There’s a long-standing belief that the Record Number 6 is “the best bench vise ever made.” We’re putting that claim to the test. Today’s comparison focuses on torque output. How much clamping force can the Fireball 510 Hardtail and Record Number 6 generate?
For this experiment, we set up both vises with a load cell between the jaws to measure the actual output force. The Record Number 6 used its standard handle and was clamped down to the table. At the same time, the Fireball 510 Hardtail was tested using one pencil, four pencils, a skinny metal rod, and finally its original handle, all while not being clamped or bolted to the table. Can the Fireball 510 Hardtail generate more clamping force with a pencil than the Record Number 6 can with its original steel handle?
To obtain an average clamping force reading for the Record Number 6, we had some of the guys here at the shop try to twist the Record No.6 vise as much as they could. The average number was 6,590 LBS.
Now, it was time to see what the Fireball 510 Hardtail could do. Using just one pencil as the handle, it was able to produce 2,226LBS.
By using four pencils, the 510 produced 4,470LBS
When it was stepped up to a quarter-inch rod, the vise output hit 8,778LBS.
Using the Fireball 510 Hardtail’s original handle, the output force hit 12,808LBS. All while not being bolted to the table.
Despite using a pencil as a handle, the Fireball 510 Hardtail came close to matching the torque output of the Record Number 6. Once the quarter-inch steel rod came out and later the original handle, the 510 easily exceeded the output force of the Number 6.