If you buy a vice with a rotary base plate, it takes up even more headroom!

Low cost drill vices are not designed to take the side and lifting forces incurred when milling, you would be disappointed if you tried. The moving jaw on a machine vice needs long narrow guides. My photos show my homemade one that has been in use for more than eight years and it has features that you don't find on any other vice that I know of which are not obvious from the photo. Colin

I recently started a thread 'Vertex or Arc' to help me choose a small vice. I have a preference for Vertex because I have some of their kit and am happy with it. In the end I decided to buy from Arc Euro Trade. I am glad I did, I bought a type 2 45mm vice and it is excellent. The springs that keep the pin block engaged in the rack make it very easy to use.

To release the vice you only need to turn the clamping screw about two turns then you tilt the key forwards to disengage the block from the rack, you can then slide the jaw fully open. To clamp the next job in the vice simply slide the jaw forwards up to the work piece and tighten the screw, the springs give it a ratchet action.

Regards, Michael

Some drill vices aren't too bad. I bought a pair to mill a long part on my mill and they worked ok. A little fettling can improve them quite a bit if needed.

have a look at Harold Halls website for how to avoid needing a vice in the first place. You could also get a couple of Morse collets for the times you are desperate for headroom.

the catch with all low headroom mills is that change of the tool may well require moving work off its register tho DRO makes this somewhat less of a problem – maybe ER25 (or similar) collets might be best in this regard

I suggest a toolmakers screwless vise (USA spelling) for your size machine. Just make sure there are grooves on both sides for clamping it down. They are made in sizes from 2" jaw size and larger.