Rod for Squaring up Stock?

[Michael303]

What kind of rod (or bearing) do you prefer to hold raw stock in a vice when squaring up stock?

I'm not sure if I'd be better off with something hard like tool-steel drill rod or something soft like a brass rod. Or maybe I'm overthinking it and just throw some tig filler in there.

Any feedback is appreciated.

 

[MrWhoopee]

All of the above. As long as you don't dent a finished surface it's all good.

Yes, you're overthinking this. Now get back to work.

 

[Janderso]

Aluminum rod works great

 

[markba633csi]

I use popsicle sticks
Well, Hagen Daz bar sticks actually
-M

 

[homebrewed]

I have a bunch of scrap 12-2 and 14-2 Romex left over from our house project. I strip out the copper wire for things like this. It's annealed copper so well suited. But just about anything that has some "squish" to it will do. Maybe not fingers though, makes it hard to evenly crank the handwheels

 

[Cadillac]

I use aluminum tig rod.

 

[Mitch Alsup]

When I drill a hole that has a pilot already drilled, I keep the long curled swarf as it makes for a nice filler between jaw and part.

 

[Michael303]

Thanks for all the feedback. I'm liking the Romex or tig filler since I have plenty of both.

 

[homebrewed]

When I drill a hole that has a pilot already drilled, I keep the long curled swarf as it makes for a nice filler between jaw and part.

Good idea!

 

[T Bredehoft]

Do you have deformed vice jaws? They are made insertable/replaceable on purpose. Make some new ones. From Brass, or aluminum, or balsa, your choice.