Stainless Steel Precision Mini Vise

DSPIAE, precision mini vise in stainless steel

This is a tool, not a kit: a small stainless steel vise from DSPIAE, the Chinese maker of modeling tools. Its only job is to hold a small part firmly so that it does not move at the moment you drill, sand or file it. Stainless steel is a choice with a reason on a tool this small: it does not corrode from damp or from the chemicals on the bench, and the jaws keep a true clamping face.

Use

• holding a small part while drilling and working with a file
• holding a part while gluing, until the glue has set
• a fixed point for work that needs both hands on the tool
• holding a part while engraving and cleaning up detail

Who it is for

For anyone who works with small parts and has found that the biggest source of mistakes is the part moving between their fingers. Watch the pressure, though: resin and thin plastic parts are easily crushed or whitened in metal jaws, so put a piece of plastic sheet or card between the jaw and the part. Think about the size of the parts you work with before you buy. A useful habit is to hold the vise while drilling so that the part being drilled is as close to the jaws as possible: the further from the clamp you drill, the more the part vibrates, and the greater the risk that the bit wanders or snaps.

Keep the tool out of the reach of children. Protect your eyes and airways while drilling and sanding, especially when working with resin. Clean the jaws after use, as dried glue on the clamping face prevents a firm grip.