The Wilton 11694 4" Cross Slide Drill Press Vise is built for machinists, fabricators, maintenance shops, and serious DIY users who need repeatable positioning on a drill press. This is a cross slide drill press vise designed for repeat drilling and tapping with precise two-axis positioning. Model Number CS4, stock number WL9-11694. If you are tired of loosening a part, nudging it over by hand, and hoping the next hole lands where it should, this vise solves that problem in a much cleaner way.

The big reason to buy a cross slide vise instead of a standard drill press vise is control. This Wilton unit moves the workpiece horizontally and longitudinally, so you can lay out multiple holes or repeated drilling operations without constantly repositioning the material. The graduated side knobs adjust in 0.1 mm increments, which gives you finer control than eyeballing a layout line and shoving the part over by hand. For production drilling, fixture work, and repeat tapping setups, that time savings adds up fast.

Clamping matters just as much as movement, and Wilton got that part right. The vise uses hardened V-grooved jaws that can hold round stock as well as flat workpieces. That is a real advantage if you bounce between bar stock, tubing, and flat plate. The 4 in. jaw width and 4 in. maximum opening give it useful capacity for a compact drill press vise, while the roughly 1-3/8 in. jaw depth provides solid bite on the work without making the vise bulky.

The body is made from fine-grain cast iron, which is exactly what you want in a vise like this. Cast iron helps damp vibration and resist flex when the drill starts loading the part. That steadier foundation helps produce cleaner, more accurate holes, especially when you are drilling tougher material or working through repeated operations. This is not about flashy features. It is about having a base that stays put and does not fight you.

Mounting is another practical detail that makes a difference. The base has five bolt lugs for secure attachment to the machine table, which helps keep the setup stable during cross-slide movement and drilling pressure. A solid mount is a big part of getting useful accuracy from any machine vise, and Wilton clearly built this one to be bolted down and used, not just set in place for light-duty work.

At about 20 lbs, this vise has enough weight to feel substantial without becoming a hassle to handle on smaller drill press tables. The stationary base keeps the design straightforward, and the cross-slide travel handles the positioning duties. If your work is mostly repeat hole patterns, drilling round stock, or tapping operations where controlled movement matters, this style of vise is a much better fit than a basic clamp-only vise.

The Wilton 11694 4" Cross Slide Drill Press Vise makes the most sense for users who care more about repeatability than raw clamping size. It is a strong pick for small machine shop work, repair work, fabrication, and bench drill press setups where accuracy and workflow matter. If you only need to hold odd parts once in a while, a standard drill press vise may be enough. If you need cleaner hole-to-hole consistency and less setup time, this is the better tool.

Wilton 11694 4" Cross Slide Drill Press Vise for Cleaner Repeat Work

This is the kind of vise that makes a drill press feel a lot more capable when your work calls for controlled, repeatable movement.

• Who it's for: Anyone doing repeat drilling, light production work, repair work, or metalworking on a drill press where hole placement matters.
• Why it stands out: The two-axis slide, 0.1 mm graduated adjustments, hardened V-grooved jaws, and cast iron body all work together to give you more control than a basic drill press vise.
• Worth knowing: This is about precision and workflow, not maximum size. If you need to handle a wide mix of smaller parts accurately, it is a smart buy. If your work is mostly oversized stock, you will want more capacity.

• What is the jaw width on this vise? The jaw width is 4 in.
• Can it hold round stock? Yes. The hardened V-grooved jaws are designed to clamp round objects vertically and horizontally.
• Is this a stationary-base vise? Yes. It uses a stationary base with cross-slide positioning.
• How is it mounted? The base uses five bolt lugs for attachment to a machine table.