Record Vices

Record Vices at Tooled-Up.com

Record Power has been manufacturing premium-quality vices in Sheffield, England since 1958, establishing themselves as one of the most trusted names in workholding equipment. The Record Vices collection available from Tooled-Up.com represents decades of engineering excellence, combining traditional craftsmanship with modern manufacturing techniques to deliver robust, reliable tools for professionals and serious DIY enthusiasts alike.

From the iconic Record No.3 Quick Release Vice to heavy-duty mechanics' vices and specialist woodworking models, Record's comprehensive range caters to every workshop requirement. Each vice is precision-engineered from high-grade cast iron and steel, featuring the distinctive blue finish that has become synonymous with quality and durability in workshops across Britain and beyond. Whether you need a compact 3-inch bench vice for light assembly work or a substantial 6-inch engineers' vice for demanding metalworking tasks, the Record selection at Tooled-Up delivers uncompromising performance.

Record's commitment to British manufacturing heritage shines through in every product, with many models still produced in their Sheffield facility. This dedication to quality control and traditional engineering standards ensures that when you invest in a Record vice, you're purchasing a tool that can last a lifetime with proper care and maintenance.

Why Choose Record Vices?

Record vices have earned their reputation through consistent quality and exceptional longevity. The brand's commitment to using premium materials—including high-tensile cast iron bodies and heat-treated steel jaws—means these tools can withstand the rigorous demands of daily professional use. The casting quality is particularly notable, with thick sections designed to absorb vibration and prevent flex during heavy work.

The quick-release mechanism found on many Record models represents a significant productivity advantage, allowing users to rapidly adjust jaw positions without tedious winding. This patented design has been refined over generations and remains one of the smoothest and most reliable in the industry. Additionally, Record's renowned Acme thread system provides exceptional grip strength while maintaining smooth operation even after years of service.

Record stands behind their products with comprehensive warranties and excellent customer support, reflecting confidence in their manufacturing standards. The availability of replacement parts—including jaws, handles, and mounting hardware—ensures that Record vices can be maintained and refurbished rather than replaced, representing excellent long-term value and supporting sustainable workshop practices.

Who Uses Record Vices?

• Engineers and Fabricators: Metalworkers who require robust workholding for cutting, filing, drilling, and assembly operations
• Woodworkers and Joiners: Carpenters and cabinet makers utilising specialised woodworking vices with wooden jaw protectors
• Mechanics and Vehicle Technicians: Automotive professionals needing secure clamping for parts during repair and maintenance
• Maintenance Fitters: Industrial technicians performing equipment repairs and component refurbishment
• Plumbers and Pipefitters: Tradespeople requiring reliable pipe vices and general-purpose workholding
• Educational Institutions: Schools, colleges, and training centres teaching metalwork, woodwork, and engineering skills
• DIY Enthusiasts: Home workshop owners who appreciate professional-quality tools for diverse projects
• Blacksmiths and Metalworkers: Craftspeople working with hot and cold metal forming techniques

Key Features of Record Vices

Quick-Release Mechanism: Record's signature quick-release system allows rapid jaw adjustment by simply pulling a lever, saving valuable time during repetitive operations whilst maintaining full thread engagement for maximum clamping force.

Premium Cast Iron Construction: High-quality grey cast iron provides excellent vibration damping and dimensional stability, essential for precision work. The substantial casting thickness ensures rigidity under load and prevents jaw deflection.

Replaceable Jaw Faces: Serrated steel jaw faces can be replaced when worn, extending the vice's working life indefinitely. Many models also accept smooth jaw covers for holding finished components without marking.

Precision Ground Slides: The main slide and guide bars are precision-machined to ensure smooth operation and parallel jaw movement throughout the full opening range, maintaining accuracy across the entire work envelope.

Integral Anvil Surfaces: Most engineers' vices feature a hardened anvil surface on the rear jaw, providing a convenient striking surface for light forming and riveting operations.

Secure Mounting Systems: Record vices incorporate robust mounting arrangements with countersunk bolt holes, ensuring rock-solid attachment to benches and workstations. Swivel-base models offer 360-degree rotation for enhanced accessibility.

Popular Record Vices

The Record No.3 Quick Release Vice remains one of Britain's most popular workshop tools, offering a 4-inch jaw width ideal for general engineering and metalworking tasks. Its combination of manageable size, quick-release convenience, and legendary durability makes it the default choice for countless workshops.

Heavy-Duty Engineers' Vices in 5-inch and 6-inch sizes provide the increased clamping force and jaw capacity required for substantial fabrication work. These models feature reinforced construction and larger thread diameters to handle demanding industrial applications.

Woodworking Vices from Record incorporate specialist features including quick-release mechanisms adapted for woodworking, dog holes for bench integration, and smooth jaw faces designed to grip timber without damage. The Record 52½ series represents the gold standard in woodworking vice design.

Multi-Purpose Vices combine swivel-base functionality with quick-release operation, offering exceptional versatility for workshops handling diverse tasks. The ability to rotate work pieces eliminates awkward positioning and reduces operator fatigue.

Safety and Compliance

Record vices are designed and manufactured to meet relevant British and European safety standards, including BS EN ISO specifications for hand tools and workshop equipment. When properly installed and used correctly, Record vices provide safe, reliable workholding for professional environments.

Tooled-Up recommends following HSE guidelines for workshop equipment installation. Vices should be securely mounted to substantial benches or stands capable of withstanding the forces generated during use. Always ensure mounting bolts are fully tightened and checked regularly for looseness caused by vibration.

Users should never exceed the recommended jaw opening or apply excessive force through handle extensions, as this can damage the vice mechanism or cause workpiece ejection. When clamping irregular shapes, position the work to prevent sudden movement, and always wear appropriate PPE including safety glasses when filing, grinding, or striking materials held in the vice.

Regular maintenance including cleaning, lubrication of threads and slides, and inspection of jaw faces ensures continued safe operation and extends service life. Record provides detailed maintenance instructions with each vice, and replacement parts are readily available through authorised suppliers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size Record vice do I need for general workshop use?

For most general-purpose applications, a 4-inch (100mm) or 5-inch (125mm) Record engineers' vice provides an excellent balance of capacity, clamping force, and bench footprint. The Record No.3 with its 4-inch jaws is Britain's most popular choice for home workshops and light professional use, whilst the No.4 (5-inch) suits heavier engineering tasks. Consider the largest workpieces you'll regularly handle—the jaw width should accommodate at least two-thirds of typical work dimensions.

Are Record vices still made in the UK?

Record Power continues to manufacture many of their premium vice models in Sheffield, England, maintaining the brand's heritage of British engineering excellence. Some models in the range are manufactured overseas to Record's specifications, but all products undergo rigorous quality control and meet the same exacting standards that have built Record's reputation over six decades.

How do I maintain my Record vice to ensure longevity?

Regular maintenance is straightforward: periodically clean the thread and slide mechanisms, removing metal filings and debris with a wire brush. Apply light machine oil to the Acme thread and guide bars, working the vice through its full travel to distribute lubrication. Check mounting bolts for tightness monthly if the vice sees heavy use. Replace jaw faces when the serrations become worn—Record supplies genuine replacement parts. Avoid striking the handle or using pipe extensions, as excessive force can damage internal components.

Can I use a Record engineers' vice for woodworking projects?

Whilst Record engineers' vices can grip timber, the serrated steel jaws will mark wooden surfaces. For occasional woodworking, fit protective wooden or aluminium jaw covers over the steel faces. However, for regular woodworking, Record's dedicated woodworking vices offer features specifically designed for timber—including larger jaw surfaces, reduced clamping pressure to prevent crushing, and quick-release mechanisms optimised for frequent repositioning of workpieces.

What's the difference between quick-release and standard Record vices?

Quick-release Record vices feature a mechanism that allows the front jaw to slide freely along the bar when a trigger is pulled, enabling rapid positioning before final tightening via the handle. Standard vices require continuous rotation of the handle to open and close the jaws fully. Quick-release models significantly improve productivity when frequently changing workpieces, whilst standard vices offer simpler construction and are often preferred for applications requiring maximum clamping force or where the quick-release mechanism might become clogged with debris.