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!

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.

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.

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!

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!!.. 🇺🇸🙏🙏🙏

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.

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.

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! 😃

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

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!

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. 😂

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.

About 50 plus years ago I inherited a vice from my father. I have used it hundreds of times and am amazed it has never disappointed. The jaw is 4" wide and can open up to a usable approx. 8". The vise embossed markings are: (right side) THE CHAS. PARKER CO. MERIDAN, CT. USA , (LEFT SIDE) SEMI-STEEL, SOLID BAR, PATENTED, JAN. 2 1806, NOV. 22 1810 , NO. 239X I enjoy all of your testing. Very useful, Don't ever stop Todd!!

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!

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'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.

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.