What sort of parallels are these?

I have this pair of parallels; if i wanted to get a longer set what sort of parallels am I searching for please?

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

They look like a custom made pair, in my Tool making days everyone made their own.

Tony

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 ???

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

I'm certainly not going to say Whoaa Nige, I think that the diversity is what makes this forum so interesting.

Brian

What is it'' s are fun as it gives us a chance to realise just how much we know, or don't.

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.

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

Having a mystery bits identification forum section sounds like a nice idea.

Oh fudge:

Andrew

Agree with john S, made exactly the same as apprentice

Edited By Saxalby on 02/08/2017 21:05:57

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