Kelly Gill (asker) Apr 12, 2010:

I am closing this question as there really is no "correct" answer. In the end I spoke with the client once more and decided on a simple pipe clamp.

Kelly Gill (asker) Apr 8, 2010:

vice /vise ... it's been a looooooooonggg day!

Michael Brennen Apr 8, 2010:

No problem. Everything I described will hold a pipe in place. :) The problem is finding the one the client intends, assuming it matters. Perhaps just a generic "pipe clamp" or "pipe vise" will do; to me those are implicitly bench mounted.

"Vise" is the spelling for something that grips an object; "vice" is something that grips a person. :) If you are not around this stuff a lot it is easy to confuse.

Kelly Gill (asker) Apr 8, 2010:

Michael - thanks for jumping in with your help on a basically impossible question. Speaking with the client it ends up being a basic pipe clamp/vice -- something that holds the pipe so it stays in place.

Michael Brennen Apr 8, 2010:

Hi Kelly,

I hear "pinza" in the sense of something hand held. In a recent proz exchange the phrase "pinza radiale" came up for holding a tube; that is a "curved jaw pliers".

That is why I suggested "strap wrench"; it is hand held and holds by friction; the photo in the original link shows exactly what they are, or here:
http://www.reedmfgco.com/index.html?screen=strap_wrenches

There may be a bench mounted version called a strap vise. Were it fixed to the bench I would expect it might be called a morsa of some kind, though perhaps not.

There is also a "bench chain vise" (below); there are hand held chain wrenches as well.
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/1VUW4?Pid=search

To confuse it even further, there are various forms of "pipe vise"; google will turn up many examples.

A strap clamp seems to be a different device used more in woodworking.

Kelly Gill (asker) Apr 8, 2010:

Just got more info: pinza che tiene il tubo in trazione (cioè lo tiene tirato) durante la fase di taglio.