I am looking for a vise that I can use on my drill press. I want to be able to use my drill press like a mill once in a while. The last time I needed a 1/4 hole about an inch long in some 3/4" square tubing. I drilled three holes and then used a burr. It totally sucked and was a big PITA! So what vise would you get for this? I know its not going to be cheap.
Looking for a vise I can use on drill press like a mill
- Thread starter skipnay
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Maui
Well-known member
A drill press generally isn't designed to take a side load like a mill is. That's why it is usually meant for drilling and not milling. But if you have a taper in your drill press that can accept a collet (instead of a drill chuck) for holding milling cutters, it may be able to do some light milling. If all you plan to do is mount milling cutters in a drill chuck, forget it. It won't work.
Maui
Maui
What kind of drill press is it, is it a vertical mill/drill press? If it is regular drill press it the chuck and the spindle bearings won't survive very long from the side load. Popular mechanics had a DIY thing for bracing the chuck so the pressure wasn't solely against the chuck but I don't know how well it works as I haven't done it myself.
akalian
Well-known member
Get a Kurt Anglock https://www.kurtworkholding.com/ if you want the best.
There are clones available that are "somewhat" comparable.
But Kurt is the original, and without question, top drawer.
New, they are very pricey, though.
Here's mine, after 35 years use on my Drill Press.
.
There are clones available that are "somewhat" comparable.
But Kurt is the original, and without question, top drawer.
New, they are very pricey, though.
Here's mine, after 35 years use on my Drill Press.
.
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But even the nicest of milling vises will not make up for the fact that a drill press won't handle the side load. With a side load the chuck can become separated from the taper and then you will have a mess and a potentially dangerous situation .
I have the Jet 354170 drill press.
I wanted to be able to drill the holes then the little area at top and bottom where the bits dont do much drilling I wanted to be able to move it in there. I will probably be drilling the holes so they are cutting into each other some what.
I wanted to be able to drill the holes then the little area at top and bottom where the bits dont do much drilling I wanted to be able to move it in there. I will probably be drilling the holes so they are cutting into each other some what.
akalian
Well-known member
You are correct, a drill press chuck isn't made for lateral load, and you will need some sort of cross feed table to even attempt it. But I have "milled" many parts by setting the jaws very close to the work, and then gently pushing the work piece past the milling cutter applying downward pressure on the work piece.
Granted, most of this was done with brass or aluminum, but I could be done with steel, if you took your time. The worst that happens is that that chuck comes loose and falls down with a "chunk" and you have to reset it. When it does that tends to chip the cutter sometimes.
See attached pic.
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ishiboo
Well-known member
You want a cross slide vise. I would just get the HF version... you're not going to get a lot of precision out of a drill press, and it's super hard on the bearings/etc.