Buy Pen Makers Center Drilling Vise at Woodcraft

Pen Makers' Center Drilling Vise

Item #143609
$54.99
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3.5

(11 reviews)

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Product Information:

One of the most difficult parts of pen-making is the centering of the bit on the pen blank, and keeping it firmly in place while the hole is drilled. This vise simplifies the procedure, because the vise faces ride on a knob-controlled set of two heavy threaded bolts and two smaller rods. The knob adjustment makes original setup and changes very easy. Simply clamp the pen blank, set up under the drill bit and clamp the base. The center you now have will work for every subsequent pen blank, no matter what its size, up to 1-1/2" square. The aluminum vise parts are on a heavy plastic base, which is drilled through on first use. This vise helps reduce waste from off-center pen blank drilling.


  • Reduces waste from Off-center Pen Blank Drilling
  • Heavy Base for stability
  • Eliminates the most difficult alignment issues with Pen blank Drilling
  • Vise Faces ride on Knob-Controlled Threaded rods and bolts
  • Fully Adjustable for perfect Centers


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    REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

    by PowerReviews
     
    3.5

    (based on 11 reviews)

    80%

    of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

    • Reviewer Profile:
    • Quality oriented (10)
    • Primary Use:
    • Personal (8)

    Displaying reviews 1 - 10

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    5.0

    I would buy this product again and again

    By  Vad

    from Estonia

    About Me

    Pros

    Cons

    Best Uses

    Comments about Pen Makers' Center Drilling Vise :

    AAA+++

     
    1.0

    Once the main gear is lose, you are done

    By  cmckerliesr

    from Aberdeen,NC

    About Me Quality Oriented

    Pros

    Cons

    Best Uses

    Comments about Pen Makers' Center Drilling Vise :

    I have been using this vise for about 3 years. When I first received it, I was more then pleased with it and it's performance. Then last week, it jammed on me. I could not turn the handle to close the jaws, so I backed it off a little and kept trying. But the vise would not close and eventually locked up. I disassembled the vise and found that the two gears were jammed against one another. After further investigation and finally getting the main gear off. I found that the shaft which the gear was on, was completely round. I expected to find a flat spot for the set screw to push against. I could tell that over time, the set screw was dragging over the surface of the shaft and finally had let go. I reassembled the vise and tightened the set screw. This only lasted a few turns before the gear moved again, jamming the two gears together. So, I will either disassemble the vise one more time and alter the shaft by using a grinder to create a flat area for the set screw to land on, or I will simply just go buy a different one.

    • Primary Use:
    • Business
     
    5.0

    Very good, just what i needed

    By  Gary

    from Gastonia North Carolina

    About Me Quality Oriented

    Pros

    Cons

    Best Uses

    Comments about Pen Makers' Center Drilling Vise :

    I use it to drill out pin blanks does a good job

    • Primary Use:
    • Personal
     
    5.0

    This is a great device for penturners

    By  Woodstitcher

    from Hewitt TX

    About Me Quality Oriented

    Pros

    • Worth the price

    Cons

    Best Uses

    • Centering pen blanks

    Comments about Pen Makers' Center Drilling Vise :

    This is a great vise, not just centering pen blanks, but also for small ornament blanks.

     
    4.0

    Good, Practical Tool

    By  Go Rebels

    from Jackson, MS

    About Me Quality Oriented

    Pros

    • Ideal for center drilling

    Cons

    • Not as sturdy as I wanted

    Best Uses

    Comments about Pen Makers' Center Drilling Vise :

    Unit is ideal for center drilling pen blanks, however I wish it were made with a little more sturdy material. All in all a good buy.

    • Primary Use:
    • Personal
     
    4.0

    Good value for the $

    By  Lima One

    from Radcliff, KY

    About Me Quality Oriented

    Pros

    • Good Weight

    Cons

    • Slight flex

    Best Uses

    Comments about Pen Makers' Center Drilling Vise :

    This is a good deal for the price. Nice weight makes it sturdy on the table. Clamping it to the table is recommended. Easy center set up by locking the press quill down and lightly clamping the vise on the bit, then clamping it to the table. The only "con" I notice so far is a slight flex to the alignment shafts when applying drilling pressure which could cause the bore to "elipse". I slide a couple pieces of cardstock between the jaws and the base to help support it. Other than that it is great for keeping blanks stable and maintaining a good center.

    • Primary Use:
    • Personal
     
    3.0

    OK with modification

    By  Rick the Bodhran Player

    from Sacramento

    About Me Quality Oriented

    Pros

    Cons

    Best Uses

    Comments about Pen Makers' Center Drilling Vise :

    The problem with this vise is that it flexes from the pressure of the drill. A centered entry hole will give you an off-center exit hole. The fix is to place a small wood block below your pen blank, so all the pressure is transferred to the base of the vice: I use the waste pieces I saw off the blanks. I also set the depth gauge so the bit drills about a quarter-inch into the block.

    • Primary Use:
    • Personal
     
    4.0

    Gets the job done

    By  lalligood

    from Orlando, FL

    About Me Quality Oriented

    Pros

    • Easy to use

    Cons

    Best Uses

    • Everyday Use

    Comments about Pen Makers' Center Drilling Vise :

    I like that I just have to set it up once & can use it for drilling any size blank--whether I'm making pens or bottle stoppers--it always has my material centered under the drill. Unlike other reviewers, I have not had any issues with the knob coming loose.

    • Primary Use:
    • Personal
     
    3.0

    Decent Vice for the Price

    By  Steve

    from Montgomery, AL

    About Me Quality Oriented

    Pros

    • Holds blank square

    Cons

    • Binds have to force open
    • Does not glide smoothly
    • Minimal clamping surface

    Best Uses

    • Low volume production

    Comments about Pen Makers' Center Drilling Vise :

    Works good most times. Has a tendency to bind, then the knob just spins off and you have to get some tools after it to get it back open. Minimal surface area to clamp this to a drill press table without clamps getting in the way of the jaws.

    • Primary Use:
    • Personal
     
    3.0

    a little to flexable

    By  tim

    from cambridge, idaho

    About Me Quality Oriented

    Pros

    Cons

    Best Uses

    Comments about Pen Makers' Center Drilling Vise :

    i use this to center drill pen blanks, how ever it has a lot of flexability in it when using the drill press, some times drilling off center

    • Primary Use:
    • Personal

    Displaying reviews 1 - 10

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