Home DIY and hobby
You want a vice you can pack away, with soft faces for wood and models, and you sometimes need to tilt the work. The Stanley 1-83-069 is the light clamp-on for that job. It is the wrong vice for daily steelwork or hammering.
Bench vice comparison 2026
The best bench vices, compared.
Top pick: Buyfun tilt Best value: TEENO 70 mm – £18.99 with 641 reviews, a 70 mm jaw and a 77.5 mm opening, for light clamp-on jobs, with the lock and seized-jaw faults kept in the score. Updated October 2026.
A bench vice holds the work so you can saw, file, drill, or fit it with both hands free. On amazon.co.uk this comparison is mostly light clamp-on table vices, with jaws around 50–80 mm and a mass of about 1.5–1.9 kg, plus two bolt-down vices around 100 mm and 5 kg, a tilting clamp, a mini aluminium vice, and a 6 inch ductile-iron unit at 19.1 kg. Separate them by the mounting, the jaw width, and whether a swivel lock stays shut. A heavy-duty title is not a duty rating. The [clamp-on or bolt-down guide](/hub/workshop/vice/sub/vice-clamp-on-or-bolt-down) separates those two ways of meeting the bench.
A bench vice holds the work so you can saw, file, drill, or fit it with both hands free.
11 of 11: Best bench vices compared
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1-2 of 11Best overall
Best value
6.4/10
9.2/10
8.6/10
7.4/10
7.6/10
8.0/10
8.3/10
7.0/10
7.2/10
6.6/10
6.8/10
∼ £46
∼ £22
∼ £30
∼ £90
∼ £22
∼ £19
∼ £25
∼ £15
∼ £20
∼ £18
∼ £8
5.0(1)
4.7(12,585)
4.6(4,845)
4.6(694)
4.6(38)
4.4(641)
4.4(261)
4.4(32)
4.4(23)
4.3(30)
3.8(238)
Personal buying guide
Which bench vice fits?
Question 1 of 2
Can you drill the bench?
The best bench vices in detail
Our view
The Buyfun is a 1.6 kg tilting clamp at £45.99, with a 77 mm jaw, a 0–90 degree tilt, and a 360 degree base. The amazon.co.uk line is 5.0 from a single review. That reviewer says both axes lock and that they fixed it to a bench or a Workmate for lighter objects, and they mention the fixings. The bullets call it a milling vice; that review does not describe milling or a drill press. The material line lists aluminium and cast iron together, against a heavy-duty title on a 1.6 kg body. One review cannot show how the locks behave after a month of sanding. It holds lighter work at an angle, and it is a poor match for the milling job the bullets claim.
Pros
- 0–90° tilt
- Both axes lock, in the UK review
- Fixings mentioned by that reviewer
Cons
- One review
- Aluminium and cast iron both listed
- 1.6 kg against a heavy-duty title
Best for: Holding lighter objects at an angle on a bench or a Workmate.
Less suitable: Milling or drill-press work. The bullets claim it; the only UK review does not.
Specifications
- Model
- Buyfun tilt
- Brand
- Buyfun
- Price
- ∼£46
- Customer rating
- 5.0/5(1)
- Mounting
- Bench or Workmate
- Jaw width
- 77 mm
- Jaw opening
- 77 mm
- Swivel
- 360°, 0–90°
- Weight
- 1.6 kg
- Material
- Aluminium, cast iron
- Duty
- Light angled
Common questions
Can it hold irregular shapes?
The listing asks. It does not give a shaped-jaw specification. The UK review talks about lighter objects at an angle.
What is it made of?
The material line says aluminium and cast iron. The bullets stress a lightweight aluminium body.
Is it a milling vice?
The bullets say so. The only UK review describes a clamp for lighter objects, with locks on both axes.
Our view
The Stanley 1-83-069 is a 1.5 kg clamp-on hobby vice with a 75 mm jaw in the item name and a ball joint that locks the work at an angle. Across 12,585 amazon.co.uk reviews it sits at 4.7 stars and rank 1 in Bench Vises, at £22.31. Owners use it for light jobs they then pack away, including angles a fixed jaw cannot reach. The rubber covers are listed, which helps on wood and finished parts. UK reviews also call it light-duty: one clamp broke on a golf shaft, and the ball joint can vibrate loose while you sand. The style line says c-clamp while the manufacturer field says TBTL4, so the box text is not tidy. At 1.5 kg it will not stand in for a bolted engineer’s vice when you are hammering or working steel every day.
Pros
- Highest review count in this set
- Ball joint for odd angles
- Rubber jaw covers listed
Cons
- Light-duty by owner accounts
- Clamp has broken in a UK review
- Ball joint can vibrate loose
Best for: Awkward light jobs where you need to tilt the work and then pack the vice away.
Less suitable: Daily steelwork, hammering, or a vice that must stay locked under a sander.
Specifications
- Model
- Stanley 1-83-069
- Brand
- Stanley
- Price
- ∼£22
- Customer rating
- 4.7/5(12,585)
- Mounting
- Clamp-on
- Jaw width
- 75 mm
- Swivel
- Ball joint
- Soft jaws
- Rubber covers
- Weight
- 1.5 kg
- Material
- Aluminium, cast iron, rubber
- Duty
- Light hobby
Common questions
Does this Stanley vice come with a carry case?
The listing asks the question. The included-components line names only the 75 mm multi-angle hobby vice, not a case.
Can you lock the work at an angle?
The bullets say the ball joint rotates the project and locks. UK reviews also say the joint can vibrate loose while sanding.
What is the maximum weight it can hold?
The amazon.co.uk file does not state a maximum workpiece weight.
Our view
The Stanley 1-83-065 is a bolt-down cast-iron bench vice at 5.04 kg, with a 100 mm jaw and a turntable, priced at £29.95. It has 4.6 stars from 4,845 amazon.co.uk reviews, and owners use it for bikes, toys, and other light garage work on a bench that can take bolts. The included list is the vice only; one UK reviewer fitted their own M5 bolts. The swivel lock slips in UK reviews, so the base can creep under load even after you have bolted it down. The dimension block is not a credible size for a vice of this weight, and owners describe it as compact. Soft jaws are not supplied. It is the heavier Stanley in this set, and the title and the reviews both still call the duty light.
Pros
- 100 mm jaw
- Cast iron, 5.04 kg
- Large UK review count
Cons
- Swivel lock slips in UK reviews
- No mounting bolts in the box
- Dimension block is not credible
Best for: A fixed bench for bikes, toys, and other light garage work.
Less suitable: Heavy timber, or anyone who needs the swivel to stay put under load.
Specifications
- Model
- Stanley 1-83-065
- Brand
- Stanley
- Price
- ∼£30
- Customer rating
- 4.6/5(4,845)
- Mounting
- Bolt-down
- Jaw width
- 100 mm
- Swivel
- Turntable
- Soft jaws
- Not supplied
- Weight
- 5.04 kg
- Material
- Cast iron
- Duty
- Light garage
Common questions
Is this vice made of steel?
The attribute table says cast iron. The page question about steel is not matched by a steel specification.
Does it have a quick release?
The listing asks. The bullets describe roll-formed screw threads, not a quick release.
Are mounting bolts included?
The included-components line names the vice only. One UK reviewer supplied their own M5 bolts.
Our view
The BestEquip is the heavy listing in this set: a 6 inch ductile-iron vice at 19.1 kg and £89.90, with a head and a base that both rotate and grooved jaws claimed for round stock. The amazon.co.uk line is 4.6 stars from 694 reviews, and this file contains no United Kingdom review text, so those comments are not British owner reports. The title says clamp-on while the bullets say mount it on the bench, and the opening size is not stated. Kn30 is written as a clamping force with no unit explained and no test. At 36 × 15 × 18 cm it is a different mass from the 1.5–5 kg vices here. Weight alone does not make it the top pick when the mounting line conflicts and no UK write-up is in the file.
Pros
- 19.1 kg
- Grooved jaws for round stock
- Head and base both rotate
Cons
- No UK review text in the file
- Clamp-on title versus a bench-mount bullet
- Kn30 is unexplained
Best for: A heavy listing if you need grooved jaws and can live without UK owner reports.
Less suitable: Anyone who wants British review evidence before spending £89.90.
Specifications
- Model
- BestEquip 6 inch
- Brand
- BestEquip
- Price
- ∼£90
- Customer rating
- 4.6/5(694)
- Mounting
- Bench or clamp
- Jaw width
- 150 mm
- Swivel
- Head and base
- Weight
- 19.1 kg
- Material
- Ductile cast iron
- Duty
- Heavy by mass
Common questions
Are there United Kingdom reviews?
Not in this file. The 4.6 from 694 is the listing line. Comments in the file are from other countries.
Will it hold pipe?
The bullets say the jaws are grooved for pipe and other round material. Opening size is not stated.
What does Kn30 mean?
The bullets write clamping force as Kn30. They do not explain the unit or the test.
Our view
The LDHHYH is an 80 mm clamp-on vice at 1.8 kg and £21.99, with a bench-edge limit of 62 mm and gloves plus rubber feet in the box. It has 4.6 stars from 38 amazon.co.uk reviews, a thin sample next to the Stanleys. The bullets say the vice handles wood and metal, and they do not give a load figure. One owner found the jaw sitting too close to the bench edge for work they wanted further in. The table says alloy steel and black; the bullets and one review describe cast iron and a blue coating. Rubber pads are claimed, and one owner still made their own guards. It is a small movable vice for a top up to 62 mm thick, with the material and colour lines left unresolved.
Pros
- 80 mm jaw
- Clamp up to 62 mm
- Gloves and rubber feet included
Cons
- Cast iron in the bullets, alloy steel in the table
- Colour black versus a blue coating
- Sits close to the bench edge
Best for: A small movable vice for a bench up to 62 mm thick, plus gloves in the box.
Less suitable: Work that must sit further in from the edge, or a listing you need to be consistent on material and colour.
Specifications
- Model
- LDHHYH 80 mm
- Brand
- LDHHYH
- Price
- ∼£22
- Customer rating
- 4.6/5(38)
- Mounting
- Clamp-on
- Jaw width
- 80 mm
- Swivel
- 360°
- Soft jaws
- Rubber pads
- Weight
- 1.8 kg
- Material
- Steel or cast iron
- Duty
- Light, near edge
Common questions
What is the jaw width?
80 mm, stated in the title and the bullets.
Can it be used for metalworking?
The bullets say yes, alongside woodwork and models. The file gives no load rating.
Does it come with protective gloves?
Yes. The included-components line lists one pair of gloves, the vice, and four rubber feet.
Our view
The TEENO is a 1.86 kg clamp-on vice with a 70 mm jaw and a stated 77.5 mm opening, at £18.99. It has 4.4 stars from 641 amazon.co.uk reviews, which is why it is the best value here for light wood and hobby jobs you clamp on and then clear away. The base rotates 360 degrees. UK reviews say that lock does not always hold, and one base loosened while the owner was cutting steel screws. Another owner found the jaws seized after light use. The title says cast steel and the table says alloy steel, and an 800 kg clamping line has no test method in the file. It is the portable pick while the job stays light, and it is the wrong vice once you are cutting steel bolts.
Pros
- £18.99 with 641 reviews
- 77.5 mm opening
- Comes off a portable bench
Cons
- Base loosened when cutting steel screws
- Swivel lock slips
- Jaws seized for one owner after light use
Best for: Light wood and hobby jobs on a table you can clamp, then clear away.
Less suitable: Cutting steel bolts or any job that needs the swivel to stay locked.
Specifications
- Model
- TEENO 70 mm
- Brand
- TEENO
- Price
- ∼£19
- Customer rating
- 4.4/5(641)
- Mounting
- Clamp-on
- Jaw width
- 70 mm
- Jaw opening
- 77.5 mm
- Swivel
- 360°
- Soft jaws
- Plastic faces
- Weight
- 1.86 kg
- Material
- Alloy steel
- Duty
- Light portable
Common questions
What is it made of?
The title says cast steel. The attribute table says alloy steel. Those two lines are not reconciled in the file.
Does it rotate?
The listing says the base rotates 360 degrees. UK reviews say the lock does not always hold.
Is the 800 kg clamping figure a test result?
No test method is in the file. Treat 800 kg as a title claim only.
Our view
The DAYUAN is a 4 inch bolt-down swivel vice at 4.7 kg and £24.95, with an anvil named in the title and bolt lugs for a fixed bench. It has 4.4 stars from 261 amazon.co.uk reviews. UK owners use it for light metal and for turning the work in a tight shed, and they reject the industrial wording. Arrival scratches, flashing, and corroded pad screws appear in those reviews, and one owner found a loose jaw. Jaw opening is not given as a number, so you cannot check a long workpiece against it before the vice arrives. Soft pads are not confirmed in the file. It suits a home bench you can drill, and it does not match a 6 inch fitter’s vice.
Pros
- Bolt-down lugs
- Anvil named in the title
- 4.7 kg
Cons
- UK reviews say it is not industrial
- Jaw opening not stated as a number
- Arrival scratches and corroded pad screws reported
Best for: A home bench that can take bolts, for light metal and a swivel in a tight shed.
Less suitable: Anyone who needs a 6 inch jaw or a vice that matches the word industrial.
Specifications
- Model
- DAYUAN 4 inch
- Brand
- DAYUAN
- Price
- ∼£25
- Customer rating
- 4.4/5(261)
- Mounting
- Bolt-down
- Jaw width
- 100 mm
- Swivel
- 360°
- Weight
- 4.7 kg
- Material
- Alloy steel, cast iron
- Duty
- Light metal
Common questions
Can the jaws be replaced?
The listing asks. The bullets do not say the jaw plates are replaceable.
Does it rotate?
Yes. The listing states a 360 degree swivel base with bolt lugs.
Is it the heavy industrial vice the title describes?
UK reviews say no. Owners describe a compact home vice, with oil, flashing, and in one case pre-delivery marks.
Our view
The DASBET is the lowest-priced full clamp-on here, at £14.59, with a 50 mm jaw, a 65 mm opening, and a weight of 1.47 kg. It has 4.4 stars from 32 amazon.co.uk reviews. UK owners mention jaw and table protectors, and they move it between light jobs. One UK review says the body cracked in half. A single bullet prints 65 mm, 50 mm, and 68 mm, and the 68 mm is not a clear bench-thickness limit. The listing says the base swivels 360 degrees and names metalworking, with no load figure. Thirty-two reviews is a small sample once a casting has already failed for one owner. A cracked body is a reason to stop and speak to the seller under the 30-day short-term right to reject, rather than keep working.
Pros
- £14.59
- Protectors mentioned by UK owners
- Easy to move
Cons
- One UK review: cracked in half
- Three different millimetre figures in one bullet
- Only 32 reviews
Best for: The lowest-priced full clamp-on in this set for light, movable work.
Less suitable: Any job where a cracked casting has already been reported and 32 reviews is too small a sample.
Specifications
- Model
- DASBET 2.5 inch
- Brand
- DASBET
- Price
- ∼£15
- Customer rating
- 4.4/5(32)
- Mounting
- Clamp-on
- Jaw width
- 50 mm
- Jaw opening
- 65 mm
- Swivel
- 360°
- Soft jaws
- Protectors
- Weight
- 1.47 kg
- Material
- Cast iron
- Duty
- Crack reported
Common questions
What is the jaw width?
50 mm, which the bullets also call 2 inches. Opening is up to 65 mm.
Can it be used for metalworking?
The bullets name metalworking. A UK review says one example cracked in half. No load figure is given.
Does it rotate?
The listing says the base swivels 360 degrees.
Our view
The Zazafolora is a 1.7 kg clamp-on vice with a 70 mm jaw and an opening of 0–77.5 mm, at £19.99. It has 4.4 stars from 23 amazon.co.uk reviews. The bullets say you can fit it without drilling, and they include jaw covers. A UK review says those covers fall off and look like transit pieces, and another says the vice cracked after one use. The bullets say cast iron and the table says metal only. Owners have used it for small jobs such as re-gripping a golf club. Twenty-three reviews is a thin sample beside the TEENO’s 641. It is a light clamp-on only if you accept that one body already cracked and the covers do not stay on.
Pros
- No drilling claimed
- 70 mm jaw, 77.5 mm opening
- Covers included
Cons
- Cracked after one use in a UK review
- Covers fall off
- Only 23 reviews
Best for: Small clamp-on jobs such as re-gripping a golf club, if you accept a thin review sample.
Less suitable: Anyone who needs covers that stay on, or a vice that has not already cracked for an owner.
Specifications
- Model
- Zazafolora 70 mm
- Brand
- Zazafolora
- Price
- ∼£20
- Customer rating
- 4.4/5(23)
- Mounting
- Clamp-on
- Jaw width
- 70 mm
- Jaw opening
- 77.5 mm
- Swivel
- 360°
- Soft jaws
- Covers slip
- Weight
- 1.7 kg
- Material
- Cast iron
- Duty
- Crack reported
Common questions
Is it made of cast iron?
The bullets say cast iron. The attribute table says metal only.
What is the jaw width?
70 mm. The clamping range in the bullets is 0–77.5 mm.
Do the protective covers stay on?
They are listed as included. A UK review says they fall off and seem meant only for transit.
Our view
The WinHub is a 1.93 kg clamp-on vice at £17.99, with an 80 mm jaw and a 74 mm opening in the bullets and a bench limit of 62 mm. It has 4.3 stars from 30 amazon.co.uk reviews. A UK reviewer mentions soft jaws and light work. Another calls the clamp 70 mm, which does not match the 80 mm line. One UK review says the vice crumbled. The bullets also call it a Stanley vice, while the brand field is WinHub. The base is listed as a 360 degree swivel. It is a light clamp-on with a stated 62 mm bench bite, and a crumbled casting plus a borrowed brand name are both reasons to treat the listing with care.
Pros
- 80 mm and 74 mm opening stated
- Bench up to 62 mm
- Soft jaws noted by an owner
Cons
- Crumbled in a UK review
- Called a Stanley vice in the bullets
- A reviewer says 70 mm
Best for: Very light duties if you want soft jaws and a 62 mm clamp capacity.
Less suitable: Heavy use. One UK review says it crumbled, and the bullets call it a Stanley vice.
Specifications
- Model
- WinHub 80 mm
- Brand
- WinHub
- Price
- ∼£18
- Customer rating
- 4.3/5(30)
- Mounting
- Clamp-on
- Jaw width
- 80 mm
- Jaw opening
- 74 mm
- Swivel
- 360°
- Soft jaws
- Owner noted
- Weight
- 1.93 kg
- Material
- Cast iron
- Duty
- Crumbled
Common questions
What is the jaw width?
The bullets say 80 mm, with a 74 mm opening. One UK review describes a 70 mm clamp.
Can it be rotated?
The listing says the base rotates 360 degrees.
Is it a Stanley vice?
No. The brand field is WinHub. The word stanley appears in a bullet and is not the brand.
Our view
The BUYSK is an aluminium mini clamp at £7.99, about 141 g in the table and 154 g in the bullets, with a clamp length of about 30 mm and a bench edge of 36 mm. It has 3.8 stars from 238 amazon.co.uk reviews, the lowest star line in this set. UK reviews describe kit parts and small glue-ups, which matches the jewellery and model use in the title. One owner says sharp points marked the bench on both sides, and others call the build flimsy. There is no swivel and no stated jaw opening. It holds tiny parts on a thin table edge, and it is not a stand-in for any of the 50–100 mm vices in this comparison.
Pros
- £7.99
- Very light
- Fits a 36 mm edge
Cons
- 3.8 stars
- Sharp points damaged a bench
- Weight listed as both 141 g and 154 g
Best for: Tiny parts, kit shaping, and small glue-ups on a table up to 36 mm.
Less suitable: Anything you would put in a real bench vice, or a finished tabletop you cannot mark.
Specifications
- Model
- BUYSK mini
- Brand
- BUYSK
- Price
- ∼£8
- Customer rating
- 3.8/5(238)
- Mounting
- Clamp-on
- Swivel
- No
- Weight
- 0.14–0.15 kg
- Material
- Aluminium
- Duty
- Models only
Common questions
Can it hold small jewellery pieces?
That is the title use. UK reviews describe kit parts and small glue-ups, not heavy clamping.
What is it made of?
Aluminium alloy. The material line also says 32 mm, which is not explained as a jaw size.
Will it mark the table?
One UK review says sharp points damaged the bench on both sides.
How we compared
Shelf prices, stars, and review counts are the amazon.co.uk figures stored for these eleven listings on 16 October 2026. The editorial score is a 0–100 figure for this set. It is not the star rating times 20, not a British Standard, and not a measured clamping force. We did not run a workshop trial. Deductions keep owner-reported faults in the score, including broken clamps, locks that slip, and cracked castings.
1
Stars
25%Amazon stars are converted as (stars ÷ 5) × 25, rounded half up, for a maximum of 25 points. A single review still receives the star points, then a separate deduction.
2
Review volume
20%The amazon.co.uk count is banded up to 20 points. Five thousand reviews or more score 20. Under five reviews score 0. A large sample is not treated as a stiffness test.
3
Job fit
20%Mass, mounting, and whether UK reviews describe the job the listing is built for, up to 20 points. A light hobby vice that owners use for angled work scores higher on fit than a heavy title with no UK write-up.
4
Price in this set
15%A lower shelf price scores higher inside this basket, up to 15 points: 15 at £7.99 and 2 at £89.90. That is a rank within these eleven listings, not a claim that the price is the cheapest in the UK.
5
Listing clarity
20%Up to 20 points for a stated jaw width or opening, material lines that agree, and a size block a reader can believe. Conflicting colour or material, or a 50 cm block on a 5 kg vice, costs points.
Independent review
Last updated: October 2026
8 sources checked
Bench vice buying guide
Start with mounting, then jaw width, then whether a swivel lock has to hold. A star rating does not tell you those three. The eleven listings below are amazon.co.uk pages, with the prices and review counts stored for this comparison. Clamp-on models suit a table you must not drill. Bolt-down models suit a bench that can take fixings over a leg. UK reviews still call several of the heavier-looking titles light duty. Treat an 800 kg line and Kn30 as title claims, not test results.
What is a bench vice?
A bench vice holds the work so you can saw, file, drill, or fit it with both hands free. On amazon.co.uk this set is mostly light clamp-on table vices around 50–80 mm jaws and 1.5–1.9 kg, plus two bolt-down 4 inch or 100 mm vices around 5 kg, one tilting clamp, one mini aluminium craft vice, and one 6 inch ductile-iron unit at 19.1 kg. Judge a listing by the mounting, the jaw against the real workpiece, whether a swivel lock stays shut, and whether UK owners report cracks.
Best for
- Home DIY and hobby jobs you pack away, with soft jaws for wood and models
- Light garage work such as bikes and toys on a bench you can bolt
Not ideal for
- Daily steelwork, repeated hammering, or milling
- Paid metalwork that needs a bolted engineer’s vice outside this set
Mistakes to avoid
- 1
Trusting heavy duty on a light vice
Several listings under 2 kg use heavy-duty or industrial wording. UK reviews describe the Stanleys and the DAYUAN as light duty. The Buyfun bullets say milling, and the only UK review describes lighter objects. Read the mass and the owner notes, not the adjective in the title.
- 2
Mixing up three different millimetre figures
Jaw width, jaw opening, and the thickness of bench a clamp will bite are different measurements. LDHHYH and WinHub state a bench bite up to 62 mm. A portable wood vice is often nearer 55 mm. The DASBET bullet prints 65 mm, 50 mm, and 68 mm together, and 68 mm is not a clear bench limit.
- 3
Treating a title figure as a test
The TEENO file gives no test method for 800 kg. The BestEquip bullets write Kn30 without explaining the unit. The Stanley 1-83-065 dimension block is not a credible size for a 5.04 kg vice, and owners describe it as compact. Do not use BestEquip comments from other countries as British experience.
What to weigh up
Mounting
HighBolt-down on a solid top over a leg is the stiff setup. Faithfull’s mounting note and the ITS bench-vice page treat a vice that stays as something you bolt, and a clamp-on as acceptable only if the clamp does not creep. In this set the split is concrete. The Stanley 1-83-065 is bolt-down, 100 mm, 5.04 kg, at £29.95, and UK reviews still call the duty light. The swivel lock slips, so the base can creep under load after you have bolted it down.
Jaw width, mass, and the lock
HighJaw width and jaw opening are not the same number as the bench thickness a clamp will bite. Engineer’s vices in Wonkee Donkee’s UK size guide run about 75–200 mm wide. Woodworking vices are often 150 mm and up. Most clamp-ons here are 50–80 mm. The TEENO and the Zazafolora state a 77.5 mm opening. The DASBET states a 50 mm jaw and a 65 mm opening, then prints 68 mm in the same bullet, which is not a clear bench-thickness limit. LDHHYH and WinHub state a bench bite up to 62 mm.
Which option suits you?
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
Light garage work
You have a bench you can bolt into, and the jobs are bikes, toys, and other light garage work. The Stanley 1-83-065 is the 100 mm bolt-down in this set. UK reviews still call the duty light, and the swivel lock can slip.
Price-conscious and portable
You want a clamp-on you can clear away, at a lower price that still has hundreds of reviews. The TEENO at £18.99 is the best value for light wood and hobby jobs. Skip it once you are cutting steel bolts.
Common questions about bench vices
Which bench vice is the top pick in this set?
The top pick is the Stanley 1-83-069 for light angled work you pack away. It is a 1.5 kg clamp-on with a 75 mm jaw and a ball joint, at about £22.31, with 4.7 from 12,585 amazon.co.uk reviews. UK reviews call it light-duty: a clamp has broken, and the ball joint can vibrate loose while you sand. The score is not a measured clamping force.
How much does a bench vice cost on amazon.co.uk?
In this set, entry clamp-ons and the mini run from about £7.99 to about £22.31. Light bolt-down vices are about £24.95 to £29.95. The tilting clamp is about £45.99, and the 19.1 kg BestEquip listing is about £89.90. Toolstation shows an Irwin Record 4 inch at £49.99, outside this amazon.co.uk basket. Those shop prices are not the rows scored here.
Should you choose a clamp-on vice or a bolt-down vice?
Bolt-down on a solid top over a leg is the stiffer setup if the vice stays. Clamp-on suits a table you must not drill and a vice you pack away. The clamp is only as good as the edge. ITS says bolt it if it stays, and use a clamp-on only if the clamp does not creep. In this set the bolt-down rows are the Stanley 1-83-065 and the DAYUAN. UK reviews still call both light duty.
What jaw width should you look for?
Wonkee Donkee's UK guide puts engineer's vices at about 75–200 mm wide, and woodworking vices often at 150 mm and up. Most clamp-ons here are 50–80 mm. Keep jaw width separate from jaw opening and from how thick a bench the clamp will bite. LDHHYH and WinHub state up to 62 mm of bench. Match the jaw to the workpiece, not to a heavy-duty title.
Do Amazon stars show how stiff a vice is?
No. Stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk listing figures. They are one part of the editorial score, with job fit, price in this set, and listing clarity. A high star line does not measure stiffness or safety. The Stanley 1-83-069 has 12,585 reviews and UK reviews still call it light-duty. The BestEquip line has no United Kingdom review text in this file.
Can you use one of these bench vices for milling?
A bullet that says milling does not make the listing a milling vice. HSE guidance expects a vice on a drilling machine to be clamped to the table, and that does not turn a bench vice into a milling vice. Buyfun's bullets say milling; the only UK review describes lighter objects. If turning the work is the question, see the swivel vice comparison. Repeated hammering sits outside this basket.
What should you do if the casting cracks?
Stop using it and speak to the seller. At home, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 gives a 30-day short-term right to reject goods that are not of satisfactory quality. A cracked casting or a seized screw is that kind of fault. UK reviews here include a Zazafolora that cracked after one use, a DASBET that cracked in half, and a WinHub that crumbled. Do not lengthen the handle with a tube.
Is the BestEquip 6 inch backed by UK owner reports?
The BestEquip is a 6 inch ductile-iron vice at 19.1 kg and about £89.90, with 4.6 from 694 reviews on the amazon.co.uk line. This file has no United Kingdom review text, so those comments are not British owner reports. The title says clamp-on and the bullets say mount it on the bench. Jaw opening is not stated, and Kn30 is not an explained test.
Our verdict
The top pick is the Stanley 1-83-069, a 1.5 kg clamp-on with a 75 mm jaw and a ball joint, at £22.31, for light angled work you pack away. The score keeps the broken clamp and the loose ball joint. The best value is the TEENO at £18.99, with a stated 70 mm jaw and 77.5 mm opening, for light clamp-on jobs, with the steel-screw and seized-jaw faults kept in the score. A bolt-down 100 mm Stanley suits a fixed bench for bikes and light garage work, and UK owners still call that duty light. Heavier paid metalwork sits outside this basket.
Best value
View offer
TEENO 70 mm
£18.99 with 641 reviews, a 70 mm jaw and a 77.5 mm opening, for light clamp-on jobs, with the lock and seized-jaw faults kept in the score.
Editorial
Editor
Workshop toolsamazon.co.uk listingsUK buying guides
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 bench vices
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Bench vice buying guideMounting, jaw width, and material before the star line.Best bench vicesWho the top pick and the best value are for, and who should skip them.How to mount a bench viceClamp or bolt so the bench carries the load.Clamp-on or bolt-downWhen to screw to the edge and when to bolt the vice down.Bench vice jaw widthMatch about 50–150 mm to the workpiece, separate from bench thickness.
Related comparisons
Sources
Public UK sources for mounting, sizing, and consumer-rights context. Listings checked 16 October 2026. Prices on amazon.co.uk move.
- HSE, PUWER overview (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- HSE, HSG129 health and safety in engineering workshops (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 22 (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- Wonkee Donkee, engineer’s vice sizes (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- Wonkee Donkee, woodwork vice sizes (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- Toolstation, vices (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- Faithfull, mounting a bench vice (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- ITS, bench vice (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 come from those listings. We did not run a workshop trial. The scores rank a listing inside this set only.