Machine Vises

Machine vises secure workpieces during drilling, milling, CNC machining, tapping, reaming and other metalworking tasks. This category includes drill press vises for general-purpose holding, milling vises with broad jaws and larger openings, cross slide vises for X-Y positioning, and cradle-style angle vises for controlled angled setups.

Product Display:
Helpful Buying Guide

Choose a Machine Vise for Your Setup

Start with the machine operation, then compare jaw size, jaw opening, mounting arrangement and positioning capability. The available vises range from compact drill press models to larger milling options, with specialized choices for angled work and controlled X-Y movement.

Visual Guide

Popular examples in this category

Use Cases

Match the vise to the operation

Use drill press vises for drilling and related operations such as tapping, reaming, spot-facing, counterboring and countersinking. Choose milling vises for milling and CNC workholding, angle vises for selected-angle setups, and cross slide vises when X-Y adjustment is needed.

How to Choose

Compare workholding capacity and setup needs

Review jaw width and jaw opening for the workpiece size you need to hold. Also consider whether your setup benefits from a low-profile body, open-center base, mounting slots, angled positioning or slide travel.

Applications

Support common machine-shop tasks

These vises are represented for drilling, milling, CNC milling and general metalworking. Certain drill press models also support work extending through the vise body, while a grooved fixed jaw can help hold round parts.

Additional Info

Look for alignment and service features

Available features include parallel base-and-bed arrangements, replaceable steel jaws, cast-iron construction, four mounting slots and indexed 15-degree pin stops. Specific alignment values and features vary by model.

2 axesCross slide positioning

The cross slide vise adjusts along the X and Y axes.

15°Angle indexing

Cradle-style angle vises use 15-degree pin stops.

10 in.Largest stated opening

The 8-inch jaw milling vise has a 10-inch jaw opening.

0.1 mmDial graduations

The cross slide vise provides 0.1 mm dial graduations.

Comparison Guide

Compare Machine Vise Types

Use this overview to focus on the workholding style and features most relevant to your machine setup.

Vise typeBest suited forFeatures represented
Drill press viseDrilling and related general machining operationsOpen-center or open-base designs, replaceable steel jaws, flexible mounting orientation and grooved fixed jaw options
Milling machine viseMilling and CNC milling workholding6-inch or 8-inch jaw widths and stated jaw openings from 9 inches to 10 inches
Specialty positioning viseAngled work or controlled X-Y placementTrunnion-style angle bases with 15-degree pin stops, or X-Y slides with 0.1 mm graduations
Planning Guide

Plan the right fit before choosing

Plan Around Your Machine Operation

Choose the vise style that fits the work

A drill press vise is a practical choice for drilling-focused workholding and related shop operations. Milling machine vises are designed for holding work during milling, including CNC milling applications. For specialized setups, cradle-style angle vises support angled workholding, while cross slide vises enable controlled placement along two axes.

  • Drill press vises support drilling and selected general metalworking tasks.
  • Milling vises provide broad clamping surfaces for milling work.
  • Cradle-style angle vises support selected-angle configurations.
  • Cross slide vises provide X-Y positioning adjustment.
Size the Clamping Area

Compare jaw width and opening before choosing

Jaw dimensions help determine whether a vise can accommodate the workpiece and provide the clamping surface needed for the setup. Listed milling options include 6-inch jaws with 9-inch or 9-1/8-inch openings, plus an 8-inch jaw model with a 10-inch opening. Drill press and angle options include compact 2-7/16-inch, 3-inch and 4-inch sizes, along with low-profile 4-inch and 6-inch models.

  • 6-inch milling vises are listed with 9-inch and 9-1/8-inch jaw openings.
  • An 8-inch milling vise is listed with a 10-inch jaw opening.
  • Compact drill press vise sizes include 2-7/16-inch, 3-inch and 4-inch options.
  • Angle vises are represented with 3-inch and 4-inch jaws.
Check Positioning and Mounting Features

Select features that support your required setup

For drilling setups, open-center or open-base designs can accommodate work that extends through the vise body. Low-profile drill press vises use four mounting slots for machine-table attachment. Where repeatable angles are important, cradle-style models feature trunnion-style bases and 15-degree pin stops. For incremental adjustment, the cross slide model has 0.1 mm dial graduations and 3-1/2-inch by 4-inch slide travel.

  • Open-center designs accommodate through-body work.
  • Low-profile vises offer four mounting slots.
  • 15-degree pin stops assist with repeatable angle adjustments.
  • X-Y slide movement supports controlled workpiece placement.
FAQ

Common questions before buying

What machine vise is best for drilling?

Drill press vises are designed to secure workpieces during drilling. Available models include open-center designs, low-profile configurations and options with replaceable steel jaws.

What is an open-center vise used for?

An open-center or open-base design accommodates work that extends through the body of the vise.

When should I choose an angle vise?

Choose a cradle-style angle vise when the workpiece needs to be held at a selected angle during machining. The represented models use trunnion-style bases and 15-degree pin stops.

What does a cross slide machine vise do?

A cross slide machine vise supports workpiece positioning along the X and Y axes. The listed model provides 0.1 mm dial graduations and 3-1/2-inch by 4-inch slide travel.

Helpful Buying Guide

Choose a Machine Vise for Your Setup

Start with the machine operation, then compare jaw size, jaw opening, mounting arrangement and positioning capability. The available vises range from compact drill press models to larger milling options, with specialized choices for angled work and controlled X-Y movement.

Visual Guide

Popular examples in this category

Use Cases

Match the vise to the operation

Use drill press vises for drilling and related operations such as tapping, reaming, spot-facing, counterboring and countersinking. Choose milling vises for milling and CNC workholding, angle vises for selected-angle setups, and cross slide vises when X-Y adjustment is needed.

How to Choose

Compare workholding capacity and setup needs

Review jaw width and jaw opening for the workpiece size you need to hold. Also consider whether your setup benefits from a low-profile body, open-center base, mounting slots, angled positioning or slide travel.

Applications

Support common machine-shop tasks

These vises are represented for drilling, milling, CNC milling and general metalworking. Certain drill press models also support work extending through the vise body, while a grooved fixed jaw can help hold round parts.

Additional Info

Look for alignment and service features

Available features include parallel base-and-bed arrangements, replaceable steel jaws, cast-iron construction, four mounting slots and indexed 15-degree pin stops. Specific alignment values and features vary by model.

2 axesCross slide positioning

The cross slide vise adjusts along the X and Y axes.

15°Angle indexing

Cradle-style angle vises use 15-degree pin stops.

10 in.Largest stated opening

The 8-inch jaw milling vise has a 10-inch jaw opening.

0.1 mmDial graduations

The cross slide vise provides 0.1 mm dial graduations.

Comparison Guide

Compare Machine Vise Types

Use this overview to focus on the workholding style and features most relevant to your machine setup.

Vise typeBest suited forFeatures represented
Drill press viseDrilling and related general machining operationsOpen-center or open-base designs, replaceable steel jaws, flexible mounting orientation and grooved fixed jaw options
Milling machine viseMilling and CNC milling workholding6-inch or 8-inch jaw widths and stated jaw openings from 9 inches to 10 inches
Specialty positioning viseAngled work or controlled X-Y placementTrunnion-style angle bases with 15-degree pin stops, or X-Y slides with 0.1 mm graduations
Planning Guide

Plan the right fit before choosing

Plan Around Your Machine Operation

Choose the vise style that fits the work

A drill press vise is a practical choice for drilling-focused workholding and related shop operations. Milling machine vises are designed for holding work during milling, including CNC milling applications. For specialized setups, cradle-style angle vises support angled workholding, while cross slide vises enable controlled placement along two axes.

  • Drill press vises support drilling and selected general metalworking tasks.
  • Milling vises provide broad clamping surfaces for milling work.
  • Cradle-style angle vises support selected-angle configurations.
  • Cross slide vises provide X-Y positioning adjustment.
Size the Clamping Area

Compare jaw width and opening before choosing

Jaw dimensions help determine whether a vise can accommodate the workpiece and provide the clamping surface needed for the setup. Listed milling options include 6-inch jaws with 9-inch or 9-1/8-inch openings, plus an 8-inch jaw model with a 10-inch opening. Drill press and angle options include compact 2-7/16-inch, 3-inch and 4-inch sizes, along with low-profile 4-inch and 6-inch models.

  • 6-inch milling vises are listed with 9-inch and 9-1/8-inch jaw openings.
  • An 8-inch milling vise is listed with a 10-inch jaw opening.
  • Compact drill press vise sizes include 2-7/16-inch, 3-inch and 4-inch options.
  • Angle vises are represented with 3-inch and 4-inch jaws.
Check Positioning and Mounting Features

Select features that support your required setup

For drilling setups, open-center or open-base designs can accommodate work that extends through the vise body. Low-profile drill press vises use four mounting slots for machine-table attachment. Where repeatable angles are important, cradle-style models feature trunnion-style bases and 15-degree pin stops. For incremental adjustment, the cross slide model has 0.1 mm dial graduations and 3-1/2-inch by 4-inch slide travel.

  • Open-center designs accommodate through-body work.
  • Low-profile vises offer four mounting slots.
  • 15-degree pin stops assist with repeatable angle adjustments.
  • X-Y slide movement supports controlled workpiece placement.
FAQ

Common questions before buying

What machine vise is best for drilling?

Drill press vises are designed to secure workpieces during drilling. Available models include open-center designs, low-profile configurations and options with replaceable steel jaws.

What is an open-center vise used for?

An open-center or open-base design accommodates work that extends through the body of the vise.

When should I choose an angle vise?

Choose a cradle-style angle vise when the workpiece needs to be held at a selected angle during machining. The represented models use trunnion-style bases and 15-degree pin stops.

What does a cross slide machine vise do?

A cross slide machine vise supports workpiece positioning along the X and Y axes. The listed model provides 0.1 mm dial graduations and 3-1/2-inch by 4-inch slide travel.