Parker Vise Jaw Inserts

My first post here, have a question about the jaw inserts for a Parker 974 vise.

Found this 974 vise without jaw inserts, and am looking into finding replacements. I know there was someone on eBay who used to make the inserts, but not sure if those are still available. Any ideas on where else to find replacement 4" jaws for a 974 Parker?

Also, do inserts from other 4" Parker models, besides the Union made versions, fit interchangeably?

Lastly, from the picture, I do not see holes where the pins hold in the inserts. Should there be?

Thanks all!

check the vise thread about a week or so ago because KMScott who is one of our handier members was making a pair of new jaws for his Parker and showing pictures. his web site is www.wiltonviseparts.net

by the way welcome to GJ and that looks like a great vise minus the jaws that hopefully you can find and make work like they should.

Happy New Year

I think I hate you, MRR11. Figured out how to add a picture to your very first post


Welcome aboard!

Thanks, I will try reaching out to KMScott. BFBOB, adding a picture was no problem, just don't expect me to properly post a link

Anyone have thoughts about the lack of pin holes for the inserts on this vise?

The pins are there, there are hiding under the dirt and rust.

Is yours a 974 or a 974 1/2? In the picture it almost looks like 974 1/2.

also welcome to GJ!!

gregthor said:

Is yours a 974 or a 974 1/2? In the picture it almost looks like 974 1/2

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Good observation, I was thinking the same thing earlier after my initial post. Haven't yet seen the vise in person and have not yet pulled the trigger pending availability of replacement jaws, but something is definitely stamped after the "4" in 974.

Here is my thoughts on the Parker Jaws, I believe after working on 5 different vises is that Parker really did not have a good manufacturing process down, at least in the beginning. Each jaw I measured is different. Each vise has a number stamped under the jaw inserts as do the jaws. My thought is back when these jaws were built they had big horizontal Milling machines with large horizontal staggered tooth cutters that were formed ground to match the same cut on the Dynamic and Static jaw supports. Their biggest problem was having the jaw faces meet up parallel and flat. So they had to hand fit each set of jaws to each vise. Now if they had the technology we have now a days then they would have had a easier time. That is why you see some Parker jaws with hand filed serrations and others with the serrations cut that do not have a even diamond pattern.

The Parker jaws I am building now are custom fit to each vise, It becomes more difficult in fitting these jaws without the vise since I would need the customer to do two types of fits. The first would be to give me a angled gap dimension like in the picture showing the gap (.090) I am measuring with feeler gauges. The next customer fit would be to drill the holes for the pin, the pins are drilled at a angle so they do not break through where you do not want them to. New holes will have to be drilled since matching existing holes would be very difficult if not impossible. The 4" set I measured is drilled at 4 degrees as a example. It is possible to do with a hand drill but better if you have a milling machine.

I fit all Parker jaws with my surface grinder after grinding the angled form on the wheel. If I had a wire edm machine I still believe I would have to use the grinder to fit easier. I have noticed that the small channel that the jaw fits around is not parallel to the mating jaw supports ( you can see this in the cad drawing) on the Static and Dynamic jaws. This is the reason it is best to have the vise in hand instead of mailing the jaws back to the owner several times and have them give me the their gap number. Now how do you set a price on a set of these jaws. I can not, I have promised four sets before finding these issues out and will honor my commitment. I really like the Parker vises. I just wish they were easier to make jaws for. MRR11 can you mail me your dynamic jaw support, if so then yes maybe I could build you a set if not then I would just be building these jaws as a favor, a 4" set should be around $125-$175 at $25/hr.


Kevin

Great info, thanks KMScott. I'll reach out to you via PM/email.

If someone sent u the whole vise would it be better for u remachine all the lands to accept simpler and easier to build inserts? Maybe some generic inserts already available? I wouldn't really care if the inserts looked original, I'd been happier with fantastic looking old vise with new replaceable inserts. Even easy remade a 100 years from now. I'm not a machinst but it sounds like you have more work try to match original that isn't to a standard one vise to another. You could take in parkers and cut the static and dynamic to scotts standard. good luck and i recognize your effort.

MRR11, Parker vises can be very nice but the jaws, the front collar with the Parker lettering and the swivel wrench all better be in good shape or you are looking at an expensive restore. Factor all that before you buy that vise and pay accordingly!

wrenchguy said:

If someone sent u the whole vise would it be better for u remachine all the lands to accept simpler and easier to build inserts? Maybe some generic inserts already available? I wouldn't really care if the inserts looked original, I'd been happier with fantastic looking old vise with new replaceable inserts. Even easy remade a 100 years from now. I'm not a machinst but it sounds like you have more work try to match original that isn't to a standard one vise to another. You could take in parkers and cut the static and dynamic to scotts standard. good luck and i recognize your effort.

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Yes I agree, but you still have the issue of the negative angle and re-cutting it. These are just tough jaws to build and each one that is made gets easier when new methods are found.

gregthor said:

Is yours a 974 or a 974 1/2? In the picture it almost looks like 974 1/2.

also welcome to GJ!!

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Sorry Greg.. I am new to vise-geekiness.. I just brought home a 974-1/2. What is the difference? Is there a thread here that goes over that? Sorry, I am sure this has been asked before, but I must be searching the wrong terms

Bernie

Whoops.. I should let you answer in case I would learn more, but it looks like the 974 has a 4in jaw, 974-1/2 has 4-1/2in wide, and 974-1/2 also opens 1/2in longer, at 7in.

Bernie

KMScott said:

The Parker jaws I am building now are custom fit to each vise, . . . I would just be building these jaws as a favor, a 4" set should be around $125-$175 at $25/hr. Kevin

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Kevin, thanks for making the effort. Just for the utility, good user vises can be found for less than the cost of new jaws, but Parkers are too exceptional to go to scrap for missing jaws. I just spent $75 for a very used main screw to save a broken Parker about to be scrapped.

FWIW, I manufacture some NLA parts for Packard V8s. No job shop would consider taking on the project, but it's worth it to help enthusiasts to keep these unique cars in the hobby.

jack vines