04-22-2012, 04:44 AM
Mayhem,
The wider the parallel, the more support you have under your part in the machine vice. But it would be impossible to support a piece of stock 3/4"" wide using a pair of 1/2" parallels. You would end up clamping the parallels in the vice but not the part.
Ultra thin parallels are for supporting ultra thin stock between the vice jaws.
The wavy parallels allow you to use a single parallel to support your stock. Because of the "wave" they will stand up on their own without falling over, and they will compress (flatten out) as the vice jaws are closed together so you can still clamp onto the work piece.
I think.....
The wider the parallel, the more support you have under your part in the machine vice. But it would be impossible to support a piece of stock 3/4"" wide using a pair of 1/2" parallels. You would end up clamping the parallels in the vice but not the part.
Ultra thin parallels are for supporting ultra thin stock between the vice jaws.
The wavy parallels allow you to use a single parallel to support your stock. Because of the "wave" they will stand up on their own without falling over, and they will compress (flatten out) as the vice jaws are closed together so you can still clamp onto the work piece.
I think.....
Willie