If you use your drill press for anything more than drilling basic holes then you will benefit from adding an X-Y drill press vise.
The Problem
One of the most annoying and difficult things when using a base drill press with a bare platform is positioning the workpiece as well as holding the workpiece in place.
You can use things like clamps, but clamps can come loose and do not allow very easy repositioning of the workpiece.
Many times we have experienced the drill bit getting stuck and the workpiece spinning around, threatening to fly off in some random direction. This “random” direction is usually the one that causes the maximum amount of damage.
Problem Solved
An X-Y drill press vise will solve both of these problems by holding the workpiece (it is a vise after all), and allowing you to move the workpiece left and right as well as forward and back independently using two separate hand cranks after the workpiece has been secured in the vise.
This will allow you to position the workpiece with maximum precision with minimum hassle.
Need More?
One thing to note, if you need more options than a vise to secure your workpiece then you might want to look at an X-Y drill press table instead. An X-Y drill press table accepts different attachments, similar to a milling machine table, using a t-slot system in most cases.
Conclusion
But if a vise is suitable to secure the types of workpieces you will be using in your drill press then an X-Y drill press vise is a very affordable accessory that will make using your drill press much more enjoyable and efficient.
