How tricky would this be to machine? I guess a Triac is not up to the job!

**magicniner** · 12-06-2016

Have you considered machining a pair of aluminium soft jaws for your mill vice? It's a great way to accurately hold oddly shaped parts in the mill.
Machine a pocket across the two jaws that comfortably accepts and supports the part, use a parallel as a spacer to allow you to clamp the vice up tightly with the right gap whilst machining the soft jaws.

- Nick

**suesi34e** · 13-06-2016

Hi Nick
Thank you for your thoughts. I would like to try and make some aluminium soft jaws like you mention for a job sometime bet it is a great way of holding some parts up there with the best way I would think. I just think for this case the 316 would be a tall order for my machine. I will soon be making some soft jaws for job or another.
Many thanks
Steve

**Neale** · 13-06-2016

One clear message to take from that video, something that isn't always apparent to someone starting working with machine tools of any kind, is that you can often spend much longer making a fixture and setting up than you do machining. However, that fixture and set-up time are the difference between a successful job and one that flies out of the chuck or ends up with gouges across the workpiece where it slipped in the machine vice. Of course, a big lathe and 12" 6-jaw chuck also help!

**suesi34e** · 13-06-2016

Hi Neale, thank you for your thoughts. I see what your saying 100% I have never made the fixture type in question but lots along similar lines.
Many thanks
Steve