DIY V clamp

[Warmfire]

I work mostly with PCV pipe and often need to drill holes in the pipe with an 8" workbench drill press. Normal vises (I have multiple types) raise the work too high for the bit to clear the work (even with the table bottomed out).

I would like to make V clamps I can drop into the slots in the Drill press table an prevent the pipe from moving.

[Big Mike71]

three things are missing.
1= the diam. of the pipe
2= does the hole go through both sides or just one
3= what diam. drill bit

without knowing those I can only say I used to take the pipe and lay it on a flat surface, Butt the side of the pipe against a board or 2x4 and run a bead of hot melt glue along the edge. Clamp the board to hold the pipe on location for the hole and the board will keep the pipe from rolling or moving.

[Moby Duck]

I work mostly with PCV pipe and often need to drill holes in the pipe with an 8" workbench drill press. Normal vises (I have multiple types) raise the work too high for the bit to clear the work (even with the table bottomed out).

I would like to make V clamps I can drop into the slots in the Drill press table an prevent the pipe from moving.

There is a special aftermarket drill press table available in NZ called a "Vazey Drill Press Table". I haven't actually seen or used one myself but it has had good reports and looks like a good idea to me. If you view the links below and watch the video it should give you some ideas.
It should be easy enough to make a simple "V" channel, with legs underneath that drop into the existing slots in your table to allow it to be clamped down from the underside. Use any normal clamping system to hold the pipe in the "V" slot if you think pipe clamping is necessary.
If work is more 'agricultural' and doesn't need high accuracy, I would suggest that two short lengths of 90 degree angle arranged "VV" but with the V's inverted, placed side by side and welded along the central join would be a good starting point for the "V" channel.

See video

See D199 | VAZEY Drill Press Table | For Sale East Tamaki - Auckland | Buy Workshop Equipment & Machinery online at machineryhouse.co.nz where they sell for NZ$68, (about US$46 today 2 May 2017), but postage could possibly double that price if you live in the U.S.
p.s. I have no commercial interests in selling or manufacturing this drill table.

[NortonDommi]

Have you thought of bolting two lenghs of pipe across the table,(side to side),that way the pipe yuo are drilling will 'stack' nicely between the two and support lenghwise will stop rotation also if the pipe being drilled is long you can easily set up supports either side of table. Easy to set up a stop for distace too.
On my pedestal drill which is at least as old as I am the table had a few drill marks, I drilled out all the damage in the center with a 2 1/2" hole saw. This lets drillbits past straight through. Use a bit of wood as a base to drill into for small stuff. Fit a vice ect. A swarf tray underneath keeps things tidy.

[Big Mike71]

Again I question the diam. of the pipe and hole you want to drill. My 8 in inch drill press can drill to the center of an 8 inch diam. pipe. By swinging the support table off to the side there is 10 inches to the chuck. Pivot the head 90 degrees to one side and there is twelve inches to the bench. that leaves 4 inches from the chuck to the pipe. To answer your question with out spending money you have more than enough height this way. Now your problem is transmitted to the length of the bit and hole size you need. Since most 8 inch drill presses only have a couple inches of depth without changing a bit. That brings us back to the question does the hole go straight though both sides? With answers to these we can give you a way to accomplish your goal. Another way is to tilt the adjustable table 90 degrees and bolt your regular V vise to the table, swing it to the side to be on center with the chuck and pipe. clamp the pipe to the vise and again you are limited only by drilling depth you may need. length of the pipe would be nice to know also.

[Ralphxyz]

I like that "Vazey Drill Press Table". Maybe I could...

Ralph

[Moby Duck]

I like that "Vazey Drill Press Table". Maybe I could...

Ralph

Yes maybe - but remember that it is designed around a drill press with a rotating table, although others have adapted them to fixed tables. See this article from "The Shed" magazine on a drill press restoration.

Oct / Nov 2014 Short Version

The last part of the restoration describes how he fitted a Vazey table to a fixed drill press table and is particularly good about how he achieved alignment etc with the spindle.

[C-Bag]

I know it's not DIY, but in the amount of time it would take to make one accurately it would be hard to beat this:

Center It V-Block 2186 - LittleMachineShop.com

Handier than a shirt pocket. I've cut mine into 4 pieces for different projects. It is the down and dirty way to center drill round stock while holding it steady.

[Toolmaker51]

I know it's not DIY, but in the amount of time it would take to make one accurately it would be hard to beat this:

Center It V-Block 2186 - LittleMachineShop.com

Handier than a shirt pocket. I've cut mine into 4 pieces for different projects. It is the down and dirty way to center drill round stock while holding it steady.

Of all the options, C-Bag's is most logical starting point. If commercial version is too small, the design easily incorporates into larger capacity. Assemble one or two flat plates and angle to suit.

[Big Mike71]

Kind of disappointed that Warmfire never came back to enlighten us.
I am glad for the comments and links for opening up ideas. I watched that table video 2 times and realized I can make one myself as I have a round table that turns on my drill press. Place the cast iron table on center as close as you can and lock it in place. Place a piece of wood on the table the same dia. of your table. Clamp it or pin it so it can not move. drill a hole through the wood on center ( I used a 1/2 inch bit). I then removed the wood table and set a router with a 1/2 inch v-cutter fitting in the center hole. Clamp a straight edge on the wood to make a straight 1/2 inch v- groove across the wood table right through the center.
You now have a v-grove for round stock just like the one for sale! the layout for those holes on the table are made by simply rotating the swing support on the column. be careful not to drill into the metal original table. Works great on my 14 inch bench drill and by removing the wood top I can set it aside for future use and simply align up that 1/2 inch hole with a 1/2 inch drill or pin. Clamp and back into center drilling. All DIY and cost basically free. This setup can work the same with a square table but the table itself will not rotate but the column support will.
I say thanks to all for comments and suggestions.