# Why Does My Vise Not Turn Smoothly? **URL:** \ **Category:** Vises\ **Tags:** hardtail, vise\ **Created:** [September 18, 2025, 10:29pm UTC](https://fireball.discourse.group/t/why-does-my-vise-not-turn-smoothly/3956 "2025-09-18T22:29:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [September 18, 2025, 10:29pm UTC](https://fireball.discourse.group/t/why-does-my-vise-not-turn-smoothly/3956/1 "2025-09-18T22:29:56Z")
There’s a claim that the Record No. 6 is the best vise ever made. We wanted to see if that was true so we’re putting it up against the Fireball 510 Hardtail. ![The Record Number Six Vise Closed Sitting On A Steel Table](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/fireball/original/2X/b/b1853ede6b23b200cefa9810f130d09dcaa71b04.jpeg) ![Fireball Hardtail Vise on a Plate Steel Table](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/fireball/original/2X/4/4b907c115256f1e4c20554f96626250329e680fa.jpeg) Today’s focus is on screw design, a critical factor in how smoothly a vise operates and how much clamping force it can generate. ![Fireball Hardtail 510 Acme Screw Thread](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/fireball/original/2X/a/a809cd14570f33bbcd4ff238a914453c37f0e9ae.jpeg) ![Record Number Six's Screw With a Drilled Hole Through It A Weak Point](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/fireball/original/2X/9/971f3f97b648ffeb70b9f6d95b6919618e148635.jpeg) Record No. 6 Screw Design: Uses a fine-pitch, double-start thread which is when a screw’s thread has two starting locations on opposite sides of the screw. ![Record Number Six's Double Start Screw Thread](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/fireball/original/2X/4/4d6344da6115a444df99428aa907cf323b4b2fc8.jpeg) Screw threads directly against the dynamic jaw. ![Showing Metal on Metal Contact of Record Number Six's Screw on Dynamic Jaw](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/fireball/original/2X/b/bc8ea3116cc0abfba923a99eeeda45ddf84f18f6.jpeg) The Record Number 6 relies on a small pin to help retract the dynamic jaw. The downside of this is a hole drilled through the spindle introduces a potential stress point under heavy load. ![Record Number Six's Small Screw Pin](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/fireball/original/2X/d/de078ce2aaa0453c1578b2e5c3cb404751b11293.jpeg) ![Record Number Six's Screw With a Drilled Hole Through It A Weak Point](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/fireball/original/2X/9/971f3f97b648ffeb70b9f6d95b6919618e148635.jpeg) The handle shows visible bending and wear from users struggling to achieve higher clamping force. ![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) Fireball 510 Hardtail Screw Design: Uses a robust Acme thread which is thicker and more durable than the Record Number 6’s screw design. ![Fireball Hardtail 510 Acme Screw Thread](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/fireball/original/2X/a/a809cd14570f33bbcd4ff238a914453c37f0e9ae.jpeg) The Fireball Hardtail 510 is equipped with two forward and return thrust bearings that can handle up to 45,000–50,000 lbs of force. The bearings minimize friction during clamping. ![The Fireball Hardtail 510 Vice's Thrust Bearings](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/fireball/original/2X/b/bae13f3ee2ee9d1cfba7941b0320934dbde5924b.jpeg) It utilizes an anti-backlash spring to reduce play in the screw. ![The Fireball Hardtail 510's Anti Backlash Spring](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/fireball/original/2X/a/a7969f455d6869d6ec41a560f913836718ff1579.jpeg) The Fireball Hardtail 510 uses a heavy-duty collar instead of a small pin that requires drilling a hole through the spindle, eliminating stress points unlike the Record Number 6. ![Fireball Hardtail 510 Vise's Collar That Eliminates The Need For A Hole Through the Screw](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/fireball/original/2X/5/5db6ea5587ee0d58a5b7f8e20e675835ba30ad11.jpeg) ![The Fireball Hardtail 510's Screw With Thurst Bearings, Spring, and Locking Collar](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/fireball/original/2X/4/46c10a9e54987c7b7f3ec98f7c62e48d152580d5.jpeg) From an engineering standpoint, the Fireball Hardtail 510 screw design offers more durability and smoother operation compared to the Record Number 6. ---
**Author:** ![Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Sam](https://fireball.discourse.group/u/Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2025, 7:19am UTC](https://fireball.discourse.group/t/why-does-my-vise-not-turn-smoothly/3956/2 "2025-09-20T07:19:57Z")
At this point, I want to meet the people who claim that Record No. 6 is the best video ever made for mental capacity evaluation! 😂 ---
**Author:** ![Fireball\_Jason](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/fireball.discourse.group/fireball_jason/32/52_2.png) [@Fireball\_Jason](https://fireball.discourse.group/u/Fireball_Jason)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2025, 2:56pm UTC](https://fireball.discourse.group/t/why-does-my-vise-not-turn-smoothly/3956/3 "2025-09-20T14:56:08Z")
Just go to Facebook fireball videos. Lots of opinions there.