Drill Press Clamp/vise Suggestions

I have a chinese x/y clamp. Its fine, but to do better work I put the work in my bridgeport. Most of the time I just hold the work. Sometimes this is a stupid idea and when the bit caches and almost tears off my left thumb... don't be like me. Do it like Chuck.

 

What don’t like the propeller effect? Chicken. Seriously get a good vise.

 

I like this type of vise:

Cardinal Speed Vise Quick Action Design

I usually leave it loose to slide around for positioning if I am drilling small holes (under a 1/2"). The weight of the vise keeps it steady. Sometimes I will clamp it down if I am making big holes.

Or I often clamp a bar to the table to act as a stop to keep the part from spinning. This is faster but it is obviously safest to have the part in a vise and the vise bolted down.

 

Also, welding vice grips are good for clamping to the table. Like these:
https://www.amazon.com/VISE-GRIP-Or...ng+vise+grips&qid=1566171615&s=gateway&sr=8-9

 

https://www.walmart.com/ip/9-Drill-...1504&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=e&wl1=o&wl2=c&wl
This is what I use

 

I just try to grab the spinning metal with my bare hands.

 

while the 250LB drill press is skittering across the floor with a hunk of 1/2 thick steel stuck in a drill bit.... I swear i have never done that a dozen times..

 

Depending on drill press, you could use a cheap mill hold down set. Can find them for $60 +/-

 

Unless it's something big.....where you need assistance to keep on the table no need to clamp it to the table......as heavy Items drill quite nicely with minimal holding force...........a nice drill press vise to hold your part and then your hand holding the vise will in most cases offer more than enough resistance to keep any part being drilled from doing anything stupid.............

a sharp drill, the correct speed , feed and lubrication go a long way in keeping the vise and part from turning into a rotating mass. Plenty of "plane jane" vises on E-bay..........

Although I would pick one that has a vertical and horizontal "V" grove cut in the vise jaws for holding round stock that you may need to drill.

 

While it's good to have a vise, getting a 1/2" thick plate and drilling/tapping 1/2-NC holes every couple inches in a pattern and then going out and buying a cheap milling clamp block set will give you a lot of flexibility for very little cost.