Today, we’re continuing our head-to-head engineering comparison against the Fireball 510 Hardtail. We’re diving into the jaws to see how the Fireball 510 stacks up against the Record No. 6.
First off, the Record jaws have some issues. Phillips screws? Not ideal. The jaws themselves are basically just 1 x 1/2” flat bar, which can snap under heavy hammering. Inside corners create stress points, and the small screws with tiny shelves just aren’t up to the task.
The Fireball 510 Hardtail vise jaws have hex fasteners and are easy to loosen up. No problem.
Now, let’s compare the construction
Record No. 6: Thin jaws, small 5/16” fasteners, stress-prone design.
Fireball 510 Hardtail: Over an inch thick with half-inch bolts, solid and durable. The jaws hook onto the back of the casting, transferring load evenly, perfect for tapping and heavy clamping. And the corner stress point has more material to handle the load.
Another advantage? Fireball offers a variety of jaw options and full support. My favorites: Soft jaws, protect threads on small screws, nuts, and bolts; can be resurfaced or filed flat.
V-groove jaws, ideal for holding tubing.
Smooth, hardened jaws for precise milling tasks.
Offset jaws, allow work on the side of the vise with extra overhang.
Basically, the Fireball 510 offers strength, flexibility, and customization that the Record can’t match.