LRM VERDICT

Trying to find one vice to suit all work situations is impossible, so compromise is necessary. That said, if you only intend to buy one vice, all of those tested could prove ideal. Clarke’s whopping 200mm swivel vice arrived looking different to the catalogue picture and is all the better for it. It’s big and as a result, needs a sturdy foundation to get the best from it, so if your bench is thin you might want to reconsider. That said, it tackled most of what was thrown at it, including hammering components held in it and gripping round objects.

Silverline’s vice acquitted itself very well and is great value at under £40. Compared to the top three, it was only the operation of its screw mechanism that marked it down, but it still performed well.

Sealey’s fabrication vice is perhaps at a disadvantage in this company but I would happily use it for metal forming. It opened further than I expected and further than its specification stated, so we’ll stick with the stated figure for safety’s sake. I like its size and ease of use. An excellent second vice to have around.

Draper’s vice offers excellent build quality, evident in its consistently smooth mechanism. It is a fixed based but with a swivel base available, this is a versatile tool worthy of any workshop.

The honours are clinched by Axminster’s swivel base vice, with its smooth operation and small details such as the highly-set anvil, handle rubber stops and secondary pipe jaws. It’s a lot of vice packed into a very keenly-priced package.