VICE
Depending on their intended use, vices come in various sizes. They are generally made from cast iron, which ensures their strength and stability. The body of the vice is securely fixed to the workbench or a specific stand. One of the jaws (or grips) is integral to the vice’s body, which is crossed by a long screw and includes a sliding block. Both are arranged perpendicularly to the jaws. The screw terminates in a handle, allowing the jaws to be tightened or loosened. The second jaw is movable, sliding within the body’s guide as it is driven by the screw.
By tightening the jaws, a support, a component, or a hand tool — or even a machine (such as a face lathe) — can be firmly secured. To avoid damaging the surfaces of objects held in the vice, soft metal plates (aluminium, copper, tin, etc.), known as jaw pads, are sometimes placed between the vice jaws and the object being held.
The vice is a universal tool used for a wide range of operations across many trades.