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Supporting => Tooling & Machines => Topic started by: geoff5269 on April 24, 2017, 12:24:22 PM

Title: Which vice for small mill
Post by: geoff5269 on April 24, 2017, 12:24:22 PM
I have tried several vices for my Mill which has a table 400x120 mm and I don't want it to be to large and heavy, also it's awkward if the vice overhangs the front of the table and blocks view of hand wheel. My latest purchase from Arceurotrade measures 160x60mm  is very accurate and doesn't get any longer than the body when extended. Compared to the traditional vice it opens 20mm wider as well. At first I found the adjustment in 5 small steps of approx. 19mm a bit fiddly as your not sure where in the range you are but by marking the range with some tape it is now obvious if you should go to the next step or not. What's your favourite vice?
Geoff
Title: Re: Which vice for small mill
Post by: sco on April 24, 2017, 12:36:37 PM
Favourite vice - no comment!

Favourite vise - Tidy vise http://www.hemingwaykits.com/acatalog/info%5fHK%201370%2ehtml (http://www.hemingwaykits.com/acatalog/info%5fHK%201370%2ehtml)

Simon.
Title: Re: Which vice for small mill
Post by: DTR on April 24, 2017, 03:45:57 PM
That's a rather beautifully engineered end stop on your vice, Geoff! As it happens, I was about to buy the 70mm version of that Arc vice for my own mill :)
Title: Re: Which vice for small mill
Post by: RoyG on April 26, 2017, 06:58:08 AM
I have tried several vices for my Mill which has a table 400x120 mm and I don't want it to be to large and heavy, also it's awkward if the vice overhangs the front of the table and blocks view of hand wheel. My latest purchase from Arceurotrade measures 160x60mm  is very accurate and doesn't get any longer than the body when extended. Compared to the traditional vice it opens 20mm wider as well. At first I found the adjustment in 5 small steps of approx. 19mm a bit fiddly as your not sure where in the range you are but by marking the range with some tape it is now obvious if you should go to the next step or not. What's your favourite vice?
Geoff

Geoff,

Thanks for the suggestion of using the tape on the side  of the vice - a great idea that I'm going straight out to the shed to copy.

Regards,

RoyG
Title: Re: Which vice for small mill
Post by: Thor on April 26, 2017, 08:18:05 AM
Hi Geoff,

 I have milling vices similar to the one in your second photo, they are used a lot. Another advantage with these vices is the low height, on small milling machines you may soon run out of headroom if the vice and work are too tall.

Thor
Title: Re: Which vice for small mill
Post by: geoff5269 on June 20, 2017, 08:23:59 PM
I thought I might add my latest mod. to the toolmakers vice,
I wanted to add a bar onto the base to align the vice quickly when replacing it as I had done this before on my other vice.
But the trouble is this one is very hard steel instead of the usual cast iron and when I have tried to mark it for drilling I realised how tough it was.
Then I though I would try with a carbide drill I have had tucked away that was demonstrated at a show drilling though files, I knew I wouldn't be able to thread a hole but if I could drill it and glue in an insert it might work.     and it did, and I have bee able to add this feature and very useful it is.
Here are some pics, also one showing a tray for all the parallels and bolts used on the mill.
Geoff
Title: Re: Which vice for small mill
Post by: Brian Rupnow on June 21, 2017, 01:10:35 AM
Geoff--I have 3 different milling vices, two of which are similar to what you show. The one which you like best is the only one of the three that doesn't suffer from "jaw lift" when it is tightened up on a part. I like my other two vices, and I use them all the time as I prefer their action to that of the "Toolmakers vice" but I don't really trust them to hold a piece perfectly square to the milling machine bed. That "jaw lift" on the moveable jaw will tilt a part---not much, but enough to screw you up if squareness is critical.---Brian
Title: Re: Which vice for small mill
Post by: Thor on June 21, 2017, 06:20:48 AM
Hi Geoff,

 The milling vise I use the most is a toolmakers vise, like the one you got from Arc. In fact I have two, one home made and one Vertex branded. I like your modifications to the toolmakers vise, I just have to find the time.

Thor
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