Best Bench Vise? $60 vs $500 “Unbreakable” Vise? Irwin, Yost, Wilton, Ridgid, Heuer, Central Forge

Brands: Heuer, Ridgid, Yost, Wilton, Baileigh, Irwin, Forward, Central Forge, Olympia, Myoyay. Vises tested for clamp load, durability from impact, anvil durability, and clamp load failure point. I purchased all of the vises to ensure an unbiased review. So, thank you for supporting the channel.

➡ Thank you for supporting the channel through memberships:
➡ As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

➡ Products Tested In This Video (in no particular order):
Central Forge: Available at Harbor Freight

Videography Equipment:

This video is only for entertainment purposes. If you rely on the information portrayed in this video, you assume the responsibility for the results. Project Farm LLC

[ProjectFarm]

Here’s the list of products reviewed. More details in the video description. Thank you!
Central Forge: Available at Harbor Freight

[WayneRandall]

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.

[scottsutherlin]

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!

[TorqueTestChannel]

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!

[nunyabusiness]

The vertical drop test was brutal...and very fun to watch. Great job as always!

[blinky]

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.

[MF-lefp]

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. 😂

[maxcactus]

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!

[kameronrobinson]

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!

[electronicsNmore]

"Bent right out of the box". Too funny. More than likely someone bought it, used it, and returned it. Seen it many times before. Love the torture tests. Thank you for another fantastic testing video!

[neutrodyne]

This is one guy that can destroy stuff and be loved by all for doing it! His tests are always eye-openers. It would have been nice to have had an old American vise in the test to see how well it would have held up. Thanks Todd for sharing your time and talents with us.

[redred]

As someone who is going to be building and buying my own garage shop, and home maintenance place your channel is (and has always been) the best for helping me decide what to buy! You have helped me more then you'll ever know! And this episode is no different! Thank you for all of your work!

[AaronColton]

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.

[piercerounds]

It's awesome to see the test rigs that you come up with to perform your testing with. You really put a lot of effort into your videos! Also nice upgrade in the testing equipment. You do great with educating a lot of buyers out there.

[quentinriddle]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. You run an amazing channel and provide such important information. The detail you go through alone to ensure fair and accurate testing is bar none. I applaud you good sir. Thank you.

[xdblack]

I was seriously impressed with the harbor freight central forge vise in this test. I had avoided them for so long because I heard they were brittle and quick to break, but this video tells an entirely different tale!

[hernandovillamarinbuenaven]

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!!..
🇺🇸🙏🙏🙏

[cobrolol]

I do not have any needs for a bench vise but I’m addicted to your non biased views and fair tests! Thanks for all the videos you have put up! Made some smart purchases as an auto tech thanks to your thorough reviews!

[derekanaya]

The only complaint I have is tiny, but during the hammer test, all the pieces being hammered were at different lengths in the vices. Those different lengths would make a massive difference in force applied to the jaws. Otherwise, very comprehensive and well thought out testing sir!

[FireballTool]

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.