Suggestions for a small drill press x/y table

[Frank Ford]

I agree, the XY table is a near necessity on my drill press, too. I use this one, from Grizzly:



I got there the hard way, suffering the looseness of the cheap XY vise, and then the backwards cranking $100 Chinese one you see pretty much everywhere.

The Grizzly one is much more stable, smooth and tight, and it hasn't left my drill press table since I bolted it down. In fact, I finally made up a 1-1/2" thick 24" square plywood top I can clamp in the drill press vise when I want a smooth flat surface - that way I may never have to take the XY off:

[J Tiers]

Hah!

I had to look twice to be sure you were not just cheating by using a mill-drill as a DP!

That's a solid looking table

[lazlo]

That looks like the base of an X2 Mini-Mill -- didn't know that Grizzly sold that separately.

[tmc_31]

TMT.

I bought a Craftsman XY drill press table (I think they call it a "Craftsman 8 in. Drill Press Vise, Cross with 8 in. Cross and Longitudinal Travel") about 20 years ago and mounted it on my 15" craftsman drill press. It hasn't been off the DP since. The vise is very well made and extremely handy on the DP.

I looked up the vise on the Craftsman Website and it is still available for $179.99. There are also smaller ones available. I do not know where these are made, I am sure they are made offshore as when a craftsman tool is US made, they plaster "made in USA" all over the catalog page. Regardless of where it's made, I have been very happy with mine and have used it for many years.

Frank,

That Grizzly cross slide you have mounted is an awesome looking piece. From the picture it appears to be very well made. I don't see it in their current offerings. Do you know if it is still available?

Tim

[Alistair Hosie]

That's a really nice sturdy table Frank wow wish I could get one that beefy.Well done laddie.Alistair

[BadDog]

Mine looks like Frank's, but with one of the larger cross slides (and backward crank). I really like that style vise, but would love to have a heavier cross slide with proper screws.

[kcleere]

From back in the day....but I do use it....