Someone explain this please

[tigman47]

How come drill press vices are so small ? I mean how come the depth of them is not very deep ? Half of the time when I'm trying to clamp pieces or tube or pipe in them they won't clamp. So whats the reasoning behind this ? What do you guys do ?

[lwhiway]

For lack of a better reason, probably because the manf's just don't care what we could use. That and keeping the initial price of the press down.

But, they do have them for sale. Most of the vices that will come with a press of say 1k or less will be cheap cast materials and all but useless you really treat it timidly.

Good press vises are not cheap, but they sure do make a difference.

[joebass]

http://www.heinrichco.com/gpvise.htm

I have the six inch vise.

[Pile Buck]

I have one of these http://www.grizzly.com/products/g5978 That I use on my milling machine, it’s one step above trying to drive a toenail through what ever I’m trying to drill. It has a much lower height than a regular mill vice, but even these cheap import mill vices are light years ahead of a drill press vice. http://www.grizzly.com/products/g5974 My drill press vice is a challenge to keep it from raising the material up, and out of position whenever clamping, hence the idea of toe nailing the material to the table. :D

[Sober_Pollock]

..........

[tigman47]

Uhm.....It could be because that's not what you're supposed to use for pipe or tube.

For pipe or tube you would want to use a set of "V-Blocks" and hold downs.

Drill press vices don't do much because they aren't meant to do much.

What about a 4 inch tube though ? I actually cracked one of thoughs vices before, so would a mill vice be a better option ? What about a normal vice, would that work ?

[imported_frank865]

Sober Pollock explained it well....You're trying to use the wrong setup. Why don't you use the V-block/hold down?

[Jim-TX]

This has nothing to do with drill press vises, but I was in an antique mall yesterday in Ft Worth and saw an 1800's vintage vise and anvil combo. It looked like a vise with a larger than normal anvil top BUT the interesting part was that the vise jaw that is normally fixed could be moved. There were a series of notches under the anvil and the "fixed" jaw could be moved back over the anvil face to allow for wider material. I don't collect or study old tools, but this was one like I've never seen before. Very interesting design. Ok, sorry to hijack the thread.:)

[tigman47]

Sober Pollock explained it well....You're trying to use the wrong setup. Why don't you use the V-block/hold down?

I was unaware that they made them this big.

[monte55]

I have a 6" cross vise and like it very much on the drill press. The mill has a 5"
milling vise. No, not a Kurt. I wish. Don't expect precision with a cheep vice
and a cheap drill press. I'll bet at least half of the drill press tables have never been squared up with the column by the consumer. I had a neighbor
that had a cheap HF 12" drill press. The slop in the quill was terrible. But what does one expect for a $99 floor drill press. I have a 15" Sears I've had for 10 years and it's not too bad. If I absolutely need it straight, I'll use the mill.

[tigman47]

How do you guys like the drill vices that angle ?