Tight Squeeze

Texas weather has finally relented from the high temperatures and we are now into an El Niño wet spell. But it does mean that it is very comfortable for working in my unconditioned garage workshop.

I do have heaters for the winter but no air conditioning for the hot weather. So Fall is the season for me to spend more hours in the shop.

I am presently considering an addition to my Taig X3 Small Mill. I just made a repair to the DROPROS digital scales I have on the machine. Unfortunately, I haven’t been using it enough to keep the memory backup battery charged. It is a 3Volt rechargeable Ni-Cad rather than a large button cell. I killed it once a few years ago and it died on me again just a few weeks ago.

I sent it back to DroPros the first time (free repair) but I did it myself this time. I found the exact same replacement battery on-line. What happens is the Ni-CAD discharges so low and for so long that it reverses one of the cells. Then it will not take a full charge. New battery and the scales are working perfectly again.

How I discovered it was I had a project that I wanted to use the manual mill and the digital scales. I finished the project with the manual scales and ordered the battery.

The project went well but I decided I really needed a heavier and larger vice on the X3. I have been using a 3” screwless vice for years. Now I am looking for a 4” lockdown style vise. It may or may not look like the picture shown. It should weigh about 35 pounds.

The larger jaws, heavier weight and especially the screw action should make my set-ups much easier. I should also be able to be a bit more aggressive in my cuts.  I want one with the swivel base but will mount the vice without the base. I just want the base handy if I ever need it.

This is the largest vice the X3 mill will comfortably hold. Price range is around $160.00. Kurt and other high quality brand name vices go for around $350 – $500.00 in this size if you can find one.

I have two sources I am investigating and if (when) I take the step; I will of course provide a review in The Hobbyist Machine Shop.

Update: Ordered one. Should look like the picture. We’ll see.

Update+: It does! (See update).