The internet is telling me the Fireball 510 isn’t the best bench vise. They say the Record No.6 vise is. Today we’re settling it with a torque test.
Using a torque wrench and load cell, both vises were tightened to 100 ft-lbs to measure the actual clamping force.
Let the test begin.
Record No. 6: peaked at 5,190 lbs
Fireball 510 Hardtail: hit 12,208 lbs, over 2x more force at the same torque!
On top of that, the Fireball still released smoothly with one hand.
Here’s the real kicker: the Record feels strong because it resists quickly, but that’s just inefficiency, not real pressure. A small C-clamp even matched its force at nearly 4,000 lbs.
So, while the Record gives the illusion of power, the Fireball 510 delivers the numbers to back it up. If a vise needs a hammer to tighten, it’s not good design.
The Fireball 510 Hardtail will be the best bet to rely on in your shop!
