Modular vises vs soft jaws like what’s been more reliable for you?

[Jessica_Albert]

Curious how everyone’s handling repeat jobs like are you sticking with modular vises or still cutting custom soft jaws each time? I’ve been running a few aluminum parts lately that come back every couple of months, and I’m getting tired of re-boring jaws every time. Thinking of switching to a modular setup with quick-change plates, but not sure if it’s worth the cost for small-batch work. What’s been working for you guys? Are modular systems really holding up tight over time, or do you still get better accuracy with a dedicated soft jaw setup?

 

[Corvus_Fallen]

Soft jaws still win for holding accuracy, hands down. Modular vises are great for setup speed, but you’ll always chase a little variance once you start swapping fixtures around. If you’re re-running the same parts often, I’d just keep the jaws labeled and stored.

 

[ZenithiaHeaven]

Both have their place. Modular’s unbeatable for quick setups, especially if you’re juggling a bunch of different parts. But if accuracy’s critical, a well-kept soft jaw still beats any quick-swap system. Maybe mix the two like keep modulars for low-tolerance jobs and jaws for the picky stuff.