The 7 Best Cross Slide Vises
Updated by · How we research
Six cross slide vises with 3- to 6-inch jaws, plus a mini compound table, compared on travel, height, weight and warranty. The Wilton CS4 takes first place. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, 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.
From the manual
- The parts list carries the jaw insert assembly as its own part, so worn jaws can be replaced without a new vise. p. 1
- The lifetime warranty covers only the first owner, and only a vise bought from Wilton or an authorized U.S. seller. warranty policy
- A claim needs proof of purchase. If Wilton wants to inspect the vise, you pay shipping both ways; replacements ship free in the continental U.S. warranty policy
Why the Wilton CS4 is our top pick
The CS4 wins on how long its maker stands behind it: the limited lifetime warranty runs for as long as the first owner keeps the vise,2 while our runner-up, the WEN CV414, carries two years.6 Both are cast iron1,6 and weigh about 20 pounds,1,7 with V-grooved jaws, 0.1 mm dials and five mounting points.1,6 What Wilton adds is hardened jaw faces, which it says stop work creeping as the slides move.1,4
The runner-up gives more movement for less money. Its slides travel 5.8 by 6 inches7 against 4.9 inches each way on our pick,4 and WEN publishes a clamping figure, which Wilton doesn't.7 Our pick sits a touch lower, about 5-3/4 inches tall against 6,5,7 which helps under a small benchtop press.
Read the warranty before you order. It covers only vises bought from the maker or an authorized U.S. seller, asks for proof of purchase and, if Wilton wants to inspect the vise, has you pay the shipping.2 Buy from an authorized dealer and keep the receipt. If long travel matters more to you than lifetime coverage, the runner-up is the better buy.
| Wilton CS4 | WEN CV414 | |
|---|---|---|
| Warranty | Limited lifetime, first owner | Two years |
| Travel, X by Y | 4.9 x 4.9 in | 5.8 x 6 in |
| Height | 5-3/4 in | 6 in |
| Jaw width / opening | 4 / 4 in | 4.25 / 4.125 in |
| Weight | 20 lb | 19.2 lb |
Sources
- Wilton CS4 1Product page 2Warranty policy 3Parts diagram (PDF) 4Spec table, Penn Tool 5Spec sheet, Grainger Canada
- WEN CV414 6Product page 7Instruction manual (PDF), p. 2
From the manual
- WEN lists it as a fit for its own 4210, 4212, 4214, 4225 and 4227 drill presses. p. 1
- Mounting bolts, washers and nuts aren't in the box. Use at least two bolts set diagonally, four for the steadiest hold. p. 2
- Fitting the crank handles takes a 10 mm socket you supply: snug each nut, then back it off a quarter turn. p. 1
- It ships pre-adjusted. Two side gib screws take up slide play; a third, locked by a 10 mm nut, is the fallback. p. 2
Compare the specs
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
| Product | Jaw width (in) | Max opening (in) | Travel, X by Y (in) | Height (in) | Weight (lb) | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Wilton CS4 | 4 | 4 | 4.9 x 4.9 | 5.75 | 20 | Limited lifetime |
| 2. WEN CV414 | 4.25 | 4.125 | 5.8 x 6 | 6 | 19.2 | 2 years |
| 3. Shop Fox D4082 | 4 | 3.75 | 4 x 4 | 5.25 | 22 | 1 year |
| 4. WEN CV413 | 3.25 | 3.25 | 5.8 x 6 | 5.5 | 15.4 | 2 years |
| 5. Wilton CS6 | 6 | 6 | 7.9 x 7.9 | 7.25 | 59 | Limited lifetime |
| 6. VEVOR Q97-100 | 4 | 3.5 | 5.5 x 3.9 | — | — | — |
| 7. Proxxon KT 70 | No jaws (table) | No jaws (table) | 5.3 x 1.8 | 1.7 | — | — |
Wilton's lifetime warranty covers the first owner only, and only when bought from Wilton or an authorized U.S. seller. Wilton heights come from Grainger Canada and the Shop Fox figures from a Woodstock dealer, since neither maker lists them. WEN's manuals call these 4.5- and 3.5-inch vises; the table uses WEN's product-page jaw sizes. The Proxxon is a T-slot table with no jaws; its metric figures are converted.
Sources
- Wilton CS4 product page CS6 product page Warranty policy CS4 spec table, Penn Tool CS6 spec table, Penn Tool CS4 specs, Grainger Canada CS6 specs, Grainger Canada
- WEN CV414 product page CV414 instruction manual (PDF) CV413 product page CV413 instruction manual (PDF)
- Shop Fox D4082 at Grizzly (warranty) D4082 specs, Wood World dealer
- VEVOR Q97-100 product page
- Proxxon KT 70 data sheet (PDF)
From the manual
- It arrives coated against rust. Wipe the machined surfaces with acetone, wearing gloves, then give them a light coat of paste wax. p. 2
- The box holds the crank handles, three hex wrenches and handle nuts, but no bolts for fixing the vise down. pp. 1-2
- If a slide feels tight, loosen its gib screws; if it rocks, tighten them with the included hex wrench. p. 2
From the manual
- The jaws are 2 inches deep and open the full 6 inches of their width. p. 1
- The jaw insert assembly is listed as its own part, so worn jaw faces can be swapped. p. 1
From the manual
- One turn of a handwheel moves the table 1 mm, and each dial mark is 0.05 mm; both dials reset to zero. p. 1
- The mounting clamps and bolts in the box are for Proxxon's MB 200 and TBM 220 drill stands; plan your own fixing for other stands. p. 1
- The supplied step clamps hold work up to 20 mm thick. p. 2
- The dovetail slides have adjustable gibs for taking up play. p. 1
Editor's Notes
November 4, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Editors:
We read WEN's CV414 and CV413 manuals, Wilton's parts diagrams and warranty, and Proxxon's KT 70 data sheet, and added a spec table, a top-pick section and notes from the manuals. We corrected the Harbor Freight answer (it now sells a 6-inch cross slide vise), the CV413's weight and the guide's travel and height ranges. Palmgren now lists China as the country of origin for its 3-inch cross vise, and we dropped a Proxxon warranty claim its terms don't support.
October 18, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Editors:
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.
Earlier notes
March 8, 2021, by Will Rhoda:
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, by Karen Bennett:
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 cross slide vises in 3-, 6- and 8-inch sizes, with dials marked in 0.1 mm and a limited lifetime warranty. The 3-inch model 9630303 has a 1-3/8-inch throat, and Palmgren lists China as its country of origin, and the U.S.-made 9630301 this page once named is gone from its site. They're priced like industrial tools, several times the cost of a WEN, so they suit shops that drill all day. 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 15 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 runs from about 4 inches per axis on the Shop Fox D4082 to 5.8 by 6 inches on WEN's cross vises and about 7.9 inches each way on the big Wilton CS6. The VEVOR moves less front to back than side to side, and the Proxxon table manages under 2 inches front to back. 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 about 7-1/4 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 product photos and manual 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. WEN's manual says to clean the factory anti-rust coating off with acetone, wax the machined surfaces, and wipe chips off after every job. If the jaws get chewed up, Wilton's parts list for the CS4 includes a replacement jaw insert assembly.
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 Model Engineer warn against milling on a drill press for that reason, so 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 milling machine. Even Palmgren's cross slide vises, at several times the price, use 0.1-millimeter dials.
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. For the seven picks we read WEN's CV414 and CV413 instruction manuals, Wilton's CS4 and CS6 parts diagrams and warranty policy, and Proxxon's KT 70 data sheet, and took heights and travel from Penn Tool, Grainger Canada and a Woodstock dealer where the makers list none. The BuildEazy buying guide and machinist threads on Garage Journal and the Model Engineer forum shaped the setup and safety advice. A search of the CPSC recall database on November 4, 2026 found no recall of any vise or compound table from Wilton, WEN, Shop Fox, VEVOR or Proxxon.
Sources (11)
- Wilton: 4-inch cross slide drill press vise
- Wilton: warranty policy
- WEN: CV414 instruction manual (PDF)
- WEN: CV413 instruction manual (PDF)
- Proxxon: KT 70 data sheet (PDF)
- Palmgren: 3-inch cross slide vise
- Harbor Freight: 6-inch cross slide vise, item 58977
- BuildEazy: best drill press vises
- Garage Journal: aligning a drill press vise
- Model Engineer forum: drill press as a mill
- CPSC recalls
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?
Yes. Harbor Freight sells the Central Machinery 6-inch cross slide vise, item 58977. It's a 6-inch size, so measure your table and the room under the chuck first. Listings branded HFS are a different seller, not Harbor Freight.
Is a Palmgren or Wilton worth the extra cost?
The Wilton CS4 costs about twice what WEN and Shop Fox do. The extra buys a limited lifetime warranty for the first owner, when bought from an authorized U.S. seller, against two years from WEN and one from Shop Fox. Palmgren's cross slide vises cost more again. 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.
