Author Topic: Parallel Keeper  (Read 8812 times)

Offline Mosey

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Parallel Keeper
« on: June 11, 2016, 11:10:03 PM »
I seem to easily blow my stack when the parallels fall over in my vice and have used all kinds of keepers in the past. I have found some tiny magnetic keepers that seem to do a great job because they are magnetic. They stick where you put them in the vise and grab the parallels and hold them in place. They are pretty inexpensive too, and their bright red color makes them easy to find even though they are tiny. They are kinda cute, too.
They are called Magkeepers.com. and I got them from EBay for $15.00 for 4.
Mosey

Offline mklotz

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Re: Parallel Keeper
« Reply #1 on: June 11, 2016, 11:39:56 PM »
How long does it take you to clean the swarf from them when you mill ferrous stock?
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Offline PStechPaul

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Re: Parallel Keeper
« Reply #2 on: June 12, 2016, 12:04:23 AM »
A piece of low density foam rubber might work pretty well. Otherwise a couple of springs might do the trick. And maybe a bit of double sided adhesive tape could keep the parallels positioned on the opposing jaws.

I agree that magnets might get covered with swarf and be a nuisance to clean.

Offline Mosey

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Re: Parallel Keeper
« Reply #3 on: June 12, 2016, 12:10:30 AM »
How long does it take you to clean the swarf from them when you mill ferrous stock?
About 2 minutes, and its almost as tedious as the other methods of holding, but not quite.
Mosey
« Last Edit: August 13, 2016, 01:31:15 PM by Mosey »

Offline 10KPete

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Re: Parallel Keeper
« Reply #4 on: June 12, 2016, 12:38:02 AM »
I use a piece of that flat springy steel banding, bent in a wavy shape. Material's free and I can make 'em when I need
to for any application.

Pete
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Offline sshire

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Re: Parallel Keeper
« Reply #5 on: June 12, 2016, 01:45:57 AM »
These came with my vise. Work perfectly. Spring loaded.
Best,
Stan

Offline Mosey

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Re: Parallel Keeper
« Reply #6 on: June 12, 2016, 01:51:23 AM »
These came with my vise. Work perfectly. Spring loaded.

I gave one of those away recently

Offline mklotz

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Re: Parallel Keeper
« Reply #7 on: June 12, 2016, 03:18:23 PM »
These came with my vise. Work perfectly. Spring loaded.


Yabut, for $60 a pop...

http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PMAKA=505-2235&PMPXNO=949744&PARTPG=INLMK3

for a couple of sliding members and some springs, I'll stick with my shade-tree solutions...

Dab of grease or cutting oil and "stick" parallel to vise jaw

or

Piece of foam/sponge/whatever between parallels - self-adjusting and cheap enough to be disposable when grotty.
Regards, Marv
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Offline Mosey

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Re: Parallel Keeper
« Reply #8 on: June 12, 2016, 03:50:11 PM »
Since my vises are 1", 2", and the big one is 3" those spring loaded keepers are in the way and don't really work all that well. Tiny mags for me.
What works for you is fine with me. Just sayin...
Marv, you aren't going with the digital.
Mosey
« Last Edit: June 12, 2016, 03:53:34 PM by Mosey »

Online Overbuilt and Overkill

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Re: Parallel Keeper
« Reply #9 on: June 29, 2016, 01:03:31 AM »
Each to there own methods and there's been multiple designs I've seen as parallel keepers. But I'm with how Marv does it. A few drops of oil or little daub of grease sucks the parallels tight to each jaw face real well as long as the jaw faces and parallels are flat and smooth. But that's required anyways. No chance of chips getting under or behind them either if there stuck down properly. And I've yet to have a chip brush move them in the slightest. Those old school machinists knew how to get the best out of what they had.

Offline Brian Rupnow

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Re: Parallel Keeper
« Reply #10 on: June 29, 2016, 01:45:36 AM »
I just set my parallels in place and they stay there. However, I was looking at machining sites (somewhere) today, and seen a vice with parallels held in place with rubber bands, which I thought was rather novel.

Offline zeeprogrammer

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Re: Parallel Keeper
« Reply #11 on: June 29, 2016, 02:33:26 AM »
However, I was looking at machining sites (somewhere) today, and seen a vice with parallels held in place with rubber bands, which I thought was rather novel.

I did that. It can work but I found it a bit iffy. My rubber bands were a bit tight and during machining they would suddenly let go (i.e. break) and go flying.
Scares you for two reasons...1) you see something flying by and wonder if it's a bit of tooling or part and 2) the parallel moves at the wrong time into the wrong place. I think a bit tight. Would have probably been okay if they'd had less force.
Carl (aka Zee) Will sometimes respond to 'hey' but never 'hey you'.
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Zee-Another Thread Trasher.

Offline crueby

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Re: Parallel Keeper
« Reply #12 on: June 29, 2016, 02:46:56 AM »
In a big shop, do they tell the new apprentice to hold the parallels in place for them?!  :o

Offline mechman48

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Re: Parallel Keeper
« Reply #13 on: August 12, 2016, 08:52:36 PM »
How long does it take you to clean the swarf from them when you mill ferrous stock?

You can put magnets into small plastic bags that have the zip lock type ( press together ) fastening; then when done unzip bag remove magnet & the ferrous cuttings drop off the bag   :thinking:
George.
George.

Offline Steamer5

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Re: Parallel Keeper
« Reply #14 on: September 02, 2016, 05:40:58 PM »
Hi Guys & Girls,
 I was watching a You tube video the other day. The guys solution to this problem....... :noidea: use a couple of rubber bands one for each jaw! Stagger the bands & you can get almost to the thickness on the bands

Cheers Kerrin

Get excited and make something!

Offline Chuck Rhoades

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Re: Parallel Keeper
« Reply #15 on: September 02, 2016, 05:57:09 PM »
I use the steel banding from crates. I've been using the same 6" piece for years. You can bend it to fit in gaps from 1/16" to about 2".

 

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