Parker 474 Vise Restoration

[BanjoSavesTheDay]

It may seem like I am getting ahead of myself with all of these simultaneous restorations, but I assure you, everything will start coming together this week. Here is a very unique Chas Parker vise I got off ebay a few weeks ago. I absolutely had to have it because I've never seen another American made vise that swivels around like this one does. Just loosen the bolt on the side, and the jaws and everything go all the way around. Jaws are 3 1/2" wide and I don't know exactly how much it weighs, but it is heavier than it looks.

Here are some before pictures (directly from ebay)

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45099362@N02/4453132836/" title="Ebay Parker 3 by BanjoSavesTheDay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4050/4453132836_df92087494_o.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="Ebay Parker 3" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45099362@N02/4453132808/" title="Ebay Parker 2 by BanjoSavesTheDay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4018/4453132808_65d36a31bc_o.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="Ebay Parker 2" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45099362@N02/4452357347/" title="Ebay Parker 1 by BanjoSavesTheDay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4041/4452357347_04d761a487_o.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="Ebay Parker 1" /></a>

 

[tonydanzah]

do the jaws spin?

 

[BanjoSavesTheDay]

This evening, I officially started on the restoration. Well actually the very first thing that I did was take it to the radiator shop for a hot tank bath. A careful inspection upon its arrival back here revealed that it has had a much harder life than I originally thought. I smell a challenge!

First, I saw how badly the slide has been used as an anvil over the years. They actually beat on it so much that it mushroomed the top out and made it very difficult just to get the removable jaw separated from the fixed jaw. A little grinding did the trick though.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45099362@N02/4453089276/" title="IMG_3326 by BanjoSavesTheDay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2731/4453089276_1e4638a42b.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_3326" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45099362@N02/4453092132/" title="IMG_3325 by BanjoSavesTheDay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4034/4453092132_a67401ac6b.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_3325" /></a>

The other problem I found is actually much more serious, and I'm not really sure how I'm going to fix it yet. Apparently, someone beat on the jaws so hard that it broke the corner off of the top of the removable jaw cast piece. See pictures.

Here you can see the hairline crack that hides all the damage underneath. You have to look very closely though. It is a vertical crack about halfway between front and back.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45099362@N02/4453093956/" title="IMG_3331 by BanjoSavesTheDay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4056/4453093956_bf56682035.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_3331" /></a>

****.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45099362@N02/4452320517/" title="IMG_3333 by BanjoSavesTheDay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2711/4452320517_da4bd50b83.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_3333" /></a>

Does anyone have any ideas about fixing that? I'm thinking JB Weld and then take it easy on this poor guy. If I did JB Weld it, how could I make sure to not plug up the hole for the pin? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[BanjoSavesTheDay]

do the jaws spin?

Yeah they spin 360 degrees around.

 

[arconorcal]

is that cast iron? (dumb question) do you have a arc welder an torch? heat her up and reweld........maybe..........ARCO

 

[BlindViper]

I would drill it and pin it, grind a nice v in it. Then heat it up to about 350 deg and weld it up with some nickel rod.

 

[mjozefow]

Cool vise!

 

[Adam McLaughlin]

Great Score!

Adam

 

[bsakal]

Nice vise Banjo! I hope you can fix the crack.

 

[mjozefow]

They really did beat on the poor thing. It kills me how people treat vises obviously meant for more precision work like an anvil. They are pieces of history and should be used, not abused.

I'm wondering if you weld it up, then put the steel jaw cover back on if it won't be plenty strong for any reasonable use.

I would say this vise is more of a "hold a part at a certain angle so I can file/grind/weld/whatever" than a crush-it-til-it-cries vise.

 

[stricht8]

I would drill it and pin it, grind a nice v in it. Then heat it up to about 350 deg and weld it up with some nickel rod.

I like that approach since welding alone might not suffice. Welding cast iron is a *****.

 

[BanjoSavesTheDay]

Hmm...I was really hoping everyone would be all, "JB Weld is a great idea!" No shortcuts for me apparently. I will have to find someone around here to weld it for me since I'm not set up to weld cast iron.

They really did beat on the poor thing. It kills me how people treat vises obviously meant for more precision work like an anvil. They are pieces of history and should be used, not abused.

I would say this vise is more of a "hold a part at a certain angle so I can file/grind/weld/whatever" than a crush-it-til-it-cries vise.

I couldn't agree more. This thing is actually a lot more petite and delicate looking in real life than the photos. Some people don't appreciate well made tools though.

 

[mjozefow]

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45099362@N02/4452357347/" title="Ebay Parker 1 by BanjoSavesTheDay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4041/4452357347_04d761a487_o.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="Ebay Parker 1" /></a>

Is this a crack????

I'm looking in the lower right.

 

[BlindViper]

Hmm...I was really hoping everyone would be all, "JB Weld is a great idea!" No shortcuts for me apparently. I will have to find someone around here to weld it for me since I'm not set up to weld cast iron.



I couldn't agree more. This thing is actually a lot more petite and delicate looking in real life than the photos. Some people don't appreciate well made tools though.

Well if you happen to make it to huntingtown, md I can take care of it for you.

 

[Zrexxer]

I would drill it and pin it, grind a nice v in it. Then heat it up to about 350 deg and weld it up with some nickel rod.

I second that idea, except that instead of pins, I'd clamp the broken pieces together in place, drill and tap it, and bury two long setscrews like this in it. It not only provides additional mechanical reinforcement, but will hold it affixed in correct alignment while it's being welded too.

 

[BanjoSavesTheDay]

Is this a crack????

I'm looking in the lower right.

*runs back out to the garage barefoot to check* Shew...its not a crack. It's where the moveable jaw contacts the base. At first, I couldn't figure it out because the vise is all apart, but lighting and angle are just playing tricks in the photo. Don't scare me like that!!

Well if you happen to make it to huntingtown, md I can take care of it for you.

Thanks for the offer! I have a new plan, though, that is a combination of yours and Zrexxer's.

I second that idea, except that instead of pins, I'd clamp the broken pieces together in place, drill and tap it, and bury two long setscrews like this in it. It not only provides additional mechanical reinforcement, but will hold it affixed in correct alignment while it's being welded too.

I like this idea a lot, mostly becuase it has revived my hopes of using JB Weld and avoiding all this talk of real welding. I think that if I JB Weld it AND use those screws, it will be plenty strong. Thoughts?

 

[mjozefow]

*runs back out to the garage barefoot to check* Shew...its not a crack. It's where the moveable jaw contacts the base. At first, I couldn't figure it out because the vise is all apart, but lighting and angle are just playing tricks in the photo. Don't scare me like that!!

Sorry bout that!

 

[bgott]

Braze it. It'll give you a little torch practice.

 

[BanjoSavesTheDay]

All right, I did the big fix today. I ended up going with 8/32 allen head bolts and good ol' JB Weld. Maybe not the best thing, but it was all I could do without dragging this thing off to someone else to weld.

It was really a pretty simple operation, but it was time consuming. The chipped piece is much narrower on one side than the other, so I decided to only partially counter sink the bolt on the thing side and completely counter sink it on the thick side. I'll have to go back and grind a bit off the top of the bolt, though. In classic Let's-Make-This-Take-Much-Longer-Than-It-Really-Has-To form, I didn't drill the hole deep enough and only even thought about it after I had already started tapping it, so I had to cut off a little bit of the bolt to make it fit. Got it in there, though. In case you were wondering, I had to drill both holes off center because of the odd angle that Parker vises have in the jawular region.


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45099362@N02/4457577137/" title="IMG_3340 by BanjoSavesTheDay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4016/4457577137_7163864cd9_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="IMG_3340" /></a>


When drilling the second hole, I said to myself "THIS hole will be deep enough, I can assure you of that!"

Uhh...whoops.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45099362@N02/4457579617/" title="IMG_3345 by BanjoSavesTheDay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2802/4457579617_21b9867429_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="IMG_3345" /></a>

Once I got both holes drilled and tapped, I mixed up some JB Weld and slapped the pieces back together. It went together pretty well. Tomorrow, I will grind off that bolt head and get the jaw back on. I guess I will have to do the Mjozefow Method for making the pins because I don't have the originals and the holes are an odd size.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45099362@N02/4458357714/" title="IMG_3347 by BanjoSavesTheDay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2783/4458357714_7e3a272b3a_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="IMG_3347" /></a>

 

[mjozefow]

Looks like a good fix! It should be plenty strong for moderate work. I think the agling ability will come in handy on lots of projects.

They really wailed on that poor thing.

Haha, the "Mjozefow Method" works well. In shop class in high school I had a couple processes dubbed the "Mitch Method" because they were odd, but effective. Some of them became standard teaching the next year.

 

[BanjoSavesTheDay]

Haha, the "Mjozefow Method" works well. In shop class in high school I had a couple processes dubbed the "Mitch Method" because they were odd, but effective. Some of them became standard teaching the next year.

haha that's too funny! You must really be on to something with your Methods.

 

[mjozefow]

Any progress?

 

[BanjoSavesTheDay]

Any progress?

Unfortunately, no. I just got done with school last week and at last count I have five vises in pieces strewn about the work shop. It was six before I finished the Reed today.

This one is next on the list though. I will be making the pins in the next couple of days.

 

[BanjoSavesTheDay]

I was able to work on this for a little while today. Tomorrow I plan on getting ready for paint, although I still haven't decided what color.

I just took apart the swivel mechanism and I have to say that I am impressed. I always wondered how they did it since I've never seen a picture of one.

Here it is still together. It's a funny looking thing isn't it?

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45099362@N02/4605154239/" title="IMG_3763 by BanjoSavesTheDay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3321/4605154239_57f8f5e8dd.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_3763" /></a>

When you tighten that bolt, it simultaneously expands the ring and presses it tighter up against the bottom of the other piece, so I guess there are two friction surfaces. The pin on the opposite side of the bolt just allows the ring to expand.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45099362@N02/4605767652/" title="IMG_3766 by BanjoSavesTheDay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1420/4605767652_41a9e7b4e0.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_3766" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45099362@N02/4605768462/" title="IMG_3768 by BanjoSavesTheDay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3311/4605768462_e47e4369b7.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_3768" /></a>

Now I need some advise from my vise brethren. When I clean this up and put it back together, should I leave it clean or grease it up? There seem to be draw backs to both. What do you all think?

 

[mjozefow]

Now I need some advise from my vise brethren. When I clean this up and put it back together, should I leave it clean or grease it up? There seem to be draw backs to both. What do you all think?

I lube the base-swivel surface, but only paste wax the swivel internals really well. It seems to work well for me. No slipping so far.

 

[BanjoSavesTheDay]

Thanks Mitch. I reckon that's what I'll do.

I made quite a bit more progress today but it did take me all day. I wire wheeled the entire vise, cleaned it really well, and masked it off so that I can immediately start putting the primer on tomorrow. The slide, jaws, and handle came out looking much better than expected. I'm starting to get excited about this one.

I meant to take the picture before I started masking, but only remembered after I had masked the base plate.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45099362@N02/4607657383/" title="IMG_3796 by BanjoSavesTheDay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3575/4607657383_5688e9200c.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_3796" /></a>

 

[porphyre]

What do you use for the wire wheeling? Bench grinder, angle grinder, wheel on a drill?

 

[Adam McLaughlin]

Coming along very nicely.

Adam

 

[BanjoSavesTheDay]

What do you use for the wire wheeling? Bench grinder, angle grinder, wheel on a drill?

I used an angle grinder. I couldnt maneuver the parts around a bench grinder and I don't think a drill has enough uumph.

Today I got the primer on but I have to wait 72 hours before I can put the paint on because the primer is an alkyd and the paint an acryllic. I have decided how I will paint it, but that will not be revealed until the grand unveiling.

 

[BanjoSavesTheDay]

Here's a sneak peak. Pittsburgh Steelers!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45099362@N02/4621967896/" title="IMG_3820 by BanjoSavesTheDay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3310/4621967896_bf362c92e2.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_3820" /></a>

I forgot to mention that this vise is for my dad and he's from Pennsylvania. I'm going to highlight all the letters white I think. Or maybe black and yellow in opposite colors.

 

[mjozefow]

It seems like my vises get used for restoring other vises more than any other use. You notice the same thing? Picked up that Reed 108R today. 255lbs of beautiful condition Reed goodness. I'll have to stop picking on them now!

The Parker looks great Kole. I'm iffy on the color choice, but mostly the blue is throwing me off I think. I can't wait for the grand reveal!

 

[BanjoSavesTheDay]

It seems like my vises get used for restoring other vises more than any other use. You notice the same thing? Picked up that Reed 108R today. 255lbs of beautiful condition Reed goodness. I'll have to stop picking on them now!

The Parker looks great Kole. I'm iffy on the color choice, but mostly the blue is throwing me off I think. I can't wait for the grand reveal!

So true! If the truth were known, I've probably used that little Craftsman more than any of the others. That's actually why I got this Parker; it is the Craftsman's replacement. Well...either it or that little Athol I am also working on.

I will let you decide on the colors when I get it all together. I took the blue masking tape off today and it looks much better.

 

[BanjoSavesTheDay]

Had to do a little more fabricating today. I'm pretty sure there was a piece missing because the main screw just flopped all over the place. Here you can see how big of a gap there was:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45099362@N02/4630992136/" title="IMG_3830 by BanjoSavesTheDay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3403/4630992136_e56a63b898.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_3830" /></a>

So I took a 3/4" x 2" washer and made the OD slightly smaller and ID slightly larger. Now there is very little play.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45099362@N02/4630991402/" title="IMG_3831 by BanjoSavesTheDay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4070/4630991402_34f72b7b20.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_3831" /></a>

That antisieze gets all over the place. I think there is only one thing left to do now. I still have to make the dumb jaw pins, but it is a snug fit without them so I will do it when I get around to it. The grand reveal will be as soon as I take some good pics of it!

 

[BanjoSavesTheDay]

And now the moment I'm sure the entire membership of GJ has been waiting for.

First, the before:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45099362@N02/4453132836/" title="Ebay Parker 3 by BanjoSavesTheDay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4050/4453132836_ccf4d549bb.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Ebay Parker 3" /></a>

Now after:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45099362@N02/4635178473/" title="IMG_3865 by BanjoSavesTheDay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4013/4635178473_0edaaec2d2_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="IMG_3865" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45099362@N02/4635788306/" title="IMG_3861 by BanjoSavesTheDay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3385/4635788306_415ff10e69.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_3861" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45099362@N02/4635790358/" title="IMG_3862 by BanjoSavesTheDay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4063/4635790358_95b8d4b458.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_3862" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45099362@N02/4635182419/" title="IMG_3858 by BanjoSavesTheDay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3409/4635182419_c79d5823b0.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_3858" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45099362@N02/4635784314/" title="IMG_3866 by BanjoSavesTheDay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4072/4635784314_5cb1fffc60.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="IMG_3866" /></a>

I'm so glad it's finally finished! It's a great feeling to take something that was truly broken and make it almost new again. It was a span of two months from first post to this one.

I may just put a Batman sticker on the front instead of a Steelers logo.

 

[old salvage]

Finally. A beautiful working vise.

 

[mjozefow]

Man! That is one funny looking piece of iron!

You did a great job on the resto. I can think of all sorts of situations where a vise that articulates in so many ways is a huge asset.

That vise looks like new, it is lucky to have found an owner that was willing to give it what it needed. Good job Kole.

PS- The colors actually look really good. Since the blue tape went away, it looks awesome.

 

[autopts71045]

One very dressed up restoration. In artistic value, its probably something I'll never be able to do. Thats a terrific before and after.. 5 Stars * * * * *

 

[autoclassicnut]

Nice work...

 

[DavidB]

Looks great!

 

[BanjoSavesTheDay]

Thanks for the nice comments! This little vise is very well made and I'm sure I will get many years of use out of it.

Glad you came around to the color scheme, Mitch!