jwsia
Well-known member
looks like its in really nice shape
The VISES of Garage Journal
- Thread starter mjozefow
- Start date
Rickenbackerman
Well-known member
Welcome, Dan! That's a beauty!
wrenchguy
Well-known member
I've lurked here at GJ, primarily on this thread, for over 2 years. When I first found this thread I was struck by how beautiful some of the turn of the century vises are. I was especially drawn to the design of the Parkers, they are just so cool looking, and I set out in search of one to restore. Living in Idaho has it's many perks, but an abundance of old vises on CL is not one of them. I've had no success until last night and then I hit gold less than 20 miles from my house.
It's a Parker 271 1/2, 4" swivel jaw, 51 lbs, in incredible condition. There's hardly a scratch on it! It still has a lot of the original finish on it, which looks like japanning to me. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong-maybe it's lacquer. I can turn the handle with just my pinky finger. How does something survive this long is this good of a condition?
So I'm looking forward to restoring her, and... Oh yeah... Hi, I'm Dan and this is my first post
nice, real nice.
McBrownie
Well-known member
I've lurked here at GJ, primarily on this thread, for over 2 years. When I first found this thread I was struck by how beautiful some of the turn of the century vises are. I was especially drawn to the design of the Parkers, they are just so cool looking, and I set out in search of one to restore. Living in Idaho has it's many perks, but an abundance of old vises on CL is not one of them. I've had no success until last night and then I hit gold less than 20 miles from my house.
It's a Parker 271 1/2, 4" swivel jaw, 51 lbs, in incredible condition. There's hardly a scratch on it! It still has a lot of the original finish on it, which looks like japanning to me. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong-maybe it's lacquer. I can turn the handle with just my pinky finger. How does something survive this long is this good of a condition?
So I'm looking forward to restoring her, and... Oh yeah... Hi, I'm Dan and this is my first post
You hit a home run with your first at-bat. Congratulations! Very nice vise. I think that is a candidate for a light restoration. I would just wipe that one down with some oil and let that patina shine through.
GETRIDAONE
Well-known member
I agree with McBrownie, just work on that surface rust and let it be. The previous owner / owners didn't use that one very much.
Have you tried to get the swivel pin out yet ? Hope it is not stuck, they can be a PITA GREAT FIND and welcome to the group !!
Have you tried to get the swivel pin out yet ? Hope it is not stuck, they can be a PITA GREAT FIND and welcome to the group !!
mantemec
Member
That a nice piece. If it was mine. I would removed the primer on the lead screw and clean it very well leaving the original petina. I would use boiled lenssy oil to avoid rust. It is a very nice piece. Thanks for sharing those pics.
balane
Well-known member
If it were me I would paint that sucker (Very nice though btw.) 100 mile orange with black and white zigzags!!
Rickenbackerman
Well-known member
Ditto to what balane said.
Outlawmws
Well-known member
I've lurked here at GJ, primarily on this thread, for over 2 years. When I first found this thread I was struck by how beautiful some of the turn of the century vises are. I was especially drawn to the design of the Parkers, they are just so cool looking, and I set out in search of one to restore. Living in Idaho has it's many perks, but an abundance of old vises on CL is not one of them. I've had no success until last night and then I hit gold less than 20 miles from my house.
It's a Parker 271 1/2, 4" swivel jaw, 51 lbs, in incredible condition. There's hardly a scratch on it! It still has a lot of the original finish on it, which looks like japanning to me. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong-maybe it's lacquer. I can turn the handle with just my pinky finger. How does something survive this long is this good of a condition?
So I'm looking forward to restoring her, and... Oh yeah... Hi, I'm Dan and this is my first post
Great first find, and first post!
Generally I'm with the strip and repaint crowd, but not on that one. I also vote to retain the original finish as much as possible.
That one I'd use Evaporust on the rust (it won't hurt the paint), and take some Simple Green soaked paper towel, and get that on the white over-spray and leave it for say an hour at a time. With gentle scrubbing (stiff toothbrush) that should remove the over-spray. If stubborn, keep at it with the SG and toothbrush and maybe a toothpick if real stubborn.
Once clean, maybe finish with a clay bar.
That's what I'm going to attempt with my latest Parker, and see how much of the original finish is under all the red...
It's amazing to me how much that looks like the swivel jaw Reeds... I wonder who copied who?
jakemac
Well-known member
My 2¢ -
I'm with Outlaw on this one (mostly). Clean off the overspray. Use a fine wire wheel to remove the rust, but leave the patina. Then give it a nice coat of boiled linseed oil.
Some projects beg for a strip, polish, and new paint. This one PLEADS on bended knee for oil. It's in great shape and deserves to be preserved in it's natural state.
I'm with Outlaw on this one (mostly). Clean off the overspray. Use a fine wire wheel to remove the rust, but leave the patina. Then give it a nice coat of boiled linseed oil.
Some projects beg for a strip, polish, and new paint. This one PLEADS on bended knee for oil. It's in great shape and deserves to be preserved in it's natural state.
Fretters
Well-known member
I'm with Outlaw and Jake on that one. If you can get that rust and overspray fettled easily enough, (I generally tend to use nylon pan scourers and paraffin, (kerosene), for tasks like that. Can be slow going, but a very subtle method), keep the original paint intact and oil. Love that taper pin for the swivel jaw.
Nice. That should clean up a treat. Looks like it had a new set of jaw inserts late on in its life too.
Nice.
That should clean up a treat. Looks like it had a new set of jaw inserts late on in its life too.KZ1000J
Well-known member
Welcome to the insanity Exeter.
Your first post is certainly a big splash...that's a very good looking vise. I agree with the others on the restore...a little cleanup, overspray, etc. That's all you need.
I picked up a Palarmo No. 6 today...pics to follow.
Your first post is certainly a big splash...that's a very good looking vise. I agree with the others on the restore...a little cleanup, overspray, etc. That's all you need.
I picked up a Palarmo No. 6 today...pics to follow.
demoman
Well-known member
Von - Great to see another pink vise. Anything to gets kids involved in the project and away from the tv or video ****. Paintting it pink is the best thing you ever did for the vise. Good to see her enjoy it.
dngrmse
Well-known member
Nice Parker! If that were mine, I'd probably clean it up as best I could (some great advice here) and try to keep it original, at least for a little while, but eventually I'd probably strip & paint it anyway. Nice find!
dngrmse
Well-known member
By the way, that Rock Island is also in really nice shape!
xxaler
Well-known member
Do mill vises count? Looking for identity on this guy. Going to break it down and repaint it before I mount it on my new (to me) mill. Jaws are square, clean, and slides very smooth after a quick varsol cleaning.
Also a little 1/2" Albrecht keyless I picked up with the tooling to go with it.
Yes, a Chinese cross slide vise and a no-name 4" swivel in the background being worked on.
Also a little 1/2" Albrecht keyless I picked up with the tooling to go with it.
Yes, a Chinese cross slide vise and a no-name 4" swivel in the background being worked on.
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Outlawmws
Well-known member
Of course it does! its a vise ain't it?
KZ1000J
Well-known member
Craptain
Well-known member
Not understanding this "too heavy"
Can't be talking about the vise.
Sent from my LG-D801 using Tapatalk
Can't be talking about the vise.
Sent from my LG-D801 using Tapatalk
Don't know I could tell by the picture it was a 519X series, so far this year I have missed out on a $80 Milwaukee 10" bench grinder with lighted eye shades and now this. The good stuff goes fast!
You do know, there's an app for that
I am afraid how much I will buy if I used an app LOL.
Mark in Indiana
Well-known member
All vise types are welcome here.
You may want to consider that you will tear up your mill vise paint job after you make some chips.
I for one would like to see a picture of the mill.
Mark in Indiana
Well-known member
Exeter,
Welcome to the group. I'm a BIG parker fan, and pivot jaw vises are cool. Looks like you have the best of both worlds.
IMHO: Unlike others here, If it was mine, I would lovingly restore it with paint and polishing it. For about 20 years since I bought my C. Parker 205, it was in the same condition as yours. But after restoring it, I'm glad I did.
Welcome to the group. I'm a BIG parker fan, and pivot jaw vises are cool. Looks like you have the best of both worlds.
IMHO: Unlike others here, If it was mine, I would lovingly restore it with paint and polishing it. For about 20 years since I bought my C. Parker 205, it was in the same condition as yours. But after restoring it, I'm glad I did.
A Paramo 6 is my daily use vise, so I am interested in what you are planning to do with your latest project. After looking at the pics, I honestly cannot see much to work with.
If it were me, I would ditch the broken swivel base. It's a nice feature when it's working, but a broken one is not worth the effort as it is very fragile and will likely just crack again. Then I would mill off most of damaged jaw seats and fabricate soft jaws. You'd have a usable vise that's still only worth a few bucks. Good Luck.
PCO6
Well-known member
KZ1000J - I have a Record No.6 which is essentially the same vice and like exmaxima1 it's my "daily use" vice. Mine didn't look quite as bad as yours when I got it but for the rust I dipped it in phosphoric acid for a few hours and that took care of that. Mine didn't have a swivel base which was fine with me so that was an easy one. You could try to weld it or do without. I purchased new jaws and screws at Acklands-Grainger for about $40. As for the bent handle, I was able to straighten mine with my shop press. Regarding it being too heavy ... you could remove the swivel base!
Here's how mine turned out. I used Valspar blue spray paint ...
View media item 34048
Talking about weight ... That's a Record No.8 in the background. Now that's heavy!
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That Paramo turned out very nice. Mine is still original, and slightly darker in color.I love how the jaws line up perfectly when closed---these are great vises.
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KZ1000J
Well-known member
Examina1 and PCO6,
My immediate plans are just to take it apart, clean it up and then evaluate.....full restoration? Partial restoration? Repair base? Not sure yet and I'm in no hurry. I bought the vise from a body shop guy that was retiring. He also had a nice Starrett 824 that I wanted more, and was in better condition than the Paramo but he wouldn't sell.
PC06, that is a very nice Record you have there...gives me a nice idea of what mine could look like if restored but I'm afraid the condition of my jaws are just too far gone.
Examina1, Your Paramo looks "good original"....Once I get mine taken apart, I want to see how bad the base crack is and if it's repairable.
A few more pics:
My immediate plans are just to take it apart, clean it up and then evaluate.....full restoration? Partial restoration? Repair base? Not sure yet and I'm in no hurry. I bought the vise from a body shop guy that was retiring. He also had a nice Starrett 824 that I wanted more, and was in better condition than the Paramo but he wouldn't sell.
PC06, that is a very nice Record you have there...gives me a nice idea of what mine could look like if restored but I'm afraid the condition of my jaws are just too far gone.
Examina1, Your Paramo looks "good original"....Once I get mine taken apart, I want to see how bad the base crack is and if it's repairable.
A few more pics:
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PCO6
Well-known member
exmaxima1I think that "Record" blue and "Paramo" blue probably changed slightly from time to time over the years but I could be wrong.
Here is a Record No. 4 I bought new in the mid '70s. The back half is still the original paint. I repainted the front half with Valspar blue and am pretty happy with the match.
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It looks like you have a few too!
joe.striper
Well-known member
http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/clt/4837450161.html
nice Parker collection he's selling. If someone buys a few I'd be willing to pick if you pay for gas. about 130 miles from me.
Joe.striper
nice Parker collection he's selling. If someone buys a few I'd be willing to pick if you pay for gas. about 130 miles from me.
Joe.striper
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I think that Valspar may even change a bit over the years. These Records are both painted with Valspar blue. I have never used them since I repainted them, but they look great with the rest of my vise "family".
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bl00
Well-known member
Joe, did you end up seeing any of these?
joe.striper
Well-known member
No, had to reschedule. -0- yesterday -18 wind chill today, all equipment is outside or in unheated sheds. Seller begged off until it warms up over freezing, I don't blame her. She said she was sending me pics.
Trust me I will post copious pics when I get them. Depending on what she has I think I can get a better price if I buy in bulk so when I get pics I'll post them here and see if any GJ guys want to buy in, no mark up for me other than to cover shipping and packing. I feel she won't be cheap but $$$ talks as they say. I'm saving up now... I really want a vise stand!
demoman
Well-known member
Wasn't someone going to a warehouse filled with vises this week. What happened
jakemac
Well-known member
That was Joe. Read the post just above yours for the latest status.
demoman
Well-known member
No, had to reschedule. -0- yesterday -18 wind chill today, all equipment is outside or in unheated sheds. Seller begged off until it warms up over freezing, I don't blame her. She said she was sending me pics.
Sorry - Did not see your post. What is it neither rain sleet or snow flood or tornado will stop a vise huntYou might want to do an under body mirror inspection of your car for GPS tracking devices before you enter the hunting groung.
KZ1000J - I have a Record No.6 which is essentially the same vice and like exmaxima1 it's my "daily use" vice. Mine didn't look quite as bad as yours when I got it but for the rust I dipped it in phosphoric acid for a few hours and that took care of that. Mine didn't have a swivel base which was fine with me so that was an easy one. You could try to weld it or do without. I purchased new jaws and screws at Acklands-Grainger for about $40. As for the bent handle, I was able to straighten mine with my shop press. Regarding it being too heavy ... you could remove the swivel base!
Here's how mine turned out. I used Valspar blue spray paint ...
View media item 34048
Talking about weight ... That's a Record No.8 in the background. Now that's heavy!
Those jaw covers look interesting what is the material? Where did you get them?