Advice on Drill Press Vise

[jives]

Vise Advise?
MANY posts on vises, few on drill press vises. I'm looking for my first DP vise, and can pay from $15 to unlimited. Mostly curious about the usefulness of a cross-slide vise, or of a tilting angle vise vs. a standard vise.

Mostly for drilling in metal (pipe, angle iron) and small objects.

So, what are must-have features? Looking for less than $75. . .so no high end jobs.

 

[shawhite]

I use my Heinrich for most task on the drill press. I don’t see the usefulness of a cross slide on a drill press.

 

[Davefr]

I prefer this style. You can use it on five of it's six sides. It also has the two channels cut into the jaws to grip round stock both horizontally and vertically.

However there are many different styles and it really depends on your tasks. Do a search. Previous threads will show you the various styles.

 

[BTL-A4]

I prefer this style. You can use it on five of it's six sides. It also has the two channels cut into the jaws to grip round stock both horizontally and vertically.

However there are many different styles and it really depends on your tasks. Do a search. Previous threads will show you the various styles.

+1 on this style. However, having one you can bolt down is nice, though I never have bolted mine down since I need to be able to move the work to the location to be drilled. Maye clamp this vise down to the table.

The angle ones are useful as well.

The cross-slide vises are useful for dialing in the exact location of a hole, but if you punch the material, the bit will self-center. They can also be used to drill holes in more exact locations if they have graduated dials. They can also be clamped down to the table. Don't use your drill press as a mill with one of these, though. The bearings aren't built for side loads.

 

[Steve_P]

There are plenty of cheap Delta, HF, etc on Amazon. I had a cheap Delta for years and upgraded to a Rohm. It's much nicer and has a few more features but cost 5X? as much. It just depends on what you want to spend

Edit: I have the Rohm 7201. $76 on a price drop on Amazon. Yost makes decent ones also

 

[lafester]

I got this one on amazon. I've only used it a couple times but so far it works well.
Looks like it is on sale again for $58

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E0NC29U/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Prospecter]

I use my cheap no name DP vise (similar to HF) more than my cross slide. The cross slide is heavier, and less convenient. I don't bolt down the DP vise. It works pretty well just as a material holder.

 

[dr_clyde]

Cardinal SpeedVise, full stop.

Arguably the best drill press vise on the market.

 

[dr_clyde]

You’ll have to look for a used one, new they are outside your budget.

 

[macgee]

Here's below of a link I posted showing several of my quick vises. For a drillpress I really like speedy vises like Cardinal, Heinrich or other similar ones. These are the ones that get significantly more use in my shop than my other more traditional vises like Palmgren/Craftsman/Yankee....etc.

Look for a vise with stepped jaws to aid holding small items and a v-groove to hold round items, a vise that's easy to use, friction free when opening and closing, not worn out, square, not full of mistake drill holes in and the ability to quickly clamp it down.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=8760947&postcount=81521

EDIT: If you want to learn more about how a Speedy Cardinal Vise works and how to fix one (as most are like that on eBay), check out this video of one needing restoration, it will also help you learn ore about which one to buy and which one to pass on. It's a bit long but good if your patient.

 

[matt_i]

Finest drill press vise in my opinion is a Kurt D675 milling machine vise or any knockoffs thereof.

It can be previously thoroughly abused for drill press service.

The heavy mass (~85 lbs) is excellent at resisting the dreaded "spin". Those light duty vises are guaranteed to become a boomerang unless clamped down.

I wouldn't mess with cross-slide vises nor tilting vises, instead I would go looking for a milling machine. Then you have a far superior positiojning system. And you have a spindle that can cut a flat surface on a tilted part, otherwise the drill bit is guaranteed to slide right off your mark on the inclined plane. A little spotface with an end mill and that problem is eliminated.

 

[jmarkwolf]

For a drillpress I really like speedy vises like Cardinal,...

Look for a vise with stepped jaws to aid holding small items and a v-groove to hold round items, ...

Yep, I have two of these, a 4-inch and a 6-inch. Never use any of my other vises on my drill press.

 

[jives]

OP here. . .
All good advice. I think I can avoid the cross slide and tilting. Unfortunately, my FB and CL market area is pretty small and it is a **** shoot if a reasonable vise may appear. Right now there is one an hour away that could fit the bill.

 

[Steve_P]

with your budget, you're pretty much limited to China imports if you buy new. And they're fine, but most don't have the v-notch in the jaws for pipe, etc.

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

This is what I use https://www.busybeetools.com/products/vise-3-way-drill-press.html
They were half that price last time I looked , I paid even less. I find it handy, one of the better ones I have used. I bought a 4" Kurt knock off, far too big and heavy for drill press use. I ended up trueing it up, it was pretty crude. And using it on my shaper. Most times I use the drill press vise on a cross slide table

 

[joshmodelskidoo]

I have a nice little stanly like the first one shown. Wish i had a bigger version. I also have the hf special and I took the grinder to it and took out some slop

 

[darkzero]

I prefer this style. You can use it on five of it's six sides. It also has the two channels cut into the jaws to grip round stock both horizontally and vertically.

+1 on this style. However, having one you can bolt down is nice, though I never have bolted mine down since I need to be able to move the work to the location to be drilled. Maye clamp this vise down to the table.

+2

The one I have has slots on the sides so I can clamp it down. I made t-nuts for my table & can use my mill clamping kit. But I've never needed to clamp it down yet.

I wish mine was a 3" instead of a 4" cause my DP is small but that's ok, I'm happy with it & it wasn't expensive.

 

[Cruzan80]

I prefer this style. You can use it on five of it's six sides. It also has the two channels cut into the jaws to grip round stock both horizontally and vertically.

*Soapbox On
Not to be "that guy", but how many times are you realistically going to use it upside down (5th face)? I can see the left, right, bottom and nose, but calling the top a "useable face" seems like marketing to me.
*Soapbox Off

Sorry, not sure why that was bugging me, but need to get it off my chest. Nothing personal.

I have and use the above style, as well as the larger angle vise with the hold down slots (CM/Palmgren). All depends on the job.




Sent from my IN2015 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[catalytic]

Respectfully disagree with the advice offered. Get a Heinrich Drill Press Vise or (2nd choice) Wahlstrom/AMF float-lock vise:

They both have a safety bar that either clamps to the drill table or rests against the column so the drill bit doesn't stick in the work and spin your vise/workpiece.

I have used everything. The best shops I know use these on their drill presses, and I also have them at home.

 

[macgee]

jives (OP),

What is the size of your drill press?

They're several ways to skin a cat, its just matter of finding which way you like to do it? I have drawers of vises (I use to collect) including Kurt, Starrett, Brown & Sharpe, Heinrich, Palmgren, Cardinal....etc

One common thing that I think we all can at least agree on is the ease and speed of clamping down the vise in place is very important. A vise that's hard to clamp down to your table or takes a while, will most likely be used without being clamped, Rambo style.

I recommend a vise (whatever it may be) that it has bolt down tang slots on the sides or front & rear or both like a Heinrich. Personally, I use two hold down vise grip style clamps mounted to my DP table that is holding my speedy vise for a lot of the time. I can position it almost anywhere on the table quickly clamp it down, quickly re-adjust it, if needed. For big work or critical, then bolt down. Also good for holding items without needing a vise.

Having a good flat smooth DP table is very helpful, having a vise with a very flat, damage free bottom is also key so when your moving it around on your table, it's not damaging it and staying perpendicular to the drill bit.

Heinrich's are great vises and was mentioned in my link above but for some reason, I keep going back to my Speedy (holds great and less knobs, lower profile).

Another recommendation, for putting holes in small items, I usually hold them in a small 1" toolmaker vise (like Brown & Share 752) with no bolt down tangs and then clamp that to my regular drill press vise and any orientation. It make things so much quicker, I can set it up on the work bench, check everything and then take it to the drill press and then if needed I take it to my bench vise to hold it if needing cleaning up or if needing a tap or whatever. You can find overseas ones for cheap. It's just a suggestion

 

[dr_clyde]

*Soapbox On
Not to be "that guy", but how many times are you realistically going to use it upside down (5th face)? I can see the left, right, bottom and nose, but calling the top a "useable face" seems like marketing to me.
*Soapbox Off

Sorry, not sure why that was bugging me, but need to get it off my chest. Nothing personal.

I have and use the above style, as well as the larger angle vise with the hold down slots (CM/Palmgren). All depends on the job.



Sent from my IN2015 using The Garage Journal mobile app

That 5th face is very handy holding small round stock in the vertical band saw. Just because you’ve never needed that 5th face doesn’t mean it’s not used.

 

[Cruzan80]

But why set it upside down? Missing the benefit here.

Sent from my IN2015 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[dr_clyde]

But why set it upside down? Missing the benefit here.

Sent from my IN2015 using The Garage Journal mobile app

So whatever you’re working on sets flat on the table of the saw or DP. Sometimes it’s easier to just flip the vise and work 180 degrees opposite or just use the vise as a handle.

 

[Cruzan80]

Ok, sounds good. Going to accept that it has a use, I just haven't needed it yet. Thanks!

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[tool_scrounge]

That 5th face is very handy holding small round stock in the vertical band saw. Just because you’ve never needed that 5th face doesn’t mean it’s not used.

+1 on this. It works quite well.

 

[darkzero]

That 5th face is very handy holding small round stock in the vertical band saw. Just because you’ve never needed that 5th face doesn’t mean it’s not used.

Agreed, I've needed to do that a couple of times with my horizontal bandsaw using a tool maker's/screwless vise.