Description
Product Overview
Setting up small workpieces on a surface grinder is where jobs get won or lost — a vice that isn’t flat, square, and repeatable will ruin a grind before the wheel even touches the part. When you need a compact, low-profile grinding vice that holds a workpiece dead parallel to the table and doesn’t creep under wheel load, a dedicated precision grinding vice is the only answer. A standard milling vice is too tall, too heavy, and not ground to the tolerances the job demands. This JAM* (attributed) 55 x 45 mm Japanese grinding vice delivers a precision-ground jaw face, a horizontal V-groove in the moving jaw for round stock, and a compact footprint that keeps your Z-axis clearance where you need it — measured here at 54.66 mm jaw opening on a Mitutoyo digital calliper.
- Precision-ground jaw and base surfaces — The working faces and base are surface-ground, giving you a reliable flat reference that sits true on the magnetic chuck. Any deviation here telegraphs directly into your workpiece, so ground surfaces are the starting point, not a bonus.
- Horizontal V-groove in the moving jaw — Allows round bar and cylindrical stock to be held on-centre without additional vee-blocks. Saves setup time and removes the slip risk you get when clamping round material between flat jaws.
- Compact 55 mm max opening, 45 mm jaw width — Sized for small-to-medium surface grinding work. The narrow footprint keeps the vice within the capacity of most 6 x 12 inch and 6 x 18 inch surface grinder tables without consuming the full table length.
- Included clamping bolts and steel block — The vice comes with socket-head bolts that thread into either side of the fixed jaw (used for clamping stops or parallels), and one block of unidentified steel of unknown purpose — included as-found, potentially a precision parallel or stop block.
- Ideal for — Surface grinding small prismatic and round parts, tool and cutter grinding setups, finish-grinding shims and gauge blocks to thickness, and bench use as a precision holding fixture for filing and scraping.
Condition
Used (Good Condition / Surface Patina, Precision Surfaces Intact)
The vice is in good used condition. The precision-ground jaw faces, base, and sliding surfaces are intact and functional — no visible nicks, gouges, or raised burrs that would compromise accuracy or flatness. The moving jaw slides smoothly without detectable slop or binding. As is typical with Japanese toolroom equipment of this age, the external non-working surfaces carry a light patina — the honest mark of a tool that has seen shop use — but this patina is cosmetic only and does not extend to the ground reference surfaces. The clamping mechanism operates correctly and the jaws close square. The purpose of the included steel block is unknown; inspect it before use and verify it against a known reference if you intend to use it as a precision stop or parallel. As standard practice for any used grinding vice, it is recommended to sweep the base with a dial indicator on your magnetic chuck before committing it to precision work, confirming it sits flat and square to your table.
Included:
- 1 x JAM (attributed) Precision Grinding Vice — 55 mm max opening, 45 mm jaw width
- Clamping bolts (thread into either side of fixed jaw)
- 1 x steel block of unknown origin/purpose
Not included: Original case or box, documentation, additional parallels or vee-blocks.
Brand Information
This vice is attributed to JAM, a Japanese tooling manufacturer, though the seller notes the brand identification is unconfirmed, possibly ETO which is also Japanese. Japanese-made precision grinding vices consistently occupy the upper tier of the market alongside names such as Vertex and Chick, with manufacturing tolerances and surface-finish standards that reflect Japan’s well-established culture of precision machine tool production. Japanese toolroom equipment of this type is widely regarded by Australian machinists and toolmakers as a reliable, long-service investment, typically holding its working accuracy well into its service life when properly maintained.
*Brand is told to be JAM but possibly ETO or another Japanese brand.
Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Brand | JAM (attributed — unconfirmed by seller) |
| Type | Precision Grinding Vice |
| Maximum Jaw Opening | 55 mm (measured 54.66 mm via Mitutoyo digital calliper) |
| Jaw Width | 45 mm |
| Moving Jaw Feature | Horizontal V-groove for round stock |
| Base / Jaw Surfaces | Precision ground |
| Construction / Material | Hardened steel (typical for class) |
| Clamping | Socket-head bolts threading into fixed jaw sides |
| Country of Origin | Japan |
| Condition | Used — Good Condition / Surface patina, precision surfaces intact |
| Included Items | Vice, clamping bolts, 1 x steel block (purpose unknown) |
| Not Included | Case, documentation, additional parallels or accessories |
Keywords
JAM grinding vice, Japanese precision grinding vice, surface grinder vice 55mm, precision grinding vice Australia, small grinding vice toolroom, surface grinding workholding, grinding vice V-groove, used grinding vice, machinist vice surface grinder, toolmaker grinding vice, precision vice CNC setup, grinding vice magnetic chuck
