Holding small work securely

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Standard hobby vise head by panavise fits a rotating ball head mount on the workbench.

Standard hobby vise head by panavise fits a rotating ball head or standard fixed mount on the workbench.

The Bottom Line

Panavise are known for their quality small vises, designed for hobbyists and professionals. The standard vise head is a quality small scale vise with a number of adaptable features that make it suitable for both metal and woodworkers, with a variety of attachments and jaw types as well as a range of bases suited to most work benches. The size and ease of operation of the vice, its quality and high level of accuracy plus the range of highly positionable bases, makes this an excellent choice for anyone who works with miniatures.

Manufacturer's Site

Pros

Quality well machined vise, capable of holding a wide range of materials
Removeable and replaceable jaws allow use of the vise for metal and woodworking purposes
Standard head will fit several bases to suit the work style and space of most hobbyists

Cons

Jaws open to 2 1/4 inches which is useful for most miniatures but not all.

Description

Solid, well machined head with easy to use controls for fine adjustments.
Range of jaws and jaw covers available for use with a variety of materials
Fits a range of Panavise bases allowing one base to be used with a range of vises for particular uses.
Can be fitted to a vacuum attached base, clamped base, portable or fixed base to suit any workplace.
Sold as part of a set with a range of bases, or available separately.

Guide Review - Holding small work securely

Panavise is a company that make a wide range of useful holding tools for professionals and hobbyists. Their signature tilting and rotating ball base is a fixture on many small scale workbenches. The standard vice head pictured can be mounted in a number of ball or fixed bases to make a portable or fixed vice suitable for many modelling purposes.

The standard vise head from Panavise has nylon jaws that are 2 1/2 inches wide and 1/2 inch tall and open to 2 1/4 inches. Overall the vise stands 4 1/4 inches high, without a base. Mounted in a standard Panavise ball mount, the vise is 6 1/4 inches tall and weighs 2.7 lbs. The jaws grip well for most materials, and are rated for withstanding continuous heat up to 200 degrees Fahrenheit, or intermittent heat up to 300 degrees F. The head is made of a diecast aluminium alloy and is built to a very high standard. These are tools which will last a very long time.

Soft slip on neoprene jaws are available as an accessory, or you can replace the nylon jaws with steel, brass, teflon or grooved nylon jaws for various specialized applications. The neoprene covers are a nice add on for holding wood without any danger of marring. Of course you can simply insert scraps of neoprene or cork between the work and the jaws for the same effect.

A range of bases are available for the various vise heads and accessories. You can choose from suction mounts for smooth surfaces, clamp mounts, screw mounts or stand alone weighted bases for portable or occasional use on a work bench.