Milling vice - Welding Table

[flippin]

For the past several years, any tool related question has been successfully been answered by the GJ Braintrust. I come to you again in search of advice.

I was able to purchase 2 very large (and heavy) milling vices. I got them both for a song and really didn't pay attention to the description or pictures after my initial offer was accepted. Admittedly I was going to purchase just 1 to use on my drill press. I don't have a mill and it isn't in the plans. When I met with the seller, I was floored by how large and incredibly heavy they were. Way too big for my soon to be restored 1960's Rockwell DP.

So what should I use them for? I am going to be building a heavy duty welding table. Could I integrate slots in the top of the table to accommodate both vices? Would this ever be useful? I really don't need the money so selling them seems like a cop-out.

I already have 6" swivel record, a 6" Athol, and several 4" Parker's. So I am in good shape for regular style vices.

Please share your experience and wisdom!

In appreciation always,

-Paul

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[ZRX61]

Obviously you need to buy a bigger drill press

 

[rusty65]

I mean if you want to weld with them ok? But they don’t have a very *********** and would really only be useful for some tasks imo. It’s not like they are a Kurt where it would be a legitimate crime to abuse it in such a manor. I just think it would seem like a strange way to use one.


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[lis2323]

I can’t think of a time offhand where using a milling vise would ever have been useful on a welding table for me.

A cheap conventional vise will be way more useful.

 

[81turbota]

We had an old mill vise as a doorstop for a while.

 

[Indexmill]

Sell them.

 

[lis2323]

For door stops

 

[1982fxr]

Sell or trade

 

[tool_scrounge]

I know of welders who like using big vintage vises for holding things. It just depends on:

Are they useful for what you intend to weld?
Do you have space to store them?

 

[flippin]

I know of welders who like using big vintage vises for holding things. It just depends on:

Are they useful for what you intend to weld?
Do you have space to store them?

I haven't ever used one for welding, I have other vices. And the space consideration is a good one. I would make space if they proved to be useful, however moving them is a pain in the ***.

Just was wondering if anyone else has re-purposed a mill vice for something cool which I haven't thought of. I just tossed out the idea of my welding table for a lack of another alternative.

Thanks,
-Paul

 

[tool_scrounge]

however moving them is a pain in the ***.

Get a hoyer lift. There are really used for moving invalids. The look like a mini engine hoist, but they have:

400-450 lb load capacity
Very maneuverable
Light weight
Splits into 2 piece for easy storage
The leg width is easily adjustable for fitting around things

Get a cheap manual one off of craigslist. They have battery powered ones but they are heavier and you need to charge a battery.

I use it all the time for moving heavy things.

 

[flippin]

Yes the idea for a lift is something I should consider. When I renovated the old garage I should have installed a beam for a trolley hoist. I installed one in the new garage (boat house) to allow me to swap out engines. As I age I should think smarter!!



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[Jbullfrog]

You could buy a mill and use them as intended...

 

[davewo]

Not sure how big your drill press is, but I have an old Bridgeport vise on my Delta 20". It adds mass as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Shadowdog500]

Buy a mill!

 

[81turbota]

Buy a mill!

Best answer yet!

 

[flippin]

Buy a mill!

Wondering how long it took for this answer. Quite frankly I'm a little disappointed that it took 15 posts before someone recited the GJ mantra!!

I would buy a CNC in a second if I had the space.

 

[ClappedOutBport]

I can’t think of a time offhand where using a milling vise would ever have been useful on a welding table for me.

A cheap conventional vise will be way more useful.

Well, they can be useful if you need places to rest your hands for TIG or something, or need something clamped without too much height off the bench.

However, OP, I would follow your name and flip those puppies. They're worth a lot more if have the jaws. I run a 6" on my 21" drill press which is just perfect as I can still spin the table 360 degrees without the vise hitting the column.

 

[MushCreek]

This is Garage Journal. Buy a mill. Buy a lathe and cut-off saw to go with. Build a 10,000 square foot shop to go around it all. Buy an excavator to dig the footing for the shop. Buy an all-terrain lift to build the shop. ***** about your 'fussy' neighbors and how they are trying to deny you your rights to do what you want to on your 1/8 acre urban yard.

 

[matt_i]

What size are those? 8 inch? (the width of the machined jaw)

 

[Shadowdog500]

Form the tape measure they appear to be 8” mill vises that would fit a really big mill.

To me they really wouldn’t be practical for anything other than milling. Do you really want big heavy ~150lb. vise that is designed to hold things rock solid on a big mill taking up a ton of space on your welding table when there are much better vise choices for a welding table.

If you got them for a song, you may want to sell them for a profit to someone who actually need a vise for their mill.

Both of those vises need jaws.

 

[Air21]

What song did you sing?

 

[Shadowdog500]

What song did you sing?

 

[flippin]

Yes they are 8" jaws. The only other use might be for my Hougen mag drill. I love how much more precise the annular cutters work compared to a twist drill. On smaller pieces, the mill vise could serve as a steel base for the magnet while also securely clamping the work piece. I'm in no rush to part with them, I'll build my welding table and see if there's any use.



Really appreciate the help as always. If you have any other ideas please let me know.

 

[flippin]

Both of those vises need jaws.

SD, please pardon my supreme ignorance, are mill vise jaws a consumable part? And if they need to be replaced on occasion, where would be the best place to find them?

In appreciation,

-Paul

 

[zkling]

SD, please pardon my supreme ignorance, are mill vise jaws a consumable part? And if they need to be replaced on occasion, where would be the best place to find them?

In appreciation,

-Paul

Depends if you are running soft jaws or conventional hard jaws. I think you will find the used market for those is extremely limited. And based on the pics they are no spring chicken in terms of wear. The mag drill base idea is a good one. I know of a very prominent hydraulics shop that uses mill vises in place of standard bench vises, however their work is pretty specific.

Repourposing can bring on a he'll of it's own when you have to compromise from trying to make something function that it was not designed to do. BTDT have the t shirt.

 

[ClappedOutBport]

SD, please pardon my supreme ignorance, are mill vise jaws a consumable part? And if they need to be replaced on occasion, where would be the best place to find them?

In appreciation,

-Paul

Hard jaws last pretty much for ever if they aren't abused. And when they say hard, man are they. Soft jaws are meant to be milled into for custom setups, they have a limited number of setups they can run before replacement.

 

[Shadowdog500]

SD, please pardon my supreme ignorance, are mill vise jaws a consumable part? And if they need to be replaced on occasion, where would be the best place to find them?

In appreciation,

-Paul

Paul, they can be seen as a consumable since people hit them with the cutter from time to time. In addition people do get machinable soft jaws to hold custom parts.

Here is a single 6” Kurt jaw on amazon. Kurt D60-7 Jaw Plate, 6" Size https://www.amazon.com/dp/B013X4LOHM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I couldn’t find any jaws for your 8” vise, and I’m not sure if it is a Kurt, so you would have to make some measurements to make sure you get the correct jaws.

I have an old bison mill vise and can’t find over the counter jaws for mine, so I’m using the beat up jaws that it came with. I put a 1-2-3 block in the jaws to Indicate on when setting up the vise since the jaws themselves are a bit to rough to get a smooth transition with an indicator.

Chris

 

[tool_scrounge]

Search for "kurt 8 jaws" on ebay and you will see lots of options

 

[flippin]

Chris, thanks so much for sharing your experience. Very much appreciated. Happy Thanksgiving from your brothers up North!

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