I need a clamping set - not because I have a mill (don't want to spring that heart attack on the wife yet), but because I could use them with my drill press, band saw and future welding table (an idea from here).

The welding table and horizontal bandsaw I can drill and tap for whatever I need, I'm more interested in what will work with the drill press. I have the 17" Craftsman, and from what I can gather by looking at pictures of mill tables, it doesn't have "t-slots", just slots that are 5/8" wide.

Will mill clamps not work on this table? If they will, what size clamp set should I be looking for?

Will mill clamps not work on this table? If they will, what size clamp set should I be looking for?

Yes, it will just be slightly less convenient that T-slots, versus grooves in the table.

Size? When you look them up in the tool catalogs, you will see a chart of the dimensions of the blocks that fit into the T-slots. In your case, you'll want to size them to fit the slots in your table. You'll see what I mean when you look them up.

I prefer TICO clamp sets myself.

Yes, it will just be slightly less convenient that T-slots, versus grooves in the table.

Size? When you look them up in the tool catalogs, you will see a chart of the dimensions of the blocks that fit into the T-slots. In your case, you'll want to size them to fit the slots in your table. You'll see what I mean when you look them up.

Excellent....

As for size, I can see how they work based on how they look - the wide end of the bolt fits into the slot in the table. Now, when I'm looking these up, when they say "for 5/8" t-slot", is that 5/8" the wide parts of the t-slot or the size of the "smaller slot" (for lack of better terms.

In other words, since the slots on my drill press table (not t-slots mind you) are 5/8" across, will a 5/8" set work or do I need the next size bigger?


Edit: NEvermind, I think I got it - looks like the 5/8" t-slot set has a t-slot width of 1", which should work just fine..

Thanks, I know it was a stupid question :0

Cheepo HF set ain't too bad: $35

423146


Or... for $150-$200

Enco has TE-CO, Gibraltar, etc

Dont overlook the vise grip clamps that drop down through the slot.

Went to look for a supplier for a photo can not find it.
similiar to:
http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNSRIT?PMPXNO=20568037&PMT4NO=58676919



Sigh my 1916 drill press.... smooth table. Coolant moat, but no way to clamp things. I use a drill press vise, or a board with a 2x4 screwed to the top of it. (work item against the 2x4 to prevent it from spinning).

Dont overlook the vise grip clamps that drop down through the slot.

Went to look for a supplier for a photo can not find it.
similiar to:
http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNSRIT?PMPXNO=20568037&PMT4NO=58676919



Sigh my 1916 drill press.... smooth table. Coolant moat, but no way to clamp things. I use a drill press vise, or a board with a 2x4 screwed to the top of it. (work item against the 2x4 to prevent it from spinning).


They sell those at HF.

Te-Co USA 1/2" set is for sale from Enco for $112... I bought the same set on sale at J&L Supply for $89 last year.

Don't buy the cheap import crap , the poor quality and fit will drive you crazy when your attempting to use it.

I just recently sold a new Te-Co set here for $60 ... so deals are around.

You can definitely use T-nuts inserted into the bottom of the slots -- not quite as easy as T-nuts in an appropriate groove, but when tightened into tension, it can allow a pretty sturdy fixture!

This works on drill presses, cut-off saws, band-saws, and etc. This is a sweet way to build up sturdy set-ups.

Randii

Rather than start a whole new thread.


So anyone have any insight into the differences here?
Yes, I know HF equals lower quality metal and much easier time stripping threads. But are all of these produced in the exact same Chinese factory and just spray painted different colors?

They all appear to be the same thing. But price is wide. What gives???


Northern Tool
Item# 144558
$119.99
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200322451_200322451

http://www.northerntool.com/images/product/images/144558_lg.jpg

Craftsman
Item# 00926426000
$89.99
http://www.craftsman.com/shc/s/p_10155_12602_00926426000P?keyword=clamp&prdNo=3&blockNo=3&blockType=L3
http://s.shld.net/is/image/Sears/00926426000-1?hei=400&wid=400&op_sharpen=1&qlt=90,0&resMode=sharp&op_usm=0.9,0.5,0,0

Harbor Freight
Item #5952
$39.99
http://www.harborfreight.com/58-piece-combination-step-block-and-clamp-set-3-8-eighth-inch-16-nc-studs-1-2-half-inch-clamps-5952.html
http://www.harborfreight.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/370x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/i/m/image_1466.jpg


Grizzly
Item G1076
$39.95
http://www.grizzly.com/products/52-pc-Clamping-Kit-1-2-Bolt-Size/G1076
http://cdn0.grizzly.com/pics/jpeg500/g/g1076.jpg


TE-CO from Fastenal
Item 20402PL
$107.99
http://img1.fastenal.com/productimages/0303136_hr4c.jpg

I have an eL-cheap-O set mixed together with a Te-Co set and there's a night & day difference in the product.

My Te-Co set is made of considerably harder material .. no bent clamps or chipped heel serrations. The junk set has the above problems plus overall poor craftsmanship.. bottom of the heel blocks not square to the serration... fawked threads on 75% of studs.

Buy good stuff and never look back... even if your not making a living with it!

Our shop has several sets of the Northern Tool version... they look to be cast steel and are damn stout...but no better than a TeCo set for $30 less.

I have an eL-cheap-O set mixed together with a Te-Co set and there's a night & day difference in the product.

My Te-Co set is made of considerably harder material .. no bent clamps or chipped heel serrations. The junk set has the above problems plus overall poor craftsmanship.. bottom of the heel blocks not square to the serration... fawked threads on 75% of studs.

Buy good stuff and never look back... even if your not making a living with it!

Agreed!

The pics can be VERY deceiving. I bought a no-name import set (from Traver's I think) thinking I was clever, and I liked the price. I already had a Gibraltar set.

The difference is night and day. For one thing the import set came with low-quality flanged nuts, and they were not heavy hex, so I would need TWO different wrench sizes to operate my clamps if I intermingled them in a setup - which was the whole point as one set is never enough.

SOOOO..........I promptly ordered quality replacement nuts and tossed the provided imports BUT the flange doesn't quite slide into the import's plastic holder. Annoying. I wish I would have not tried to save a couple bucks in the first place.

And if you order import you might as well stock up on some import 1/2-13 dies and taps 'cause you'll always be cleaning up fawked threads.

edit: look closely at the HF pic; you can actually see the nuts are smaller AND check out the coupling nuts (lower left and right). I just went out to the shop and noticed my import coupling nuts are also not heavy hex.

iirc i paid < 100 for the teco set on amazon w/free shipping :smokin:
i dont have a complete set only random pieces from when i got my mill so not really much for me to compare too, especially since its not wired in the new garage yet :/ soooooooon :D

So then who makes the good stuff? The Middle of the Road, and I think I got the low grade on check.

And where are you guys getting your stuff? I.E. best pricing?

I'm just a hobby guy, but again I buy tools that I expect to last me until they put me in the ground. Not 1,2,3 years with lots of hassle.

I bought the Gibraltar set from Enco... $75 IIRC.. It is good quality and I'm happy with it. A few burrs on some of the threads that needed cleaning up but the material is good quality and no real defects/chips/cracks.

I have the red import set and the blue te-co set from fastenal for $108 + S/H... I use the teco first because it seems to fit better and just be easier to work with. Maybe its subliminal justification of the higher priced product but it generally gives me less grief

Browsing the sale flyers on the porcelain throne this morn I saw Enco still has the Gibraltar set for $75 while MSC gets $90 for the same thing (but you'll have it next business day at no "additional" charge w MSC).

MSCFF2011 should get you free shipping thru MSC and FSCMAY should get you free shipping thru Enco.

My Gibraltar step blocks are stamped "USA." We had some Teco stuff at school and it was awesome and stood up to student abuse.

Browsing the sale flyers on the porcelain throne this morn I saw Enco still has the Gibraltar set for $75 while MSC gets $90 for the same thing (but you'll have it next business day at no "additional" charge w MSC).

MSCFF2011 should get you free shipping thru MSC and FSCMAY should get you free shipping thru Enco.

My Gibraltar step blocks are stamped "USA." We had some Teco stuff at school and it was awesome and stood up to student abuse.

You can just about always get free shipping from Enco if you BS a code, also, they just sent out via e-mail more free shipping codes and some other discounts.

$99 free shipping no tax on amaxon (http://www.4x4blog.com/suggest/teco/)
for the TeCO set looks like a week wait now, not bad still and if you bust it just send it back to amazon :smokin:

So then who makes the good stuff?
From their site................TE-CO Clamps Kits Made In The USA
All of the TE-CO Clamp Kits that TE-CO offers, including the popular 20402PL, are still proudly manufactured in the USA!

Of course the import sets will work but in time you will be dealing with phucked up threads and bent clamps depending on how much and how tight you clamp them.

How much do you want to spend?

Gibraltar is also made in USA

I'm very happy with the kit pictured above from Grizzly.