Swivel Vise Recommendation

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kplyler

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I have a BP clone mill, and it came with an Interstate stationary 6" vise. The kind that can be used on its side (has no ears) if needed (never had the need). I also have an angle drill press vise, which I have used a few times, it allows for tilting the work piece in the vertical axis. What I would like to have a a vise that allows swiveling in the horizontal axis. I always hear Kurt vise owners pitching the under swivel, and I do see those show up online and on CL periodically, but it does not look like it would be easy to adapt my Interstate to ride on top of a swivel. Any suggestions for a swivel? I hate to buy an entire new vise just for the rare/periodic 45 degree cut. I do have a set of angle blocks, and have cobbled together an angle for one project, but its tedious, and not very stable.

Suggestions?

Thanks
 
Have you considered buying a vise with a swivel, and selling the Interstate?

A lot of people recommend against the swivel, because it takes up about an inch or so of vertical space, but if you need the room, just remove it. And don't put it back until you need it.
 
Not consciously, but now that you mention it, I'll think about that as a plan -"C". shipping a 75lb vise might be a bit much, but I could look at the USPS any weight in a box option, with an alternative of selling on CL.
 
I just sold a mill with a vice and the new mill had a vice and I found that not all swivels bases are interchangeable, could make it work but the center pins were different, so I kept the vice with the swivel. I did like that it was a snap to align the x axis with the swivel under the vice so for now left it on.
 
Wait until Enco has a 20% off coupon and free freight and then pull the trigger. For my main vise I do not want a swivel, loses head room, accuracy, and rigidity. If it does not work in the vise mount it to the table. I did recently pick up a very nice old angle swivel vise that is in the queue for restoring. It is smaller (4") and MUCH lighter duty that a regular mill vise so it will need to be used for light work and with light cuts.
 
With the type vise you have you should be able to use the protractor head on your square against the edge of the table and the vise to easily set any angle. Then just clamp the vise in position. It would probably be just as accurate as the swivel.
 
Ya, I've played with that option. Its difficult to get the toe/lip clamps to lock the vise at various angles, but can be done. I even thought about locking the vise down with the Teco/T-Slot set to the top of the vise, but not sure how stable that would be. Lots of good options and info. I have clamped pieces (typically because they don't fit in the vise) to the table directly, had not thought of that as setting an angle, but it actually is.

Thanks
 
Buy a swivel vise if you like but don't sell the old one. It would be very rare if you never needed an additional vise.
 
I put a new vise on my mill 8 years ago without a swivel base and I can honestly say that the only time I have ever moved the vise was when I needed to mount the rotary table or a large jig I use for boring a certain engine. I really cant think of a set up that I ever had to do that would have been easier with a swivel base vise.
If angular accuracy is important then I'm going to be using an indexer or sine plate depending on the job at hand.

We do have a 6" Interstate with a swivel base at my day job and it seems like a pretty good vice for the price.
 
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