BigMac
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| posted on 12/3/15 at 04:45 PM |
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Advice Needed: Drill Press Vice
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]
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JeffHs
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| posted on 12/3/15 at 05:03 PM |
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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!
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MikeRJ
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| posted on 12/3/15 at 05:11 PM |
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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]
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britishtrident
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| posted on 12/3/15 at 05:19 PM |
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You can buy a jig specially for this. Do a Google or eBay search on bolt drilling jig
[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]
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40inches
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| posted on 12/3/15 at 05:58 PM |
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eBay
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motorcycle_mayhem
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| posted on 12/3/15 at 06:36 PM |
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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.
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coyoteboy
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| posted on 12/3/15 at 07:38 PM |
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You want a v block.
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BigMac
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| posted on 13/3/15 at 12:17 AM |
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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.
Jeff- I love this idea, I'm going to give this one a go and see how I get on... I'm not an overly creative guy when it comes to this
stuff, but I really can see that one working.
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]
Mike, love this one too- being a bit of an engineering numpty it took me a minute to understand what you meant, but I've got it now! May give
this one a go first and failing that, try Jeff's, followed by buying a jig if I really get stuck.
If I still can't solve it, then I'll take the plunge and invest in a proper drilling jig, but
one like this.
Will let you all know, thanks again gents!
Ben.
[Edited on 13/3/15 by BigMac]
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