I have a 6" Kurt for my RF-45 clone and it works fine on it. It's definitely the largest size that would fit the mill table and still be usable. A 5" would be perfect but I don't think Kurt makes a 5" vise anymore. I also have 4" and 5" Enco import vises. The capacity of the 4" is not always large enough for some projects so I got the 5", which is of lower quality than the 4". I eventually want to get a larger mill so I bought the Kurt 6" when Enco had it on sale with free shipping. YMMV
Ed
I guess my life since the Tree mill with it's 6" vise has erased memories of the shortcomings of the 4" on the mill drill.
If 6" fits and isn't too big then it's definitely the way to go.
Neither busy bee in calgary or kms in red deer has a 6 inch in stock, I will be in red deer wed am so will look at the 5 inch import they have at kms, it's reasonably priced with a swivel base so will check it out well, another reason that I want a larger vise is to be able to clamp one of my 3 inch vises or even the small 1 inch screwless vises. Spent some time in the shop today and finally got the powerfeed installed on the mill (boy is this going to be better than all that cranking) and made many chips to try it out. Feel qyite accomplished as all was completed withouut the instructions which seem to have gotten lost, now I just have to figure out where to run all the wires. tom
Good to see you getting out into the shop Tom. You do realize, we need pictures.
Ed
DaveH
I am terrible for doing things without takin pics also my shop is not very impressive. I just ordered a new 6 inch vertex vise and a 1/8 inch corner rounding end mill from machine shop discount supply cost $159.00 for the vise and $186.50 for both pieces. I think that that the vertex vise made in Taiwan will be a much better quality than the cheap knockoffs that are available either in calgary or red deer at virtually the same price. Mounted the 10 inch rotary table on the mill for trial and found it is a little big but still very workable as with the head all the way to the top the quill clearsthe tablewith about 2 inches to spare and I doubt if I will be working on anything larger than the table at least mounted vertically. tom
\mounted
Tom,
You should be fine with the Vertex. I've heard some good things about that brand. Like you said, it's got to better than the no-name import brands.
Ed
Not to hijack, but does anyone have any thoughts on Bridgeport branded vises? I don't think they are made any more, but I may be wrong. I have two rather old ones I'm not using. One has been welded, but the other seems fine. I may indulge myself with the grinder once I get time to get it going and see how good I can make them.
I, for one, would jump at the chance of a Tony Wells reground vise!
Sorry if i missed it Tom, but what does KMS stand for?
Thanks.