[bobj3]

Just a note from a old tool and die maker.
The vise is just one part you need a good drive head as well.
Most Drill Press can't take it on and do a good job.
They are made to go up and down and stay in plum.
I have 2 cross milling vises I use from time to time 4" and a 6" on wood but the drill press quil must be locked as high as it will go inside the drill press.
It's because the way the bearing are setup on a drill press.
You can get a so so job done with a drill press but some woods are hard as steel some times and they will let it move off center most of the time.
You would be best off to find a old mill and set it up for wood working,some come with tooling that you can use and setup quick for woodworking.
I did pickup a small one (mill ) from Harbor Freight that was just right for small jobs and it came with a milling vise but the height thing came in to play on some jobs.

The one you are looking at to buy looks a bit light.
Machinist Vise
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?uuid=1ADE8E2E-6291-F43B-2C583D980F3C359B&page=11173&filter=20259
You may want to check out eBay and Harbor Freight for one.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=47158
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=44991
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=32997

Just my 2 cents.
Bj

 

[bobj3]

Ed
Just a add on note...
I did find a use Sears Router Crafter that works great for the X-Y jobs.
I took off the small Craftsman router that it came with and put a Roto Tool on it with a speed control ,it works great for many jobs.
I did got it on ebay for 40.oo bucks plus 21.oo for shipping.
It will do a slot .375" x 18.5" long in the X-Y or copy any patten under the guide point.
I just did a small job that I needed 2 slots .312" x 12.0" long with a space of .125" from one slot to the other and it did a great job on that one.
I did try it on the router table b/4 I used the Sears crafter tool but it snap the slot.
But is does have a big foot print 34" x 36" base thats on my work table.
I guess I could put in a flat bottom draw under the bench and just pull it out when I need it.(or on a computer pull out/snap up fixture that I found at a garage sale for 10.oo bucks) I guess I just gave myself a new job hahahahaha

If you would like to see a snapshot of the tool let me know and I will post one.

Have a good one
Bj

 

[bobj3]

snapshots

Hi Ed
Here are some snapshots, just for kicks..
Hope it helps,I called it a Router Crafter,but it's called a Router Recreator, made by Sears.

Bj

 

[bobj3]

Hi Ed
Here's a link to the manual.
Sears Router Recreator
Manual is in the PDF format.
http://www.nacresky.com/lad/projects/ww/recreator-manual.pdf
It's shows how to use the tool and what you can do with it.
But I did add some items to the tool that Sears forgot about.
see snapshots.(travel control for one)

Bj

 

[bobj3]

Hi John

Sears Router Recreator/Manual
Sears Craftsman Router Recreator 113.251890 Own. Manual | eBay

I have a PDF one on my HD but it's to big to post (17.5MB )and it's free, but over the max size for the forum, Mark was going the fix that but no luck so far.


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[bobj3]

Hi Harry

You should check out the new ones they have out now

This is a low price one but it's well made
Milling Vise - 5" Drill Press Milling Vise

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I only have the July 2011 Rockler catalogue which doesn't show a milling vise. I'm not sure if you refer to one like this, or a cross vise. If the latter and it's made in China, unless there has been vast improvements in the manufacture of the cross vises in the last few years, I'd avoid them like the plague. I bought one some years ago and it had so much play when changing direction as to be useless for milling. I only used it as a drilling vise for wood and gave it away to a friend when I bought this mill/drill with a substantial XY table.

 

[bobj3]

Hi Pat

I work with wood most of the time and I don't need the .001 thing, most of the time and I use a Bob R. rubber ruler, with just a little pull on the ruler it's dead on..

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"So if you have one tell us about it, if you have someone elses (same general price point) tell us about it."

Whilst these vises have their place, in my view, they're not much good for close order drilling. So, I made a fence that is infinitely adjustable, has stops left & right (right one not shown) and for in/out (not shown). And to take care of the 12 freedoms of work piece slip/slide/up/down & its 3 rotational components there are toggles that keep the work isolated. Front and back views.
Can drill to a mil (.001") with this setup. May do you little good but it does explain a real alternative that works.

 

[bobj3]

Hi Harry

No I don't have one but a mate got one and I played with it a bit I still have of two of the older ones, the new one is like night and day..it's not a 800.oo dollar mill vice but it's good for the price..

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Well Bob, so far as looks go it's a HUGE improvement to the one that I had. Have you actually had your hands on one, if so, is it free from play? The price is too good to believe that it could be as precision as advertised.