New 12z Owner Here

I wouldn't bother nobody will see it and it's easier to get from underneath if you don't want to move and re level everything to get behind the column. Especially for your stand with the top nut on your levelers being load bearing and non serviceable. At least if the back of the machine is up against the wall.

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Well black friday deals came through. Bought an interstate 13pc r8 collet set with a wooden collet holder, a clamping kit, some endmills, and vactra 4 way oil, also the girlfriend bought me a 6" glacern vise for 260 on a black friday sale. So hopefully this next couple weeks will bring lots of new toys.

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Ditch the wooden holder, wood and metal is a recipe for rust. I had forgot that when I bought a set of corner rounding bits that came with a wood block holder, it was stored inside a stainless tool cabinet, next time I needed one they were rusted from sitting in the wood block. :cussing:
 
While we (those of us at altitude here in CO) don't suffer from the monsoonal flows of the great Northwest (I've not seen a spec of rust in almost three years, and this with no special preventative measures), I would keep an eye on anything in a wooden case for a while, just to make sure the two aren't doing anything kinky... :)
 
With most wood regardless what sealer or stain is in place it will still absorb and sweat moisture. But that is dependent on the climate and humidity as well, however you can control this. Meaning control what the wood takes in. Clean 15w40 and 20w50 motor oil makes a great thick light colored stain that lets the wood absorb oil instead of water. But also gives it an anti corrosion property, and makes it super easy to wipe off grimy black fingerprints.
I have had all of my lathe tooling and measuring instruments. In an old felt lined wooden machinists cabinet that once belonged to my grandfather for a few years now with no rust problems and no oil stain treatments.

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Ok so my machine vise, collet set, clamping kit, etc came in today. This post will focus more on the vise than anything else because we have all seen clamping kits, and collets, nothing picture worthy there. The vise I convinced my girlfriend whom has moved herself into the "keeper" category is a glacern 6" standard cnc milling vise basically a kurt d688 copy. However I must say it is a thing of beauty and almost gave ups a hernia delivering it. First off it came in a giant box packaged very nicely in high density foam and a thick cardboard box. Opened that all up to find another box. Inside had to work a bit to get it out. This thing is every bit of the advertised 80 lbs. It came with an inspection report. Nice durable heavy cardstock for the parts list 2 sets of vise keys 11/16, and 5/8ths, for bridgeport or vmc tables, a chip cover, and a handle. The vise was wrapped in heavy plastic with a generous amount of heavy oil. Coating all surfaces, makes cleanup a bit easier than caked on dried up cosmoline. First impressions are very glad i did not settle for a grizzly, or some other cheaper vise. The lead screw has very positive yet super smooth feel from full open to close. And looks to be very high quality.
And the best part is it only cost 260 on black Friday with a $15.00 off coupon and sale price of 275.00 but remember this was a Xmas present so for me it was technically free (even though ill pay for it in some way eventually).
So on to the pictures!78c7c80e06c99d9fa132340dfffed738.jpg01a7f449fc91d1c0077667f33435c7e1.jpg4fe900943adcd4d8e23612549d826859.jpg340072bcd32fd75aefa2c69d5eed5808.jpg82cc7d8a223a2ef5dea261079cdbd5f3.jpg
Im definetly happy with this purchase so far. However Bill, i think you may have been right about the 5" vise being perfect for a 12z table. But beggars cant be choosers and I'm not complaining one bit! I think this monster will work perfectly for my needs.
The mill should arrive at charter oaks today or tomorrow I'm hopeful it will ship next week.

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I will say that the GMT vise is a good looking piece. And I've heard nothing but good things about it.

My comment about the 5" being a better size is just my opinion. And the only reason I say that is because the shorter saddle on these small mills doesn't separate the vise and Y-axis hand wheel as well as that found on a full-sized knee mill, so the longer vises can interfere for someone with my paws. Others here use theirs just fine.

There is one 6" vise I've had my eye on though: the Kurt 3600. At 13" OAL is isn't much bigger than my 5" Kurt. Maybe someday when my current vise wears out... :rolleyes:
 
This gmt is 17" oal that is the only thing im worried about is interference with the y handwheel. That and making my "10x40" table look small...

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I have the shars cnc version of basically that/kurt vise. I did get a speed handle to avoid most of the y handle interference. I think any vise with it's stock handle will hit the y handle if you swing it. I think the 6" look appropriate.

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I have the shars cnc version of basically that/kurt vise. I did get a speed handle to avoid most of the y handle interference. I think any vise with it's stock handle will hit the y handle if you swing it. I think the 6" look appropriate.

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I'll get one eventually. I really like the esthetics it they provide. But I need to get the mill in cleaned, tuned, trammed, and operational before I start buying things I don't particularly need just yet. Aside from that. The vise looks pretty decent on that table.

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