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cross slide vise

H

Hugh

Joined
May 6, 2004
Messages
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Location
Sonoma, CA
Hi there Everyone,
About a year or two ago...when the "Rose Engine Lathe" plans were coming out and all that: A cross slide vise was recommended. I believe Enco carried the one that was said to be good. It's cost was about $125. Does anyone remember which model it was?

I have thought of a use I need a cross slide vise for and like a fool, I did not purchase the vise when it was recommended. Did not need it then. Now I do. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks.
Hugh
 
Unfortunately, the low cost X/Y Drill Press Vises generally have an excessive amount of slop in the acme thread position adjustments. This means that when changing direction of travel, it is first necessary to take up all of the slop in the positioning mechanism. It can be done, but is somewhat of a pain.
 
boehme said:
Unfortunately, the low cost X/Y Drill Press Vises generally have an excessive amount of slop in the acme thread position adjustments. This means that when changing direction of travel, it is first necessary to take up all of the slop in the positioning mechanism. It can be done, but is somewhat of a pain.
Click to expand...

True enough, but also slightly not true. Almost all moving devices need running clearance. Key to resolving "backlash" is to provide a biasing force, e.g. with a counterweight or spring, so that the same surfaces are always in contact.

Granted, it's foolish to try to build a Rolls-Royce from Volkswagen parts. But unless you're determined to buy the "best," try a cheapo from Grizzly or Harbor Freight on your drill press, and assess its deficiencies. Most of them have adjustable "gibs" to reduce lateral slop, with only the thread backlash to worry about.

FWIW, here's Enco's URL: http://www.use-enco.com/ And prices have probably changed since then.
 
Here's what I bought. http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PMAKA=201-2826&PMPXNO=951820&PARTPG=INLMK3
I also have one of the crossslide vises and there is simply too much slop in them. The one above will need accessories added, a vise, or a tool holder but it's pretty solid. I used to use it for milling work on my drill press. It's not of the quality a true milling machine is but it will work for wood.
 
If you've got a Harbor Freight near you, check out their vises. Some are not bad and are inexpensive, while others would be best as anchors.

I bought a Baltimore vise a few years ago from Woodcraft. It has worked well for me as a fixed vise but I've often thought it might be good for Rose Engine work as the controls appear to be solid. Note the word "appear."

If you can find a surplus machine supply company, they may have what you're looking for at good prices.
 
]Unfortunately, the low cost X/Y Drill Press Vises generally have an excessive amount of slop in the acme thread position adjustments. This means that when changing direction of travel, it is first necessary to take up all of the slop in the positioning mechanism. It can be done, but is somewhat of a pain.
Click to expand...

[/QUOTE]

The most common method on quality tools is to have a half nuts on the Acme thread.These are then adjusted for slop generally away from each other.Some of the cheaper pieces equipement lend them selves to modification to half nuts.

If your able its a worthwhile mod as it makes your el cheapo into a more up market tool at a fraction of the cost
 
I have had both of the Enco cross slides and presently using the heavy duty model that I have Had 6 inches cut off as the bed was too long for using on my rose engine lathe. The heavy duty model has much less slop in the thread and the Gib's can be adjusted to reduce the lateral movement. I think the heavy duty is around $145 now

Dan
 
Joe Greiner said:
True enough, but also slightly not true. Almost all moving devices need running clearance.
Click to expand...

I agree, but I did say "excessive" slop. I have a low cost compound vise that I use on my drill press able that in a crude sort of way allows much of the slop to be removed (BTW, slop and backlash are not the same thing, but it hardly matters except when an engineer is trying to fix a mechanical drive problem). However, it seems that because of poor machining tolerances that there is a not very satisfactory limit on the gib adjustments that remove angular free play -- I had a choice with the vise between being a bit loose or tending to bind up at some points. This can be improved quite a bit if you do not mind dissembling the vise and doing some fine tuning.
 
boehme said:
I agree, but I did say "excessive" slop. I have a low cost compound vise that I use on my drill press able that in a crude sort of way allows much of the slop to be removed (BTW, slop and backlash are not the same thing, but it hardly matters except when an engineer is trying to fix a mechanical drive problem). However, it seems that because of poor machining tolerances that there is a not very satisfactory limit on the gib adjustments that remove angular free play -- I had a choice with the vise between being a bit loose or tending to bind up at some points. This can be improved quite a bit if you do not mind dissembling the vise and doing some fine tuning.
Click to expand...

That's why I said "reduce lateral slop" instead of "eliminate lateral slop."

And no question, slop and backlash are different. On a cross-slide vise, though, a single counterweight or spring, attached at about 45 degrees, can pull all four gaps into a "corner." Might not be linear pulling on really bad equipment, of course, and the corner might not be constant either.
 
Thanks for the info Everyone.
When the homemade Rose Engine plans came out - at the next AAW Symposium - they held a meeting the night before the symposium. There were handouts. A specific cross slide vise was recommended at that time. It was a reasonable priced item. May not have been the best, but at the time was said to work well for the price. That specific model number from Enco is what I was after. I thought someone may have been more orginized than I was and put the handout in a place where they could find it. Mine is buried somewhere in my office. It would take weeks to go through all the piles of stuff in my office. I was trying to same myself here. Thanks for all the info though.
HUgh
 
Enco

I have the same cross slide table as John on my rose lathe. We tool it apart and cleaned and greased it. It is not as good as Dan's (which he showed at SWAT last year) but it is somewhat cheaper and does seem to get the job done. There are lots of other smaller tables sold by places like "The little machine shop".

Vernon
 
In addition to the things already discussed, another thing to check before buying a cross slide table, X/Y drill press vise, or similar device is the end play of the acme lead screw and how easily it can be adjusted. Some of the really cheap ones do not like to be snugged up to remove looseness.
 
OK - Thanks everyone for all the info. Many years ago I purchased one of the real cheap cross slide vises. Waste of $30. Too loose in all directions. I just remember a specific model number being floated around and that was what I was looking for. I will find one. Thanks again.
Hugh
 
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