About Parallels (the holes)

KMoffett said:
I like to use strips of metal strapping tape, bent into a "V", to hold the parallels in place. Free and easy. I also occasionally use them bent in shapes as 0.500 wavy parallels to miss drill holes. Take a Mic and measure the width. They're incredibly uniform along their length. Also, all 10 of my parallels have pairs of holes of varying sizes.

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Wikipedia: Parallels: " Parallels commonly have a series of holes drilled on the 'front' face - allowing them to be used to position a workpiece or secured using t-slot clamps, and a countersink on each side to remove any sharp edges. "
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Yup - now that I have started looking, it seems anything and everything is used. Kitchen wash sponges which come with a side looking like ScotchBrite, squished up hose, white plastic stiff foam from packaging boxes, inflatables, UniStrut nut springs, just about anything that can be stuffed in there to stop them falling over. I can see the utility of magnetic parallels.

Though a first purchase of the "most immediately useful" has thinner types, like 1/8" or 3mm recommended, there are some quite expensive boxed sets of 1/4", 3/8", 8mm, 10mm, 1/2", etc. For my own reasons, I had thought to get a pair, 150mm x 10mm wide that would be long enough to place right across the ways of my South Bend, and be wide enough to not just fall over. That will have to wait for a bit.

I can see the "wavey" sort as well. I have some reservations about them. I can see how adjustable parallels work. They have the property of being parallel, but lack being the same width, though can be adjusted so. I guess there are situations where they can be convenient.
 
It's actually pretty obvious. The reason for holes is to allow a musically inclined machinist to make a Xylophone :)
kHPIM0459.jpg
PS - the numbers along the right edge of the board indicate the amount of vise jaw remaining above the parallel. Credit where credit is due: the idea is from the January, 2020 (#289) issue of Model Engineers' Workshop. This magazine is published in the UK, so I'd guess that most forum members don't regularly read it. It was the "Readers' Tip of the Month," page 33, by Philip Hurst.
 
Hman...

I like that... I think I will copy that idea...!

-Bear
 
Mitch Alsup said:
This seems to be a costly accessory that is not much more practical then 2 rubber bands.
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I think some folks are missing the point of the "keepers". They are meant to keep parallels vertical and evenly separated when not being set up in a vise, such as just being set up on the mill table.

Ted
 
Unless you are talking about other types of keepers, I think you may be missing the point. This is how those keepers with two rods and two plates are used:
Kurt keepers
 
KMoffett said:
Unless you are talking about other types of keepers, I think you may be missing the point. This is how those keepers with two rods and two plates are used:
Kurt keepers
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I have not actually ever seen the "Kurt" keepers before. But I have seen very similar pieces being used to keep parallels separated evenly while clamping a part onto a milling machine table. Thanks for posting the link to the Kurt keepers. Didn't know they made them.
Ted
 
There are several companies that sell parallel keepers like Kurt's. Can you post a photo of or link to the type you have.
 
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