I've left a large c clamp tightened onto my drill press table as a bump stop for years I can almost always find a spot where the vise can't rotate without being clamped.

If you start in reverse on your punch mark holding the lever in place while spinning then locking it you'll be right on the money.

@titaniusanglesmith9690

16 күн бұрын

Couldn't that damage the bit?

@ke6gwf

16 күн бұрын

​@@titaniusanglesmith9690not if you do it carefully!

I’ve learned a lot from this man’s instruction.👍

thank you so much John..... always spot on advice...

God I was hoping for something more magically easy and useful than than the C-clamp. I guess what I'm doing is as good as it gets.

@jsar5409

16 күн бұрын

Get a giant magnet lol

center punch the drill point. use a small bit allow it to wonder around and stop the spindle then clamp the vice. its worked for me for over a decade. ive never used a T clamp on a drill press.

For production work where you dont have to move the column very often, measuring tables are amazing. However you do have to zero them whenever they rotate around the column.

Such a tiny vice for that huge drill press. LoL But yes, you want those fastened down damn good.

@brianellison3525

16 күн бұрын

I've been using a bump stop to keep my vise from rotating for about 40 years. Never have actually fastened one down. I've got several I use depending on the job.

@ke6gwf

16 күн бұрын

With smaller and less expensive parts, and smaller bits, just the friction and mass of the vise is usually enough, no clamping needed. But yes, if you are doing something important, or large, then clamp it.

@x-man5056

16 күн бұрын

@@ke6gwf Agree. Particularly if you are making "many". You could make a drill guide fixture also. I'm retired aerospace manufacturing QE, When you are making rocket engines, your are clamping things down. Cheers.

@ke6gwf

16 күн бұрын

​@@x-man5056if you are making rocket engines, PLEASE clamp it down securely! If I am making random eyeballed brackets for a support truck, I am going to cut some corners, but you are right, if I am making something for one of our helicopters, it will have more stress put into it, and be clamped securely... Lol

@x-man5056

16 күн бұрын

@@ke6gwf Working with extreme materials and very tight tolerances. No wobble allowed.

What really sucks is the fact that all of these tables are cast and in an effort to maximise the rigidity of them, the underside of the casting will be littered with a bunch of tapered webs/ribs, often making it a huge pain to find a flat spot for your clamp to locate

@bjornthorgudmundsson2781

10 күн бұрын

For smaller applications like this couldnt you use something like a piece of leather or soft wood on the underside? The clamp can jam the sacrificial piece into the grooves and provide a secure flat spot for itself

Weld it 👍

I just drilled holes in the table…for what ever is required…

With a vise that heavy I wouldnt clamp it down unless above 1/2" in Mild Steel.

The table is specifically designed like that so dummies dont bolt down a vise. Check the instruction manual, that's improper use of a drill press. The vise should not be clamped down, and thats the best feature the drill press has! With the vise "floating" the drill self centers or follows the feature. Great for reamers, c'sinks, and those hones with the brass and grit goop. Lastly, make sure there is an obstruction or stop or pin or clamp or even the post works to make sure no helicopters take off.