safety glasses if any debris flies off while working with a vise. If you’re using a saw on wood, safety glasses can protect you from getting sawdust in your eyes.
Also, make sure to keep your bench vise oiled so that it can safely clamp down on objects. Also, keep an eye out for any cracks in your vise since those can be dangerous too.
People Also Ask
What kind of oil should I be using for my bench vise?
It is important to keep your bench vise oiled but don’t go using any type of oil on it. A good choice is to use a regular machine oil to keep your vise working well. Another good option is to use grease to keep your vise lubricated.
What size bench vise should I buy for DIY projects?
You don’t need a large vise for DIY projects, and a simple 4 or 5-inch bench vise will work well. A smaller vise is also great for projects like jewelry making. However, if you need one for bigger projects, there are many larger sizes to choose from.
How to remove rust without a chemical remover?
A good way to remove rust without using any chemicals is to use sandpaper or any other gritty surface to buff the rust away. You can also try using steel wool for hard to remove rust from your bench vise.
Article Contributors
Read More About Pop Wood Reviews Team HereThe Pop Wood Review Team’s product reviews and comprehensive guides are here to help you select the best gear and tools to efficiently complete top-quality woodworking projects. The content is created by The Pop Wood Review Team. Popular Woodworking’s editorial staff is not involved. Popular Woodworking is reader-supported: When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. The Popular Woodworking Review Team is composed of authors, editors, and handymen. Artificial Intelligence (large language models) may have been used in the research and creation of the content.
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