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View Full Version : Polymer 80% With Drill Press....Cross Sled Vise worth it?


Psychbiker
12-07-2013, 7:07 PM
I have an 80% polymer lower and a bench top drill press. It's a nice Jet model but still a bench top. I've got a few endmill bits which would be cleaner and faster than a dremel.

Anyone have experience?


Harbor Freight sells a cross sled vise for $70. Bolt the lower in and then hand crank to move the lower back and forth....much faster and basically turning the drills press into a Milling Machine.

I'm not sure my bench top can handle this thing, it's easily 25lbs of steel.

Anyone use one before?

kgpayne86
12-17-2013, 1:53 PM
I've used a drill press and a harbor freight XY vise on 2 polymer lowers so far and 3 more in the near future. It is super easy. The only thing i recommend is drilling a half inch hole in the center (no more than 1.249") and then use a 3/8 end mill on the rest starting in the hole taking about 1/8 inch at a time. If you were to plunge with the end mill you wouldn't get very far until you had to bring it up and remove the melted polymer stuck to the bit. Its always easier to start milling from an edge. I don't know what brand lower you have but the eplowers that i do are super easy. The first one was the test one and took almost 2-3 hours (because i plunged with the bit instead of drilling a hole first) The second one took less than 45 minutes. Sorry this was a long reply but if it helps it helps. Good luck!

klewan
12-17-2013, 4:07 PM
Don't worry about having a bench model, any tool catalog will have the exact same head on a bench and floor model. Only difference is the length of the tube. Bench is actually better, you have someplace to put all the junk you use with a drill press. Floor models you need to make something to hold that stuff.

Sticky
12-17-2013, 5:53 PM
If you are going to finish an 80 on a drill press, spend the money and get a cross-slide vise.. your finished job will thank you... lol

It is always easier to hog out as much as you can with a drill before milling with a drill press, they don't to that as well as they drill, take advantage of that fact.. ;)

sharxbyte
12-17-2013, 5:58 PM
I did it. Be VERY careful, stop, and measure often. I milled through the floor of the pocket, and had to epoxy. Will post pics.


Also, I paid $40 shipped on ebay for my vice.

I couldn't bolt the vice onto the part that moves, as it was too high. I had to bolt it to the base.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/360713271116?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649



http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb197/mugglle/gunz/20131213_145833_zpsxv7h22ap.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb197/mugglle/gunz/20131213_145826_zpsaw1azagt.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb197/mugglle/gunz/20131213_145820_zpsnd8wuq02.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb197/mugglle/gunz/20131213_145816_zpsqf9c3dbn.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb197/mugglle/gunz/20131213_085912_zps7aoi33uc.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb197/mugglle/gunz/20131213_085907_zpsebolt3l2.jpg

Psychbiker
12-17-2013, 6:12 PM
Thanks for the reply guys. HF wants $70 for their vice. Pretty sure it will make my press tip over. My dad has a floor model that's crank-able height, might borrow that. I think that's the cleanest way. There is a hand router jig coming out but think it's for a specific lower.

sharxbyte
12-17-2013, 8:25 PM
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb197/mugglle/gunz/th_20131213_085902_zpskcaknkoa.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb197/mugglle/gunz/20131217_200343_zpsa8g0qrnz.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb197/mugglle/gunz/20131217_200302_zps4dndmnyp.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb197/mugglle/gunz/20131217_200254_zpsfl5tgq8p.jpg