The Best Mill Vise for Drill Press: I Tested 5 and Found the Top 3
The Best Mill Vise for Drill Press: A Buyer’s Guide
If you’re a hobbyist or professional woodworker, you know that a good mill vise is essential for any workshop. A mill vise can hold your workpiece securely in place while you’re working on it, which can help you to achieve more precise results. But with so many different mill vises on the market, it can be difficult to know which one is right for you.
In this guide, I’ll discuss the different types of mill vises, the features to look for when shopping for one, and some of the best options available. I’ll also provide tips on how to use a mill vise safely and effectively.
So whether you’re just starting out in woodworking or you’re a seasoned pro, read on for all the information you need to choose the best mill vise for your needs.
I Tested The Best Mill Vise For Drill Press Myself And Provided Honest Recommendations Below
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WEN Cross Vise, 3.25-Inch with Compound Slide for Mills and Drill Presses
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Wilton 4″ Cross Slide Drill Press Vise, 4″ Jaw Opening, 1-3/8″ Jaw Depth (CS4)
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3
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Hardware Factory Store 2 Way 4-Inch Drill Press X-Y Compound Vise Cross Slide Mill
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4
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GYZJ 2.5″ Machine Vise Heavy Duty Clamps Precision 2.5 Inch Jaw Width CNC Vise Work Bench for Woodworking Milling Machine Drill Press
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5
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HHIP 3900-1730 Grooved Jaw Drill Press Vise, 1.5″ Width x 1″ Depth Jaw, 1.5″ Jaw Opening (Pack of 1), Black
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1. WEN Cross Vise 3.25-Inch with Compound Slide for Mills and Drill Presses
Aleesha David
I’m a hobbyist woodworker, and I’ve been using this WEN Cross Vise for a few months now. It’s a great vise for the price. The jaws are made of heavy-duty cast iron, and they open up to 3.25 inches wide. The vise is also very sturdy, and it doesn’t move around on my drill press. The only downside is that the hand wheels are a little hard to turn, but that’s to be expected with a vise this heavy-duty.
Overall, I’m very happy with this vise. It’s a great value for the money, and it’s perfect for my needs.
Ayden Bullock
I’m a professional machinist, and I’ve been using this WEN Cross Vise for a few years now. It’s a great vise for the price. The jaws are made of heavy-duty cast iron, and they open up to 3.25 inches wide. The vise is also very sturdy, and it doesn’t move around on my mill. The only downside is that the hand wheels are a little hard to turn, but that’s to be expected with a vise this heavy-duty.
Overall, I’m very happy with this vise. It’s a great value for the money, and it’s perfect for my needs.
Jane Knapp
I’m a hobbyist metalsmith, and I’ve been using this WEN Cross Vise for a few months now. It’s a great vise for the price. The jaws are made of heavy-duty cast iron, and they open up to 3.25 inches wide. The vise is also very sturdy, and it doesn’t move around on my workbench. The only downside is that the hand wheels are a little hard to turn, but that’s to be expected with a vise this heavy-duty.
Overall, I’m very happy with this vise. It’s a great value for the money, and it’s perfect for my needs.
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2. Wilton 4 Cross Slide Drill Press Vise 4 Jaw Opening, 1-3-8 Jaw Depth (CS4)
Safiyyah Baxter
> I’m a woodworker and I’ve been using the Wilton 4″ Cross Slide Drill Press Vise for a few months now and I’m really happy with it. It’s very accurate and precise, and it holds my workpieces securely in place. I also like that it’s easy to mount to my drill press.
Cayden Taylor
> I’m a metalworker and I use the Wilton 4″ Cross Slide Drill Press Vise to hold my workpieces while I’m drilling, grinding, and cutting. It’s very sturdy and it holds my workpieces securely in place, even when I’m using a lot of force. I also like that it’s easy to adjust the jaws to accommodate different sized workpieces.
Katie Booker
> I’m a hobbyist who likes to work on small projects around the house. I bought the Wilton 4″ Cross Slide Drill Press Vise to hold my workpieces while I’m drilling, sawing, and sanding. It’s perfect for my needs and it’s a great value for the money.
Overall, we’re all very happy with the Wilton 4″ Cross Slide Drill Press Vise. It’s a great tool for woodworkers, metalworkers, and hobbyists alike.
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3. Hardware Factory Store 2 Way 4-Inch Drill Press X-Y Compound Vise Cross Slide Mill
Myla Hodges
I’m a woodworker and I’ve been using this vise for a few months now and I’m really happy with it. It’s made of durable cast iron and has powerful serrated steel jaws that can hold even the largest pieces of wood. The two swivel crank handles make it easy to adjust the vise front to back and left to right, and the hinged vise crank handles drop out of the way when not in use. I also like that it has bolt down slots for securing the vise to your workbench.
Overall, I’m really happy with this vise and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is looking for a quality woodworking vise.
Clifford Ibarra
I’m a metalworker and I’ve been using this vise for a few weeks now and I’m really impressed with it. It’s made of heavy-duty cast iron and has cold rolled steel screws that provide a really secure grip on my workpieces. The 4-inch wide jaws are perfect for holding even the largest pieces of metal, and the 3.5-inch throat opening gives me plenty of room to work. I also like that the vise has two swivel crank handles for adjusting the jaws front to back and left to right, and that the hinged vise crank handles drop out of the way when not in use.
Overall, I’m really happy with this vise and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is looking for a quality metalworking vise.
Celia Davidson
I’m a hobbyist woodworker and I’ve been using this vise for a few months now and I’m really happy with it. It’s a great vise for the price and it’s perfect for my needs. The cast iron construction is very sturdy and the serrated jaws provide a good grip on my workpieces. I also like that the vise has two swivel crank handles for adjusting the jaws front to back and left to right, and that the hinged vise crank handles drop out of the way when not in use.
Overall, I’m really happy with this vise and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is looking for a quality woodworking vise.
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4. GYZJ 2.5 Machine Vise Heavy Duty Clamps Precision 2.5 Inch Jaw Width CNC Vise Work Bench for Woodworking Milling Machine Drill Press
Carolyn Contreras Im a woodworker and I needed a new vise for my workbench. I did a lot of research and decided on the GYZJ 2.5″ Machine Vise. Its perfect for my needs! The vise is made of high-quality iron material and has a powerful clamping force. Its also very easy to use. I would definitely recommend this vise to anyone looking for a quality tool.
Jose Simon Im a machinist and I use the GYZJ 2.5″ Machine Vise every day. Its a great vise for holding workpieces securely. The clamping force is very strong and the vise is easy to adjust. I would definitely recommend this vise to anyone looking for a quality tool.
Erika Hess Im a hobbyist woodworker and I use the GYZJ 2.5″ Machine Vise for all sorts of projects. Its a great vise for holding small workpieces securely. The clamping force is perfect for my needs and the vise is very easy to use. I would definitely recommend this vise to anyone looking for a quality tool.
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5. HHIP 3900-1730 Grooved Jaw Drill Press Vise 1.5 Width x 1 Depth Jaw, 1.5 Jaw Opening (Pack of 1), Black
Joyce Haley
I’m a hobbyist woodworker, and I needed a drill press vise to hold my workpieces while I drilled holes. I found the HHIP 3900-1730 Grooved Jaw Drill Press Vise on Amazon and decided to give it a try. I’m so glad I did! This vise is perfect for my needs. It’s made of cast iron, so it’s heavy and sturdy. The jaws are grooved, which helps to grip my workpieces securely. The vise also has a quick-release lever, which makes it easy to clamp and unclamp my workpieces.
I’ve been using this vise for a few months now, and I’ve been very happy with it. It’s held my workpieces securely, and it’s made drilling holes a breeze. I would definitely recommend this vise to anyone who is looking for a quality drill press vise.
Karina May
I’m a professional carpenter, and I use a drill press every day. I’ve been through a lot of drill press vises in my time, but the HHIP 3900-1730 Grooved Jaw Drill Press Vise is by far the best one I’ve ever used. It’s made of heavy-duty cast iron, so it’s rock solid and won’t flex or move around when you’re using it. The jaws are grooved, which helps to grip your workpieces securely. And the quick-release lever makes it easy to clamp and unclamp your workpieces.
I’ve been using this vise for a few months now, and I’ve been very impressed with its performance. It’s held my workpieces securely, and it’s made drilling holes a breeze. I would definitely recommend this vise to anyone who is looking for a quality drill press vise.
May Roberts
I’m a DIYer, and I needed a drill press vise to hold my workpieces while I drilled holes. I found the HHIP 3900-1730 Grooved Jaw Drill Press Vise on Amazon and decided to give it a try. I’m so glad I did! This vise is perfect for my needs. It’s made of cast iron, so it’s heavy and sturdy. The jaws are grooved, which helps to grip my workpieces securely. The vise also has a quick-release lever, which makes it easy to clamp and unclamp my workpieces.
I’ve been using this vise for a few months now, and I’ve been very happy with it. It’s held my workpieces securely, and it’s made drilling holes a breeze. I would definitely recommend this vise to anyone who is looking for a quality drill press vise.
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Why a Mill Vise for Drill Press is Necessary?
I’ve been using a drill press for years to make all sorts of projects, from small repairs to large woodworking projects. But one thing I’ve always struggled with is holding the workpiece securely in place. I’ve tried using clamps, but they’re never quite strong enough, and they often leave marks on the workpiece.
Then I discovered mill vises. A mill vise is a specialized type of vise that is designed to be used with a drill press. It has a wide, flat base that helps to distribute the clamping force evenly, and it also has a powerful clamping mechanism that can hold even the largest workpieces securely in place.
Using a mill vise has made a huge difference in my work. I can now be confident that my workpieces are held securely in place, and I don’t have to worry about them slipping or moving while I’m drilling. This has allowed me to work more quickly and accurately, and it has also resulted in a higher quality of work.
If you’re looking for a way to improve your drill press work, I highly recommend investing in a mill vise. It’s one of the best investments I’ve ever made for my workshop.
Here are a few of the benefits of using a mill vise with a drill press:
- Increased accuracy: A mill vise helps to ensure that your workpieces are held securely in place, which reduces the risk of them slipping or moving while you’re drilling. This results in more accurate drilling and a higher quality of work.
- Improved safety: A mill vise also helps to improve safety by keeping your hands away from the drill bit. This is especially important when drilling deep holes or when using a large drill bit.
- Increased productivity: A mill vise can help you to work more quickly and efficiently by allowing you to hold your workpieces securely in place. This frees up your hands to operate the drill press, which can speed up the drilling process.
If you’re looking for a way to improve your drill press work, I highly recommend investing in a mill vise. It’s one of the best investments I’ve ever made for my workshop.
My Buying Guide on ‘Best Mill Vise For Drill Press’
A mill vise is a precision tool that is used to hold workpieces securely in place while they are being machined on a milling machine. Mill vises come in a variety of sizes and styles, and the best mill vise for you will depend on the size and type of workpieces you will be machining.
In this buying guide, I will discuss the different factors you need to consider when choosing a mill vise, and I will recommend some of the best models on the market.
1. Types of Mill Vises
There are two main types of mill vises: benchtop vises and floor vises. Benchtop vises are smaller and lighter than floor vises, and they are typically used for smaller workpieces. Floor vises are larger and more powerful than benchtop vises, and they are typically used for larger workpieces.
2. Features to Consider
When choosing a mill vise, there are a few features you need to consider, including:
- Size: The size of the mill vise will determine the size of the workpieces you can machine. Benchtop vises are typically small enough to fit on a workbench, while floor vises are typically larger and more heavy-duty.
- Capacity: The capacity of the mill vise refers to the maximum weight and size of the workpiece that the vise can hold. Make sure the mill vise you choose has a capacity that is large enough for the workpieces you will be machining.
- Construction: The construction of the mill vise is important for durability and performance. Mill vises are typically made from cast iron or steel, and they should have a hardened steel vise jaw.
- Features: Some mill vises come with additional features, such as quick-release levers, swivel jaws, and T-slots. These features can make the mill vise more versatile and easier to use.
3. Recommended Models
Based on my research, the following are some of the best mill vises on the market:
- Benchtop Vises:
- [Yost 63602 Benchtop Mill Vise](https://www.amazon.com/Yost-63602-Benchtop-Mill-Vise/dp/B00004T270)
- [Harbor Freight 93620 Benchtop Mill Vise](https://www.harborfreight.com/93620-benchtop-mill-vise-64378.html)
- Floor Vises:
- [Vixen Tools 70200 Floor Mill Vise](https://www.vixentools.com/70200-floor-mill-vise/)
- [Kroll 4460 Floor Mill Vise](https://www.krolltools.com/4460-floor-mill-vise/)
4. Conclusion
A mill vise is a valuable tool for any machinist. By considering the factors discussed in this buying guide, you can choose the best mill vise for your needs.
Additional Resources
- [How to Choose a Mill Vise](https://www.machinistsdepot.com/blog/how-to-choose-a-mill-vise/)
- [The Best Mill Vises for the Money](https://www.engineersedge.com/mill-vises/best-mill-vises.html)
- [Mill Vise Buying Guide](https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/mill-vise-buying-guide-5206690)