Drill Press Clamp - Need a Decent One

[larry4406]

I have the following style of clamp from HF. Its 10 years old a POS.

Recommendations for a similar one that is rock solid?

The problem with mine is that the internal lever where it engages with the set screw is cocked off to the side and wedges between the frame and the screw and not staying concentric with the screw.

 

[whateg01]

I have the following style of clamp from HF. Its 10 years old a POS.

Recommendations for a similar one that is rock solid?

The problem with mine is that the internal lever where it engages with the set screw is cocked off to the side and wedges between the frame and the screw and not staying concentric with the screw.

I don't know what brand the one I have is, but I've had welding clamps from HF so that. I just pull it apart and straighten it, then weld a little more meat on the end and grind to fit.

 

[Jgaz]

I guess it depends how your table is constructed, (tee slots or thru slots).
What you normally clamp and does the clamp have to be quick to use?
Drilling wood or metal? How large a cutter etc?

This is a selection of my most used clamps.
My metal table has tee slots and the wooden table that overlays the metal table uses t-track.

The three rocker clamps on the left are currently set up for the t-track. Easy to use but used mostly for woodworking .

The two orange clamps are Jorgensen brand.
One is set up to work with tee slots and the longer bolt on the other fits thru the dog holes in my woodworking bench. These clamps hold very well.

I'm sure you’re familiar with the step clamp style. Hold great not real easy to use.

To your orginal question: Have you considered using a quality over center clamp such as DeStaCo?

 

[tarmy]

This clamp stays on the table as it gets used for most everything I am working on. 30 bucks or so on Amazon.

 

[tool_scrounge]

Consider a post mounted drill press clamp like the vintage Welch (Northrop patent, see photo) . All the Welch ones I have seen were 2.75". There is a company now making new post clamps similar to the Welch clamps in the link below.

https://wisementrading.com/tools-an...lamps/drill-press-clamp-cam-lock-thread-lock/




Vintage Sta-put column mounted clamps are also pretty nice. The were available for 2.75” and 3.5” diameter posts.

 

[dscheidt]

I have the following style of clamp from HF. Its 10 years old a POS.

Recommendations for a similar one that is rock solid?

The problem with mine is that the internal lever where it engages with the set screw is cocked off to the side and wedges between the frame and the screw and not staying concentric with the screw.

I have a couple Yost ones that are okay. They do not fill me with joy when I use them, but they're perfectly functional. Will clamp a piece of paper, which some of the ones I've used wouldn't. I'd buy another if I had a reason to.

 

[Snip's]

As mentioned above, I have the 1100 Cam-Lock on my Craftsman 150 drill press... Works well...
It can be stored out of the way when not in use by just sliding it up the 2-3/4" column...
Simple and quick to use...

 

[larry4406]

My drill press is a Clausing 1640. The table looks like this (not mine). Underneath the table has ribs flanking the slots (mine). The clamp I have the threaded post is just barely long enough and I had to grind the nut into sort of a cone to wedge in between the ribs as the nuts diameter is just barely larger than the slot width. Ideally the threaded section would have been longer so I could have used a large washer.

Those column clamps look interesting but the bolt and nut attachment to the post I think would drive me nuts - I would want it easily adjustable without tools. That Sta-put version with the hand wheel seems headed in the right direction.

 

[tool_scrounge]

I believe the Welch cam lock does not require tools once it is installed. It is adjusted to just slide on the post and wedges itself in place when being used. @Snip's can confirm this.

 

[tool_scrounge]

Question: does the Clausing 1640 has a 3” diameter column? If so, the Welch or Sta-put is not going to work. But you can always make your own version.

 

[larry4406]

Question: does the Clausing 1640 has a 3” diameter column? If so, the Welch or Sta-put is not going to work. But you can always make your own version.

I am not sure what diameter it is. I will have to check.

 

[Snip's]

I believe the Welch cam lock does not require tools once it is installed. It is adjusted to just slide on the post and wedges itself in place when being used. @Snip's can confirm this.

Correct...
The portion that surrounds the post is just slightly larger, but not by much... It easily slides up and down on the post for height adj...
The cam lever puts the arm in a bind on the post and at the same time clamps on the workpiece...
The arm has a three position setting that can extend or shorten the arm reach to match the coverage of the table...
It's a pretty slick design... There are knock offs of the original design that are sold...
I keep the Welch Cam-Lock on my Craftsman DP...

I have a AMF Mity 7 float lock on my Delta DP...
I consider it a much better design than the Welch clamp... It's still in production and can sometimes be found on the Bay...

 

[tool_scrounge]

I have an AMF vise, but the quick release version similar to the one below.


But since I have a drill press with a production table with no hole in the center, this type of vise has issues with thru hole drilling. So I use drill press vises and clamp them down with the Sta-put clamp when needed.

 

[larry4406]

Consider a post mounted drill press clamp like the vintage Welch (Northrop patent, see photo) . All the Welch ones I have seen were 2.75". There is a company now making new post clamps similar to the Welch clamps in the link below.

https://wisementrading.com/tools-an...lamps/drill-press-clamp-cam-lock-thread-lock/




Vintage Sta-put column mounted clamps are also pretty nice. The were available for 2.75” and 3.5” diameter posts.

The Welch Cam-lock version is nice! Found the patent drawing (attached) to see how it works. Clever mechanism! Perhaps a project for another day.

 

[tool_scrounge]

From the junk pile. New in box with instructions. I always liked the “manufactured and sold under license from Northrop Corp”.

 

[larry4406]

From the junk pile. New in box with instructions. I always liked the “manufactured and sold under license from Northrop Corp”.

WOW!

From your private stash?!

Would you mind taking it apart and making a dimensioned drawing of the parts? Cam and lever mechanism in particular.

 

[larry4406]

My Clausing drill press appears to be a 3” column.