What sort of parallels are these?

This topic has 23 replies, 16 voices, and was last updated 4 August 2017 at 16:20 by John McNamara.

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1 August 2017 at 20:45 #309829
Nige
Participant
@nige81730
I have this pair of parallels; if i wanted to get a longer set what sort of parallels am I searching for please?
Advert

1 August 2017 at 20:45 #18604
Nige
Participant
@nige81730
1 August 2017 at 20:47 #309830
JasonB
Moderator
@jasonb
Big ones!

Useful when setting up large parts for machining on a mill able or cross slide, really too big for stuff in a vice. Might also do as your straight bit of bar to clock your spindle

Edited By JasonB on 01/08/2017 20:48:28
1 August 2017 at 20:49 #309834
John Stevenson 1
Participant
@johnstevenson1
Most probably home made by an apprentice
1 August 2017 at 20:50 #309835
Tony Pratt 1
Participant
@tonypratt1
They look like a custom made pair, in my Tool making days everyone made their own.

Tony
1 August 2017 at 21:13 #309843
Nige
Participant
@nige81730
They are a fraction over 3 1/2 inches long and both stamped G.K.B. on both ends. I think you may be right in saying they are an individuals custom made pair. I was hoping they were a standard item so O could get a longer one.

JasonB: it was clocking the spindle I was thinking about. If I use a piece of studding through the spindle to hold it against the mandrel face I can have 3 inches out to one side which is more 'flat length to run a clock down than I would have got with a back plate. rotating it will also indicate any run out ???
1 August 2017 at 21:50 #309862
SteveI
Participant
@stevei
It will only indicate "run out" (spindle misalignment) if it is perfectly flat and after you have used shims. If not it will indicate the sum of the misalignment plus the errors from it not being flat. My post wasn't perhaps the clearest.
1 August 2017 at 21:56 #309866
Neil Wyatt
Moderator
@neilwyatt
Not wishing to be rude, but have you got a lot more mystery bits?

It might keep the forum a bit tidier if you post them all in the same thread…

Neil
1 August 2017 at 22:04 #309868
Rik Shaw
Participant
@rikshaw
I have a collection of parallels but they do no always meet the particular need / sizes I require. Only recently I bit the bullet and purchased a set from ARC:

**LINK**

These are the business and are very handy indeed. Just a shame they are out of stock at the moment for anyone interested.

Rik
2 August 2017 at 00:07 #309886
Howard Lewis
Participant
@howardlewis46836
Nige,

You obviously inherited a load of useful stuff, (and these parallels are in that category).

DON'T dump it; keep it and find a use for it.

"It will come in handy, one day"

Howard
2 August 2017 at 07:32 #309905
JasonB
Moderator
@jasonb
Nige, most I have seen like that are more like 6" long, anything less will not be suitable for use as per the other thread
2 August 2017 at 08:23 #309916
Lambton
Participant
@lambton
Nige,

They are perfectly standard design parallels and were indeed sometimes made by apprentices but commercial ones are common. I have several sets of this design.

If you want "modern" parallels have a look at those offered by ARC Eurotrade. When deciding what type to buy consider your machine vice jaw height as one common use for parallels is to provide precision packing under work pieces held in a machine vice. I have no connection with Arc other than being a long standing and very satisfied customer.

Eric
2 August 2017 at 17:52 #310023
Nige
Participant
@nige81730
Sorry Guys, Neil was right to mention my prolific posting . When ever I change the motorbike or get a new bit of kit I join an appropriate forum to learn and share 'stuff' and I got to this forum via a subscription, print and online, to MEW, I'm a friendly sort of chap and like to meet people and chat, I love to learn and share stuff which makes me run on a bit sometimes I hope I have not upset anybody and apologise wholeheartedly if I have, I sometimes need somebody to say "Whoaa there Nige" and I don't get upset when that happens I am learning a great deal here, I feel comfortable and this is the most friendly and generous group of people I have ever come across in a forum, long may it continue. Thanks for your forbearance guys
2 August 2017 at 17:59 #310026
Brian H
Participant
@brianh50089
I'm certainly not going to say Whoaa Nige, I think that the diversity is what makes this forum so interesting.

Brian
2 August 2017 at 18:42 #310035
Bazyle
Participant
@bazyle
What is it'' s are fun as it gives us a chance to realise just how much we know, or don't.
2 August 2017 at 19:27 #310039
Neil Wyatt
Moderator
@neilwyatt
I wasn't trying to cut Nige off in his prime, I just think it might work better if all these discoveries went in fewer threads – there are several about lathe tools that might make more sense if they were all in the same thread.
2 August 2017 at 19:51 #310045
Nige
Participant
@nige81730
Neil, I agree entirely and didn't feel cut off and I hope others will take all this in the helpful spirit it was all meant
2 August 2017 at 20:45 #310057
Rainbows
Participant
@rainbows
Having a mystery bits identification forum section sounds like a nice idea.
2 August 2017 at 21:00 #310060
Anonymous
Posted by JasonB on 02/08/2017 07:32:17:

Nige, most I have seen like that are more like 6" long, anything less will not be suitable for use……….

Oh fudge:

Andrew
2 August 2017 at 21:04 #310062
Saxalby
Participant
@saxalby
Agree with john S, made exactly the same as apprentice

Edited By Saxalby on 02/08/2017 21:05:57
2 August 2017 at 21:23 #310065
Anonymous
I have a range of 3" blocks, and a set of four 6" parallels, made by the same toolmaker as the ones shown above. I use them all the time in my machine vice. Then again my vice is possibly bigger than average.

Andrew
3 August 2017 at 07:30 #310098
JasonB
Moderator
@jasonb
Posted by JasonB on 02/08/2017 07:32:17:

Nige, most I have seen like that are more like 6" long, anything less will not be suitable for use as per the other thread

Andrew, even your little 2 incher would not be upto that particular use but agree any parallels are worth keeping as they will always come in handy.
3 August 2017 at 13:00 #310152
I.M. OUTAHERE
Participant
@i-m-outahere
Nige , don't worry about how many post you make ( or cranky moderators ) there is no limit and it sure beats reading another " what lathe to buy " post i can tell you !

We used to have a prolific poster – Wolfie and it was like a dialy dose of your favourite tv show , you would tune in just to see what he was up to !

Unfortunately he has not been heard from for a while .

I can see.what Neil is saying but you are probably going through boxes of stuff and going wow what is this and everything is a new discovery .

keep asking questions !

The holes an recess are possibly there so you can bolt them to an angle plate,or down on a mill table as a fence

Ian
4 August 2017 at 16:20 #310351
John McNamara
Participant
@johnmcnamara74883
Hi Nige

You cant have too many packers, The I beam type are particularly handy for packing work clamped directly on the table, The typical wooden boxed Asian sets are too thin and not very stable. I Also keep a selection of cylinders squares and other shapes.

Regards
John
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