Setting gibs on X-Y vice?

[Roy Bennett]

:confused: The sliding dovetail joints on the X-Y vice I use on my mortice machine have adjustable gibs to set the clearance between moving parts. Is there a standard procedure for setting them, or do I continue with my grope and hope style?

[Bruce Page]

Nope, you just tighten the setscrews until they are snug then back them off off a smidge. If the dovetails are badly worn, you’ll find adjusting the gibs difficult, e.g. too tight in one area and too loose in another. If that is the case your best bet is to take the vice apart and stone/file the surfaces flat.