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Thread: Machinist Jack/Adjustable Parallel

  1. #1
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    Machinist Jack/Adjustable Parallel

    I was watching a John Mills (Doubleboost) video on youtube and I saw him using a little machinist type jack on his mill. I am not sure you can call it a jack or maybe an adjustable parallel. I liked the idea so I made one this weekend and it seems to work ok. I had no dimensions so I looked what I had in my little home shop and used what I could find. It is very small as I made it from a 25mm x 25mm piece of square stock. It is 58mm long and it extends 10mm. Once the lock down is over and the shops are open I will be able to buy some bigger stock and make one from 40mm square stock.

    Machinist Jack/Adjustable Parallel-m-jack-fully-extended.jpg Machinist Jack/Adjustable Parallel-m-jack1.jpg Machinist Jack/Adjustable Parallel-m-jack-part1.jpg Machinist Jack/Adjustable Parallel-m-jack-parts2.jpg

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  2. The Following 29 Users Say Thank You to Dbj58 For This Useful Post:

    aussie (Apr 6, 2020), benkeller3 (Apr 1, 2020), bruce.desertrat (Mar 31, 2020), Canyonman44 (Mar 31, 2020), Carnel (Apr 1, 2020), Christophe Mineau (Apr 1, 2020), Crusty (Mar 30, 2020), DIYSwede (Apr 1, 2020), GKK (Apr 3, 2020), high-side (Apr 4, 2020), HobieDave (Apr 3, 2020), Inner (Apr 1, 2020), jackhoying (Mar 31, 2020), jdurand (Apr 8, 2020), JoeH (Apr 1, 2020), Jon (Mar 31, 2020), Okapi (Apr 1, 2020), onelegged (Jan 19, 2024), Saltfever (Mar 31, 2020), Scotsman Hosie (Mar 31, 2020), Seedtick (Mar 31, 2020), theeddies (Mar 31, 2020), thehomeengineer (Apr 6, 2020), Tonyg (Mar 31, 2020), ttmrj (Apr 6, 2020), Tule (Apr 2, 2020), verticalmurph (Mar 31, 2020), yester145 (Apr 3, 2020), Z2V (Mar 31, 2020)

  3. #2
    Supporting Member Crusty's Avatar
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    That's a nice jack which looks much more robust than the adjustable parallels I sometimes use.

    2000 Tool Plans
    If you can't make it precise make it adjustable.

  4. #3
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    Thanks Dbj58! We've added your Machinist's Jack to our Machining category,
    as well as to your builder page: Dbj58's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:


    Last edited by Jon; Apr 2, 2020 at 01:58 PM.

  5. #4
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    I see you can make it taller with the threaded handle, but no controlled way to make it shorter. Is that correct? Will you change that on the larger version?

    How do you know how tall to set it? Is that something you measure on your bench before hand, or do you just snug it up until it feels right. It seems it would be easy to wind up pushing your piece out of position with the mechanical advantage of the screw. (I wonder the same thing about traditional machinist's jacks.)

    Thanks for the share!

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    Hi Karl_H,
    You are correct it comes back on its own as one screws the handle out. It slides in and out smoothly. I just snug it up, one can put a shim on top of it to prevent it pushing things forward as you tighten it. As a parallel it's out by 0.01 front to back so not suitable for really accurate work.
    One thing I like about it is the ease of adjustment.

  7. The Following User Says Thank You to Dbj58 For This Useful Post:

    Karl_H (Apr 1, 2020)

  8. #6
    Jon
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    Congratulations Dbj58 - your Machinist's Jack/Adjustable Parallel is the Homemade Tool of the Week!

    This was an enormous week around here, even bigger than last, which makes winning this prize even more difficult. Many of the homemade tools posted this week would've easily won here on more normal weeks. It's excellent to see so many people making such good use of being locked down in their homes, and this build, made with limited stock, is a particularly good example of that.

    Some more good builds from this week:

    Handgun Suppressor by Jughead
    Tool and Cutter Grinder by celsoari
    Panavise Hook by mklotz
    Rotary Broaching Tool by thehomeengineer
    Dummy Rivet Dies by thehomeengineer
    Rear Window Protector by Frank S
    Wire Twister by Kwandotechnic
    Lathe Indexing Wheel by baskarz
    Hand Sanitizer by HandmadeCreativeChannel
    Horn Stand by rendoman
    Tie Down Strap Repair by rgsparber
    Adjustable Router Sled by diyfixman
    Chainsaw Mill by liberal
    Chuck Jaw Grinding Method by bouboulas
    Bandsaw Jaw Modification by jdurand
    Articulated Clamp by Kwandotechnic
    File Storage by olderdan
    Anti Contamination Faucet Handle by rgsparber
    Saw by bridger
    Curved Bottom Hollowing Plane by Art of Boat Building
    Fuel Filler Modification by Frank S
    Flat Sanding Cawl by Christophe Mineau
    Shop Stool by Christophe Mineau
    Coat Hanger by Catfish
    Dress Form by Christophe Mineau
    Model Wheel Spraying Stand by thehomeengineer
    Lathe Chuck Key by craig9
    PVC Kayak Skeg by rgsparber


    Dbj58 - you'll be receiving a $25 online gift card, in your choice of Amazon, PayPal, or bitcoin. Please PM me your current email address and gift card choice and I'll get it sent over right away.

    This is your 2nd Homemade Tool of the Week. Here are both of your Homemade Tool of the Week winning tools. Congrats again



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    Dear Jon,
    Thank you for the award, my Paypal is davebjames@yahoo.com
    Thanks again and keep up the great work with a fantastic site.

  10. #8
    Jon
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    Great, just sent it. Congrats again

  11. #9
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    It's nice to see a precision tool win once in a while.
    If you can't make it precise make it adjustable.

  12. #10
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    I need one of these, probably I'll build myself



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