Am I wasting my money on this vice?

[tmuir]

Will this be at all suitable for a vice for a milling machine.
I know it falls short compared to some of the more expensive one but I'm on a limited budget and it will be for an X2 mill?

http://cgi.ebay.com/50MM-2-ToolMaker-Vice-Harden-Milling-Grinding-US_W0QQitemZ110290790977QQihZ001QQcategoryZ25260QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I could probably take my budget to $200 Australian (about $130 US) but that would have to include postage so if anyone knows of something better in that price range let me know.

Thanks,

Tony

 

[tel]

This one would probably be more suited to the X2

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/63MM-2-5-SCREW-GUIDE-PRECISION-TOOLMAKERS-VISE-QGG_W0QQitemZ380097608265QQihZ025QQcategoryZ161356QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262

 

[tmuir]

Thanks, it gives me an extra 13mm width too.
I take it I shouldn't suffer any problems with the jaw lifting on it?

 

[tel]

It looks OK, but you can't really tell - it's usually not hard to tune 'em a bit if needed. I've always had a good run from David at Ozmestore.

 

[rleete]

tmuir, that looks like a slightly smalled version of the one I got with my microlathe. I believe mine is the 3" version. It's not a bad unit; works for me and my tiny mill.

One caution: the little bar that fits in the slots of the bottom to tighten it up (technical term?) is not hardened, so don't crank on it. Mine was slightly bent, so I replaced it with a piece of drill rod.

 

[Andrew_D]

Will this be at all suitable for a vice for a milling machine.
I know it falls short compared to some of the more expensive one but I'm on a limited budget and it will be for an X2 mill?

http://cgi.ebay.com/50MM-2-ToolMaker-Vice-Harden-Milling-Grinding-US_W0QQitemZ110290790977QQihZ001QQcategoryZ25260QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I use a 3" screwless on my X2 for 99% of my viceholding needs.
It works great. Don't have to worry as much about the jaw lifting the work.

This one would probably be more suited to the X2

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/63MM-2-5-SCREW-GUIDE-PRECISION-TOOLMAKERS-VISE-QGG_W0QQitemZ380097608265QQihZ025QQcategoryZ161356QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262

I have a 2" similar to this as well, with a swivel base. It was the first one I bought. I quickly bought the 3" screwless though and haven't regretted it.

Andrew

 

[tmuir]

I use a 3" screwless on my X2 for 99% of my viceholding needs.
It works great. Don't have to worry as much about the jaw lifting the work.

I have a 2" similar to this as well, with a swivel base. It was the first one I bought. I quickly bought the 3" screwless though and haven't regretted it.

Andrew

I just looked at the 3" screwless vice at Little MachineShop and like the look of that.
If I buy a number of other items I want too it evens out the postage pretty well,
But think I will need to wait a few weeks as the OZ dollar is the lowest its been against the US$ in a long time.
In October last year $1 OZ got $0.98 US now it gets $0.65

 

[Cedge]

Tony
I've used the 3 inch version from LMS on my X2 with great success. It stops part lift in its tracks and is a pretty solid and accurate little vise, overall. Drawback..... you'll want to have a set of parallels because the lock design are such that you often have to space the part within ther jaws to allow the vise to reach one of its locks.

Steve

 

[rleete]

tmuir, yes! Mine is the 3" with the slots, not the holes along the sides. Not sure why it's more expensive.

I agree with Cedge, you often need spacers - I use strips of PVC.

 

[tmuir]

Thanks,

It's settled then I'll get the 3inch vice from LMS then.
Just want to wait until the oz $ gets back above $0.70 US Hopefully that won't take too long but who knows at the moment.

 

[lugnut]

Tony, just for grins and giggles here is a link to Mr Ishimura's web site where he has the plans and instruction to build a vice like the one you posted. I made one using the little X2 mill I had at the time and it works great.
http://homepage3.nifty.com/amigos/vise/vise-e.htm
Your never going to be satisfied with just one vise. I think I have six now and I use them all. Heck I was using a big old 4" vice on the X2 that was almost bigger than the table. Kinda like clamps, you can never have enough.
Mel

 

[jack404]

G'day folks

Tmuir, i have dealt with the HK dealer from ebay a few times now

the quality is better than average chinese

he does ship, but you get what you pay for,but yeah, cheaper than here ($99 on sale! $159 RRP AUD)

the LMS folks have "way better than average" to BTA but you may be up for $40-$50 AUD for freight.

so no, i'd say your not wasting money on it, you'll get use from it but do expect to buy other vices for other uses or job holding and transfers ( i have two with jobs sitting in them and two chucks the same way..)

you may try waiting depending on your budget to buy from LMS, add a few other bits and peices so ther fixed rate package ( about $75 AUD ) becomes a really viable option for Oz delivery ( same with Travers.com)

I think i spent just on $500 recently with them (AUD) and valued the tools here on ebay ( mainly Ozmestore) and they where $1100 plus delivery ! just the mini lathe starter kit here is $489 AUD to buy retail!

go for it Tmuir

tools is good

cheers

jack

 

[rleete]

Try this:

http://www.shars.com/products/view/111/Precision_Toolmakers_Vise_338quot A little cheaper. they also have smaller and larger ones.

 

[jack404]

rleete,

what a bonza link !

followed it and in the side ad's was this

http://www.shars.com/products/view/2206/3quot_x_114quot_x_1quot_Precision_060_degree_Angle_Blocks

i can see what i'm looking at today

cheers for that

jack

 

[firebird]

Hi

Take a look at this vice I made myself. I use it more than anything else.

http://www.homemodelenginemachinist.com/index.php?topic=3244.0

cheers

Rich

 

[Andrew_D]

you'll want to have a set of parallels because the lock design are such that you often have to space the part within ther jaws to allow the vise to reach one of its locks.

I agree with Cedge, you often need spacers - I use strips of PVC.

I'm confused guys....(mind you the wife says that's normal...)

Do you mean using spacers below the part to space it up so that the area you want to machine is accessible? That's what the parallels are for...

Or do you mean you have to put spacers between one of the jaws and the part itself? The 3" screwless I have is from LMS and I have never had to do this. There is lots of adjustment on the bolt. Probably 3/4" to 1" horizontal. There is always a slot available to put the bolt at 45º ±10º.

Maybe I'm tightening with the bolt too steep/too shallow??? Haven't had anything come loose yet though.

Andrew

 

[rleete]

No, spacers on the side(s) to take up the room. Mine doesn't seem to have all that much adjustment, although I probably could get more if I used less thread engagement on the bolt.

Got mine when I bought my micromill (used). Not sure where it came from, but it's typical of the quality of chinese stuff.

 

[greenie]

Hi Tony, have a look at this link, it's even in Aust, check out the 2.5 inch " K " type milling vice, the price is right and it only needs a tune up to maker it a real good 'un. Take the swivel plate of and it fits right in place on the X 2, plenty of head room and when you MIGHT ever need the swivel base, then just attach it.

https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/K-Type-Milling-Vice

regards greenie

 

[tmuir]

Hi Tony, have a look at this link, it's even in Aust, check out the 2.5 inch " K " type milling vice, the price is right and it only needs a tune up to maker it a real good 'un. Take the swivel plate of and it fits right in place on the X 2, plenty of head room and when you MIGHT ever need the swivel base, then just attach it.

https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/K-Type-Milling-Vice

regards greenie

Hi Greenie
Hare & Forbes are local to me, only a 5 minute drive out of the way on the way home from work.
Besides taking the base off what other 'tuning up' would I need to do to it as the price is very good as I wouldn't need to pay postage on it?

Thanks

 

[tmuir]

Hi Tony, have a look at this link, it's even in Aust, check out the 2.5 inch " K " type milling vice, the price is right and it only needs a tune up to maker it a real good 'un. Take the swivel plate of and it fits right in place on the X 2, plenty of head room and when you MIGHT ever need the swivel base, then just attach it.

https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/K-Type-Milling-Vice

regards greenie

Well the OZ$ has gone down the tube so decided to buy this vice.
It will do me for a while and I can always buy a screwless vice once (if) the OZ$ recovers.
I also tried to buy a 3/8 endmill but they were out of stock, so asked for an 8mm and they were out of stock. : so ended up buying a 7mm endmill and a horribly inflated price but atleast I have everything now to have a 'play' with my mill.

Just wish it wasn't 48C inside my workshop at the moment as there is no way I'm working in that.