Drill Press Clamps

Brian Avila

Brian Avila

Joined
Jan 2, 2011
Messages
1,286
So I came across a picture some time ago of someone using a drill press clamp for drill their tang. I didn't save the pic so I can't show it to anyone which is the problem.

I went around town and asked the local shops and even harbor freight and tried to find a drill press clamp. No one had an idea of what I was talking about. Am I crazy?

I want two or three to do some safer drilling.

Here is a pic of my drill press table. The slots do not go all the way through.

Thoughts?

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You can buy a drill press vice at Home Depot for around $20.00. Better than clamps.
 
William Schrade said:
You can buy a drill press vice at Home Depot for around $20.00. Better than clamps.
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I have a vice. That doesn't work well if I am wanting to drill flat through my tangs. The table is flat compared to me having to level the entire knife in the vice.
 
TheWeatherman said:
Sub plate? Thickness? How would you do that?
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A sub-plate can be made from anything flat. I piece of 1/4" aluminum plate could work but a little thicker would ensure you don't go all the way through it and into the table. You could even make a drilling plate that has a pair of the Kant-Twist clamps attached to a plate with a handle that you can hold to keep things from getting away from you. You would be able to move from hole to hole quickly without unclamping the work; Just move the fixture.

Bob
 
I use one of the Kant Twist clamps myself. They're really good clamps for drilling holes in tangs because you can apply a tremendous amount of clamping force with one of them. They don't come with a T-nut, so make sure you have/get one for your table if you decide to pick one up.

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Adam Buttry said:
I use one of the Kant Twist clamps myself. They're really good clamps for drilling holes in tangs because you can apply a tremendous amount of clamping force with one of them. They don't come with a T-nut, so make sure you have/get one for your table if you decide to pick one up.

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Yeah that is what I need. Can you show me a picture of your T-nut and how it works with that clamp? That sounds dirty.....
 
You can see the black t-nut in my photo . The t-nut is tapped to accept the allen head screw that runs through the clamp itself. Once you tighten the allen head screw, it locks the clamp to the table. It comes with the screw but not the t-nut. The slots for t-nuts can vary in size depending on the drill press table you use, so I'm assuming that's why they don't include one.
 
I just put a piece of scrap plywood under the knife when I tighten down the vice and drill away. Vice is attached to the drill platen via bolts into the platen t slots.

I know I DO NOT want to ever try to hold it by hand at all.

Larry
Tinkerer
 
Hi, I did this by trying to hold a knife and use a step drill for Loveless bolts on Micarta scales when the drill (brand new) caught the fabric in the Micarta and "helicoptered around slashing my thumb. Number one I should have clamped the knife down and number two I should have taped the edge well. Probably should have stuck a large rod in the drill table hole to stop the blade as well. I was stupid but lucky that no permanent damage was done. Please tView attachment 401035ake note and learn from my stupidity. Larry Lehman
 
A simple clamp for a T-slot table can be made by grinding the head on a 3/8" bolt to the thinness needed to slip in the slots. Them drill a hole in the middle of a 1X4" piece of 1/4" steel. Put the T-bolt in the slot, drop the bar of steel on it, and put on a nut or wing-nut. Place the blade being clamped under one end of the steel bar and tighten the nut/wing-nut. If needed, you can bend the steel bar a bit.
 
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