IRWIN Tools Woodworker's Vise, 6 1/2", 226361

Good quality

First off, a word of warning. Do not open the clamp up all the way to the very end without holding both ends or you risk losing your toes. While testing to see how far this thing opens up, I loosened it fully, and due to the dual beam support, I was unaware that the vise had come apart as it was still slightly supported. When I tilted the vise, the front part fell about 5 inches away from my foot. It not falling on my foot was the difference between a 5-star review and a long visit to the ER. You have been warned.As for the positives, for $20, you get a woodworking vise that can handle a large variety of tasks. When you apply wooden planks to the inside of the vise, you will need to drill out 2 holes into the wood on the side that attaches to the edge of your bench. Make sure to attach your wood first, drill your holes through your wood, then predrill holes in your bench for the vice. Make sure to have your screws recessed into the wood to avoid damaging any wood you clamp.The edge where you need to screw or bolt in the vice from the underside is quite close to edge so you need to make sure to drill carefully into the side of your bench to avoid any issues. I definitely recommend measuring twice and thinking everything through before installing. The worst case would probably be chipping off a small part of the side of your bench and moving the vice to a new location. To avoid this, just be patient.I used two #10 2 1/2" screw for securing the vice horizontally and two #12 3" screws for securing it vertically. They work perfectly for the size of the holes. I pre-drilled holes with a 3/16" bit into my workbench to secure the screws. I really wanted to bolt it into the bench horizontally, but I could not find #10 5" bolt screws to secure the vice into the 4x4. It would probably be overkill anyway. I also used four #10 3/4" screws for securing the wood into the vice which worked out perfectly. The metal beams that secure the angle of the vice rubbed against one of the pieces of wood at first, but opening and closing the vice a few times wore down the part that was touching and it now works smoothly again.I used a couple of pieces of pine for the wooden clamps which work great. Pine is not hard enough to damage any wood that's clamped in the vice, but is strong enough to withstand wear. I finished them with some beeswax and this vice is good to go.The clamp holds very well and allows for some great detail work. I highly recommend this vice for the novice woodworker and the professional who just needs an extra vice for fine work on smaller pieces.

For a cheap price the vice is not that bad. I knew not to expect too much but they do the job for mr.

Surprisingly hefty and for this price, how could you go wrong? Very versatile, great for molding work, general wood working tasks. I'm using it to press in polyurethane bushings and it really does a splendid job at that.

This smaller clamp is good for smaller items that you want to work with. If you are looking at this, then maybe our interests converge a little. If you find me on YouTube, I don't make videos but I can really catalog them into groups. One group is literally all about clamps. Bench dogs, track clamps, DIY wood that looks like a race car, bought 4 of these here, aluminum anodized red.Just a little background, I know a lot about Clamping up an item for planing, sanding, drilling, glue-ups, and routing, and all of the pocket screw clamps. Stability is the key to a good project.The Irwin bench vice is best used at the end of the workbench. Many people will add a piece of 1x4 or 1x6 wider than the vice. But where they falter is in not recessing it into the side of the bench.Pull it out of the box and see. If you add the scrap boards, don't go over 2-3 inches out on the ends. Can cause warping and be less effective.Then, if you notch, oh yeah, cut up your new bench, to make the inside edge of the wood jaw flush with the outside edge of the bench.You will have a more stable work area. The clamp will become an extension of the workbench. And both can be used as one. A couple last tips. Leave the wood just a little higher than the bench and sand flush. Also you can attach a thin piece of raw leather suede side out, or a finer grit sandpaper.

Used the pair on the corners to help attach miter joints. Added plywood to soften the surface and installed it all in minutes. Great starter woodworker vise. I did the full install video on the Tube just search the part number 226361 if you're interested.

I noticed a few people had gripes about the smoothness of the vice. I used the items in the photos, steel wool, cpc, gloves and a rag. Scrub down the sliders and the screw and the vice will spin smoother.

The vice is everything that I expected it to be. It mounts easily provided that your work bench top isn’t too thick. A 2” worktop I think would be ideal. Any thicker and it will not be flush with your work bench. I did have a problem with mine though and that is the pin that holds the screw to the outside jaw. Mine slipped right out and I had to flair both ends of it to keep it in position. A slightly larger diameter pin would be better. All in all it a great little vice and I’ll get years of use out of it. The price is very reasonable too.