Kitchen table or small shed
You want a vice you can clamp on, tilt, and pack away for models, keys, carving, or small DIY. The card weight is about 1.5 kg. UK reviews also say the ball can work loose and that one clamp broke on a golf shaft.
Swivel vice comparison 2026
The best swivel vices, compared.
Top pick: VIDETOL swivel bench vice Best value: Stanley MaxSteel 4 inch light-duty vice – Largest bolt-down sample here, 4.6 from 4,845, with light-duty already on the title, at about £29.95. Updated October 2026.
A swivel vice turns on a base or a ball joint and then locks. You are choosing a clamp-on table vice, a bolt-down light bench vice, or multi-angle hobby vice. Quality is the listed mass, a lock that stays put, and a jaw opening you can measure. “ duty” on a title is not that check. A 5.0 from one or five reviews is not a result. Mount, jaw, weight, and lock are in the [swivel vice buying guide](/hub/workshop/swivel-vice/sub/swivel-vice-buying-guide). Repeating UK review themes are stripped threads, cracks, pads that fall off, and clamps that slip.
A swivel vice turns on a base or a ball joint and then locks. You are choosing a clamp-on table vice, a bolt-down light bench vice, or multi-angle hobby vice.
42 products checked · 64 hrs invested · +22,800 readers
12 of 12: Best swivel vices compared
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1-2 of 12Best overall
Best value
5.0/10
4.8/10
8.6/10
8.0/10
6.4/10
7.2/10
6.8/10
6.6/10
6.2/10
5.5/10
6.0/10
5.8/10
∼ £17
∼ £46
∼ £22
∼ £30
∼ £22
∼ £32
∼ £19
∼ £25
∼ £22
∼ £20
∼ £16
∼ £50
5.0(5)
5.0(1)
4.7(12,585)
4.6(4,845)
4.6(38)
4.5(230)
4.4(641)
4.4(261)
4.4(188)
4.4(23)
4.3(102)
4.2(174)
Personal buying guide
Which swivel vice fits?
Question 1 of 2
Can you drill the bench?
The best swivel vices in detail
Our view
The VIDETOL at £16.99 is rated 5.0 from 5 reviews, and four of those reviews are in the listing notes. The title says cast iron, 360° swivel, and a bench clamp. There is no jaw width, no opening, and the included-components field says NO. Weight is 1.82 kg, in the clamp-on band. The four reviews praise rubber jaws for copper and jewellery, outdoor use, and life as a small partner to a 6 inch vice. They do not report a fault. Five reviews cannot carry a quality claim.
Pros
- £16.99
- Rubber jaws worked for copper, in one review
- Described as a useful small second vice
- No fault in the four stored reviews
Cons
- 5.0 from only 5 reviews
- Jaw width and opening are not on the card
- Included-components field says NO
- Cast iron is only in the title
Best for: A cheap second clamp for jewellery or copper, if you can see the jaw before you rely on it.
Less suitable: A main bench vice. The card does not even state the jaw.
Specifications
- Model
- VIDETOL swivel bench vice
- Brand
- VIDETOL
- Price
- ∼£17
- Customer rating
- 5.0/5(5)
- Type
- Table clamp
- Mount
- Clamp-on
- Rotation
- 360° base
- Listed weight
- 1.82 kg
Common questions
What size is the jaw?
The card does not say. Weight is 1.82 kg. One review calls it a small vice for hobby, craft, or jewellery, and another calls it a companion to a 6 inch vice.
Are soft jaws included?
They are not in a spec line. One UK review bought it for copper and says the rubber soft jaws work.
How many reviews is 5.0 based on?
The card says 5.0 from 5 reviews. Four of them are short and positive.
Our view
The Buyfun at £45.99 claims a 0–90° tilt, a 360° base, a 3 inch jaw, and an aluminium body, at 1.6 kg. The card’s rating is 5.0 from 1 review. That review says it holds lighter objects, both axes lock and have markings, and fixings for a bench or a Workmate are included. The included-components field on the card says NO. One review is not a basis for a ranking.
Pros
- Tilt plus swivel, which the other cards do not combine
- Both axes lock, in the one review
- 3 inch jaw claimed
- Fixings mentioned by that reviewer
Cons
- £45.99 with a sample of one review
- 1.6 kg
- Included-components field says NO
- Bullets say milling; the review says lighter objects
Best for: A trial of a tilting small vice only if you accept a single review.
Less suitable: Anyone who wants a known sample before paying the highest prices in this set.
Specifications
- Model
- Buyfun 3 inch tilting vice
- Brand
- Buyfun
- Price
- ∼£46
- Customer rating
- 5.0/5(1)
- Type
- Tilting vice
- Rotation
- 0–90° tilt
- Jaw
- 77 mm
- Opening
- 77 mm
- Listed weight
- 1.6 kg
Common questions
Does it tilt as well as swivel?
The bullets say 0–90° tilt and a 360° base. The only review says both axes lock and have markings.
What is in the box?
The included-components field says NO. The only UK review says tools and fixings for a bench top or a Workmate.
How many reviews support the 5.0?
One. The card says 5.0 out of 5 from 1 review.
Our view
Across 12,585 amazon.co.uk reviews, rated 4.7, the Stanley 1-83-069 at £22.31 is the top pick in this set for light work you want at an angle. The card lists a 75 mm hobby vice, a ball joint, rubber jaw covers, and 1.5 kg. UK reviews use it for models, keys, carving, and small DIY, and several say it has lasted for years. The same sample calls it light-duty: the ball can vibrate loose, the jaws have slop, and one clamp broke on a golf shaft after 18 months. It is not a bolted bench vice.
Pros
- 4.7 from 12,585 reviews, the largest sample in this set
- Ball joint locks at an angle a flat swivel does not give
- Clamps to a desk and comes off again
- £22.31 with removable rubber jaw covers on the card
Cons
- Card weight 1.5 kg, so this is a hobby vice
- Ball joint can be stiff or work loose under a sander
- Jaw slop and casting chips in the review sample
- Clamp broke while tightening a golf shaft, after 18 months, in one review
Best for: Models, keys, carving, and other light jobs where you want to tilt the work and then pack the vice away.
Less suitable: Anyone who needs a vice bolted to the bench for sawing bar or for hammering.
Specifications
- Model
- Stanley MaxSteel multi-angle vice
- Brand
- Stanley
- Price
- ∼£22
- Customer rating
- 4.7/5(12,585)
- Type
- Multi-angle
- Mount
- Clamp-on
- Rotation
- Ball joint
- Jaw
- 75 mm
- Soft jaws
- Yes
- Listed weight
- 1.5 kg
- Fixings
- Clamp
Common questions
Does the listing say how it fixes to the bench?
The card calls the style a c-clamp and says it can be fastened to a work surface. The reviews read describe clamping it to a desk or bench, not drilling the top.
What jaw size is printed?
The included-components line says a multi-angle hobby vice of 75 mm (3 in). The card does not print a separate opening figure. One review says the jaws open to around 77 mm.
Do reviewers treat it as heavy duty?
No. They praise the angles for hobby work and also report a stiff or loose ball joint, jaw slop, and a clamp that broke while tightening a golf shaft.
Our view
The Stanley 1-83-065 at £29.95 is the best value in this set if you can drill a bench and you want a bolt-down swivel rather than a table clamp. The card rates it 4.6 from 4,845 reviews, calls it a 100 mm light-duty vice, and lists cast iron at 5.04 kg. UK reviews use it for bikes, toys, and light garage work, and they like the turntable in a small shed. They also say the bolts are not in the box, the lock needs a hard tighten, and it is not a heavy fitter’s vice. One reviewer dented the metal with light tapping.
Pros
- 4.6 from 4,845 reviews, the largest bolt-down sample here
- Title states light-duty, so the job is on the card
- Turntable helps on a small bench
- Cast iron listed at 5.04 kg
Cons
- Mounting bolts are not in the box, according to reviews
- Locking pin or lock nut needs a hard tighten or the base moves
- Smaller than buyers who expected a full workshop vice
- Card size 50 x 50 x 55 cm is not a credible tool measurement
Best for: Light DIY, bike parts, and a small bench you are willing to drill.
Less suitable: Heavy fabrication, or a kitchen table you cannot drill.
Specifications
- Model
- Stanley MaxSteel 4 inch light-duty vice
- Brand
- Stanley
- Price
- ∼£30
- Customer rating
- 4.6/5(4,845)
- Type
- Light bench
- Mount
- Bolt-down
- Rotation
- Turntable
- Jaw
- 100 mm
- Listed weight
- 5.04 kg
- Fixings
- You supply
Common questions
Does the box include mounting bolts?
The included line names the vice only. UK reviews say you supply the bolts. One reviewer fitted M5 bolts. Another said square-head bolts suggested on Amazon did not sit in the slots.
Does the card say it swivels?
The short bullets do not say swivel. The reviews describe a turntable, a locking pin, and a long lock nut, and several people bought it for that movement.
Is the 50 cm size the vice itself?
The card prints item dimensions of 50 x 50 x 55 cm. Reviewers describe a compact light-duty vice. Treat that cube as a bad package field.
Our view
The LDHHYH 80 mm clamp at £21.99 is rated 4.6 from 38 reviews. The included line is one vice, a pair of gloves, and four rubber feet, and the bullets claim a table thickness up to 62 mm. Reviews call it useful on a desk, a workshop, and a thick farmhouse table, with a smooth action in one detailed note. They also say it sits too close to the bench edge, the gloves are very small, and one buyer made their own jaw guards. A review classes the clamp as light-duty. No crack appears in the 14 review texts stored for this listing.
Pros
- 4.6 from 38 reviews
- Gloves and four rubber feet named in the box
- Table thickness up to 62 mm claimed
- Fits a thick table, in one review
Cons
- Only 38 reviews
- Sits too close to the edge, so long work is awkward
- Jaw guards were inadequate for one buyer
- Material field says alloy steel; a bullet says cast iron
Best for: Light clamping on a table up to the stated 62 mm, including a desk.
Less suitable: Work that must sit further back on the bench, or a sample larger than 38 reviews.
Specifications
- Model
- LDHHYH 80 mm table vice
- Brand
- LDHHYH
- Price
- ∼£22
- Customer rating
- 4.6/5(38)
- Type
- Table clamp
- Mount
- Clamp-on
- Rotation
- 360° base
- Jaw
- 80 mm
- Listed weight
- 1.8 kg
- Fixings
- Clamp
Common questions
What is in the box?
The included line says one 80 mm vice, one pair of gloves, and four rubber anti-slip feet. A review calls the gloves very small.
How thick a table does the card allow?
A bullet says base clamping thickness up to 62 mm. One review says it fits a chunky farmhouse table.
Why is the edge a problem?
One UK review says it sits too close to the edge and would need a swan neck to move further onto the bench.
Our view
The HYCHIKA THQ125mm at £31.86 is a bolt-down 5 inch vice rated 4.5 from 230 reviews. The card claims a 125 mm opening, a double-lock 360° base, an anvil, and a weight of 5 kg. UK reviews call it sturdy for DIY and like the anvil and the swivel on a small bench. One reviewer says the rotation does not grip and the body sometimes moves. The included line is the vice only, so bolts are not confirmed on the card.
Pros
- 4.5 from 230 reviews
- Double lockdown and an anvil on the card
- Reviewers mounted it easily
- 125 mm opening stated
Cons
- Listed weight is 5 kg, the same figure as the 6 inch HYCHIKA
- Swivel sometimes moves, in one review
- Bolts are not named in the included line
- Tensile figure is 5,000 psi, which is not a clamp force
Best for: DIY on a bench you can bolt down, if a 5 kg casting is enough.
Less suitable: A job that needs the mass of an 11 kg trade 125 mm vice.
Specifications
- Model
- HYCHIKA 5 inch swivel vice
- Brand
- HYCHIKA
- Price
- ∼£32
- Customer rating
- 4.5/5(230)
- Type
- Light bench
- Mount
- Bolt-down
- Rotation
- Double lock
- Jaw
- 125 mm
- Opening
- 125 mm
- Anvil
- Yes
- Listed weight
- 5 kg
Common questions
Does the card include an anvil?
Yes. A bullet says you can grind, cut, and tap on the large reinforced anvil. One UK review likes that flat. The stored reviews do not include a crack.
How does the swivel lock?
The bullets say a gear-type lock with two lockdown bolts. One reviewer says those screws hold any 360° position. Another says the rotation does not grip and sometimes moves.
What is the 5,000 psi line?
The card’s tensile-strength field says 5,000 pounds per square inch. That is not a stated clamping force.
Our view
The TEENO THQ-70-GU at £18.99 has 4.4 from 641 reviews, the largest sample among the clamp-on vices here. The card says a 70 mm jaw, an opening to 77.5 mm, cast steel, 1.86 kg, and a clamping force of 800 kg. UK reviews use it on a kitchen table, a shed, and a portable bench for hobbies and light timber. Other reviews say the swivel will not lock, the pads are the wrong size, the base loosened while cutting steel screws, and the body split. One reviewer says the 800 kg line is not credible.
Pros
- 4.4 from 641 reviews at £18.99
- Clamp-on, used on a foldaway table
- Opening stated to 77.5 mm
- Soft jaws help when they fit
Cons
- 800 kg is a bullet, contradicted by a split-body review
- Swivel tightener does not lock hard, in more than one review
- Pads and covers the wrong size
- Jaws seized after light use in one report
Best for: Occasional small jobs on a table you do not want to drill, if you accept clamp-on limits.
Less suitable: Cutting steel screws or any job sold on the 800 kg line.
Specifications
- Model
- TEENO 70 mm table vice
- Brand
- TEENO
- Price
- ∼£19
- Customer rating
- 4.4/5(641)
- Type
- Table clamp
- Mount
- Clamp-on
- Rotation
- 360° base
- Jaw
- 70 mm
- Opening
- 77.5 mm
- Soft jaws
- Yes
- Listed weight
- 1.86 kg
- Fixings
- Clamp
Common questions
Where does the 800 kg figure come from?
It is a bullet on the card. No test method is printed. A UK review says the body split on copper and rejects that figure.
Will it fit a kitchen table?
Reviewers clamped it to a foldaway kitchen table and a kitchen side. The card does not state a maximum table thickness.
Does the swivel lock?
The card says 360°. Reviews say the tightener does not lock hard enough, including after it was hit.
Our view
The DAYUAN 99707 at £24.95 is a 4 inch swivel vice rated 4.4 from 261 reviews, listed at 4.7 kg, with bolt lugs and an anvil in the bullets. The title says heavy duty and industrial. UK reviews like the swivel for a shed or a tight bench, and several call the grip good after a clean and some grease. They also report oil, flashing, a loose jaw, and weak side locks. One anvil cracked while hammering a bearing. Another vice broke while cutting angle iron.
Pros
- 4.4 from 261 reviews at £24.95
- Swivel with two lock knobs, in a review
- Anvil on the card
- 4.7 kg, the lightest bolt-down weight here
Cons
- Title says industrial; reviews say it is not
- Anvil cracked under a hammer, in one review
- Broke while cutting angle iron, in one review
- Arrives oily and may need holes cleaned of flashing
Best for: A small bolt-down vice for light shed work, if you will not hammer the anvil.
Less suitable: Anyone who believed the industrial line, or who will strike on the anvil.
Specifications
- Model
- DAYUAN 4 inch swivel vice
- Brand
- DAYUAN
- Price
- ∼£25
- Customer rating
- 4.4/5(261)
- Type
- Light bench
- Mount
- Bolt-down
- Rotation
- Two knobs
- Jaw
- 100 mm
- Anvil
- Yes
- Listed weight
- 4.7 kg
- Fixings
- You supply
Common questions
Is the anvil for hammering?
The bullets advertise a larger anvil. A UK review cracked a piece off while hammering a small bearing and says not to use that feature.
Does it bolt down?
The bullets say bolt lugs for a bench. One review says drill the holes and use washers. The included line does not name a bolt pack.
Why do reviews mention oil?
Several UK reviews say it arrives covered in grease or with flashing in the holes, and that a clean and grease makes the screw usable.
Our view
The VonLux AOBAUKA812 at £21.50 is an 80 mm clamp-on vice rated 4.4 from 188 reviews. The card says the jaws open to 75 mm, the clamp takes 70 mm, the body is cast steel, and the weight is 1.81 kg. UK reviews like it for small work on the side of a worktop, and some like the rubber covers. Others say the covers do not fit, the clamp slips, the swivel creeps, and the casting broke on first use. One review quotes a one-month warranty.
Pros
- 4.4 from 188 reviews
- 80 mm jaw and 75 mm opening on the card
- Clamp-on with a rubber pad claimed
- Useful swivel when the lock holds
Cons
- Plastic covers often do not fit
- Clamp slips and the swivel creeps under load
- Broke on first use in more than one review
- Clamp bar snapped when tightened, in one review
Best for: Light, removable clamping if you check the pads and do not load the swivel hard.
Less suitable: Heavier tightening, or buyers who need covers that fit on arrival.
Specifications
- Model
- VonLux 80 mm table vice
- Brand
- VonLux
- Price
- ∼£22
- Customer rating
- 4.4/5(188)
- Type
- Table clamp
- Mount
- Clamp-on
- Rotation
- 360° base
- Jaw
- 80 mm
- Opening
- 75 mm
- Soft jaws
- Yes
- Listed weight
- 1.81 kg
- Fixings
- Clamp
Common questions
Can it hold metal?
The bullets say wood and metal for light work. One UK review used it for basic home metalwork. Others say the clamp slips if you tighten hard, and some report a break on first use.
Do the jaw covers fit?
The card claims a protective rubber pad. Several UK reviews say the plastic jaw covers and the table pads are the wrong size and fall off.
Does the swivel stay put?
The card says 360°. Reviews say it slips under load, including while a chainsaw bar was sharpened, unless the lock is tightened hard, and even then it can creep.
Our view
The Zazafolora at £19.99 is a 70 mm clamp-on vice rated 4.4 from 23 reviews. The bullets say no drilling, an opening of 0–77.5 mm, cast iron, hardened jaws, protective covers, and a 360° base. The weight is 1.7 kg. Reviews use it for golf-club grips and small jobs and like the weight for a clamp. One review says it cracked on first use. Another says it does not clamp tight. Pads are described as a poor fit.
Pros
- No-drill mount stated
- 70 mm jaw, opening to 77.5 mm
- Covers included in the bullets
- Positive notes for club re-gripping
Cons
- Only 23 reviews
- Cracked on first use, in one review
- Does not clamp tight enough, in one review
- Rubber pads need glue, in reviews
Best for: A small no-drill clamp for light hobby work, with the crack report in view.
Less suitable: A first vice you will load hard, given the one-use crack.
Specifications
- Model
- Zazafolora 70 mm table vice
- Brand
- Zazafolora
- Price
- ∼£20
- Customer rating
- 4.4/5(23)
- Type
- Table clamp
- Mount
- Clamp-on
- Rotation
- 360° base
- Jaw
- 70 mm
- Opening
- 77.5 mm
- Soft jaws
- Yes
- Listed weight
- 1.7 kg
- Fixings
- Clamp
Common questions
Do you have to drill the bench?
The bullets say it clamps to the edge with no drilling or permanent fixing.
What opening is printed?
Jaw width 70 mm and clamping range 0–77.5 mm.
What failed?
One UK review says it cracked on first use. Another says it does not clamp tight enough. Pads are reported as a poor fit.
Our view
The MUXHEL at £16.14 is the lowest price in this set, rated 4.3 from 102 reviews. The title says 60 mm, the weight is 1.7 kg, and the bullets add a 360° base, four rubber pads, and gloves. The warranty field says no manufacturer warranty. Reviews like it for a windowsill, a small bench, and a watch case. They also report a rough casting, a stripped clamp thread, a crack after a month or two, and openings of about 60–72 mm where a buyer expected 80 mm or 8 cm.
Pros
- £16.14, the lowest price here
- 4.3 from 102 reviews
- Packs away; used on a windowsill
- Pads and gloves claimed
Cons
- Warranty field says no
- Thread stripped and a crack in the sample
- Buyers measured less opening than an 80 mm advert
- Jaws that do not meet, in one review
Best for: Very small jobs where £16 is the budget and a failure is a return, not a surprise.
Less suitable: Anyone who needs a measured 80 mm opening or a warranty stated on the card.
Specifications
- Model
- MUXHEL 60 mm table vice
- Brand
- MUXHEL
- Price
- ∼£16
- Customer rating
- 4.3/5(102)
- Type
- Table clamp
- Mount
- Clamp-on
- Rotation
- 360° base
- Jaw
- 60 mm
- Soft jaws
- Yes
- Listed weight
- 1.7 kg
- Fixings
- Clamp
Common questions
Is it 60 mm or 80 mm?
This card’s title and diameter field say 60 mm. Reviews describe buyers who expected 80 mm or 8 cm and measured about 62 mm with guards or 72 mm without, or 6 cm.
What does the warranty field say?
The manufacturer warranty description is “No.” That line is not a statement of your statutory rights.
Will the clamp thread hold?
One UK review says the clamp thread and the vice thread stripped while holding small objects. Another says it cracked after a month or two.
Our view
The HYCHIKA THQ150mm at £50.42 is the dearest bolt-down vice here, rated 4.2 from 174 reviews. The card says a 150 mm opening, a double-lock swivel, an anvil, and a weight of 5 kg, the same weight figure as the 5 inch HYCHIKA. Positive reviews praise the double bolts and say mounting bolts were in the box. Other reviews say it snapped while a 12 mm bolt was sawn, that the jaw threads pulled out, and that it is smaller than the 6 inch word suggested.
Pros
- 150 mm opening stated
- Double lockdown on the card
- Some buyers received mounting bolts
- 4.2 from 174 reviews
Cons
- £50.42 with a listed weight of 5 kg
- Body snapped while sawing a 12 mm bolt
- Threads pulled and the body broke, in another review
- Smaller than buyers expected from 6 inch
Best for: Only if you have checked the 5 kg line and you want this jaw width anyway.
Less suitable: Anyone reading 6 inch as a heavy workshop vice.
Specifications
- Model
- HYCHIKA 6 inch swivel vice
- Brand
- HYCHIKA
- Price
- ∼£50
- Customer rating
- 4.2/5(174)
- Type
- Light bench
- Mount
- Bolt-down
- Rotation
- Double lock
- Jaw
- 150 mm
- Opening
- 150 mm
- Anvil
- Yes
- Listed weight
- 5 kg
Common questions
Are bolts included?
The included line says one bench vice. UK reviews say bolts were in the box, including a set of three in one report. The card itself does not name them.
Why is the weight the same as the 5 inch model?
Both HYCHIKA cards in this set print an item weight of 5 kg. The 6 inch card also prints 29.5 x 16.5 x 16 cm and a 152 mm diameter field.
What failed in reviews?
One review says it snapped while sawing a 12 mm bolt. Another says the jaw-screw threads pulled out and the body then snapped.
How we compared
We scored 12 swivel vices from the amazon.co.uk listings in this set, checked on 16 October 2026. The editorial score is not the star rating times 20. It is not a British Standard, a clamp-force certificate, or proof that a heavy-duty title is true. The four weights below sum to 100. A listed failure already counted in the fit score is not deducted again. There was no workshop trial.
1
Amazon stars
30%Star points are the amazon.co.uk rating divided by 5, times 30, rounded half up. If the review count is under 5, this part is capped at 18. If the count is 5–9, it is capped at 14.
2
Review volume
25%A sample of 10,000 or more scores 25. From 3,000 to 9,999 scores 20. Smaller bands step down through 500, 200, 100, 30, 10, and 5 reviews. Under 5 reviews scores 0 on this part.
3
Fit for the job
30%Points follow whether the listed kilograms, the mount, and the UK review use match light home work. A large sample that describes the real job scores higher than a heavy-duty title on a light clamp.
4
Price in this set
15%A lower shelf price in this set scores higher, from 15 points at about £16 down to 3 points at about £50. The cheapest listing is not the best value when reviews include cracks or the card states no manufacturer warranty.
Independent review
Last updated: October 2026
8 sources checked
Swivel vice buying guide
Choose the mount before the brand. A swivel adds a position and loses stiffness, so the lock and the listed weight matter more than a heavy-duty title. The notes below follow the order used for these twelve listings.
What is a swivel vice?
A swivel vice turns on a base or a ball joint and then locks. This set has three kinds of tool. Clamp-on vices weigh about 1.7–1.9 kg, with jaws around 60–80 mm: MUXHEL 60 mm at about £16.14, VIDETOL at about £16.99 with the jaw not stated, TEENO 70 mm at about £18.99, Zazafolora 70 mm at about £19.99, VonLux 80 mm at about £21.50, and LDHHYH 80 mm at about £21.99. Repeating UK review themes are stripped threads, cracks, pads that fall off, and clamps that slip.
Best for
- Home DIY on a kitchen table or a desk you will not drill
- A small shed bench you can bolt down for bikes, toys, and light metal
- Angled hobby work such as models, keys, and carving
Not ideal for
- Bending bar, hard hammering, or a working repair shop
- Anyone reading a 5 kg 6 inch card as a heavy engineer’s vice
- A woodworking vice or a milling vice, which are different tools
Mistakes to avoid
- 1
Reading 5 kg and 6 inch as a heavy vice
Both HYCHIKA cards print 5 kg, including the 150 mm model at about £50.42. Excel’s all-steel table lists 14.5 kg for 150 mm. A review of the 6 inch HYCHIKA says the body snapped while a 12 mm bolt was sawn. The inch size is not the mass.
- 2
Trusting an 800 kg line with no method
The TEENO card prints a clamping force of 800 kg. No test method is on the card. A UK review says the body split and that the figure is not credible. Do not buy the clamp for that number.
- 3
Hammering the anvil or extending the handle
A DAYUAN review cracked the anvil while hammering a bearing. Pads on several clamp-on packs do not fit. Do not put a pipe on the handle, and do not drill until the jaw overhangs the bench edge. Do not weld a cracked body and carry on.
What to weigh up
Mount, jaw, and listed weight
HighThe mount decides the job. Clamp on if you will pack the vice away. Bolt down if you will file or saw on a bench you can drill. A swivel adds a position and loses stiffness. Jaw width and opening come next. Four inch is about 100 mm, five inch about 125 mm, and six inch about 150 mm. The opening can be smaller than the title. Stanley’s UK page for the 1-83-065 prints a 103 mm jaw and a 100 mm opening. The amazon.co.uk card says 100 mm.
Lock, pads, and the review sample
HighThe lock is the part UK reviews argue about. Notes on VonLux, TEENO, MUXHEL, DAYUAN, the HYCHIKA 5 inch, and the Stanley 4 inch say the body creeps unless the lock is tight. Tighten it by hand. Do not put a pipe on the handle. The Stanley multi-angle ball joint can be stiff or work loose under a sander, and one review says the clamp broke on a golf shaft after 18 months. One LDHHYH review says the vice sits too close to the bench edge for long work. Soft jaws and the anvil are the next limit.
Which option suits you?
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
Bench you can drill
You want a bolt-down swivel for bikes, toys, and light metal, and you will read light-duty as Stanley prints it. Reviews say the bolts are not in the box and the lock needs a hard tighten.
Lowest budget, tiny jobs
You want the lowest price in this set, about £16.14, for a windowsill or a small bench, and you treat a crack or a stripped thread as a return. The warranty field says no manufacturer warranty.
Common questions about swivel vices
What is the top swivel vice in this set for 2026?
The top pick here is the Stanley MaxSteel multi-angle vice at about £22.31. On 16 October 2026 the amazon.co.uk card showed 4.7 from 12,585 reviews, a 75 mm hobby vice, a ball joint, and 1.5 kg. UK reviews use it for models, keys, and carving. The same sample says the ball can work loose. It is not a bolted bench vice.
How much does a swivel vice cost on amazon.co.uk?
In this set, checked on 16 October 2026, clamp-on vices and the Stanley multi-angle sit at about £16 to £22. The DAYUAN 4 inch, the Stanley 4 inch, and the HYCHIKA 5 inch sit at about £25 to £32. Buyfun is about £45.99 and the HYCHIKA 6 inch is about £50.42. A heavier trade vice sits outside these bands. These are the shelf prices stored for this comparison, not a promise of the lowest offer tomorrow.
What should you check before you buy a swivel vice?
Check the mount first. Clamp on if you will pack the vice away, and bolt down if you will file or saw on a bench you can drill. Then check the jaw and the opening. Four inch is about 100 mm, and the opening can be smaller than the title. Excel lists a 100 mm all-steel swivel vice at 7.5 kg, against about 5 kg on several cards here.
Should a swivel vice clamp on or bolt down?
Clamp on if the vice must come off a kitchen table or a desk. Bolt down if you will file or saw on a bench you can drill. A swivel adds a position and loses stiffness, so tighten the lock by hand. Do not put a pipe on the handle. Reviews on several listings say the body creeps unless that lock is tight. Check for cables before you drill.
Is a 5 kg 6 inch swivel vice a heavy workshop vice?
Not on the weights used here. Excel Machine Tools lists an all-steel swivel vice at 7.5 kg for 100 mm, 11 kg for 125 mm, and 14.5 kg for 150 mm. Both HYCHIKA cards in this set state 5 kg, including the 6 inch model at about £50.42. One review says that body snapped while a 12 mm bolt was sawn. Six inch is the stated opening, not the mass.
Can you hammer on the anvil of these swivel vices?
Do not treat these anvils as a hammering block. A DAYUAN review cracked a piece off the anvil while hammering a small bearing. Soft jaw pads in several clamp-on packs do not fit, and hammering the anvil dents or cracks it. The TEENO card prints an 800 kg line with no method, and a review says that figure is not credible after the body split. Hand-tighten the swivel lock. Do not extend the handle with a pipe.
Does PUWER apply to a swivel vice in a home workshop?
PUWER 1998 requires work equipment to be suitable, maintained, and stable. HSE’s L22 excepts domestic work in a private household, so a hobby shed sits outside that duty. Paying repair work does not. This is not legal advice. If employees use the bench, see PAT checks in a home workshop. Wear safety spectacles when you file or saw.
What if the swivel vice is not of satisfactory quality?
The Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 9, requires satisfactory quality given the description, the price, and the advertising. A one-month seller line does not replace the short-term right to reject under section 19. The MUXHEL card says no manufacturer warranty. That line is not your statutory rights. This is not legal advice. For structural work, get a competent person instead of welding a cracked body.
Our verdict
Across these twelve amazon.co.uk listings, the top pick for angled hobby work is the Stanley MaxSteel multi-angle vice at about £22.31, with 4.7 from 12,585 reviews and about 1.5 kg on the card. It clamps to a desk and it is not a bolted bench vice. The best value if you can drill a solid top is the Stanley MaxSteel 4 inch light-duty vice at about £29.95, with 4.6 from 4,845 reviews. The cheapest clamp, the MUXHEL at about £16.14, is not that best value: the reviews include a stripped thread and a crack, and the card states no manufacturer warranty. Anyone bending bar or hammering hard should leave this set.
Best value
View offer
Stanley MaxSteel 4 inch light-duty vice
Largest bolt-down sample here, 4.6 from 4,845, with light-duty already on the title, at about £29.95.
Editorial
Editor
Swivel vicesWorkshop toolsamazon.co.uk listings
Products Compared publishes British-English buying guides based on amazon.co.uk listings and public UK sources. We do not run a lab and we do not invent test scores.
Updated: October 2026
8 sources checked
Guides to swivel vices
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Swivel vice buying guideMount, jaw, weight, and lock, without a winner or a star table.Best swivel viceWho the top pick and the best value are for, and who should skip them.How to fit a swivel viceBolt or clamp, then lock the swivel. The choice stays on this page.Clamp or bolt a swivel viceWhen a table clamp is enough, and when the bench has to be drilled.Swivel vice for light metalworkFiling and sawing small stock, and where this set stops.
Related comparisons
Sources
Public UK sources used for this comparison. Listing prices, stars, and review counts are the amazon.co.uk lines from 16 October 2026.
- HSE — PUWER overview (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- HSE — Safe use of work equipment (L22) (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 9 (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- HSE — using the right type of PPE (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- Stanley UK — MaxSteel multi-angle vice 1-83-069 (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- Stanley UK — MaxSteel 115 mm light-duty bench vice 1-83-065 (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- Excel Machine Tools — all-steel bench vice weights (retrieved 16 October 2026)
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars, and review counts are the UK listing lines. We did not run a workshop trial.