Vise advice

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
New mill has an 8 3/4 x 33 in table. Max of 11 in Y travel.
Looking at vices and trying to decide between a 4" and 5". Table should be large enough for a 5" as it is only 2" longer.
Looking at a Glacern tool vise and they show the 5" as maybe 10-20 bucks more than a 4".

Any real reason not to go 5"?
 

Rick

Moderator
Staff member
See if the Perfessor and Smokey agree with me cause I'm sure no machinist but . . . Seems it would limit the ability of what the mill is actually capable of if ya skimp on the vise. Sounds much like a cry once kind of thing. Ya stepped up on the mill, why short change it?
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
More a matter of what the mill can physically handle without it getting in the way or becoming heavier than needed.
I am leaning towards the 5”
 

Ian

Notorious member
Be sure to factor in length of accessories (parallels, vee-blocks, etc) when deciding.
 

Intheshop

Banned
Get the 5"..... or two.

Another vise is what I call a "bulldozer" style. It's a two pce affair...... this isn't instead of the above 5,but as an adjunct.Each part bolts to your table,there's the fixed end and the other end that has a range of adjustment. It can be as long as your table for instance.Not real well known in milling world but seen in use in general fab shops.I think Bridgeport used to make a version?You can make one by cutting a cheapy chicom vise in half..... measure twice thing.
 

smokeywolf

Well-Known Member
The issue you will face most often is maximum jaw-opening. Secondary to that will be jaw width. Jaw height can always be overcome with a set of tall jaws (if your vise is robust enough to tolerate the added upward forces).

On that note, I don't know anything about the Glacern brand. Have only used old very worn out Bridgeport vises and more up to date Kurts. While you can't go wrong with a Kurt, to the best of my knowledge they offer only a 4", 6" and up; no 5".
Would like to see what Keith has to say, but I'm not sure I see a down side to a 5" over a 4".

Investing in a good vise will absolutely enhance the enjoyment and satisfaction derived from operating and producing parts on your mill.
 

Intheshop

Banned
See if this loads?Installing hardened pins through bases will speed up alignment
 

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KeithB

Resident Half Fast Machinist
I'd get the biggest vise the machine could handle. I have a couple of cheap 4" vises that I sometimes mount with one on either end of the table, used to hold long pieces. Their very handy for that, but not large enough to do most general purpose work. I would consider a 5" as minimum for most work I do, but that's me and my situation. Most good mill vises let you mount the jaw plates on the inside of the jaws and also the outside of the jaws for larger pieces, might want to see if the brand you mention offers that feature.

Realize that most common vise accessories - parallel sets, spare jaws, etc., are designed for 6" vises that meet KURT standards. Not a big deal to have a set of parallels stick out from one or both ends of your vise, just want to point out what's available and cheap.

I like vises that don't have protruding mounting feet. Handy for clamping down the vise in its conventional position but awkward if you ever decide to mount the vise on its side. I like flat sided vises that I can clamp down on either side as well as the bottom.

Don't let making a perfect decision stand in your way of making a good decision. No matter what you get you'll figure out how to make it work for you. Like trying to buy the perfect rifle, there is no such thing.
 

Ole_270

Well-Known Member
Ran alot of 6" Kurt vises on Bridgeports, more on CNC mills. The aftermarket accessories available will boggle the mind, as well as make life much easier. Only takes $$$
 
F

freebullet

Guest
I'd get the biggest vise the machine could handle.

BINGO!:)

My experience with drill press vices & shop post vise, biggest is best, don't limit what the machine can do. Your spending a nice chunk, call'em back, they might know if the recommended 6'll fit. They might have some input too.

Ya know, a small one would be nice too though, & Smokey mentioned some accessory jaws.:oops: what? Your money spends well.
 

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
I have used a 6" Kurt on my friend's Bridgeport.....it is a really good one.
Highly recommend if you can swing the $$.

Bill
 

smokeywolf

Well-Known Member
When I brought the Bridgeport home, in addition to a spindex, collet indexer, Ellis dividing head and other goodies, I brought two Kurt 6" vises. Only mill vise I've ever used that was better than a 6" Kurt was an 8" Kurt that was on a big Kearney & Trecker universal mill.