Drill Press Vise

[Jack142]

You know I dont know if I am going to explain what I am looking for; so that it makes sense.
I am looking for a drill press vise that has some versatility to it. The ones I have seen look like the jaws are too close to the body and there are no east/west adjustments.
For example, lets say I wanted to drill some pins into micarta handles length wise. I could place the 2 parts of the handles side by side, drill one hole, and without moving the handle parts slide or adjust the vise over and then drill the second hole. That way my holes should match up. Then I could pin the handles together. ( Like joining wood )
When I was a kid I saw a vise in a body shop that moved like that.
I seen some vises over at HD and HF but the jaws were not high enough ( maybe I should say deep) enough.
I got some ideas in my head about making a platform on my press that will tilt to 45 degrees, maybe I can make up a vise to go with it. I dont know.
Have any of you guys seen anything like I am looking for.
Or am I daydreaming again ?
Thanks Jack

 

[L6steel]

Jack, I think you're talking about a cross slide vise. If you can't find one deep enough you could buy a cross slide table and bolt that to your drill press table and attach a regular vise to the cross slide. You can also get a compound cross slide vise that moves on an x and y axis which is very handy. If you do invest in either of these, don't go with the cheapo stuff like harbor Frieght sells, it's just not accurate enough and doesn't last long, least it didn't for me.

 

[Jack142]

Mike,
Any idea where I can get to see one and get some prices. I want to dowell / pin different handles materials/ colors together for a dagger I am building for my kid. I wanted to put some white ivory inbetween black micarta / some color spacers there too.
Being able to dill the holes exactly is the key to this project.

Anyway, HF is just a 1/2 mile away and I took a look at what you mentioned. The space up and down between the jaws isnt very deep. I wanted something deeper. There biggest vise that slides both ways is 60 bucks. I didnt see any way that it wouldnt be accurate, it was pretty tight and fairly heavy duty. What kind of work where you doing with there vise that you had problems ?
Thanks Jack

 

[RARanney]

A cross slide vise wouldn't be all that accurate. Enco has good sale prices on milling tables to which you could fasten a holding device.

 

[TJ Smith]

I have the Harbor Freight model. It works ok and I used to use it for cutting slots in guards. It worked ok if everything was tight and set right. I since acquired a small mini- mill. Much better.
I still have the cross slide vise on my driil press as it makes it real easy to line up and drill holes.
Take Care
TJ Smith

 

[itrade]

Jack,

For lining up holes this is what I did on the last six knives and it worked out so well I plan on sticking with it. I do have the cross-slide vice which I still use for drilling. But, this gives a better alignment.

It requires a steel caliper and a center punch.

First pick a spot on the handle to establish a width and measure. Now set the calipers at half that. Now running one jaw along the top of the tang, use the other jaw to score a center line.

Next take the center punch, pick a spot for the first hole, and smack it on the line. Now pick a spot at the other end and smack it again.

If you want other pins, say one more half way, use the calipers to score the half way mark and smack the intersection with the punch.

The drill is going to find those punch marks and give you exact placement with or without the vice.

Just an idea,

Steve

PS if your goal was just to buy a new tool then please disregard, because that overrides all other considerations

 

[Jack142]

Steve,
Your idea is pretty much what I do when I am working with wood. What I have found to be true working / metal and knives and handles is that there is very very little room for error.
In wood, if you are reasonably close you are ok.
But boy, this knife stuff, everything has to be flat, and exact.
I was just looking for a "tool" to help me be a little more accurate.
Although I do love buying those tools.
Now I got a question, why isnt the drill press vise very accurate ?
Thanks
Jack

 

[RARanney]

I have both a cross-slide vise, and a cross-slide milling table. There is more slop in the vise, than the table, and it seems to boil down to more precise machining in the tables construction. Both have adjustable gibs, so the vise can be adjusted for maximum accuracy, whatever that might be. I suppose there are also very expensive cross-slide vises that are better than some tables. Both mine are HF. With either set-up it is possible that the bit might skate without a center punched hole.