Warco WM16 machine vice

I purchased a Warco WM16 milling machine last year with a small vice. Although the vice is adequate for most work I would like one that is capable of holding larger work.

Rather than take pot luck buying an alternative, I thought some may have recommendations from their own experience regarding a vice and a rotary table.

I have a WM16B and the vice I mostly use is an equivalent to the Arc Versatile Milling Vice, 80mm jaw width. The swivel feture is hardly used although it can be handy on the rare occasions I want to mount the vice "lengthways" on the table.

I've also a 4" Abwood but that's a bit of a heavyweight for most of my work.

If the size suits your intended use, the Arc vice is good value imo and larger sizes are available

Can't suggest a particular table except to say that I wouldn't wish to have smaller than 5" or 6 "

hope that helps

Clive

Edited By Clive Brown 1 on 20/06/2019 09:46:01

Edited By Clive Brown 1 on 20/06/2019 09:54:11

I have the WM16 and that's the same vice I fitted but as stated I have not needed the swivel operation yet

It is handy if you do need the vice offset and the height isn't an issue either

cheers

Trevor

I originally purchased a swivel-base vice to go with my mill but the swivelling part was ditched in pretty short order, never to be used. I sold it after a while and replaced it with a 100mm verstaile SG vice from my favourite Leicestershire emporium. Actually I ordered a 160mm one, only to find out it was far too big and heavy for my mill and nearly gave me a hernia trying to lift it onto the table. Luckily, I was able to return it straight away and trade down to the smaller one. You might have trouble mounting it longitudinally, if you needed to. Personally, I've never found the need. I do, however, find that the alternative vice jaw positions can provide useful solutions to intricate workholding problems on odd occasions.

John

( Warco VMC mill, not a WM16 user. )

Edited to correct spelling

Edited By John Hinkley on 20/06/2019 10:33:30

When you buy your Rotary Table, my advice would be buy one with a 90:1 ratio.

It may mean more handle winding, but it can give greater accuracy, and will need a smaller number of Division Plates.

If in any doubt, do check by calculation that the chart supplied is accurate. I found out the hard way that there were errors on my chart.

Howard

I recently purchased a 125mm ARC versatile milling vice and on checking there was a .004" error between the base and the face that the jaws fix to and run on. I took a very light skim from the base and its now within .001" which is good enough for my needs.

I, like others, took the rotating part off and it is unlikely I shall use it. I think it is a good value vice, it's a pity ARC don't offer it without the swivel and spend the money on making it more accurate.

The vice on my WM16 is here:

Jaws are 90mm wide, open up to 67mm and are 40mm high. It cost me £7 if I remember correctly from a bloke in a field one Sunday afternoon some years ago. First thing I did with it was mill a slot underneath and fit a key to locate in the table slot. Saves clocking jaws every time the vice is refitted to the mill.

I have a 6” diameter rotary table purchased from WARCO who advised only the 4” but I though that would be restricting. It came with several dividing plates. Howerd Lewis of this very forum has a correction table available for use with the Vertex HV6 which I believe applies here. If not I’m sure he will correct me. Details here:

**LINK**