When supporting work held in a vise for drilling, what should be kept close together to prevent movement?

When supporting work held in a vise for drilling, what should be kept close together to prevent movement?

• A. Parallels
• B. Jaws
• C. Clamps
• D. Drill chuck

Answer: (A)

The key idea is providing solid, even support to resist the drilling forces. Parallels are the thin blocks placed between the work and the vise jaws to raise and cushion the work so its face remains flat against the jaws. When the parallels are kept close together, the contact is uniform along the length of the piece, preventing it from tilting, shifting, or lifting as the drill bit cuts in. If the parallels are spaced far apart, the work can wobble or twist under load, leading to inaccurate holes or a damaged bit. The vise jaws themselves grip the work, but the parallels ensure that grip is stable and evenly distributed. The drill chuck holds the bit, not the work, and clamps or other external devices aren’t taking the place of the careful, close-proximity support the parallels provide.

The key idea is providing solid, even support to resist the drilling forces. Parallels are the thin blocks placed between the work and the vise jaws to raise and cushion the work so its face remains flat against the jaws. When the parallels are kept close together, the contact is uniform along the length of the piece, preventing it from tilting, shifting, or lifting as the drill bit cuts in. If the parallels are spaced far apart, the work can wobble or twist under load, leading to inaccurate holes or a damaged bit. The vise jaws themselves grip the work, but the parallels ensure that grip is stable and evenly distributed. The drill chuck holds the bit, not the work, and clamps or other external devices aren’t taking the place of the careful, close-proximity support the parallels provide.