Hi Guys
I decided to treat myself to Clarke Drill Press on the last VAT free
day at Machine Mart.
One of the main things I've been using it for is drilling fasteners for lockwiring, and it's proving to be a bit of a nightmare.
I bought a simple drill vice to mount to the press- but given
the size of the fasteners I'm trying to drill, it's just not working. I'm finding that as I tighten the jaws to hold the bolt in place,
the adjustable jaw is trying to ride up over the fixed one, twisting the bolt and weakening the overall grip. When I come to drill into the fastener,
it moves when the drill makes contact with the surface.
So I'm looking for something that I can use that will hold a fastener steady (usually by the threads) and is easily and finely adjustable so I
can centre the drill bit without having to move the drilling platform by hand (as minute movements are nigh-on impossible). I've seen vices that
allow you to adjust the work-piece in both planes, but they seem really expensive.
Oh and I've considered using a lockwire drilling jig, but I want to drill across the faces, rather than at an angle across two adjacent faces.
Does anyone have any alternatives they can recommend?
Thanks in advance guys,
Ben.
[Edited on 12/3/15 by BigMac]
Use 2 pieces of wood to grip the bolt. Put the wood together face to face in the vice then drill a hole a bit smaller than your bolt down the gap say
a 6mm for an 8 mm.
The smaller hole will grip the bolt without damaging the threads and gives you some meat to hold in the vice.
I have one of those cheap Clarke vises too and I recognize the symptoms you describe!
I have one of those cheap vices as well, they are crap!
Rather than holding the fastener by it's threads, you could make a hacksaw cut through one side of a couple of nuts then wind these onto the
bolt. Clamp the assembly in your vice via the split nuts and they will pinch up and grip the bolt without damaging the threads. Even better would be
to modify a tube nut like this.
[Edited on 12/3/15 by MikeRJ]
You can buy a jig specially for this. Do a Google or eBay search on bolt drilling jig
I've found the Clarke drill press vices are extremely useful to hold parts for Tig welding.
I have not found them at all useful for holding things for drilling.
As has been said - get a Jig.
You want a v block.
Thanks very much for the replies gents, I really appreciate the advice!
I didn't even know a v-block existed, that's definately an option to pursue- as is the drilling jig if none of the less money intensive
strategies work.
quote:
Originally posted by JeffHs
Use 2 pieces of wood to grip the bolt. Put the wood together face to face in the vice then drill a hole a bit smaller than your bolt down the gap say a 6mm for an 8 mm.
The smaller hole will grip the bolt without damaging the threads and gives you some meat to hold in the vice.
quote:
Originally posted by MikeRJ
I have one of those cheap vices as well, they are crap!
Rather than holding the fastener by it's threads, you could make a hacksaw cut through one side of a couple of nuts then wind these onto the bolt. Clamp the assembly in your vice via the split nuts and they will pinch up and grip the bolt without damaging the threads. Even better would be to modify a tube nut like this.
[Edited on 12/3/15 by MikeRJ]