Chas Parker 3X Needs Some Help

[stratman977]

I picked this Chas Parker 3X at the Rogers, OH farm auction yesterday for $10. I was watching the item next to it and really wasn't interested in it but I couldn't pass it up at that price.

It looks like someone did a number on it trying to remove one of the jaw inserts. The top edge of where the jaw insert goess a little chipped up I think if I can get an insert for it it probably will be fine.

What do you guy's think, can it be fixed or is it hacked up too bad?

 

[G_P]

That might be salvageable depending on what those 2 vertical holes are used for. I believe on my parker those holes have pins driven into them that help hold the jaw inserts on.

The fun part is going to be getting those 5 broken off screws out.

Worst case you can sell the dynamic jaw assembly to someone who needs it to fix a broken vise. It should easily sell for a lot more than $10.

 

[Davefr]

It looks like a fairly easy fix assuming you can get new jaw inserts. You'll just need to make sure there is full support behind the jaw. (you can't have any big voids back there, JB weld might be enough).

The upper chipping is cosmetic, don't worry about it.

 

[drivesitfar]

for $10 you did ok that is for certain for at least a parts vise. what is the # on the side in cast? 3x or ? also on the front above the main screw is there the parker holder or just some sort of replacement? pictures of that and of the inside of the vise might help some of us help you decide whether to spend the time and money to fix this or just use it as a parts vise.

the screws are a try to fix the broken jaw because the Parker jaws are usually held on with two pins. taking all of them out to see what you have might be a challenge, but looks doable.

the jaws on these vises are almost as expensive as a vise so it might not be worth your time or money to fix it. what is the width of the jaw and the weight of the vise because hard to tell?

 

[oldldh]

Kevin Scott makes new jaws, I think...


www.wiltonviseparts.net


But-----"They ain't cheap, Bubba!!!"

 

[Jswain]

If you couldn't find a jaw for cheap I would be tempted to fill it with weld/smooth it out and use it as a $10 beating vise.

 

[stratman977]

The only marking on it is the 3X on the side that you can see in the 1st picture. I would guess by carrying it around that its in the 60 to 80lb range.

I don't know if the screw retainer is original. It didn't look to be something that was cobbled together by a farmer but it also isn't the ones that have parker cast into them.

I was thinking I could braze the casting and grind it flush. Then come up with something to use for the jaws. I saw what the replacements cost to have made so don't think thats an option for this vise. I would consider it if the rest was 100% but it's not.

I don't see why this couldn't be decently repaired to be usable without spending a fortune.

 

[drivesitfar]

i think i saw a member selling a cast Parker holder for about $15 that he was making at a college for his class you might check out. yes i think if you are able to braze weld that static jaw back in usable condition then you have a good vise for the price you paid.

i have heard if you do decide to weld on cast iron, i may be preaching to the choir, but you need to have the vise part warm or heated up before you start and then have some sand handy to set it in when done so it can cool slowly. you probably already knew that.

here is a picture of my 6 inch Parker's holder and my jaws are a little beat up from another owner's use, but it a great clamper.

 

[KMScott]

What is the jaw width on your 3X? I might have a spare old jaw laying around that you could fit on your vise, that means welding up the face where the screws and busted out pin holes are and re surfacing. I guess if you welded a single jaw on and used the vise as a beater it would work for you. I have a few like that. Remember, Parker jaws are soft, they can be drilled and tapped.

 

[zkling]

Aw, heck that is my kind of vise. What I would do is take some preliminary measurements. Grind it back a bit, fill it up solid with nickle rod but leave the bottom flat surface for the mating jaw. Then bolt to the mill, indicate off the bottom flat that was unwelded (for reference) and the recut the "shelf".

Or, quite honestly what I would probably do is just make the rear jaw able to use a bolted on piece of flat stock instead of that curved top jaw. In efforts to save money to purchase a proper curved jaw and or the complexity of trying to make one. Granted this would probably kill the originality value, but. At the investment price and current condition would make it a good user.

Just my limited 2¢

here is a picture of my 6 inch Parker's holder and my jaws are a little beat up from another owner's use, but it a great clamper.

Dang Drivesitfar, that is awesome. On a side note I LOL, you and your shop are like a picture encyclopedia of vises. I just keep seeing more and more different pictures you post.

 

[sloppy]

I will give you $20 and pick it up this weekend..

Just make some brass jaws for it.. you still have the front one to use as a template..

 

[stratman977]

So the screw retainer does look to be "custom" but it works so I'm not going to worry about it. There isn't two screws like the one in drivesitfar's picture, theres just one big screw in the middle. It may have been drilled out to a bigger size.

I'm in the process of parting out a junk car and can't even move in the garage. Once that thing goes to the scrap yard I'm going to try to get those screws out and see where I'm at. I forgot to measure it but I think its 5".

 

[Fretters]

That's owt and nowt type damage. Easily sorted in some fashion.

Or, quite honestly what I would probably do is just make the rear jaw able to use a bolted on piece of flat stock instead of that curved top jaw. In efforts to save money to purchase a proper curved jaw and or the complexity of trying to make one. Granted this would probably kill the originality value, but. At the investment price and current condition would make it a good user.

That's the type of approach I'd be likely to go with too. When something has had a bit of butchering, any decent repair to make it usable is acceptable. It's already had the damage done, so owt done now, (tastefully, of course), is an improvement. Wouldn't be too hard to shape a jaw out of brass, copper or mild either, to make it look close to original in style.

 

[drivesitfar]

Stratman: my Parker has 2 screws because it's a 6 inch jaw width and about a 150 pound vise. i'm pretty sure the smaller ones only have one screw holding the holder in place, but i don't think i own one to take a picture of one to show you.

here's the member's thread that is making cast Parker holders at his college and selling them for $15. http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=162181&highlight=cast+parker

as mentioned before you have some of the pieces to a very nice old vise and what you do with the broken part to make it functional is a bonus if you can get it working again.

best of luck and please post more pictures of your fix if you end up having time to do something with it. or offer it up as a parts vise and triple your investment and make some other broken Parker vise owner happy.