Drill Press Vise Recommendations

[cmuncy]

My latest aquisition of a Cummins C112 drill press has me needing a vise to mount on the drill table. Does anyone have any good recommendations?

I've thought about getting a milling style vise, but the inability of being able to drill through the material due to the vise being in the way is a slight negative. But I would sure love that functionality to quickly true up a piece of work to the chuck.

What are you guys using?

[scgargoyle]

If you want to drill through a workpiece held in a vise, all you have to do is space it up off the floor of the vise with parallels- which are just as the name describes- parallel pieces of metal. They sell cheap sets that are 1/8" thick X 6" long. The set has about 10 pairs, from 1/2" tall to 1-1/2". Or you can just cut a couple strips of metal to make your own. With vises, you get what you pay for. a $20 Chinese vise isn't going to be as accurate as a $400 Kurt. But for a drill press, I'd just get something fairly cheap at a discount place like Harbor Freight. It's almost always more accurate to clamp the piece directly to the drill press table anyway, if the part has a shape that makes that possible.

[bigtiller]

I bought a milling vice when I bought my drill press and it has never been taken off. The vice opens and slides almost 7 inches. When I can't get the project clamped I just put a scrap piece of wood in the vice and use that as the table. I think it is one of the best tools I have ever bought and it is a lot safer drilling through thick metal.

[3RRL]

I would definitely mount a vise on the table.
For a drill press, you don't need a super deluxe one but rather one accurate enough for what you want to do. I needs to hold you stuff tightly and not move.
Like said, use parallels inside the vice jaws to suspend your work. The can be thick or thin and different heights. You can also use them outside your vise if you have enough table space. In other words, they rest on the table next to the vise on each side. Place your work piece on top and clamp with the vise.
If your vise and table are strong enough, you can suspend the workpiece over the side of the vise and drill/cut it that way too. Just be sure it won't pop out. Sometimes I use 320 grit wet/dry sand paper to help hold the piece in the jaws for a little better grip.

[have_blue]

Originally Posted by cmuncy

What are you guys using?

Chris,

I'm using a 7" X-Y drill press vice I got from HF (~$40). I find it plenty accurate for drilling. It's very easy to dial the drill in and hit my center punch mark right on the nose. I have no problems with drilling through. I block up my piece with parallel bars or whatever fits, and easily avoid hitting the vise.