Picking workholding for a milling machine or drill press usually comes down to how much jaw you need and how much you want to spend. In workholding fixturing metrology, the two choices here are very different: the Dayton 4Tk04 6-Inch Machine Vise With Fixed Base at $119.99 and the 4-Inch Precision Vise Lockdown CNC Milling Machine Vise at $56.17. Both are new stationary models, but the 6-inch jaw opening is the clearest single difference, followed by a $63.82 gap in listed price.
Quick verdict
If you need the wider 6-inch jaw opening plus published alignment numbers, the Dayton fixed-base vise is the one to look at. If you want the lower listed price and a compact 4-inch cast-iron lockdown design with a 19 kN clamping force, the 4-inch CNC milling vise is the practical pick.
Price and spec snapshot
| Product | Listed price | Price bar | Key specs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dayton 4Tk04 6-Inch Machine Vise With Fixed Base | $119.99 | 6-inch jaw width and opening, 2-inch throat depth, fixed base, 0.002-inch jaw deflection at 2,000 lbs | |
| 4-Inch Precision Vise Lockdown CNC Milling Machine Vise Clamping Vice Plier Milling | $56.17 | 4-inch jaw width and opening, stationary base, cast iron body, 19 kN max clamping force |
Where the Dayton 6-inch vise stands out
The Dayton model is built around a 6-inch jaw width and 6-inch jaw opening, enough to hold wider workpieces. It also includes a fixed base, a 2-inch throat depth, and stated alignment and deflection specs: jaw plate square to 0.002 inch, bed/base parallel to 0.001 inch, and jaw deflection of 0.002 inch at 2,000 lbs. If a larger footprint matters, the overall length is 13.75 inches and the height is 4 inches. The higher listed price is the trade-off.
Where the 4-inch CNC lockdown vise stands out
The other choice is considerably lower in listed price, and it is described as a precision lockdown CNC milling vise with a stationary base. It has a 4-inch jaw width and jaw opening, and the construction details cover a 45# steel jaw that has been high-frequency quenched for wear resistance and an HT250 cast iron body for strength and toughness. The published 19 kN max clamping force is a useful number for smaller workpieces. The limitation is the smaller 4-inch jaw opening, so it cannot span what the 6-inch Dayton can.
Product notes
Dayton 4Tk04 6-Inch Machine Vise
If you are setting up a drill press or milling workholding area and want to hold larger parts, the Dayton gives you a 6-inch jaw width and 6-inch jaw opening on a fixed base. The specs also include a 2-inch throat depth and detailed geometric values: jaw plate square to 0.002 inch, bed/base parallel to 0.001 inch, and jaw deflection of 0.002 inch at 2,000 lbs. The overall footprint is 13.75 inches long by 4 inches high. The limiting factor here is simply the higher listed price: at $119.99, it sits $63.82 above the other vise in this comparison.
4-Inch Precision Vise Lockdown CNC Milling Machine Vise
This 4-inch lockdown vise is the lower-price route at $56.17, and it is designed for precision CNC milling workholding. The product title calls out its lockdown style and stationary base, while the specifications give a 4-inch jaw opening, a 4-inch jaw width, and a 19 kN max clamping force. The build description mentions a 45# steel jaw that has been high-frequency quenched and an HT250 cast iron body for toughness and durability. If you clamp smaller workpieces and want a compact, stationary workholder with a published clamping force, this is the concrete match. The trade-off is capacity: you give up the 6-inch jaw opening and the larger footprint of the Dayton.
Final choice by use case
- Choose the Dayton 4Tk04 6-Inch Machine Vise when you need the wide 6-inch jaw opening, the fixed base, and the published alignment and deflection numbers, and when $119.99 fits the purchase.
- Choose the 4-Inch Precision Vise Lockdown CNC Milling Machine Vise when you prefer the $56.17 listed price and want a compact stationary base with a 19 kN max clamping force for smaller workpieces.
