Drill Press Vices

About Drill Press Vices

Drill press vices are precision-engineered workshop accessories designed to securely hold workpieces during drilling operations on pillar drills and bench-mounted drilling machines. These essential tools provide stable, reliable clamping that keeps materials perfectly positioned whilst drilling, ensuring accuracy and safety across metal, wood, plastic and composite materials. MyToolShed.co.uk stocks quality drill press vices from trusted brands including Sealey, Draper, Record, Faithfull and Einhell, offering solutions for every workshop requirement.

Available configurations include standard jaw models, quick-release designs for rapid workpiece changes, and specialist 3-way drill vices featuring X-Y axis adjustment for precise positioning. Construction typically features robust cast iron or cast aluminium bodies with hardened steel jaws and precision-machined components. Many models incorporate useful features such as v-grooved jaws for holding cylindrical components, swivel bases for angled drilling, and quick-action mechanisms that significantly improve productivity in busy workshops.

Applications

Drill press vices are indispensable tools across numerous trades and workshop environments:

• Engineering Machinists – precision drilling operations in metal fabrication and component manufacture
• Model Engineers – accurate workholding for small-scale precision drilling tasks
• General Fabricators – securing steel and aluminium components during drilling operations
• Maintenance Engineers – drilling repair components and fixtures in industrial workshops
• Automotive Technicians – modifying brackets and fabricating custom parts
• Woodworkers and Joiners – holding timber securely for accurate drilling in furniture making
• Educational Workshops – schools, colleges and training centres teaching metalwork skills
• DIY Enthusiasts – home workshop users undertaking metalwork projects and precision drilling

Choosing The Right Drill Press Vices

Jaw Capacity: Consider typical workpiece sizes you'll handle. Jaw capacities at MyToolShed.co.uk range from approximately 50mm for compact models up to 100mm for heavy-duty vices. Choose capacity that accommodates your largest regular workpieces with some margin for occasional larger jobs.

Vice Type: Standard screw-operated vices suit occasional use and repetitive work, whilst quick-release models significantly speed up workpiece changes in busy workshops. Cross vices or 3-way models provide X-Y positioning adjustment essential for drilling multiple holes with exact spacing. Swivel base models enable angled drilling without repositioning clamps.

Construction Quality: Look for robust cast iron or cast aluminium construction with precision-machined surfaces. Hardened steel jaws resist wear and maintain secure grip. Brands like Sealey, Draper and Record offer quality construction that withstands professional workshop environments.

Mounting Compatibility: Ensure the vice suits your drill press table size and features appropriate mounting slots or holes. Some models are specifically designed for particular mini milling machines, offering optimised compatibility.

Jaw Configuration: Standard flat jaws suit most applications, but v-grooved jaws provide superior grip on cylindrical components like round bar stock and pipes.

Safety Information

Secure Mounting: Always bolt or clamp the drill press vice firmly to the machine table. Never hold a vice by hand during drilling operations as unsecured vices can spin violently, causing serious injury.

Workpiece Clamping: Ensure workpieces are firmly clamped before starting the drill press. Loose components can spin dangerously if grabbed by the rotating drill bit. Check clamping pressure is adequate for the material and operation being performed.

Remove Adjusting Tools: Always remove vice handles and chuck keys before starting the drill press. Rotating handles can cause severe injuries if the workpiece spins unexpectedly.

Eye Protection: Wear appropriate safety glasses when operating drilling machinery, as metal swarf and chips can be ejected at high speed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between a drill press vice and a standard bench vice?

Drill press vices feature flat bases with mounting slots for secure attachment to drill press tables, lower profiles that don't obstruct drill bit access, and often include features like swivel bases or v-grooved jaws. Bench vices are much larger, mount to workbench edges, and are designed for general-purpose tasks including filing and assembly. Bench vices shouldn't be used on drill presses as they're too tall, unstable and not designed for rotational drilling forces.

Do I need a quick-release drill press vice?

Quick-release mechanisms significantly improve productivity when drilling multiple different workpieces by allowing rapid jaw opening without winding the handle through many rotations. For occasional use or repetitive drilling of similar components, standard screw-operated models are perfectly adequate and typically cost less. Professional workshops handling varied work generally prefer quick-release models for time savings.

What jaw capacity do I need for general workshop use?

For most general engineering and fabrication work, a vice with 75-100mm jaw capacity handles the majority of typical workpieces including flat plate, angle iron, small box section and round bar stock. If you primarily work with smaller components or model engineering, a 50-70mm capacity vice may suffice. Choose capacity that accommodates your largest likely workpieces comfortably.