Best Bench Vise? $60 vs $500 “Unbreakable” Vise? Irwin, Yost, Wilton, Ridgid, Heuer, Central Forge 

I've made a few smart purchases and many smart non-purchases because of your tests. You are definitely the go to guy for honest tool reviews in real world situations.

I have to say... I have sat in the parking lot at the big box store watching PF videos to help decide which tool I was going to walk in and buy! Thank you for all the amazing hard work you put into each video!

The vertical drop test was brutal...and very fun to watch. Great job as always!

Gotta say, I'm incredibly impressed not only with the comprehensive nature of your testing but how wholesome this community of informed buyers you've helped create. been watching a long time and definitely wont stop. keep up the great work!

So many of us enjoy Project Farms videos, but few of us realize how much money, time, effort, careful thought and deliberation go into making each of these videos! These aren't quick easy tests by any stretch of the imagination. Sincere and profound thanks to our host, Todd, for saving us all a ton of time, money and frustration from buying crap tools! Cheers, Todd, you're simply fantastic!

One my biggest takeaways was how the Central Forge finished so close to its average in each individual placing, i.e. no major outlier finishes. This suggests some pretty solid consistency at almost all the tests. Not bad at all for a budget vice, probably a solid choice for most small-shop situations. Great stuff Todd, then again it's ALWAYS great stuff.

I absolutely love how you get the information out there nice and quick, it's a load of information at the speed of which we understand and the speed of which we like to watch, you are doing such an amazing job and I'm such a proud subscriber of project farm

The best vice is the one that your grandad had. This is a perfect example of a tool that “they just don’t make like they used to”. I’ve got a Record vice made in Sheffield that is around 70 years old and spent 50 years in a blacksmith’s shop at a coal mine. It’s barely got a scratch on it.

Project Farm has become the benchmark, for which all the other tool reviewer videos are judged. Nobody does it as well. A few come close. But the majority fall far short. You've mastered the art of this media platform. 👍 In regard to the vices, I spun the cylinder, and pulled the trigger on Horror Freight's Central Forge, in 2019, when they still had the 20% off coupons. Cost me less than $50. All I can say is I'm glad I did. Timex would be proud to put their name on this vice. It has taken a thrashing so severely in the last 2 1/2 years, that i've now repainted it twice. It's currently British racing green. If you get this vice, you probably won't be disappointed. One plus for this vice is that the jaws are secured by recessed, hex head (Allen) screws. The negative is that HF doesn't sell replacement jaws, nor do they sell an optional smooth faced set, for "mar free" clamping. I often use it for wood working, and the factory jaws do a number on anything soft they clamp down on. So I went to Wally World and bought one of those 1/2" thick, white, nylon/plastic cutting boards, and made multiple sets of "soft jaws" out of it, for the vice. The board thickness was perfect for this. No more diamond patterns embossed into my work pieces. 👍 Also, if mounting this vice onto a plywood work bench top (especially any top less than 3/4" thickness), I highly recommend using a section of plate steel under it, due to it only being a "3 hole" design. Once torqued down, it is rock solid. Vice Mounting 101 - "Pro Tip" for first time vice owners. When mounting, (ie..BEFORE you drill the holes in your bench top, and plate!), make sure that the inner face of the REAR jaw on your vice, is at least 1", to 1.5" FORWARD of (ie..clears it, by), the edge of your work bench! If it does not, then you will NEVER be able to secure any work piece south of the jaws, longer than 6.5", or so. Don't ask me how I know this. 😂

Wow! I think this is the first time that something "unbreakable" has actually lived up to the claim on your channel! Fantastic video as always!

I have seen many of his videos and I like how he tries to intervene as little as possible and with as few variables as possible, being as technical and easy to understand at the same time.

I had that exact Irwin vise break while pressing an upper shock bearing in. I got lucky as everything broke. I replaced it with a Wilton 1765 about 4 years ago. It is one of my favorite tools in the shop and should be a lifelong piece. Thank you for your time on this test.

Was hoping to see Doyle from HF, have one of those among 5 other vices mostly US made and it's surprisingly not bad. Great tests PF!

This is one guy that can destroy stuff and be loved by all for doing it! His tests are always eye-openers. It would have been nice to have had an old American vise in the test to see how well it would have held up. Thanks Todd for sharing your time and talents with us.

This is a great testing video! I have a Brockhaus Heuer 140 for 2 years now, it never disappointed me and it’s my favorite tool ever bought😊 Greetings from the Netherlands

Love seeing the tools I own perform well. I look forward even more to seeing the tools I want be pit against competing brands! Your channel is great

We Germans don't take pride in many things, but one of the few things were out pride is at it's highest is build quality. Awsome review, keep them coming.

Got Heuers in our workshop, they are installed since 30 years, they got welding marks, angle grinder cuts and slightly bent handles, but they still work perfectly. And considering that here in Germany the 140mm(8inch of span) just cost 190€, it's a good value.

I really love these tests, please never stop testing equipment! This information is invaluable. Side note: I'm a huge fan of Harbor Freight and their tools for their value/quality proposition. They never cease to amaze.

Todd is KING regarding in depth tools, oils, adhesives,etc., testing, including dreadful torture tests that give goose bumps to manufacturers / importers. Todd's actually THE worldwide honest referent reagarding the above & my go-to shopping advisor. Not enough words to say 'Thank You' to Todd & his dedicated work in his own awsome category!!.. 🇺🇸🙏🙏🙏

"Bent right out of the box". Too funny. More than likely someone bought it, used it, and returned it. Seen it many times before. Love the torture tests. Thank you for another fantastic testing video!

I know everyone wants to see the Fireball Hardtail in this test, but unfortunately it wouldn’t be a fair fight. The Hardtail is in a different weight class 270lbs and price point. For example the Hardtail’s handle starts to bend at 40,000lbs.

Great tests! As someone who has broken a couple of vises at least than opportune moments, it looks like it might be fun breaking one for science. Speaking of science, I always enjoy seeing the clever test rigs you come up with to produce repeatable and fair data across all the devices you're comparing.

Thanks Project Farm for a great series of tests!! Very informative!! Having been around a few times when vises break, your tests give a very comprehensive look at vise quality.

I was seriously impressed with the harbor freight central forge vise in this test. I had avoided them for so long because I heard they were brittle and quick to break, but this video tells an entirely different tale!

I've had the Fireball Tool 5 inch vise for awhile now and it has lasted through everything I have done with it. The big selling point is the base being designed for welding tables that have 5/8 holes spaced 2 inches apart, which meant that I was able to take it out of the box and bolt it to my table and it can be moved to any position on the table. It would be a good one to include if you ever do a round 2 of testing.

Most of my tool purchases have come from your reviews. Keep up the awesome tests! Can’t wait to really put my central forge to the test!

Bought a Forward three days ago, saw this video today (5/23/2024) and now I feel reasonably good about my purchase ! Thanks for the time and effort making these videos.

I don't need to buy a vise, but as soon as I saw this video by Project Farm testing some, I had to watch it! That's how good this channel is! Thanks for sharing.

As someone who is going to be building and buying my own garage shop, and home maintenance place your channel is (and has always been) the best for helping me decide what to buy! You have helped me more then you'll ever know! And this episode is no different! Thank you for all of your work!

I appreciate the videos for the creative ways to test different items, I like the custom rigging and fabrications it takes to test as fair as possible. It is a true unbiased testing of super random every day products

Every time I need a tool I see a video from you. Never fails to help me. You the man!

I do not have any needs for a bench vise but I’m addicted to your non biased views and fair tests! Thanks for all the videos you have put up! Made some smart purchases as an auto tech thanks to your thorough reviews!

It's awesome to see the test rigs that you come up with to perform your testing with. You really put a lot of effort into your videos! Also nice upgrade in the testing equipment. You do great with educating a lot of buyers out there.

Wow! The means you go to in order to test everything you test is truly most impressive. All of your videos are informative and educational. Bravo!

Glad to see the Central Forge did quite well in the tests as I bought one just shortly before this video was made. Great stuff as always, Thanks for all you do.👍

The chart at the end, the competition throughout the video, this was a top notch production from you. Keep it up!

YES! A vise is one of those things that I've always been told not to cheap out on, looking forward to seeing if a higher price really means better quality!

Brother, you are the first channel I look for, before buying any tools, oils, etc! You Rock!!

This was an interesting video to watch. Thanks for your time and energy producing it.

I bought my Larin 5" vise years and years ago from Costco. This thing has been through hell and back, been pounded on over and over with a sledge hammer and is still a workhorse. Thank you Todd for another amazing video on this chilly Sunday afternoon.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. You run an amazing channel and provide such important information. The detail you go through alone to ensure fair and accurate testing is bar none. I applaud you good sir. Thank you.

I've really enjoy all of the testing documenting you do on these products in your videos

I just purchased the forward 5" vise and I love it. Thank you for making this video because it guided my decision.

The only complaint I have is tiny, but during the hammer test, all the pieces being hammered were at different lengths in the vices. Those different lengths would make a massive difference in force applied to the jaws. Otherwise, very comprehensive and well thought out testing sir!

Perfect timing on this video. Just today I was looking at a few small vise for my portable workbench and was not really even putting Central Forge into my options for consideration, and now I am kind of leaning that way.

All I can say is you are my #1 source for solid and reliable information. Keep up the great work.

Oh, Also, project farm is my absolute go to for Pre-buying for just about everything! Thank you sir for your very fine channel. You are appreciated sir. Cheers from Motown!

I have a brockhaus heuer 140 here in the Netherlnds. They are a lot cheaper here around 215,- euro. The play off the jaw is adjustable by tightening the bolt on de side of the base of the brockhaus. Can't wait till next week's video i like them a lot!

I have 2 of the Central Forge vises in my shop. One is about 3 years old and the other 2. No problems with either yet. I'm not abusively hard on them but they do get a lot of use. I do a lot of welding and metal work. Thanks for another very informative test.

Thanks for all of your hard work on this bench test of these vises. I now watch your channel before making a purchase on any kind of equipment. Keep up the great work!

Thank you again for another thorough product evaluation. Whether viewers are seeking the best value or the most robust vise, your testing will guide them to right choice. You are an amazing product tester.

Nice Video, I'm from germany and own a Heuer Vise with replaceable jaws and a swiveling base, it cost me arround 250€, that our german tools are so expensive in america is always shocking to me :/ But I always love it when someone like you tests those tools against your brands, good work!

i ended up buying 2 5-1/2" wilton vises and ive been perfectly happy so far with them. They retailed for like $130, but the local napa accidentally bought an entire pallet extra so they put them on sale for $80 each.

THANK YOU!! I am about to buy a vice and you helped me decide!! Fantastic video! It is my first video with you but you earned a subscriber! Cheers🍻

Todd, this is an amazing video!!! As many people here commented, thank you for doing such a good job with this!

I really enjoy seeing the improvised testing tools and equipment. The depth gauge setup was nicely played and I really enjoyed the socket with the cross bolt. I was not understanding how a hex was driving them until closer inspection. The seemingly simple ones are always the most pleasing. Very brave to take them to failure like that and really interesting to see the differences in how they each (nearly each) failed.

Love my heuer vise. They been building them in exactly that shape for decades. Bought mine used for 40€ and end the seller told it used ti belong to his father and that it is at least 30 years old. Bead blasted it, repainted, put some grease on on it and it looked like new ( it's tool not a collectable I made a few scratches). Kinda love the history about it. On the base it says 68 so maybe that's the year it was made. Also, you can adjust the wobble with the m12 screw in the middle. You can tighten it get basicly zero side movement but it turn a lot harder.

Thanks man. Great video! I really respect, how you are able to invent these devices to test the equipment. Always surprised with each video! Thanks so much

I'm totally enjoying watching your videos since subscribing last year. I'm a machinist by trade and retired from our local community college end of June 2022 running the machine lab. This test was very interesting and informative. Those imported vises including the ones by Yost & Wilton are similar to what the welding lab uses, because man they are rough on them. In the machining lab I ran we had genuine Wilton machinist vises but when I needed to add more I ordered genuine Yost machinist vises. They are still made here in America and cost around $200-300 less than the Wilton machinist vises, we've been using them for about 5+ years now and they are really good. We also make & mount aluminum soft jaws on all of the shop vises. The best way to be able to apply maximum torque is to not have a swivel base on the vise.

Nice test, and good information. One bench vise I would recommend is the Fireball tools hardtail model. It's made in USA, and he also did a test of vises, and his definitely survived. His is available with deposit for preorder, which might help explain that it's handmade. I would mention that Wilton does make some professional vise's in USA.

I know they are considerably more expensive; but I’d like to see a similar test between the higher end vices. Especially the USA made Wilton and it’s counterparts. Great video as always!

I cannot thank you enough for what you do-- it's a great service to all of us who tinker, fix, build and repair. Especially these days where so many manufacturers literally package junk and sell it at a premium. I would have never considered a Central Forge vise...ever...before watching this. I will say this-- before I buy anything I always look to see if you have a video on it. Thank you again sir!

You are really amazing. I was trying to guess how many tests you could do . I could find only 2.. Great job.

Always makes my sundays better seeing you upload . Thanks a lot Todd i appreciate your excellent testing

Very cool test! I’ve been looking at getting a bench vise recently, so this is well timed! Would have been cool to see a classic American made bench vise in the contest.

This comparison was so good that I just watched it a second time. It helped me decide on a vintage American made vise.

Outstanding tests! As a German I didn't hesitate to get me a true HEUER vise a few years ago. They are a LOT cheaper here than in the US but of course still way more expensive than some Chinese cast iron vises. I got the "160"-model, i.e. one size up from what was tested here, and I paid about 1/2 the price shown here. And I didn't regret it a single day! 😃

So timely, I need a good bench vise right now. Thank you very much!!

Great video as always! I know you’ve done reciprocating saw tests in the past, but have you considered testing the newer one handed “hackzall” type saws? Also testing orbital reciprocating saws would be awesome. I appreciate all the hard work you put into your videos, and I can’t wait to see what’s next in store!

I've broke 4 bench vises over the years. The one I have now is an old one from I believe the 70s era and it is built like a tank. If by some chance I manage to break it (wasn't a high end vise from what I've researched) I'll definitely shell out for the expensive "unbreakable" one. When using a vise I want it to be as strong as possible because I expect a lot from it. Thanks for another good comparison video.

Great video! I’ve only had the central forge for a few months but very happy with it so far

I’ve have a HF vice I bought over 15 years ago, and I’ll bet I didn’t pay more than $30. Never failed yet. If I replace it, I’ll definitely buy one with a pipe jaw as I could have used it many times. Great review, and you always amaze me with the various tests you come up with.

Fireball tool did a great video on vises also I always buy forged vises because (ductile) cast iron vises always fails as you proved great video!

I picked up a Yost 460 vice a few years ago at a local pawn shop for $30. This vice is a beast and performed very well. I have only good things to say about this vice. It was old when I bought it and keeps working for me . I recommend this vice for long term reliability.

I love how objective your tests are, whenever I watch other reviews it's more about how it made them feel and and how it looks but yours are reliable trusted tests. For most others it's hard to tell as looks and feel are opinionated heavily and are different from person to person. Whereas with your tests I just get that statistics which is perfect. You are the main reason I have all the tools I have today which have been passed down from my dad to me asy dad watches you too.

There's a vice from Fireball tool that I really want to get, mainly to keep in the truck since it doubles as a jack. I know they did a fair bit of testing already on their channel, but I'd love to see what you could come up with to maybe push it to failure. Also I'm very impressed with the Central Forge, gonna have to keep this in mind when I build a new bench

A vise is one of those critical tools that I'd take a horrible wooden one over no vise at all! Very impressed with the Harbor Freight one. I use an old Wilton bullet vise in my shop, it's never let me down. Sad to see the modern Wilton do so poorly. I put some copper jaws on mine, now there's little that can escape its grasp! Thanks for all you do!

I can't get enough of your videos! As always thank you so much!!

Gladd you made this one. I been trying to sideline witch one to get. Happy for all your videos

You are a valuable member of the RU-vid community. Thanks.

Love this video! I've always wondered about cheap vs expensive vises. So thorough as always! I don't go to google or amazon for tool reviews anymore. I go here! Would love to see another boot comparison follow up to the one you did last year, but this time including $500+ dollar boots. 👍

Your reviews are always useful and practical. Thanks for your effort!

I always check with your site when buying something for my garage. Thank you!

Now I have a better idea what to get for my small workbench. Great work, thank you.

I see round two coming for vises 😁 Perhaps Fireball tool, Capri tools, and Doyle could be making an appearance then?! Wow, unbreakable indeed! Very impressive, Heuer! What a surprise that the Harbor Freight and Forward vises performed better than I had anticipated. For budget vises under 100 bucks, not bad at all. Thanks again PF!

Fireball tool on youtube ran through a few vice failures in his development of the perfect vice. It exists in a different price bracket and is geared more to fabricators and is absolutely massive. It is a very cool video that would be worth a watch after finishing this video for those interested. Thanks for spending the time to put these videos together. I can really appreciate the time it takes to put a video together. You uncover very valuable information for people. I work in a tire factory and other than the super old vices from our nearly 100 year old factory nearly all of the new stuff gets quickly destroyed.

Very underrated episode here. No one really thinks about the quality of a vice. I'm glad you did this.

Wow, very impressive tests! I would have been a bit scared during that last test. The Crentral forge impressed me too. I wonder how the new HF Doyle line of vices would compare.

My uncle has a massive collection of antique vises of all types. I am very interested to see how those compare to the modern vises in this testing.

I've used your advice for many purchases thanks for saving me money!

Fun and interesting tests ! I have the Harbor Freight bench vise and was very pleased to see how well it withstood your tests. I personally cannot live without a bench vise, my third ' strong ' arm !

I’ve used and broken a few cheap vises and have a good idea what to avoid! As mentioned, it would be nice to test an old vise to see how it compares (but it would be sad to test to failure). Thanks again for the great custom test jigs, data points and testing standards!

Love this topic and would love to see a round 2! Vises are something I've always bought older made in USA stuff. I'm curious what else is even out there anymore that isn't junk.

I have that same Irwin, almost 4 years now. Pretty happy with it. I use the anvil a lot more than I anticipated…

Thanks for testing these vices! I bought a Central Forge vise last year and have wondered hard if it was a good purchase...your tests seem to say it certainly was!

I would have liked to have seen a Fireball Tool vise and also an old school Wilton bullet vise.

I always look forward to your videos. I love seeing your testing methods. I will always appreciate you're scientific and unbiased approach.

These are some of the best videos. I love how objective they are

You rock! Thanks for such an objective video. With the information you give is so much easier to make a decision.