Flat dovetail stock

i obviously didnt read all of your post... lol i need coffee.......

dvlnme wrote: pm me i will machine it flat for you as long there enuf metal left on base for what you need will be simple job mate,i make all my own dove tail bases and rings,too mean to buy them eh!!!  cheers mike

further to that post,tungstan tipped router cutters work perfectly fine if run at high speed in drill press on alliminium,and come in many useful shapes at quite cheap prices from toolshed or mitre 10 etc,wd40 fine for a lube on alli with these cutters,you dont reaaly need lube with tungstan cutters but lube does help prevently alli binding to the cutter resulting in rough cuts etc.

you will need do few minor mods to your drill press to get best out of these vices,mainly stiffen up table to prevent it moving or vibrating too much,put some sort adjustable lock on the drill press quil etc,this lock is so you can set to depth more precisely and predicably,but other than that the drill press and vice can do surprisingly good work with bit of patience and taking only small depth cuts,obviously not as good as a proper milling machine,but can still do good and precise work if a little slow,it will get many small jobs done better than many would think.and will give you a simple if bassic milling capability.