If you have a workshop or just love doing some DIY projects that involve things such as woodwork at home, it’s almost obvious that you require a drill press vise. Such vises come in different types, shapes, and designs, but the bottom line is that they all have similar uses. Drill press vises are meant to be used with drill press machines.
A drill press machine is more of a fixed style drill on a stand and is mostly used to drill holes. However, it can as well be used for other workshop tasks such as polishing, sanding, and sharpening. The main factor that makes it easy to use a drill press vise with a drill machine is the flat base with mounting holes to secure the vise onto the machine’s table.
Options to consider when getting a drill press vise
Before purchasing the drill press vise that you want to use, you should think about the project you are working on. Some of the factors to consider include:
1. Jaw Grooves and pads
Most drilling press vises have hardened jaws which play a significant role in helping the vise overcome the immense forces associated with a majority of drilling projects. Some models are equipped with jaws that have horizontal and vertical grooves which allow for holding of pipes and other irregular or circular shaped objects.
If you are working on objects which may get damaged by the vise’s jaws, you may want to consider getting a drill press vise with jaw pads on it.
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2. Design of the base
Another factor to consider when getting a drill press vise is the design of the base. Some models have a three-way base design which allows for varying mounting options. A three-way design should enable you to mount the vise in three different positions, which brings about more versatility.
3. Weight
Drill press vises have varying weights which vary depending on factors such as the size of the vise as well as what the vise is being used for.
A significantly heavy vise may not require you to secure it to your drill press since it won’t wobble or vibrate as you work with it. On the other hand, smaller vises are not heavy enough, and most of them have to be secured onto the working surface to keep them in a fixed position.
4. Purpose
You cannot use any vise for whatever project you are working on. As such, you have to consider the purpose of the vise to determine how big or small the vise should be and whether you will benefit from any extra features. The purpose of the vise can also guide you on whether things such as precision and flexibility are important.
5. Throat depth
The throat depth of a drill press vise is measured from the top edge of its jaws to the base. It’s simply a measure of the deepness of a vise’s jaws and the stability they offer when working on different shapes of workpieces. This is a factor you can consider depending on the type of projects you are working on. Throat depth comes in handy if you are working on long and narrow objects.
6. Extra features
An extra feature goes a long way in making a tool special while several additional features make a specialized tool. Choosing a drill press vise with extra features highly depends on the kinds of projects you wish to complete with the vise.
Some of the most useful extra features include cross sliding, which makes it possible to place the object you are working on in any direction.
How to use a drill press vise
Once you have the drill press vice of your choice, the next big thing you have to do is know how to use it. When using a drill press machine, you may benefit a lot from installing a rotary table. This makes it easier to drill holes at different angles with ease. Here is what you need to know about attaching and using a drill press vise.
Attaching a drill press vise
When attaching a drill press vise, here are the steps you should follow:
1. Determine the placement
If you chose not to go with a rotary table, you have to determine where you will place the vise on the table. To do so, consider the material that you usually work on in most cases and how you need it to be held in place.
2. Place the vise
Next up, you want to place the vise on the working surface. Be sure to place it in a way that the mounting holes line up with the drilled holes on the table of the drill press.
3. Secure the vise
The last thing to do as far as installing the drill press vise is concerned is securing it. For this one, you will need about four to six bolts. Install the bolts first before tightening them to make sure that they all fit. Once you’ve fitted the bolts, be sure to tighten them to prevent unwanted movement of the vise.
Using the drill press vise
After setting everything up, the other thing you want to do is test the vise to ensure that it’s working as expected. Here are the steps to follow when using your drill press vise:
1. Mark the drill point
Get the object you are working on and mark where you want to drill.
2. Open the jaws
After making a mark, open the jaws of the drill press vise by turning the handle in an anti-clockwise direction.
3. Position the workpiece
Get the object you are working on and place it into the jaws of the vise. Be sure to get the best position, and also see to it that the object is not placed at an angle. Placing a workpiece at an angle often leads to drilling an uneven hole.
4. Close the jaws
The final thing to do as far as securing the workpiece in place is tightening the jaws of the vice. To do so, all you need to do is turn the handle in a clockwise manner. Be sure to tighten until you are sure that the object cannot slip out of place.
5. Align the drill bit
Accuracy matters a lot as far as drill projects are concerned. To ensure accuracy when drilling, align the drill bit with the marked drill point on the object.
6. Drill
When you are sure that everything is in position, turn the machine on, and then lower the drill press slowly until it makes contact with the clamped object.
There you go
That is all you need to know about selecting, attaching, and using a drill press vise. Before picking any drill press vise, be sure to research well. You should as well consider using safety equipment when working with such machines to avoid unwanted injuries.
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