Vice Accessories

About Vice Accessories

Vice accessories are essential additions that enhance the functionality, versatility, and longevity of workshop vices. These specialist components transform a standard bench vice into a more capable and protective workholding system, suitable for handling a wider range of materials and applications. From soft jaws that protect delicate workpieces to swivel bases that improve positioning flexibility, vice accessories enable tradespeople and engineers to work more efficiently whilst safeguarding both their tools and the items being worked on.

The selection at Tooled-Up.com encompasses protective jaw covers, replacement components, swivel mounting bases, and magnetic systems from trusted manufacturers including Record, Sealey, Draper, Faithfull, and Fein. Soft jaws manufactured from aluminium with rubber faces prevent marking on finished surfaces, polished metals, and plated components during clamping operations. Swivel bases allow engineers vices to rotate through 360 degrees, positioning workpieces at optimal angles without requiring repositioning of the entire vice or workbench. Magnetic mounting systems offer quick-change capability, whilst replacement jaws and hardware ensure worn vices can be restored to full working condition rather than requiring complete replacement.

Quality vice accessories represent a cost-effective investment for any workshop, extending the lifespan of existing equipment whilst significantly expanding its practical applications. Whether working with delicate instrumentation, precision-machined components, or valuable finished goods, the right accessories provide the protection and flexibility required for professional results across metalworking, engineering, maintenance, and fabrication tasks.

Jargon Buster

• Soft Jaws: Protective jaw covers manufactured from aluminium, plastic, rubber, or composite materials that prevent marking, scratching, or distortion of delicate workpieces during clamping. Often feature magnetic mounting for quick attachment and removal.
• Swivel Base: A rotating mounting platform that fits between the vice body and workbench, allowing the vice to rotate horizontally through 360 degrees. Typically features locking positions at regular intervals for secure positioning at specific angles.
• Jaw Plates: Replaceable serrated steel faces that bolt onto vice jaws to provide gripping surfaces. These wear components can be replaced when damaged or worn, extending vice lifespan without requiring replacement of the entire casting.
• Fibre Vice Grips: Non-metallic jaw covers manufactured from compressed fibre material, offering excellent grip on cylindrical and irregularly shaped components without causing surface damage. Particularly suited to plumbing and pipework applications.
• Magnetic Vice Base: A permanent magnet mounting system that allows the vice body to be positioned on any ferrous surface, providing portable workholding capability on machinery, fabrications, or temporary work surfaces.
• Engineers Vice: A precision metalworking vice with flat, parallel jaws and fine threading for controlled clamping pressure. Most vice accessories are designed specifically for compatibility with standard engineers vice patterns.

Who Uses Vice Accessories?

• Mechanical Engineers working with precision components, instrumentation, and finished assemblies requiring protected clamping surfaces
• Fabricators and Welders who need swivel bases for optimal positioning during tack welding and assembly operations
• Maintenance Technicians servicing machinery, equipment, and mechanical systems across industrial and commercial facilities
• Toolmakers and Machinists handling precision-ground components, gauges, and measuring equipment that cannot tolerate jaw marking
• Automotive Technicians working with polished, plated, or painted components during restoration, modification, and repair work
• Plumbers and Heating Engineers using fibre grips for secure holding of pipework without crushing or marking surfaces
• Jewellers and Instrument Makers requiring extremely gentle clamping pressure on delicate materials and small components
• DIY Enthusiasts and Home Workshop Users seeking to protect household items, bicycles, and general projects from vice jaw damage
• Locksmiths working with finished hardware, locks, and mechanisms that require secure holding without cosmetic damage

How to Choose the Right Vice Accessories

Vice Compatibility: Always verify that accessories match your specific vice model and jaw width. Swivel bases are model-specific, whilst soft jaws typically suit standard jaw widths of 100mm, 125mm, or 150mm. Check manufacturer specifications carefully, as accessories from Sealey, Draper, Record, and Faithfull are often designed for their own vice ranges.

Material Protection Requirements: Select jaw protection based on workpiece sensitivity. Rubber-faced aluminium soft jaws suit general protection of painted, plated, and polished surfaces. Plastic magnetic jaws offer gentler clamping for softer metals and delicate finishes. Fibre grips excel at holding cylindrical components like pipework without crushing. For extremely delicate items, consider multiple jaw types for different applications.

Mounting Method: Magnetic mounting systems available from Tooled-Up provide quick-change capability, allowing different jaw types to be swapped in seconds without tools. Bolt-on jaw plates offer maximum security for heavy-duty applications but require removal and reinstallation when changing between protected and standard jaws. Consider how frequently you'll switch between different jaw types when selecting mounting style.

Swivel Base Necessity: Evaluate whether your work regularly requires angled positioning of workpieces. Swivel bases significantly improve accessibility during filing, drilling, and welding operations but add height to the vice mounting, which may affect working ergonomics on lower benches. Quality swivel bases feature positive locking at multiple positions rather than friction-only systems.

Replacement Parts Availability: When purchasing replacement jaws, screws, or jaw plates, verify that components match your vice age and specification. Record, as a longstanding British manufacturer, maintains extensive spare parts compatibility, whilst newer import vices may have limited accessory availability. Stocking critical wear components prevents workshop downtime.

Popular Accessories

• Engineers Bench Vices: The primary tools that vice accessories enhance, available in jaw widths from 100mm to 200mm
• Workbenches and Vice Stands: Providing stable mounting platforms for vices and swivel base assemblies
• Vice Clamps and Parallel Clamps: Complementary workholding equipment for operations requiring multiple securing points
• Angle Grinder Guards and Flanges: For metalworking operations performed on vice-held components
• Engineers Files and Needle File Sets: Hand tools frequently used on vice-secured workpieces
• Marking Out Equipment: Engineers squares, scribers, and marking gauges for precision work
• Cutting Fluids and Lubricants: Essential for drilling and tapping operations on clamped metalwork
• Deburring Tools: For finishing edges of components held securely in protected jaws
• Workshop Lighting: Task lights and magnetic inspection lamps for detailed work at the vice

Frequently Asked Questions

Will soft jaws fit any engineers vice?

Soft jaws are typically sized to match standard vice jaw widths of 100mm, 125mm, or 150mm, but you must verify compatibility with your specific vice model. Magnetic soft jaws offer the most versatility as they simply attach to the face of existing jaws, whilst bolt-on types may require specific mounting hole patterns. Measure your vice jaw width and check manufacturer specifications before purchasing to ensure proper fitment.

Can I retrofit a swivel base to my existing vice?

Swivel bases are model-specific accessories that mount between the vice body and your workbench. Manufacturers like Sealey, Draper, and Faithfull produce swivel bases designed for their own vice ranges, with mounting holes and base dimensions matched to specific models. If purchasing separately from your vice, you'll need to identify your exact vice model number to source the correct compatible swivel base. Universal swivel bases are rarely successful due to varying bolt patterns and base sizes.

How do magnetic jaw covers stay secure during heavy clamping?

Quality magnetic soft jaws incorporate powerful rare-earth or heavy-duty ceramic magnets that create substantial holding force against the steel vice jaws. The clamping pressure itself further secures the magnetic jaws by pressing them firmly against the vice faces. However, magnetic systems are generally suited to light-to-medium clamping applications rather than maximum-force operations. For heavy-duty work requiring full vice pressure, consider bolt-on jaw protectors or fibre grips as more secure alternatives.

When should I replace vice jaws rather than add protective covers?

Replace actual vice jaws when the serrated gripping surfaces become severely worn, damaged, or when the jaws no longer maintain parallel alignment during clamping. Worn jaw serrations reduce gripping capability and can allow workpieces to slip under pressure. Record and other quality manufacturers supply replacement jaw sets complete with mounting screws, restoring full vice functionality. Protective soft jaws serve a different purpose—preventing damage to workpieces rather than restoring vice gripping performance.

Are fibre vice grips better than rubber soft jaws for pipework?

Fibre grips excel at holding cylindrical components like pipes, rods, and tubes because the compressed fibre material conforms to curved surfaces whilst providing excellent grip without crushing thin-walled materials. Rubber-faced soft jaws work better on flat surfaces and finished components requiring cosmetic protection. For plumbing and pipework applications, fibre grips offer superior holding capability on round profiles, whilst soft jaws suit general workshop protection of varied workpiece geometries.