Drill press vise

J

jweber

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Oct 6, 2016
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Without spending an arm and a leg, I'd like to upgrade my drill press vise from the $15 Menards special I have. Is there something that is nicer than what I have, but not $500 or so?

What do you like?
 
Keep an eye out in the local trader papers, estate sales, flea markets, and the online sites for an X-Y vise. Government auction sites are also great places for deal. Avoid the cheap ones at HF.
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
Keep an eye out in the local trader papers, estate sales, flea markets, and the online sites for an X-Y vise. Government auction sites are also great places for deal. Avoid the cheap ones at HF.
Click to expand...

I have a cheap x-y one from Harbor Freight amd it works fine for drilling tang holes. You just need to lock it down before drilling so it doesn’t shift when you start drilling. There are set screws/bolts that keep the vise from moving on either of the axis’s. Obviously it isn’t a highly precise instrument. I don’t use it on my mill. But again, for drilling tang holes, it’s worked well for me.

All this being said, if you’re able to score a nicer old Wilton or something for the same price, do it. In all reality I used a drill press clamp for a while prior to using my current setup. I’ll link it below. I never really liked plain drill press vises for drilling tang holes. Not with my drill press at least. Mine has a 60lb cast iron table that’s a real PITA to swivel around. Get you one of these and don’t look back:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/POWERTE...mbjjw-KBOd1DLGtVviBslozJ5jLjvjJxoC3o0QAvD_BwE
 
My favourite Is Cardinal Speedvise. Primarily because its quick release screw. Secondly because its type is flat sides what allows it laid on its side. I dunno the name for that, but you see other designs what have bolting tabs on their sides & cant be laid over.
Speedvise is professional tool, Nowdays, they are about 250$ for a 4”

Next is a Float-loc vise. It can clamp much bigger objects. Dunno what those sell for nowdays.

As an aside & matter of pride too.
40-ish years, neither vise or drillpress table have suffered drill thru damage. Drives me nuts to see guys who chowdered up clamp tooling or tables.
 
I have a Wilton 11743 which works OK but I am planning to buy a 11693 cross slide or a Wen 4.25 cross vise.
Tim
 
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