Drill Press Vise Opinions?

[jdscholer]

I used my drill press for a milling application the other day, but only on aluminum.  Sharp cutter and many light passes worked OK, but I don't think steel would have worked worth a damn. 

I've always wanted to get one of those vices that would help to accurately locate and align holes.  I've got just enough education and training in machining to make me worry about my "oakie techniques". jd

[SkidMarkSteve]

I ended up going with a Wilton 4" vise.  It's fixed, but after looking at dimensions of my press vs vises, I wouldn't have had work room.  The small cross sliding ones carried a high price tag, so I.figured I will go with this, and later on upgrade to a bigger/better press (probably a mini mill).  The vise should arrive next week.

[Dale99]

Harbor Freight has 25% Off Coupons for Mothers Day.

[SkidMarkSteve]

Harbor Freight has 25% Off Coupons for Mothers Day.

Figures.

[Mikeym_us]

I could always use one of those cross slides with my dads adjustable table Craftsman drill press.

[mogunner]

Five years ago I started making my Mosin sight adjusting tools on a HF 8" drill press using their milling vise, saved up and bought their mini-mill. Still have the drill presses but now they just do drilling of course. I used smaller end mills and was only doing aluminum and didn't push it as far as feed speed so that's why they survived.

I have the HF mini-mill, it's identical to Grizzly's mini except it's red, when I chunked the drive gear I ordered a replacement from Grizzly online instead of attempting to speak with HF's customer 'lack of service' in whichever non-English-speaking country it's located in.

Best thing I did was go to the belt drive conversion for it, money well spent.



Grizzly recently added a mid-range mill setup that I'm eyeing seriously, for $850 on sale.

http://www.grizzly.com/products/Mill-Drill/G0758

[SkidMarkSteve]

I'm seeing that an 8" drill press is everything but ideal for AK building.  Its not bad by any means, just not ideal.  Even though my vise is low profile, by the time I put my work piece in it, in this case my front trunnion and long drill bit with short flutes wouldn't go into the chuck because of clearances, lol!  I didn't get to use my precious solid cobalt bit, so I rolled the dice with a cheap jobber bit (came out OK).

Glad you gave me the heads up earlier, AKBLUE.  I was wanting a x/y adjustable vise then!   

[Zeeba]

Probably the most cringe-worthy thing I've seen on a drill press was chucking up an end mill in a drill chuck.  Even a simple counterboring operation will trash the jaws on a chuck.  You'll booger your end mill AND the workpiece.

[Dale99]

I wish I had a floor drill press instead of a bench-top. By the time you add the vise and the bit and the thickness of the work piece you are not left with a lot of vertical axis. I have heard some guys will swing the head of the press around over the edge of the table.  I guess you get more depth but you lose adjustability.

[BillyBang]

Probably the most cringe-worthy thing I've seen on a drill press was chucking up an end mill in a drill chuck.  Even a simple counterboring operation will trash the jaws on a chuck.  You'll booger your end mill AND the workpiece.

I agree, most drill presses, except for some of the higher end ones,
have thrust bearings, that are meant to take pressure "head on" from pressure put downward when drilling.

Mills have "Timken" style bearings that can take side thrust.

Unless you have a very heavy duty drill press and use light feeds,
I'm afraid you will wreck the bearings using side thrust on a drill press.
Once bearings start getting slop in them, the bit will start to "chatter"
and it will be hard to get a nice finish on the work.