Wavy Parallels

Hi all. Well the workshop is prepped, the WM16B is on order, forum has been scanned to an inch of its life to soak up your obvious impressive knowledge and a nice delivery of tooling has been purchased. I have bought some 8mm parallels but keep noticing Wavy Parallels. Question is are they handy and more importantly why and when would I use them and just how precision are they.

Clay

Hi Clay. Wavy parallels are very handy for use with thin work pieces as they will deform within reason to the width needed.

regards

Many thanks.

Many thanks.

Hi Clay

In addition to the use described above by Oldiron, it is useful sometimes to use accurate "normal" parallels to rest the work on, and use slightly lower wavy parallels between the normal parallels to keep the normal parallels from toppling over.

Rod

Just what I find so helpful about this forum, simple but clever tips like that, thanks Rod.

In the absence of wavy parallels a piece of foam rubber makes a good substitute for that purpose.

regards

"Band-it" strapping is very useful in the workshop. Cut into small lengths as shims to raise the height of lathe tools and bent into a U-shape as a spring between the parallels to keep them pressed against the vice jaws.

Paul

If you don't have Band-it strapping sections of worn out or broken hacksaw blade with the teeth ground off are also make good shims.

Hardboard strip against one vice jaw is great for improving grip on something a bit rough or slightly out of parallel. It squidges well enough to tahe up the diffrences but still firm enough for a good grip. Just remember to measure from the other jaw!

Clive