What Are Vices and Clamps? Types and Selection Criteria
A clamp is a portable tool that holds parts temporarily between a fixed and a movable jaw; a vice is a fixed clamping device mounted on a bench.
A clamp is a portable tool that holds parts temporarily between a fixed jaw and a movable jaw; in Turkish it is also called a carpenter's vice. It is used to hold wooden parts together until the glue dries and to fix a workpiece to a bench or to another part while drilling, cutting or assembling. A vice, by contrast, is a fixed clamping device bolted to a bench that holds the part in place while filing, cutting or bending; a clamp does not replace it.
Types of vices and clamps
| Type | Construction | Where it is used |
|---|---|---|
| Sliding (F-type) clamp | Fixed jaw at the end of a steel bar, movable jaw that slides on the bar and is tightened by a threaded spindle | Gluing, assembly, fixing a part to the bench |
| Mini clamp | The same design with a small opening and a short throat | Small parts, model making and repair work |
| C-clamp | One-piece C-shaped frame and threaded spindle; the opening is limited by the frame | Metalwork, holding parts before welding |
| Quick-grip clamp | Tightened with one hand using a trigger | Light, frequently changed holding jobs |
| Bench vice | Body fixed to the bench, jaws closed by a threaded spindle | Filing, cutting, bending |
Selection criteria
- Clamping opening: The largest distance between the jaws must be greater than the total thickness of the parts plus any protective blocks. The first number in an İzeltaş clamp size gives the opening in centimetres: a 40x12 clamp opens to 400 mm.
- Throat (jaw) depth: The distance the jaw reaches in from the bar. If pressure has to be applied at a point away from the edge, the throat must reach that point. The second number in the size is the throat depth: 12 cm or 5 cm.
- Jaw surface: Plastic jaw pads reduce marks and dents on wood, painted and coated surfaces. With bare jaws, put a block between the part and the jaw.
- Number and spacing: A long glue line is not pressed evenly with a single clamp; space several clamps along the line.
Common mistakes
- Overtightening: Glue is squeezed out of the joint and the wood is crushed. Stop tightening once the joint closes.
- Trying to close the clamp with the spindle without sliding the movable jaw up first: The spindle is too short. Slide the jaw against the part first, then tighten the spindle.
- Checking only the opening and forgetting the throat: The pressure stays at the edge and the joint in the middle stays open.
- Using a clamp as a bench vice: Filing and hammer blows loosen the clamp and the part slips.
Clamps in the catalogue
There are 5 active products in the Vices and Clamps category; all of them are İzeltaş sliding clamps sold per piece. There is currently no bench vice in the catalogue.
| Model | Stock code | Clamping opening | Throat depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| İzeltaş Mini Clamp 20X5 | `7310302005` | 200 mm | 50 mm |
| İzeltaş Mini Clamp 30X5 | `7310303005` | 300 mm | 50 mm |
| İzeltaş Clamp 40X12, plastic jaws | `7300304012` | 400 mm | 120 mm |
| İzeltaş Clamp 50X12, plastic jaws | `7300305012` | 500 mm | 120 mm |
| İzeltaş Clamp 80X12, plastic jaws | `7300308012` | 800 mm | 120 mm |
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a clamp and a vice?
A clamp is portable; it presses a part against another part or a bench and is used for gluing and assembly. A vice is fixed to the bench and holds the part still while filing, cutting or bending.
What does a 40x12 clamp mean?
The first number is the clamping opening and the second the throat depth, both in centimetres: a 40x12 clamp holds up to 400 mm of thickness and applies pressure up to 120 mm in from the edge.
What are plastic jaws for?
The plastic pads on the jaws spread the pressure over a wider area and reduce the risk of marking wood or painted surfaces.
When is a mini clamp enough?
When the total thickness of the parts does not exceed 200 or 300 mm and the pressure point is no more than 50 mm from the edge. For thicker or wider parts, choose a clamp with a 12 cm throat.