- Joined
- Jun 13, 2022
- Messages
- 17
Sometime last year, a deal popped up for a Kurt vice for $200. It looks and operates very similar to the SCD640 Self-Centering Vice they sell now, but isn't badged as such (beside a Kurt stamp on one side). The big difference is that it doesn't have the through holes that are the primary method of mounting the SCD640. Given the SCD640 retails for $3500, I figured it was worth the risk in figuring out how to get it mounted.
I reached out to Kurt, and they believe it's an early prototype from the 70s, but said they didn't really have any resources for me. They recommended using toe clamps with vise keys (which the bottom does have slots for). My main issue is that it almost feels like my bed isn't big enough for this vice so I'm hoping folks can validate that for me (honestly didn't think it was a concern that I'd find a vice that was too big for this mill). My options as I see them:
Length-wise Mount:
Width-wise Mount:
I reached out to Kurt, and they believe it's an early prototype from the 70s, but said they didn't really have any resources for me. They recommended using toe clamps with vise keys (which the bottom does have slots for). My main issue is that it almost feels like my bed isn't big enough for this vice so I'm hoping folks can validate that for me (honestly didn't think it was a concern that I'd find a vice that was too big for this mill). My options as I see them:
- Mount it lengthwise. Downside is that I'd have to hang part of it off the bed to get access to one of the t-slots for a toe clamp (slid backwards or forward from the photo). Would clamping on only 1 side with vise keys be strong enough? Is there a clamp that would work in those outer channels?
- Mount it widthwise. Downside is that this hangs off the table by a lot, and my toe clamps would have to be mounted on the lip of the side, not the actual slots that seem to be designed for clamping.
- I could risk drilling through holes like the SCD640, but that risks ruining this vice since I don't know if those are solid chunks of metal.
- I could accept that I bought a vice that is too big for this bed and set it on a shelf until I either resell it or find a way to use it, and then look for something that will fit.
Length-wise Mount:
Width-wise Mount:
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