Float Lock Vise

[Dbj58]

I have a regular small size benchtop drill press and I have tried a number of vises but I was not really happy. I saw Mr Pete demonstrating a float lock vise on youtube he bought at an auction, it seemed quite big for my little drill press so I decided to make my own to match the table size.
The jaws are from 3/4" square mild steel x 3" long. I used 8mm rod and cut a 8 x 1.25mm thread for the screw. For the shaft I used a 8mm hardened shaft from a printer. The other parts are all from mild steel.





Here is a video of it

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-wE...ew?usp=sharing

[bruce.desertrat]

That's very nice; might it be possible to get higher-res versions of those pictures? (or at least the second one)

[DIYer]

Thanks Dbj58! We've added your Float Lock Vise to our Vises category,
as well as to your builder page: Dbj58's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Float Lock Vise by Dbj58

tags: vise

[petertha]

I like it! Can you clarify what I think I'm seeing?
- red arrow = vise block tapped to match threaded rod?
- orange arrow = dowel pin through the slider rod to retain it?
- green arrow = ? looks like a pin but off to the side? I would think the vise block has a ID slightly over the thread rod OD? Can you elaborate on this or show the parts disassembled? Or a sketch?

[Dbj58]

bruce.desertrat,

Thank you, here is a link to my google drive where all the photos are. If you want dimensions I can do you a rough drawing for you.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folde...pl?usp=sharing

[Dbj58]

petertha,

you are correct the moving jaw is tapped to take the screw (red arrow), the yellow arrow is a retaining pin for the rod there is one on the other end as well to secure the bottom, the green arrow is also a retaining pin for the screw and you are correct about placement. It is a 2mm pin and it is drilled at 4mm from center on an 8mm hole, I cut a groove in the screw that it slides into. I have a picture on my google drive showing the pin, offset and screw thread groove. Here is the link

https://drive.google.com/drive/folde...pl?usp=sharing

[Catfish]

Very nice.

[bruce.desertrat]

Thanks a lot. The more I think about this the more I see how useful it is; I have a dinky 8" HF benchtop drill press; I've picked up a couple conventional small drill pres vises, but being able to adjust it so freely and lock the work in place like this looks to be very useful.

[JoeH]

Can't thank you enough for posting about this. This is great. I had no idea these things exist and it looks pretty straightforward to build. I hunted up Mr. Pete's video on his old vise on youtube. Thanks again.
I have been using a bolt stuck into the drill press table to keep the drill press vise from rotating. It helps. But this float lock would be better.

[bruce.desertrat]

For others wanting to find it, here's Mr. Pete's video.