What's the correct way to clamp a part?

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This post generated over 1220 comments in just a few days. Some of our favorites…

• “Higher up is a moron 😂 💯”
• “I would clamp like the 2nd photo, I try to get it close to parallel as possible to maximize clamping surface area. However always bias toward second rather than first.”
• “The 2nd photo is correct and I've always been told you also don't want the clamp level to slightly elevate the back higher than the front will push all the clamping force into the part.”
• “Top photo is a good example of a bad example and why people that know very little shouldn't be in a management position. The downfall of American industry.”
• “I was taught for it to level or a 1/32 higher”
• “Top one can have the possibility of pushing the part and very low holding power as well as deformation of the edge of the part. Your heel should always be higher than surface clamping to make sure you only have downward pressure on the block directly underneath the clamp. Makes you wonder how some people make it to higher up positions”

• “Put it the way he wants.....

  Scrap part after it moves....

  Go put it on his desk ......

  Explain what down pressure is.....

  Make him sign the scrap report.....

  Start again like a machinist ......”