Temporary parallel keeper

[earlgo]

The parallels I use are 4" long and the vise jaws are 6". ( I bought the parallels for the Yuasa 3 axis vise.) Anyway, it was necessary to mount the mill vise vertical to reach the cut on the horizontal mill. Since the upper parallel is difficult to hold in position while holding everything else, it dawned on me to use a piece of plastic tube to hold the upper in place. Worked like it was meant to be.

Maybe this will spark a good idea.
--earlgo

[Mr Ron]

It's a simple idea that most wouldn't think to come up with. People usually look for more complicated answers when a simple solution is right under their nose. Thanks for the tip.

[Harold_V]

That's a nice solution for the problem.
I keep a small box of springs handy for the same purpose. I use air on my machines, so if I'm using parallels it's important that they stay on location. By placing a rigid spring between the parallels, they are always loaded against the jaws, and are not disrupted by the air jet, used to clean the mounting area when parts are exchanged.

Harold

[ctwo]

I use pieces of broken and worn out bandsaw blade - I have several sets of various size and thickness bent up for the purpose, some like a W, some like an M, others a U or a C, and even some like a V or <> or ~...

[RSG]

Great idea! Never thought of something to keep them under load....

[Magicniner]

You can also use wavy parallels as springs with conventional parallels as spacers to retain parallels firmly against your vice jaws,

- Nick

[warmstrong1955]

I use pieces of metal strapping, the stuff for pallets & boxes etc.
Easy to cut and bend a bit to fit the gap between the parallels.
Once made, they get thrown into the top drawer of a tool chest for the next time.

Bill

[Richard_W]

I use pieces of metal strapping, the stuff for pallets & boxes etc.
Easy to cut and bend a bit to fit the gap between the parallels.
Once made, they get thrown into the top drawer of a tool chest for the next time.

Bill

This is the most common solution to the problem. I always save some banding material for this. I find that some of the wider banding material is thicker and has a stiffer spring force. So I collect different widths and thickness of banding material.

Richard W.

[Harold_V]

So I collect different widths and thickness of banding material.

That's one of the resources I turn to for shims for my square indexing tool block for my lathe. I keep a small box full of various thickness and types of shims on the headstock, so I don't have to search each time I insert a new cutting tool.

Harold

[Rick]

Sometimes when a spring between the parallels isn't practical, like when your vise is opened up a good bit, I will use rubber bands to hold them against the vise jaws. Stretch them around the fixed and movable jaws. They stay out of the way, are cheap, if you hit one with a cutter it just breaks, it doesn't matter how wide your vise is opened up or if your parallels are shorter or longer than the vise jaws.

[TRX]

I have some pieces of old automotive heater hose I use for the same purpose.

[Rolland]

go on line to places like Gun Parts and order a couple of box magazine springs. I use the springs out of 303 British SMLE mags. You can cut one in half for short spaces.