I don't know what mill you have but unless it's a Bridgeport-size one, a 6" vice is going to be too big. When I bought my Warco VMC mill, I ordered the large SG versatile vice from ArcEuroTrade. The courier warned me it was heavy when he delivered it. He wasn't wrong – I had difficulty lifting it onto the table. A quick 'phone call and a half-day trip to Leicestershire later and I had the 100mm mounted. Much better.

Googling the Accu vice throws up one from Axminster Tools, but that one has a rotating base. I suggest that this will rarely, if ever, be used and will seriously decrease headroom above the vice. I'd advise a purchase from Arc – you won't be disappointed.

John

And if size is an issue the the SG is smaller as it does not have the lip around the base and is only as wide as the jaws. Basic one is what I tend to use on the CNC and not had any problems with it (80mm used without swivel)

It is indeed Bridgeport size, check Colin's albums

I bought one of the ARC 125mm vises with the swivel base as the opening of the 100mm Bison was not big enough. An option was the 160 SG vise but I decided it would be too big for the drill mill at the museum. The drill mill is one of the biggest available with a 500mm X travel. The swivel base does not have to be used, so the concerns over the loss of Z height are of no value. Granted, the swivel base does not get used much, but if you don't have one, it makes some jobs very difficult. I also got the second 100mm Bison with a swivel base, new for just over £100 which was a bargain and also occasionally fit the base and I'm glad of it. The 125mm ARC is heavy and too big to sit comfortably on the Tom Senior light vertical with the longer bed.

Edited By old mart on 05/04/2022 16:37:12

Everyone has an opinion. That is mine.

(I’ve had my Lega honey extractor for 20 years and that is still going strong, btw).

They are low price suppliers, which may make items appear good value to the less discerning or ‘harder-up’ buyer.

The item I bought recently was one of the chinese diesel heaters. Items in the box did not match the pics (a part was missing), the machine required some ‘adjustment’ and the fan assembly had clearly not been balanced. The range of fuel delivery does not coincide with the specification, either. Apart from that, it was ‘OK’ (apart from the ridiculous ‘chinglsh’ instruction manual in a very small, feint font).

The OP may not be looking at that supplier – I don’t know – but I would not be recommending them. If the OP were to go that way, that is up to him – but no come-back on me if the quality is inadequate. I did not say he should not consider that brand. I just said I would not be recommending that particular brand, therefore no fault on me if it’s not such a fantastic deal. By all means, you can give them a glowing recommendation.

At the low price point (and, therefore, a lower quality product) I would not be expecting too much. Also, I would much prefer to buy from a more reliable source, such as ARC, where I know any claims, should they arise, would be dealt with in an entirely satisfactory manner.

The typical chinese response, re the missing part, was ‘send a picture of the fault’. Yeah, right!

I use a 6" machine vice on all my milling machines, including the Bridgeport. It's a Kurt D688, opening is 8.8" to 17" depending upon jaw position. Possibly a little large but it was cheaper than the alternative, slightly smaller, Kurt vice. I have the capability to take heavy cuts on the horizontal mill so need a solid vice to match.

Andrew

Colin, that ARC 125mm versatile is the one I bought for extra size, it is not perfect, but certainly very good value for money. Some people cut off the lip behind the fixed jaw which allows a little more Y axis movement, I haven't done this with mine, but see no reason not to if required.

Colin

I'm impressed by the capacity / weight ratio of that ARC 125 mm Versatile. At 22 kg its actually a bit lighter than the Vertex VJ400, which is said to be just under 25 kg, so its respectably handleable.

According to Google Andrews Kurt tips the scales at nearly 38 kg, a couple or three kg heavier than my 6" Abwood so shifting is very much workout time.

If they had been around at that relative price I might well have bought ARC Versatiles instead of my Vertexes as, for me at least, the useful capacity would have been similar.

I'm unconvinced as to the utility of the extra jaw positions as the work holding is fundamentally via a small lip which seems less secure than one would ideally like. Although willing to be convinced to the contrary by photographic evidence I'm not sure I'd have the nerve to actually try.

If I were buy another vice it would be a Chick! Not likely to actually happen. At around £2,000 a pop they cost more than I, and most other folk pay for their mills. But I am eying up the practicality of a look-alike as part of a project that needs an integrated vice.

Clive

I don't want to labour the point, but, as I pointed out in another recent thread on vices, posted by Nick Chelf, there is a quick way around this "problem". Link to thread.

Using a couple of pairs of parallels (12mm and 28mm x 8mm in my case) mounted thus:

…. and using some slightly longer screws, it is possible to extend the gripping range to around 220mm (or 10½ inches, if you prefer). I would only use this as a temporary set up but I have mounted a rotary table this way for a quick job, to save having to remove the vice and then replace and re-tram it.

Surely I can't be the only one who's done this dodge?

John

John

That's a much more secure and engineering way of going about things.

Putting a set of extra high jaws in the box with the vice to be used like that, and occasionally in the normal position, seems to me better than suggesting using the tiny lips left when the standard jaw is utilised. Maybe add tapped holes in the top of the fixed jaw too so the standard jaws could be set flat giving a reasonably substantial lip too. Such holes would also let you add clamps to either hold work to the top of the vice or provide extra retention to a component which is difficult to hold securely by simple clamping. I've had jobs shift for lack of that extra top clamp.

Things that I might well have done to my vices if the basic casting were more suitable.

The common way is more of a "looks nice in the specifications" thing rather than "really useful for all sorts of difficult stuff". But throwing in tall jaws et al puts the price up without the gains being immediately obvious to the ordinary purchaser. That said I'd have thought that Arc Euros reputation for quality could stand the extra few pounds for two more tapped holes and taller jaws to use on the back and front.

My experience suggests that the 4" size would gain most from readily available, adequately secure, extra capacity given by tall jaws used as shown in Johns pictures. I see a fair number of jobs that wouldn't fit the standard opening of a 4" Versatile but would do just fine with Johns taller jaws on back and front.

With my VJ400 ones I, of course, just pull the pin and shift the nut for extra opening beyond a normal 4" vice capacity. But thats why I bought them after all. Removing the standard jaws and fitting taller jaws back and front on a Versatile would be nearly as easy. Beats the heck out of pulling the vice and the "how do I strap this to the table" headache for sure. Let alone tramming the vice in when you put it back.

Clive