Any idea what I just "bought?"

saands · May 15, 2012, 03:05 PM

I picked up a couple of sine bars in an e-bay auction with almost no activity. There were 5 pieces in the lot … 2 really nice sine bars that were definitely worth the 10 bucks I gave for the whole lot, 1 silly beat-up gage block that will end up being used as bar stock for something (unless it ends up being fully hard) and a pair of identical widgets that are a total mystery to me.

Does anyone recognize what they are from the attached photo? They are 4 inches long and 0.812”x 0.687” … the surfaces are finely ground and almost sharp on the long edges. There is also a through hole on one end (visible on the left, in the recessed area) and the only marking is the word CLAYTON ... also in a recessed area. These came covered in their original wax, so whatever they are, they are pristine.

Thanks in advance!

Saands

Don P · May 15, 2012, 03:49 PM

Widgets with groves in them in black

saands · May 15, 2012, 03:59 PM

Well ... I have to admit that I was prepared for a little humor in response ... a person has to be able to take that which they dish out

Saands

Edward429451 · May 15, 2012, 04:23 PM

It looks suspiciously like a 6 cavity mould block (1/2), pre-machining.

Chris_B · May 15, 2012, 04:47 PM

Sometimes we'd get certain dial gauges etc that came with blocks similar to that. It would be sort of a kit with the gauge, a multi-point arm, and the block with a through-hole for semi-permanent mounting. We used them when building hybrid mechanical systems

dahermit · May 16, 2012, 07:51 AM

All I see is a "Vee" Block. What is the great mystery? A very common piece of equipment to hold round stock when machining.

animal · May 16, 2012, 08:33 AM

V -block was my thought at first glance too … but the picture looks like the channels aren’t machined to hold a clamp and the cuts that would be "V" aren’t deep enough to hold much of anything. Important surfaces are the flats, imo

Dunno what they’re for … but with 2 in 11/16 x 13/16 x 4" … might be handy as super-duty parallel bars, especially in a 1" deep vise ,,, ?

Jim Watson · May 16, 2012, 08:40 AM

I think that is what they are, parallel bars to block smaller work up in a mill vise. Even if they were made for some other use, you can certainly USE them for that.

saands · May 16, 2012, 09:19 AM

Yep, the recesses aren't deep enough (or finished enough) to use for anything remotely precise ...

I totally agree that they will be useful as parallels and they can be used in either orientation in that function. I just didn't want to look completely stupid for using some elegant tool as a parallel just because I didn't bother to ask what I had

... it would be like using a sine bar as a parallel!

Thanks all,

Saands

animal · May 16, 2012, 09:38 AM

Picking up something for nothing off ebay, and using it how you feel like
doesn’t make you look stupid…

makes you look CHEAP !

I can dig it ..

saands · May 16, 2012, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Picking up something for nothing off ebay, and using it how you feel like
doesn’t make you look stupid…

makes you look CHEAP !

Well ... the fact of the matter is that I AM cheap, so I guess I shouldn't worry about it

BoogieMan · May 16, 2012, 11:38 AM

How about stops to go in your bridgeport or other machine table. I think Bridgeport is 5/8 but I am pretty sure my TOS is 11/16.

May 15, 2012, 03:49 PM	#2
Don P Senior Member Join Date: December 17, 2005 Location: Swamp dweller Posts: 6,187	Widgets with groves in them in black __________________ *NRA Life Member, NRA Chief Range Safety Officer, NRA Certified Pistol Instructor,, USPSA & Steel Challange NROI Range Officer, ICORE Range Officer, ,MAG 40 Graduate* *As you are, I once was, As I am, You will be.*

May 16, 2012, 08:33 AM	#7
animal Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2000 Location: Mississippi Posts: 705	V -block was my thought at first glance too … but the picture looks like the channels aren’t machined to hold a clamp and the cuts that would be "V" aren’t deep enough to hold much of anything. Important surfaces are the flats, imo Dunno what they’re for … but with 2 in 11/16 x 13/16 x 4" … might be handy as super-duty parallel bars, especially in a 1" deep vise ,,, ? __________________ Keep smiling ... it'll just make 'em wonder what you're up to... Last edited by animal; May 16, 2012 at 08:41 AM.

May 16, 2012, 09:38 AM	#10
animal Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2000 Location: Mississippi Posts: 705	Picking up something for nothing off ebay, and using it how you feel like doesn’t make you look stupid… makes you look CHEAP ! I can dig it .. __________________ Keep smiling ... it'll just make 'em wonder what you're up to...

May 16, 2012, 11:38 AM	#12
BoogieMan Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2012 Location: South Jersey Posts: 2,217	How about stops to go in your bridgeport or other machine table. I think Bridgeport is 5/8 but I am pretty sure my TOS is 11/16. __________________ Concentrated power is not rendered harmless by the good intentions of those who create it. Milton Freidman "If you find yourself in a fair fight,,, Your tactics suck"- Unknown

May 15, 2012, 03:59 PM	#3
saands Senior Member Join Date: November 14, 1999 Posts: 1,573	Well ... I have to admit that I was prepared for a little humor in response ... a person has to be able to take that which they dish out Saands

May 15, 2012, 04:23 PM	#4
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	It looks suspiciously like a 6 cavity mould block (1/2), pre-machining.

May 15, 2012, 04:47 PM	#5
Chris_B Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2007 Posts: 3,101	Sometimes we'd get certain dial gauges etc that came with blocks similar to that. It would be sort of a kit with the gauge, a multi-point arm, and the block with a through-hole for semi-permanent mounting. We used them when building hybrid mechanical systems

May 16, 2012, 07:51 AM	#6
dahermit Senior Member Join Date: October 28, 2006 Location: South Central Michigan...near Posts: 6,501	All I see is a "Vee" Block. What is the great mystery? A very common piece of equipment to hold round stock when machining.

May 16, 2012, 08:40 AM	#8
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,542	I think that is what they are, parallel bars to block smaller work up in a mill vise. Even if they were made for some other use, you can certainly USE them for that.

May 16, 2012, 09:19 AM	#9
saands Senior Member Join Date: November 14, 1999 Posts: 1,573	Yep, the recesses aren't deep enough (or finished enough) to use for anything remotely precise ... I totally agree that they will be useful as parallels and they can be used in either orientation in that function. I just didn't want to look completely stupid for using some elegant tool as a parallel just because I didn't bother to ask what I had ... it would be like using a sine bar as a parallel! Thanks all, Saands