# Which Vise Has The Best Clamping Force?

**URL:** <https://fireball.discourse.group/t/which-vise-has-the-best-clamping-force/3991>\
**Category:** Vises\
**Created:** [October 7, 2025, 10:58pm UTC](https://fireball.discourse.group/t/which-vise-has-the-best-clamping-force/3991 "2025-10-07T22:58:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Fireball-Tool](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/fireball.discourse.group/fireball-tool/32/4077_2.png) [@Fireball-Tool](https://fireball.discourse.group/u/Fireball-Tool)\
**Post date:** [October 7, 2025, 10:58pm UTC](https://fireball.discourse.group/t/which-vise-has-the-best-clamping-force/3991/1 "2025-10-07T22:58:03Z")

</div>

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.

 ![Fireball Hardtail 510 Vise Open On Table](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/fireball/original/2X/f/f6cf6f60f4f86394040411a167d2fed6709cfcf7.jpeg)

 ![The Record Number Six Vise Closed Sitting On A Steel Table](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/fireball/original/2X/b/b1853ede6b23b200cefa9810f130d09dcaa71b04.jpeg)

Using a torque wrench and load cell, both vises were tightened to 100 ft-lbs to measure the actual clamping force.

 ![Using The Torque Wrench For The Test](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/fireball/original/2X/5/5e95757ab1ca2551513a714f681689abb1369a7e.jpeg)

 ![The Load Cell and Probe](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/fireball/original/2X/8/8ee791c1ec102498b37df5258db6c37c24051df7.jpeg)

 ![Funky Attachment](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/fireball/original/2X/b/b0ef6d7e20cdd2f639103d2a80199efba078b8bb.jpeg)

Let the test begin.

Record No. 6: peaked at 5,190 lbs

 ![Record No.6 Torque Test](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/fireball/original/2X/0/04154b4255c1293405613e32d3e08067e2bbbf29.jpeg)

 ![Record No.6 Torque Test Results](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/fireball/original/2X/5/58a631e457567e779a29097fbf7a0c27f1dc362e.jpeg)

Fireball 510 Hardtail: hit 12,208 lbs, over 2x more force at the same torque!

 ![Fireball 510 Hardtail Vis Torque Test](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/fireball/original/2X/9/9232e07409258faeb123fb52bf83e45c96203b10.jpeg)

 ![Fireball 510 Torque Test Results](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/fireball/original/2X/4/4c7257795d425daae751a2d3eeaa5232a071d05d.jpeg)

On top of that, the Fireball still released smoothly with one hand.

 ![Loosening up The Clamping Pressure On The Fireball 510 Hardtail Vise With One Hand #1](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/fireball/original/2X/6/6ba62a05eb66756d56d2eb8cc2ae0207240e2f3d.jpeg)

 ![Loosening up The Clamping Pressure On The Fireball 510 Hardtail Vise With One Hand #2](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/fireball/original/2X/4/4d46d210a55405eda0387cedcb86e4e7c593214b.jpeg)

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.

 ![C-Clamp Pressure Test](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/fireball/original/2X/9/9f802a8ad80dc157603f05f3e531d6992e8f9a7f.jpeg)

 ![Continuing The C-Clamp Pressure Test](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/fireball/original/2X/1/1b6fb397e59cd7adf309679ae33c9b116becc5ed.jpeg)

 ![C-Clamp Pressure Test Results](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/fireball/original/2X/e/e5bfd2bae466f1f0d50328b2afbb73ea63a9075d.jpeg)

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.

 ![Record Number Six Bent Handle From Applying Too Much Pressure To It](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/fireball/original/2X/e/e28bf60abc685aeb1fca80eef9d0c8ec82963c47.jpeg)

The Fireball 510 Hardtail will be the best bet to rely on in your shop!

 ![The Fireball Hardtail 510 Vise's Jaws Closed](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/fireball/original/2X/1/1e621d8ad273e5a0d68567670e1cd3d0c0f98fd9.jpeg)