Drill press vise powered opening/closing mod

[drummerdimitri]

I'd like to modify the handle of my existing drill press vise so that I can use my 1/2 inch impact wrench in order to open and close it quickly and with a good amount of clamping force for efficiency.

Thinking of using a 1/2 inch allen socket that I could insert into the hole of my vise's handle and drill a hole in order to insert a pin to keep it located.

Now my question is this: Since I am not able to find a black 1/2 inch allen socket, would a chrome one do the job? The reason I ask is because I am well aware that chrome sockets are a working hazard when used in conjunction with an impact tool so would this be ok or is there a better alternative?

Will be 3D printing a cylinder to slide over the allen part of the socket in order to keep it concentric with the handle and prevent any play.

 

[mike93lx]

I seriously doubt you will be hammering on it enough for Chrome to be a problem.

If it were me, I'd mabe use the impact to run it down and then finish by hand. You have no great feel for tightness with an impact

 

[shawhite]

I have to ask what are you doing that A needs your vise so tight you feel the need to tighten it with an impact and B how much more time are you saving running your vise jaw in and out with an impact?

 

[liliysdad]

There is absolutely zero reason to use an impact on a drill press vise. None.

If your vise won't grip without an impact, you need a better vise.

 

[drummerdimitri]

There is absolutely zero reason to use an impact on a drill press vise. None.

If your vise won't grip without an impact, you need a better vise.

I agree to disagree, the best reason to use an impact on a drill press vise is for speed and less user fatigue.

My vise works very well, just trying to be more efficient.

 

[drummerdimitri]

I seriously doubt you will be hammering on it enough for Chrome to be a problem.

If it were me, I'd mabe use the impact to run it down and then finish by hand. You have no great feel for tightness with an impact

Will give this one a go then.

I could always use a lever for final hand tightening if required but given my impact wrench has 3 different tightening torque settings with a max of 250 nm of torque, that should be enough granularity to tighten down most things without crushing them.

 

[claymont]

I'd like to modify the handle of my existing drill press vise so that I can use my 1/2 inch impact wrench in order to open and close it quickly and with a good amount of clamping force for efficiency.

Thinking of using a 1/2 inch allen socket that I could insert into the hole of my vise's handle and drill a hole in order to insert a pin to keep it located.

Now my question is this: Since I am not able to find a black 1/2 inch allen socket, would a chrome one do the job? The reason I ask is because I am well aware that chrome sockets are a working hazard when used in conjunction with an impact tool so would this be ok or is there a better alternative?

Will be 3D printing a cylinder to slide over the allen part of the socket in order to keep it concentric with the handle and prevent any play.

How about a pic of the vice and the handle. What are you clamping that you need this much force? How big is your drill press?

 

[ez-duzit]

There is absolutely zero reason to use an impact on a drill press vise. None...

This. Simply cannot imagine a drill press vice so poorly made that one would need an impact driver rather than just throwing it away. If you need more speed you're doing something wrong.

 

[liliysdad]

Can't imagine what you could be doing on a drill press that would require so many cycles of complete travel that fatigue would be an issue, but if that truly is a concern you might look into a speed vise as opposed to some Rube Goldberg impact wrench contraption

 

[shawhite]

Heinrich makes air actuated vises that would eliminate all fatigue. Other than that a machine vise with a speed handle would probably work just as good or better than your impact idea.

 

[liliysdad]

Cardinal Speed Vise Quick Action Design

Shop Cardinal Speed Vise Quick Action Design at Penn Tool Co., setting the standard in performance and durability. Optimize your operations with a trusted, family-owned suppliershop today!

www.penntoolco.com

All your problems solved without drama or complexity

 

[shawhite]

Didn’t even think about cardinal but that will definitely speed things up

 

[liliysdad]

Didn’t even think about cardinal but that will definitely speed things up

I absolutely love mine

 

[BukitCase]

If your "need for speed" is to facilitate drilling multiple pieces identically, do a google search on "cam lock vise" - I have one I keep near the milling machine - the T slots on the mill table make it easy to set up stops as far away from the cutter as 30", plus some (mine included) have step jaws.

Mine is a 4" Wilton - The step jaws are less of a PITA to deal with than using parallels to stand off the work from the vise (less drilling holes in the vise itself :=)

HTH... Steve

 

[Ign]

Perhaps will cost more than the DP but I'm a HUGE believer in a Kurt milling vise (eg D688) and their "X" speed handle. Once I used the speed handle I never have even considered returning to the floppy handle. And Kurts are built such that you don't need to apply that much pressure to the handle to generate considerable clamping force.

That said, you'd have to 1) have it on the edge of a DP table so the handle can clear and spin or 2) elevate it by the radius of the handle swing --- which, if you have the Z space, ain't a bad option

 

[BukitCase]

When I bought my mill (Grizzly G0755) I ordered their 5" milling vise - later on I found a 3/4" top small welding table on CL for $200; guy had a Kurt 6" with speed handle, couple of minor divots where idiots had tried to use it, but nothing that affects actual functions - he tossed it in for an extra $50.

When I only had the Grizz "floppy handle" I discovered that WITHOUT the handle, it was just a 19mm hex - so til the "experienced" Kurt came along, I kept one of my little Milwaukee 1/4" hex impacts near the mill with a 19mm socket - worked OK, just run it closed on the part and let the little impact do a (VERY) short rattle.

My mill's big enough that for some operations I can keep BOTH vises on the table, quicker to hit the "go fast" button on the x axis than it is to change vises (or setups)... Steve

 

[liliysdad]

There is no reason to have a milling vise on a drill press....a purpose built vise is a much handier setup.

I have a mill, and a drill press. Each wears the appropriate vise, and I can't see where either would be at all desirable if swapped.

 

[rancherbill]

I agree to disagree, the best reason to use an impact on a drill press vise is for speed and less user fatigue.

My vise works very well, just trying to be more efficient.

Lube it, polish the threads with valve lapping compound, clean re-lube,

The company that built the drill press thought that by hand was fine.