Milling Vice

Hi Chaps, Any advice on a decent milling vice would be appreciated. Make ,Model where to buy etc.

Regards

Look for one that has both vertical and horizontal "V" machined into the jaws for holding small round bar etc. Usually you have to buy the jaws as an extra.
BobH

I am partial to the Kurt style vises. There are some high quality clones of the Kurt vise available. Its most important feature is the "lock down" movable jaw. I have a jaw with horizontal and vertical V's in it. I rarely screw it in place, just set it into the vise loose. That saves unscrewing the regular jaw. A V block can be used in place of grooved jaws. I recently bought a screwless toolmakers vise for my smaller mill. I don't have much experience with it yet. It seems like a good arrangement. I got the idea from Stefan Gotteswinter's YouTube videos.

Both styles of vise eliminate the jaw lift that raises work off the parallels.

What size do you need?

What is your budget?

Arc do them but are so annoying to use each and every time clamp something up.
http://www.arceurotrade.co.uk/Catalogue/Workholding/Machine-Vices/Precision-Tool-Vices-Type-2

Limited travel of a bolt with allen key that rounds off, slacken off eccentric cam drops out fist around to retrieve then line up and start screw off repetitively. Need hammer and allen key to tighten up or wont hold job, same with undoing.

I agree If you back out the screw a bit too far the "nut" that engages the grooves in the body drops off and you have to dismount the vise to put it back. To eliminate that problem I replaced the Allen screw with a stud and tall (coupling) nut. It also serves as kind of a handle to help get "nut" engaged in the slot.

I've got a couple of vices for the SX2.7 From ARC and both are Quite nice to use.

The Versatile on swivel base has a form of wedge action on the movable jaw that forces it down when you tighten up and also has the bonus of being able to hold quite large thin items due to the additional jaw mounting positions. Quite a large vice so probably not the best thing on a X1 mill!

The type 2 precision is a lot more compact so more suited to the smaller machines, Works a bit easier either a "T" type key and you get used to how far to undo the screw, Plenty of traditional vices use a separate handle to tighten so I don't see an issue with a separate key plus if you have the vice mounted along the table the key is a lot easier than a cranked handle.

I have not used or seen one yet but MSC have vices on this months offer sheet. I would have bought one this month but had to buy another read out display for the mill and I like to keep expenditure in the workshop sensible. I use a piece of bar about 35x25x150 with Vee's milled along the length and vertically loose in the vice to hold small rounds. The vertical vee is useful when milling slots in cheese head screws as it always repeats on centre.

I invested in a DH-1 and am pleased with it. Unusually flexible, an interesting design. The only downside for me is that it's a tad small on a WM18 (jaws 25x85mm) : the size is probably a positive advantage on a smaller mill.

Dave

I bought a SOBA machine vice which has been very good. I should however have bought it with a swivel base though.

I got one with a swivel base from Arc, it was the first thing to go( the swivel base that is, the vice itself is very good), I can see no reason to put it back on.

I cut a slot I the base of the vice for a key piece that would fit in the slots on the milling table, so I don't have to align the vice every time it is put on the table.

Each to his own I suppose

I have a VMC and have a DH-1 and a 100mm Vertex K4, both meet expectation and are satisfactory. Having entered the water before ARC listed the kurt copies I may have gone for one of those. I think the size of vice should be in keeping with the machine but as big as possible. Going too large can hinder the amount of movement sometimes.

Mike

A pair of vices can be useful but is quite an expense for the odd job. Direct clamping to the table is very versatile and should always be considered.

Edited By Mike Poole on 01/10/2017 15:57:40

I saw 2 x Abwood 6" milling vises for sale recently. Very good make and these were in very good condition. Maidstone or Maidehead. A bit too big for my needs, otherwise there would only be one for sale now.

JasonB's suggestions are basically the same as mine, except he referred to specific models. Either type would work well, depending on your preference. The swivel base can be useful occasionally but is really not needed. You can clamp a vise directly to the table at any angle you want.

Had one for over 5 years, I can only assume you're using it wrong, I have the threads lubed with MOS2 and clean them each time the vice comes off the mill, I have never come close to rounding the hex in the screw, I don't use cheap hex keys though!

I also use a pair of these for longer/larger jobs

https://trtoolingandmachinery.co.uk/collections/workholding/products/100mm-cnc-modular-precision-vice

They are very good,

- Nick

In all fairness i am not a newby learning the ropes.
I can only assume times not a concern, time costs money.

Its the allen key supplied thats rounded off. Not a lover of hammering things like to do it by feel but this is a necessity to tighten these vices up with a limited arc of travel to get a hold on the allen key.
Also take it you dont use often else you would know its a ratchet style and cap head bolt has a minimum amount of travel mean while arcing as tightens up. May well find have to back cap head to its max before it unscrews from the block to be able to get in to the next ratchet along which provides more clamping force. Vice versa if on another ratchet it pulls down rather than more against the part!
Has happened a few times by not unscrewing cap head out fully and dropping in a width it cant cope with. To get that, cap head has to be fully unscrewed mean while holding the eccentric cam against spring pressure then starting bolt off 1/2 a rev continuously each time used to get in to another ratchet, tell me i m talking b.....s

I have two type 2 Arc vices. They are very easy to use, I have a replaced the cap head screws with a better quality item. As Jason suggested a tee Allen key makes operation a breeze, use a standard type rather than ball end. To release, unscrew about two turns then lever the screw by pushing the key forwards. No connection to Arc, they are one of the better suppliers we have, but not perfect. I have not received a shed load of free goodies from them, just decent service tarnished by a frosty reception when making justified returns.

Well interesting Topic lads

I am contemplating a Vertex 5" / 6" Kurt clone, I would love a Kurt but the Missus wont allow it lol

I've got a genuine Kurt vice which is excellent, my advice would be to sell the missus and buy the Kurt.

Andrew