That new PSI Pen Vise

[kenwc]

I read the older post about the new pen vise from PSI. I didn't want to add to it for fear it would be burried.

I ordered one of the new PSI Pen vises yesterday after talking to a tech at PSI. He told me the new one runs in a track. I don't see a track in the pics. Anyone have the new one that can answer this? Maybe there's a newer new one?

It also gave me pause to think that the vise "jaws" on the old one could be easily modified to run in a track.

It would mean milling slots in the base with relief on the bottom for an allen head bolt and drilling and tapping the bottoms of the solid vise jaws. If done properly this would reduce greatly the flex the thing has now.

Does this make sense?

 

[leehljp]

The phrases "runs on track" and "runs in a track" are a little different. IF he said "runs on track", I can quickly imagine the meaning. I have one from about 6 months ago and the end nuts have come loose a little a couple of times. The clamping mechanism does not track smoothly when they are loose.

Although the vise does not have a track in the base, it does have two rods, one to each side, that the two clampers glide on when opening and closing. They keep the clampers parallel when the screw is opening them or closing them. IF they do not stay perfectly parallel during the opening and closing, then they can be referred to as not staying on track - or he could have inferred this by saying that the new vise "stays on track" (as compared to the old one.)

I would imagine this is what the tech guy was referring to, but could be mistaken.

 

[kenwc]

I have the same one you have and he knew which one I had when we talked and told me the new one was much better. His term was that the new "glides" if you will, run in a track. When I get it we'll see.

I also intend to modify the old one as I described above just to see how it works. It's a simple modification from what I can tell. Mill two slots, relieve the bottom slot for an allen head, drill and tap the bottom of the glides. Of course procrastnation sometimes wins over intentions so might be a while...

 

[sptfr43]

sure sounds a lot better than the original model that I have. not even the stationary part on the end to hold things together. I have to hold the darn thing with my hand to keep it still while drilling[!]

 

[Randy_]

Seems to me that I saw a couple of post from folks who bought the "NEW" PSI vise when it first came out and didn't think the new ones were much better than the originals.

I haven't seen one first hand; but don't believe that the jaws run "IN" tracks.

 

[godfreytoddanderson]

As far as I know the new one is the one that we all have been talking about recently. I talked with PSI several times before I bought mine and the 'DRILLCENT3' had just been released (a few months ago). I just checked and their website is still screwed up. They have the pictures, model numbers and prices all mixed up. Its been like that for months (even though I've mentioned it to them twice now). I'm pretty sure that the tracks that they are talking about are the rods that everything slides on. There are no T or groove like tracks. Look here for detailed pictures of the 'DRILLCENT3'.

http://www.penturners.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=14069

The side view and the bottom view are lined up so you can see which plates the four screws on the bottom go into. By the way, I took one of the screws out when I was making my mounting jig for it and there is virtually no extra length on the screws so plan on replacing them if you want to use them to mount to something.

Todd

 

[godfreytoddanderson]

Ok, I just went out to the garage and looked at the vise very carefully. Under the two stationary plates (the ones that the four screws go in to) there are very shallow grooves in the base that the plates sit in. I would estimate around 1/32" deep. You can just barely see it on the left stationary plate in the side view picture in the post I referenced above.

Could these be the grooves that PSI was talking about? They would keep the plates from sliding and twisting on the base. Just making guesses at this point.

Todd

 

[kenwc]

Todd,

Those grooves you mentioned must be what the tech was talking about. It doesn't seem like that would be much of an improvement as the plates can still move up a bit I'd suspect. It may help to keep the plates parralell.

Ken...in the never ending quest for the perfect vice.

 

[kenwc]

OK so I recieved the new DRILLCENT3 pen vice today and while it IS "better"...it's just not !!!!!BETTER!!!!!.

There is hardly any up and down movement and MUCH less side wiggling going on but it really didn't make me happy I spent the money. I have NO idea what the tech meant about it running in tracks unless he's talking about the round bars on each side that run through the glides (which the old one actuall had anyway)

I liked the hard and larger base on the old one much better than I do this wood base. I see now why you have to mount it on a larger base to have something to clamp to...I'll try it out until I get one from PH Designs. I'm really not hard to please but this vice didn't wow me.