The VISES of Garage Journal

[Fordriver6]

While in the process of starting to restore the Parker 973 1/2 (which I'm documenting for this thread and the repair thread), I wire wheeled the front collar. Lo and behold, it has "29" stamped on the back.



Could this be a date stamp? According to this website it could possibly be from that time frame.

http://scuttle.dayid.org/wiki/index.php/Charles_Parker_Vise

I fully admit that I don't know a whole lot about Parker vises and this may have already been discussed extensively as I haven't searched.

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[Fordriver6]

Also, does having "150" stamped under the removable jaw on the dynamic of a Parker 973 1/2 mean anything?



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[drivesitfar]

02: Pipe jaws for all vises must have been donated for WW1 or WWII or I'm betting they are stored in AREA 51.

seriously that could be the case, but more likely the cast iron pipe broke them or they were pulled out of the vises and never sold or picked up with the vise at times of sale.

FR: Probably part #'s. great pictures.

KM: nice gesture giving FR the swivel pins you had sitting around.

ALL: don't ask me why, but I picked up this Record quick release wood vice today. I was at client's home picking up a cool steel table and he happened to have this that he didn't need any longer either. one of these days i'll have patience and make the time to clean up my vises (vices) before posting pictures of them farm fresh, but for now that's my MO.

cheers all

 

[Hemi49]

Also, does having "150" stamped under the removable jaw on the dynamic of a Parker 973 1/2 mean anything?



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Ford
Those numbers are generally believed to be casting numbers, assembly matching numbers, employee numbers, etc.......They generally are not indicating a specific date.....
Hemi

 

[Fordriver6]

Drives, Hemi: thanks for the info, much appreciated. [emoji106]

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[KMScott]

Ford, those numbers are also stamped underneath the jaws. Parker jaws are all custom fitted and these numbers are stamped so the jaws stay with the right vise.

 

[Fordriver6]

Ford, those numbers are also stamped underneath the jaws. Parker jaws are all custom fitted and these numbers are stamped so the jaws stay with the right vise.

Since I cannot find any numbers at all on these jaws, is it safe to assume that these are not the ones it left Connecticut with?



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[Mac339th]

Thanks to this board and the many informing posts, I am well on my way to rebuilding my collection of tools. Picked this little guy up a few days ago off craigslist. Not nearly as nice as many of the fine vises in this thread but it will serve me well. Still a work in progress. Need to find a way to clean up the locking nut and handle.

 

[Mac339th]

Can only add a single photo for some reason. Craftsman 391.5180. Here's the progress.

 

[Fordriver6]

Mac: sweet looking Craftsman. I particularly like the color choice. Typically I clean up the handle with the wire wheel on my bench grinder. But a wire wheel on a angle grinder or even a dremel would clean it up nicely. Be sure to put some wax on it to keep it from rusting.

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[bagged89s10]

While in the process of starting to restore the Parker 973 1/2 (which I'm documenting for this thread and the repair thread), I wire wheeled the front collar. Lo and behold, it has "29" stamped on the back.



Could this be a date stamp? According to this website it could possibly be from that time frame.

http://scuttle.dayid.org/wiki/index.php/Charles_Parker_Vise

I fully admit that I don't know a whole lot about Parker vises and this may have already been discussed extensively as I haven't searched.

Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

Most Parker parts are stamped with a part number. The collar, swivel base/parts, nut, and main screw are universal for many, but not all, Parker vises with the same jaw width. The stamping under the jaw inserts are all unique from what I've noticed. Like Kevin said, all the jaws were hand fit. The later Parkers seem to have more of a universal fit of the jaws though.

 

[bagged89s10]

While in the process of starting to restore the Parker 973 1/2 (which I'm documenting for this thread and the repair thread), I wire wheeled the front collar. Lo and behold, it has "29" stamped on the back.



Could this be a date stamp? According to this website it could possibly be from that time frame.

http://scuttle.dayid.org/wiki/index.php/Charles_Parker_Vise

I fully admit that I don't know a whole lot about Parker vises and this may have already been discussed extensively as I haven't searched.

Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

Most Parker parts are stamped with a part number. The collar, swivel base/parts, nut, and main screw are universal for many, but not all, Parker vises with the same jaw width. The stamping under the jaw inserts are all unique from what I've noticed. Like Kevin said, all the jaws were hand fit. The later Parkers seem to have more of a universal fit of the jaws though.

 

[slomatt]

Slomatt,
American Scale was a top shelf vise manufacture until 1960. You have some great heirlooms. Thanks for sharing.

Edit: bagged, Thanks for the updated information.

Slomatt: i personally do really like American Scale vises because they are another quality made vise. are your jaws 6 inches wide and any guess to the weight of your vise. if i was you I wouldn't sell that one and i'd mount it to my own bench and use it.

nice restore on the little drill press vise

According to a catalog page at viseinfo.com the 216A has 4.5" jaws and weighs 63 lbs.
http://viseinfo.com/wp-content/uplo...s-Combination-Vise-Anvil-American-Wood-ad.png

Hmmm... this raises a difficult question. I don't really need multiple large vises at home (blasphemy, I know). Would it be better to keep the American Scale 216A or the Prentiss 20 I bought a couple months ago? Thoughts?

Here is the Prentiss for comparison. The swivel jaw moves freely.

- Matt

 

[Shiftless]

matt:
If you ask me...
I would prefer the Prentiss myself.

BTW, did anybody here go to Los Osos to snag that $75 Athol double swiveller you mentioned?

 

[bagged89s10]

According to a catalog page at viseinfo.com the 216A has 4.5" jaws and weighs 63 lbs.

http://viseinfo.com/wp-content/uplo...s-Combination-Vise-Anvil-American-Wood-ad.png



Hmmm... this raises a difficult question. I don't really need multiple large vises at home (blasphemy, I know). Would it be better to keep the American Scale 216A or the Prentiss 20 I bought a couple months ago? Thoughts?



Here is the Prentiss for comparison. The swivel jaw moves freely.

- Matt

The prentiss 20 is an overall better model between the two, in my opinion.

 

[slotard]

matt:
If you ask me...
I would prefer the Prentiss myself.

BTW, did anybody here go to Los Osos to snag that $75 Athol double swiveller you mentioned?

I posted it, not him... and it got deleted shortly after the post so I imagine someone else got it.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Slomatt,

From what I gathered, the American Scale is a family heirloom. I didn't catch where the Prentice came from, but the cool factor is that it has a swivel jaw. IMO: Keep them both.

 

[Filson]

A while back I wanted to see what my 208 would look like painted something other than the green me and the kids did. I wanted something with a little color, but more traditional look and ended up combining a metallic blue and charcoal. I simply shot over the old green just to see what it'd look like, some day I'll strip her down and do it proper. And yes, I've got some putting away to do with **** in the shop lol.

View media item 58619

 

[honza.vosalik]

I went to a garage sale this morning. I arrived at 8 am when it started and was VERY disappointed to find out that the workbench with this Rock Island 597 was already sold!

 

[Filson]

I went to a garage sale this morning. I arrived at 8 am when it started and was VERY disappointed to find out that the workbench with this Rock Island 597 was already sold!

Ah man, that ***** =/ Nice arbor press on it too! I would of been disappointed too bud, keep up the hunt though!

 

[drivesitfar]

Slot: not that every shop needs two or more vises, but those two would solve almost any issue and it's nice to have a vise in two locations. especially if one bench is full and you are working on the other one. i'd keep both and make my wife's grand dad's my daily user and use the Prentiss #20 swivel jaw when needed and not for daily use. also once you do get the swivel jaw greased or oiled and working make sure to pull the pin and move the jaw and maybe put on some more oil or grease every 6 months or so to keep it from rusting shut like so many of them do.

Filson: I've updated my REED 208 pictures, but I did like the GREEN too.

ALL: have a great weekend

 

[GETRIDAONE]

I went to a garage sale this morning. I arrived at 8 am when it started and was VERY disappointed to find out that the workbench with this Rock Island 597 was already sold!

You should have been in line one hour early.
It looks like it had a broken neck and was welded back on.

 

[Filson]

Filson: I've updated my REED 208 pictures, but I did like the GREEN too.

Maybe I'll have to try some tie dye look next Joking of course, though I have considered a fairly bright blue with black details (lettering and so on).

 

[Rileysan]

ALL: don't ask me why, but I picked up this Record quick release wood vice today. I was at client's home picking up a cool steel table and he happened to have this that he didn't need any longer either. one of these days i'll have patience and make the time to clean up my vises (vices) before posting pictures of them farm fresh, but for now that's my MO.

cheers all

I don't know what you paid, but I wouldn't have hesitated. That is an amazing vise (I own one) that I wouldn't trade for any other woodworking vise!

Brian

 

[slotard]

Slot: not that every shop needs two or more vises, but those two would solve almost any issue and it's nice to have a vise in two locations. especially if one bench is full and you are working on the other one. i'd keep both and make my wife's grand dad's my daily user and use the Prentiss #20 swivel jaw when needed and not for daily use. also once you do get the swivel jaw greased or oiled and working make sure to pull the pin and move the jaw and maybe put on some more oil or grease every 6 months or so to keep it from rusting shut like so many of them do.

Filson: I've updated my REED 208 pictures, but I did like the GREEN too.

ALL: have a great weekend

If I was an hour away I would've bought that one but at 3.5 hours away, too far for me to go on a weekday. Would've been tempting to go down this weekend if it was still around. I was just posting the contents of the CL link I posted that was taken down, I wish I had it...

 

[drivesitfar]

Filson: I have to think it's about 2 or 3 cans of spray paint to paint your 208, but if you want to build up more paint and get it up to 300 pounds i'm not going to stop you. maybe my favorite paint job is Ritzblitz Reed 1C he let his sister paint if you need some ideas. of course there have been some really nice ones here, but another Reed since it happens to be our favorite is this Reed 3C that has a blue you might like on your 208.

(i'll post pictures later after I get them from my old laptop)

Riley: since I didn't NEED that Record I probably spent too much, but I think you are right that it won't leave my hands anytime soon and i'll find a bench to mount it on.

Slot: that American Scale is an awesome vise so even though you didn't get a swivel jaw vise it still should do about 90-95% of any guy's shop vise needs. of course most of us would NEED or have a few more for back ups or specialty needs.

 

[slotard]

Slot: that American Scale is an awesome vise so even though you didn't get a swivel jaw vise it still should do about 90-95% of any guy's shop vise needs. of course most of us would NEED or have a few more for back ups or specialty needs.

Not me, that's slomatt. It seems a few people get mixed up when usernames start the same.

 

[drivesitfar]

Slotard: Yep. sorry and probably because of my shortened names and not using multy quotes. I still think my method makes it a bit easier to read threads because when I first joined I might have to go through 2 or 3 pages of the same exact pictures to get to a new one or see what members one or two word or sentence was. anyway just keep up the search and quest for a nice old vise. I've seen a few come up down in your area that i'd buy if I was closer so if you are quick there is inventory unlike other areas.

 

[slotard]

I did buy that Reed that I posted, 4.5" swivel machinist vise, painted red. Seems fairly nice, although I'd prefer patina to paint.

I need to decide if it's worth trying to strip the paint (probably chemically) and then patina it or leave it as-is... or paint it another color.

 

[CwazyWabbit]

02: ......
ALL: don't ask me why, but I picked up this Record quick release wood vice today. I was at client's home picking up a cool steel table and he happened to have this that he didn't need any longer either. one of these days i'll have patience and make the time to clean up my vises (vices) before posting pictures of them farm fresh, but for now that's my MO.

cheers all

Nice, you found one where the front dog is still fitted Every one I see for sale seems to have removed and lost that part.

 

[drivesitfar]

CW: thanks and this one has hardly been used and looks a lot better in person than it does in my dusty pictures. i think the camera in my cell phone might have a fog of grease or oil on it from pulling it out so much while working or moving my STUFF and taking pictures.

do you have one or did Parkinson make one you like better? do you grease or oil your wood vises and should i throw a rag over the screw like i would on an open screw vice?

Filson: finally got my old laptop up and able to post some pictures i promised you of other Reeds you might have missed while you were taking care of the farm. tell me you don't like the blue 3C and that multy color vise to me is just AWESOME.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Drives,
You did good on your wood vise. Looking forward to the restoration.
Concerning lubrication: I coat the rods with furniture paste wax and spray the spindle with silicone. I've been doing that to my Morgan 10A for 5 years. I think keeping it clean is the critical part.

 

[drivesitfar]

Mark: is the furniture paste wax the Johnson wax in a yellow can or can you post up a few pictures of it and maybe the can of silicone either here or on the vise repair 101 thread? not sure when i'll have a bench to set up this Record, but pretty sure it won't be for sale even though I have a few pattern maker vises.

thanks for the tips

 

[Filson]

Hmm, that multi-color has given me a couple ideas...

Maybe some sort of black and orange theme, a la BBQing... or perhaps a tribute to our beloved Hawks! So many ideas suddenly.

 

[CwazyWabbit]

CW: thanks and this one has hardly been used and looks a lot better in person than it does in my dusty pictures. i think the camera in my cell phone might have a fog of grease or oil on it from pulling it out so much while working or moving my STUFF and taking pictures.

do you have one or did Parkinson make one you like better? do you grease or oil your wood vises and should i throw a rag over the screw like i would on an open screw vice?
.....

I've a few Record wood vices, some that never had dogs, some that should have dogs but none that actually have the dogs anymore! I have a few Parkinson ones as well.

I put some light oil on the screws, grease just holds the sawdust and gums it up. I guess you could use a rag if you wanted to, some of the Records actually have a metal cover over the top of the screw to keep debris off the screw.

 

[Outlawmws]

Here's an oddball bit of vise ephemera, found while digging around for reference material...... at $9.99 and dirt cheap shipping in the US of A

A set of copper printing blocks for a vise catalog or advertisement

So for the eagle eyed..... who is the vise manufacturer?

So, a tip of the hat, and for the link Thrum!

I made the guy an offer he didn't refuse, and here they are!

I need to do some research on how to get ink on and use them (without messing them up), but it's still cool stuff!!!

and thdi is cool stuff CRS!

Here it is facing the same way as the printing block. The image came from a 1946 Ellefeldt Machinery and Supply catalog from Kansas City, MO

 

[yossarian19]

Craftsman 5160, 3" jaw swivel base. Made by rock island. Free from a client, just had to clean it and oil it. Made new jaws from plastic deck blocks, will eventually get some brass.

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[Mark in Indiana]

Mark: is the furniture paste wax the Johnson wax in a yellow can or can you post up a few pictures of it and maybe the can of silicone either here or on the vise repair 101 thread? not sure when i'll have a bench to set up this Record, but pretty sure it won't be for sale even though I have a few pattern maker vises.

thanks for the tips

Drives,

It's the Johnson paste wax in the yellow can. Any brand of paste wax or bowling alley wax will work. I mostly use it on the milled, bare, cast iron surfaces of my table saw, drill press, etc. It prevents rust and acts as a lubricant.
Application to my table saw and other machines: about every 3 months. Application to my woodworking vise: once a year.

The silicone spray is just STP (or any brand) silicone spray that is available at any auto parts store. Application is as needed.

 

[Fordriver6]

As promised, here is the restoration of the Parker 973 ½ I recently acquired. Here it is in the condition that I got it.



I began by taking the swivel bolt and wrench out, then flipped it over and removed the 1 ¼ bolt from the bottom of the vise.



I shot some PB Blaster down in the swivel part to help loosen it up to get it to separate. It finally came apart and then I unscrewed the lead screw all the way out and removed the dynamic jaw from the base.



The screw holding the front collar was the next thing to be removed. Made sure to remove the lock washer from the collar as it was stuck in there.
Then pulled the lead screw out of the dynamic jaw.


Next up was using a punch to get the jaw pins out. Having another vise to hold the Parker was extremely useful. Wound up destroying the cheap punch I was using. I bought a Mayhew set this morning to replace it. Did manage to get the pins out using some other punches and a small rod I used as a punch.





Like last time, I was working alone, so don’t have any pictures of me using the wire wheel, but I used a combination of the wire wheel on my bench grinder, one on a angle grinder, as well as one on a dremel.


More painters tape and paper towels to keep paint off of contact areas. Used a plastic shopping bag on the slide this time to save some of the painters tape thanks to some tips posted by other members who saw my last restoration.



Didn’t get any pictures of me spray bombing it with Rust-Oleum gloss black, but instead of going with the usual white lettering over black, I went with lime green to be a little different. I have always liked green accents on black. Tried the brush method for the lettering this time instead of the paper towel dabbing I’ve used in the past.


Assembly is the reverse of disassembly. Here is the finished product. . The lettering came out really well for a guy who can screw up a stick figure pretty regularly.




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[slotard]

I was offered this. Thoughts? From the same guy I bought the Reed from.

This is a heavy duty fixed base Rock Island vise, made in USA. The jaws are 4 inches wide and are in pristine condition. Vise was manufactured April 1949--Hard to find tools of this caliber in this condition. Price $100.