The 7 Best Cross Slide Vises
Updated by · How we research
From 3 to 6 inches of jaw, seven cross slide vises for drill presses are compared on travel, height, weight and warranty. The Wilton CS4 takes first place. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
None of these picks turns a drill press into a milling machine; they're for drilling accurate rows of holes. A cross slide vise, or X-Y vise, holds work on two crossed slides, so hand cranks move it left, right, forward and back under a drill press spindle without unclamping. Metalworkers, hobby machinists and woodworkers use one.
Editor's Notes
October 18, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Admin:
The top spot goes to the Wilton CS4, a vise machinists on forums often recommend, which this page used to list as the Wilton 11694. The Mophorn Heavy Duty, Myoyay Milling Machine, Neiko 55002A and Texalan TQS are no longer available. The Palmgren 30301 is now hard to find at a sensible price, so Palmgren moves to our special honors, and the Palmgren CV80, a 77-pound 8-inch shop vise, goes too.
The Shop Fox D4082 stays, and the old Wen 41-CV is back as the WEN CV413. New picks are the WEN CV414, the big Wilton CS6, the VEVOR Q97-100 for tight budgets and the Proxxon KT 70 table for tiny parts.
One honest point: none of these turns a drill press into a milling machine. They're for drilling accurate rows of holes. We found no lab tests of cross slide vises, so the ranking weighs each maker's jaw and travel figures against retailer spec tables, machinist forum reports and recall checks.
March 08, 2021:
It was a busy round of updates that – in spite of seeing the HFS Heavy Duty, Yost HD CSV-4 and Capri Tools 10520 removed due to availability issues – saw these rankings grow from a seven- to a nine-item collection. Our list remains anchored by its big-name choices – the Palmgren 30301, Wilton 11694 and Palmgren CV80 – but we found several serviceable alternatives to join them, including many that are more affordable.
As far as placement, we gave preference to larger models that allow users the flexibility of working with bigger material – the Mophorn Heavy Duty and Wen 41-CV have eight- and 8/3/8-inch versions available, respectively – but we also included some smaller choices a little lower on our list, as we realized that, for those who know their capacities will be sufficient for their applications, the lower prices and weights associated with these small offerings are likely to be quite appealing. If you never need to deal with material larger than three-inch stock, then the Texalan TQS is an option that rates reasonably well and comes for an exceptionally low cost.
Another reason to think about smaller hardware in this context is to make sure that you select a unit that’s small enough to be compatible with whichever tool you’re pairing it with — in this case, likely a drill press.
To assist you with alternate clamping needs, we also maintain lists of bench vises and pipe vises.
April 29, 2019:
When you’re stopping frequently to move your wooden or metal workpiece as you cut it in different places, a cross slide vise can shave hours off your project. Products from two separate century-old toolmakers are featured on our list: The two reliable Palmgren models offer conveniences like dust-collecting ports and ergonomically placed handles for easier operation. The Yost HD CSV-4 is dependable, simple to use, and is thoughtfully designed with adjustability and dovetailed construction.
If you’re in the mood for a more budget-friendly choice, look to the Capri Tools and HFS selections listed here. Note that these both will likely require some prep work out of the box, including cleaning, lubing, and adjusting.
Whichever you decide is right for you, always wear safety glasses and hearing protection when operating machines such as drills and routers.
Special Honors
Palmgren Cross Vises Palmgren sells heavy cross vises for machine shops in 3-, 6- and 8-inch sizes. The 3-inch model 9630301 weighs about 29 pounds and has a 1-3/4-inch throat, and sellers list it as made in the U.S. These are priced like industrial tools, often several times the cost of an import, so they suit daily production work. Forum posts warn that some cheaper Palmgren-branded vises are imports, so check the part number. palmgren.com
Jaw Size, Travel And Height
A 6-inch vise holds wide stock but jumps to around 59 pounds and needs a big table.
Start with the stock you clamp most. A 4-inch vise covers most home shop work, from flat bar to small brackets. A 3-inch vise such as the WEN CV413 is lighter, at about 16 pounds, and suits small parts on a benchtop press. A 6-inch vise holds wide stock but jumps to around 59 pounds and needs a big table.
Travel tells you how far you can step the work without unclamping it. It ranges from about 4 inches per axis on the Shop Fox D4082 to 5.8 by 6 inches on WEN's cross vises. Penn Tool's spec table for the Wilton CS4 lists 4.9 inches each way, and Wilton's own product page rounds it to about 5.
Height is the spec people forget. Two stacked slides plus the jaws put most of these vises 5-1/4 to 7 inches tall, and BuildEazy warns that this eats drill press clearance. Before you buy, lower your table all the way, chuck your longest bit and measure the gap to the table. Subtract the vise height and your workpiece, and make sure there's room left to drill.
Mounting, Squaring And Setup
A cross slide vise has to be bolted to the drill press table. Cranking the slides pushes the vise around, and a loose vise can spin if the bit grabs. Most have slotted lugs or feet around the base: the Wilton has five lugs and the WEN models have five brackets. Check the slot spacing against your table before you order. WEN prints its base dimensions in its listing photos for exactly that reason.
Next, square it. Put a dial indicator in the chuck, run it along the fixed jaw while you crank one slide, and rotate the vise until the needle stays still, as members describe in this Garage Journal thread. Then set the gibs, the tapered strips that take up play in the slides. Snug the gib screws until the slide moves smoothly with no rock, and tighten the gib on the axis you aren't moving to lock it.
Cast iron rusts. Wipe off chips after each job and keep a light coat of oil on the slides and screws. If the jaws get chewed up, Wilton sells replacement jaw plates for the CS4.
What A Cross Slide Vise Can't Do
A cross slide vise doesn't turn a drill press into a milling machine. A drill chuck sits on a friction taper with no drawbar, and the spindle bearings are built for downward thrust. Side loads from an end mill can loosen the chuck or wear the bearings. Machinists on forums such as Practical Machinist treat these vises as drilling fixtures, and at most for light deburring of soft material.
The dials aren't precision tools either. The 0.1-millimeter marks on budget vises are a guide, because the screws have backlash. Approach each position from the same direction, and check spacing with calipers or a rule. If you need true thousandths, you need a mill or a precision vise such as Palmgren's US-made cross vises, which cost several times as much.
Work safely. Clamp the vise down, keep cranks and handles clear of the spinning chuck, remove the chuck key, tie back hair and sleeves, and wear eye protection. Hold round stock in the V-groove, and never hold a small part by hand while drilling.
How we researched this
We compared 19 cross slide vises and compound tables, including every size of the Wilton and WEN lines, read makers' and retailers' spec tables, a buying guide and machinist forum threads, analyzed owner feedback, and checked every brand for recalls with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. We found no independent lab tests of these vises.
Frequently asked questions
Can a cross slide vise turn a drill press into a mill?
No. A drill press chuck is held by a friction taper, and its bearings are made for downward pressure, so side cuts with an end mill can loosen the chuck or wear the bearings. Use a cross slide vise for accurate drilling and very light work in soft material.
What size cross slide vise do I need?
A 4-inch vise suits most home shops. Pick 3 inches for small parts and small benchtop presses, and 6 inches only if you clamp wide stock and have a large table. Check the vise height against your drill press clearance too.
Does Harbor Freight sell a cross slide vise?
We didn't find a current one. Its Central Forge 4-inch drill press vise is a plain fixed vise. Listings branded HFS are a different seller, not Harbor Freight.
Is a Palmgren or Wilton worth the extra cost?
Wilton costs about twice what WEN and Shop Fox do and adds a lifetime warranty and replaceable jaws. Palmgren's US-made vises cost far more and suit production shops. For occasional drilling, a well-adjusted budget vise does the job.
Do I need to bolt a cross slide vise down?
Yes. Bolt it through the lugs into your table's slots. Cranking the slides and the bit's torque can move or spin a loose vise.
How accurate are the dials?
Treat 0.1-millimeter marks as a guide. Screw backlash adds error, so approach each position from the same side and confirm spacing with calipers.
