The bench vise is a tool that serves to provide effective clamping, while being heavy and easy to handle, to pieces so that they can be subjected to different mechanical operations such as sawing, drilling, milling, filing or marking. In Argentina and Uruguay it is called walrus, a name that is also given in Italian and Portuguese.[1]​.

It usually sits on a table or workbench, either screwed to the surface or resting on the workshop floor.[2]​ It has two jaws, one fixed and the other moved by a screw, normally with a square or trapezoidal thread, which rotates thanks to a lever, between which the pieces to be machined are fixed. To avoid damaging the surface of the pieces, protections called galteras or soft "jaws (mechanism)") are usually placed, made of lead or other soft material.[3]​[4]​.

This tool is essential in the manufacture of any iron product or any other material that has to be held to work. Operations such as sawing "Saw (tool)"), filing "File (tool)") or marking require effective clamping, while being agile and easy to handle. These characteristics are precisely what this tool has.[2]​.

The vise is used to hold the pieces in it. It is fixed to the work table and is easy to use. To adjust the piece to be cut, you must turn the screw and then the piece can be cut without moving to obtain a straight and smooth cut.