Mill Vise Opinions

Personally, I use a modified screwless vise. I tried going to a Kurt style vise, but went back to the screwless after a while because:
1. Deeper jaws
2. Precision ground and parallel
3. Can mount vise on it's side or even on end
4. Wider jaw opening
5. Better at fighting jaw lift
6. It's still stronger than my X2 mill

Here are the modifications I made:
http://benchtopmachineshop.blogspot.com/2013/05/mill-vises.html
http://benchtopmachineshop.blogspot.com/2015/02/mill-screwless-precision-vise.html
 
Zoltan -
Thanks for posting about your mods to the screwless vise. I bought one a couple months ago, and will be happy to shamelessly steal your idea!

Years ago, I bought "the other kind" of screwless for my X2 - the kind with full length cross pin, a "cross nut," and a cap screw on the moveable jaw. If the cap screw ever gets unscrewed from the cross nut, it's a challenge to find and re-connect. I modified the vise by adding a stud to the cross nut, and use a 1/4-20 nut on top to tighten the jaw. Serendipitous side effect - no more swarf clogging the socket head of the cap screw!
ViseMod1.jpg ViseMod2.jpg ViseMod3.jpg
 
So far, I'm leaning towards the Glacern Premium 4" vise (https://www.glacern.com/gpv_412) for my Clausing 8520. Cost as much as a Kurt D40, but think it may be more versatile.
Only thing being is I don't think the GPV-412 can be used with a swivel base. At least I don't see an option for one on the Glacern site.
So to that end, I've got a couple more questions,
  1. How often do you use your swivel base and do you think it worth having one ?
  2. Pushing the budget a bit, but considering also buying the LMS vise from my buddy. Thinking it would allow having a cheaper vise for general machining adding less risk of chewing up the higher priced one and have the option of a swivel base and having the other for more accuracy based work. See any flaws in my thought process ?
  3. As stated earlier, the LMS vise is the Proffesional version (https://littlemachineshop.com/products/product_view.php?ProductID=4733&category=1963256912). When I looked at it, the divisions on the swivel base looked a little out of wack. Anyone have any experience with this vise ?
  4. Does anyone have a GPV-412 or similar and found a way to mount to a swivel base ?
 
Just about everybody I've discussed this with agrees that a swivel base is most useful as an expendable boat anchor. I have 2 vises that came with swivel bases, have never used them, and kinda wonder why I've kept them around. You'll find pretty much the same opinion in the other posts on this thread.

I don't recall what size mill you said you have, but in addition to whatever 4" vise you buy, I'd suggest you also get a small screwless vise. Among other offerings, Little Machine Shop has two specials going right now:
http://littlemachineshop.com/products/product_view.php?ProductID=1591&category=
http://littlemachineshop.com/products/product_view.php?ProductID=4871&category=

Zoltan made several good points in his post above, regarding the usefulness of screwless vises. Somebody in another thread mentioned another - you can mount it at just about any angle (no need for a swivel base), because the mounting holes/slots go pretty much all the way around it. Finally, it's very easy to get it mounted "square with the world" on the mill table, by using a machinist's square against the table's front edge and the (straight!) side of the vise. Not absolutely, positively perfect, but pretty durn good, especially for quick jobs.
 
You could not get me to part with my Kurt with Swivel base. I suspect the folks that have a beef with swivel bases have a Chinese version. My Kurt combo is flat as can be, and has held up to some pretty rough work. I fail to see the problem with them. I suspect the folks who rag on swivels have never used a Kurt set up in good shape. I vote for cry once and buy quality especially on tooling like vises.

michael
 
Doubleeboy said:
You could not get me to part with my Kurt with Swivel base. I suspect the folks that have a beef with swivel bases have a Chinese version. My Kurt combo is flat as can be, and has held up to some pretty rough work. I fail to see the problem with them. I suspect the folks who rag on swivels have never used a Kurt set up in good shape. I vote for cry once and buy quality especially on tooling like vises.
Click to expand...

I take it you use your swivel base a lot.
Is there any specific type work where you use it or just in general ?
 
No I really don't use it alot, but it sure makes tramming the vise in x axis a breeze when I lift the vise off to clean underneath. I do set it over from time to time and a number of times it I have used it carefully in the loose position to put a radius on the end of some flat stock in not critical situations. When I bought my swivel base and D675 10 or so years ago, several people warned me of the horrors of swivel vises. Not a one of them ever took me up on the offer to come over and makes some cuts and take some measurements on how flat the vise sits. I suppose some one has left a swivel base loose in a job shop and next operator to use machine had a hissy fit when their part and cutter was ruined because the base was loose. Being a one man show, that is not likely to ever be a problem for me. I either have the vise set up and trammed and tightened down or its hanging in the air by its holder.

For multi axis work I frequently also use a Wilton 3 angle 3" milling vise. They are not cheap, not as heavy duty as a Kurt, but three axis adjustment is pretty handy. If I had a small mill I believe I would suck it up and get a 4" Kurt and a Wilton 2 or 3 axis vise. Could pass on the swivel base for Kurt and still have lots of options.

I have lots of Chinese (cheap and not cheap) tools in shop. Most get the job done, some make me happy, when I use the Kurt or Wilton I am not let down and know they are better machines than I am a machinist.

michael
 
Interestingly, in about 50 some years of machining I have never used a swivel base. It might be useful for cutting angles but so is a rotary table. I have no problem with them but rather just never had a use for one.
 
Here's one use for a swivel vice. Making radius slots. Loosen the swivel a little and turn by hand. Rough but effective enough for a TV bracket adjuster.Yes I am ROUGH:disturbed:.
John

IMG_0317.JPG
 
I have a swivel base for my vise, and I do use if from time to time to cut a specific angle when required. Every time I begin to think that I can remove the swivel base and store it in the cabinet, another project comes up requiring a specific and accurate angle to be milled, and the swivel base gets to stay on the mill a little while longer. Using a dial indicator you can accurately set the vise to a specific angle much like using a sine bar, but this is much easier if you also have a DRO on your mill.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top