Thanks Thanks:  0
Likes Likes:  0
Needs Pictures Needs Pictures:  0
Picture(s) thanks Picture(s) thanks:  0
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 20
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2016
    Location
    Reservoir Melb
    Age
    63
    Posts
    10

    Default Do us Aussies make a well made milling machine vice?

    Similar to Kurt ? I am looking to buy a descent vice but I just watched how out of whack Kurt replicas can be .
    Reworking an import 4" mill vise
    Thats disgusting.
    Everything proper I look at needs to be imported from the States at a huge price obviously.
    All the rest here in Oz is Chinese with a turntable it seems.

    Cheers
    Browny

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    Norwood-ish, Adelaide
    Age
    59
    Posts
    6,541

    Default

    The vertex Anglock vices are not too bad; the base can be removed to add a bit of rigidity.

    Michael

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Far West Wimmera
    Age
    63
    Posts
    4,049

    Default

    The turntable base of my vice does a very good job of holding a shelf in my cabinet down. That shelf has not moved since. I wonder just how much use these turntables get?

    Dean

  4. #4
    Ueee's Avatar
    Ueee is offline Blacksmith, Cabinetmaker, Machinist, Messmaker
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Canberra
    Age
    39
    Posts
    4,515

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Oldneweng View Post
    The turntable base of my vice does a very good job of holding a shelf in my cabinet down. That shelf has not moved since. I wonder just how much use these turntables get?

    Dean
    I found mine quite good as a tramming ring after a light surface grind.

    I recently bought a 6" Geradi modular vice clone from H&F, i am actually waiting for another so i have a matched pair for the big mill. Whilst these vices are far from cheap they are far better made and far more accurate than the Vertex angloc and i would rate it better than my Glacern as well. Being made from hardened steel they should also stand up to hard work a lot better than the Kurt clones.
    I think the vertex vices have dropped in quality, the one i have had an out of square fixed jaw (vertically) and the casting quality is appalling.
    1915 17"x50" LeBlond heavy duty Lathe, 24" Queen city shaper, 1970's G Vernier FV.3.TO Universal Mill, 1958 Blohm HFS 6 surface grinder, 1942 Rivett 715 Lathe, 14"x40" Antrac Lathe, Startrite H225 Bandsaw, 1949 Hercus Camelback Drill press, 1947 Holbrook C10 Lathe.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Emerald Central Qld
    Posts
    349

    Default

    Like most things we buy today , made to a price and will last until you walk out to your vehicle.

    Sometimes it is better to save up and buy decent gear.

    Michael

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Melbourne, Victoria
    Posts
    165

    Default

    Dawn make milling vices in addition to their ubiquitous bench vices, I'm not sure if they make the style you are after or not.

    See here: Super Precision Milling & Machining Vices

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    QLD
    Posts
    735

    Default

    You got a mill, make yer own vice. Then we get to see the progress thread.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2016
    Location
    Reservoir Melb
    Age
    63
    Posts
    10

    Default

    Thanks for your replies guys, being new to this I didnt realize the swivel base can be removed which gives me a greater outlook.
    At the moment the only vice I have is a $20 drill vice I use on my welding bench to hold stuff still, I wouldnt be using it to make a good vice which I dont reckon I'm accomplished enough yet and surely one would think it takes an accurate vise to make an accurate vice.

    That Dawn vise probably just needs a cover over the screw.

    Cheers
    Browny

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    Norwood-ish, Adelaide
    Age
    59
    Posts
    6,541

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Oldneweng View Post
    I wonder just how much use these turntables get?
    Occasionally I get an urge to put mine back on so I could use it - but that feeling soon passes...

    Mine sits there in the cupboard primarily as insurance against Murphy these days

    Michael

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Far West Wimmera
    Age
    63
    Posts
    4,049

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Michael G View Post
    Occasionally I get an urge to put mine back on so I could use it - but that feeling soon passes...

    Mine sits there in the cupboard primarily as insurance against Murphy these days

    Michael
    When I bought my mill vice you seemed to think it might be a bit large for my mill. While I could get away with a smaller one it has worked out ok without the turntable. With the turntable tho, way too big. Maybe if a smaller vice had been on special?

    The Dawn vice looks to be pretty compact width ways, even the turntable. Hate to see that price tho.

    Dean

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Australia east coast
    Age
    71
    Posts
    2,713

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Michael G View Post
    Occasionally I get an urge to put mine back on so I could use it - but that feeling soon passes...

    Mine sits there in the cupboard primarily as insurance against Murphy these days

    Michael
    Funny - all my machine vises are still mounted to their swivel bases. Makes it a lot easier to tram them in. Even with 3 mills, stuff gets mounted & swapped out all the time.

    If I want serious rigidity I don't use a vise.

    PDW

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Far West Wimmera
    Age
    63
    Posts
    4,049

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by PDW View Post
    Funny - all my machine vises are still mounted to their swivel bases. Makes it a lot easier to tram them in. Even with 3 mills, stuff gets mounted & swapped out all the time.

    If I want serious rigidity I don't use a vise.

    PDW
    I am interested in how this effects the tramming. When I tram my vice as soon as I see the needle move I start tapping with a soft hammer to align it. The actual tramming part takes very little time. How does still having the swivel base on it make it easier?

    Dean

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Australia east coast
    Age
    71
    Posts
    2,713

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Oldneweng View Post
    I am interested in how this effects the tramming. When I tram my vice as soon as I see the needle move I start tapping with a soft hammer to align it. The actual tramming part takes very little time. How does still having the swivel base on it make it easier?

    Dean
    Different technique is all. I bolt mine down hard then use a DTI from the middle of the fixed jaw to the outside, note the variation and tap the vise around on its swivel base. Usually takes 1-3 attempts to get it spot-on.

    Tramming one in using the bolts, there's always a risk it can move on both bolts (I usually just nip one up to prevent this) and anyway it isn't swivelling about a centre point.

    Really dedicated people use an alignment key in the bottom of the vise so they just have to put it into the T slot, push it hard up & tighten down. That would require me to make said key, and as I've said elsewhere, I'm bone idle.

    There's no 'right' way to do this, whatever works for you is good.

    PDW

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Far West Wimmera
    Age
    63
    Posts
    4,049

    Default

    Yes I can see what you mean. I am winding with the right hand, and adjusting with the hammer in the left hand within millimetres of starting. I can see that centre pivoting can make a difference if you move the table, check and adjust, but I am only looking for dial movement and don't quantify the variation so pivoting off one side makes no difference at all. I have got the vice within a couple of hundredths (mm) in much less than a full width of the jaw.

    I used to move, adjust, move, adjust, but since seeing this method on YouTube I have stuck with it. It has vastly sped up the process so tramming the vice is not a chore anymore.

    Usually takes 1-3 attempts to get it spot-on.
    About the same except that I only stop winding to get the last couple of hundredths.

    There's no 'right' way to do this, whatever works for you is good.
    Dead right.

    Really dedicated people use an alignment key in the bottom of the vise so they just have to put it into the T slot, push it hard up & tighten down. That would require me to make said key, and as I've said elsewhere, I'm bone idle.
    I have thought about this from time to time, but I too am lazy and for me it would make it harder to store. Recently I was thinking about a U shaped guide that clamps in the jaws and can be pressed against the edge of the T slot each side.

    Dean

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    Norwood-ish, Adelaide
    Age
    59
    Posts
    6,541

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by PDW View Post
    Really dedicated people use an alignment key in the bottom of the vise so they just have to put it into the T slot, push it hard up & tighten down.
    Quote Originally Posted by Oldneweng View Post
    I have thought about this from time to time, but I too am lazy and for me it would make it harder to store. Recently I was thinking about a U shaped guide that clamps in the jaws and can be pressed against the edge of the T slot each side.
    I have a piece of chipboard with a key sized groove in it on the shelf, so sliding on and off is not an issue (the chipboard acts as a false base. Not much else it is good for...). I think I've seen a John Stevenson post somewhere with a U shaped piece. On my vices the face of the fixed jaw and the bolt down points are nearly in the same plane, so while positioning would not be an issue, tightening might be.

    Michael

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Milling machine vice suppliers
    By variant22 in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 11
    Last Post: 5th Sep 2012, 07:12 PM
  2. Shaper vice and milling vice
    By morrisman in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 5th Sep 2012, 12:06 AM
  3. Home made vice project
    By BobL in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 14th May 2012, 09:59 AM
  4. Milling machine made from lego
    By Terry B in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 20th Aug 2011, 04:13 PM
  5. How to make a metal vice
    By Unit_01 in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 23
    Last Post: 26th May 2007, 09:11 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •