You Can Never Have Too Many Vises: The Legacy and Innovation of Palmgren® Workholding Solutions

In the world of precision, where micrometers matter and consistency is everything, the unsung heroes are often those holding the work in place, the vises. Whether it’s for a machinist creating aerospace parts to a hobbyist working on a restoration project, the vise is the foundational tool that ensures safety, accuracy, and efficiency. At Palmgren®, we've understood this since 1919; and we’ve built more than just tools. We've built a legacy!

The Workhorse of the Workshop

You can never have too many vises, it’s more than just a catchphrase. It’s a reflection of the countless applications, setups, and problem-solving opportunities that vises enable. Every job is different. Every material has its nuances. And every craftsman has a unique way of working. That’s why Palmgren vises come in so many styles and configurations, so you always have the right tool for the task.

Palmgren has been leading the way in multifunction workholding and positioning tools for over a century. Our products are found in fabrication shops, machine shops, garages, and labs around the world. What makes them stand out? It’s the combination of innovative engineering, time-tested reliability, and unmatched versatility.

From our premium machine vises to our specialized cross-slide vises, drill press vises, and milling machine vises, Palmgren’s lineup is designed to deliver more performance and more value.

A Glimpse into the Past: The History of the Vise and Palmgren's Role

Long before the digital age revolutionized manufacturing, a mechanical revolution was taking place — and at its center was Clarence Palmgren.

In 1919, Clarence Palmgren founded the company that would become a bedrock of the metalworking industry. His groundbreaking designs and engineering foresight changed the way manufacturers approached workholding. He is widely credited with the invention of the first machine vises, cross slide tables, and rotary tables, tools that significantly enhanced precision, speed, and productivity across machining applications.

His designs didn’t just hold parts, they held the industry to a new standard.

Over the decades, Palmgren vises have been part of a rich tradition of craftsmanship and quality. They’ve been used to shape parts for machines, planes, tools, and products we use every day. And even after more than 100 years, Palmgren tools continue to earn their place in workshops by delivering results, job after job.

Why Choose Palmgren Vises Today?

The market is full of vises, but there are a few reasons Palmgren stands out:

1. Multi-Functionality Built In

Most vises clamp. Palmgren vises do more. Many of our models include features like quick-action levers, swivel bases, built-in angle indexing, and cross-slide capabilities. They’re not just vises; they’re productivity systems!

2. Tighter Tolerances, Better Outcomes

From our precision ground jaws to our hardened steel construction, Palmgren vises are built with precision in mind. That’s why professionals across industries, from automotive to aerospace choose Palmgren when tolerances are tight and failure isn’t an option.

3. Built to Endure

Whether you’re running a small batch on a manual mill or a production run on a CNC machine, Palmgren vises are built to last. We use only high-grade materials and advanced manufacturing processes to ensure longevity and reliability under demanding conditions.

4. 100+ Years of Experience and Innovation

We're not just a company. We’re an institution in metalworking. With over a century of innovation behind our name, Palmgren continues to evolve with the changing needs of industry without compromising on quality.

Vises for Every Need

We truly believe you can never have too many vises, because each vise is a solution waiting to happen. Here's a snapshot of our offerings:

• Machine Vises: Precision-ground and square for ultra-stable workholding. Available in a range of sizes for mills, drill presses, and grinders.
• Drill Press Vises: Rugged, versatile, and compact for bench and floor model presses.
• Cross-Slide Vises: Offering two-axis movement to simplify part positioning and improve accuracy.
• Tilting & Swivel Ball Vises: Ideal for angular workholding and compound machining setups.

Whether you’re holding, tilting, rotating, or sliding, we’ve got a vise for that.

A Vise for the Next Generation

As we move further into an era of automation and advanced manufacturing, the fundamental need for reliable workholding remains. Palmgren continues to adapt by offering vises compatible with modern CNC setups, while also preserving the tactile control needed for manual machining.

We also support the future of the industry by providing educational institutions with tools that help train the next generation of machinists, engineers, and fabricators. Because innovation doesn’t happen in a vacuum... it happens at the vise!

Palmgren: Holding Your Work. Earning Your Trust.

There’s a reason we say you can never have too many vises. When you’ve got a Palmgren, you’ve got a partner; one that’s been trusted by professionals for over 100 years and still going strong. Explore our full line of vises and workholding solutions here, and discover why Palmgren continues to be the name serious makers trust.