Chas Parker Jaw Questions

[KMScott]

Here's a call out to Chas Parker owners. I need some help figuring out the best way to approach the serrations in the new Chas Parker vise jaws I am building. The serrations I have seen are sometimes very lightly cut and some are very aggressive. Which type should I make? I am only want to cut one type of pattern.
I have 4 example jaws to work with. The 8 inch and 6 inch set have a course pitch between the serration cuts and have a smaller diamond pad on the face of the jaws. The 4-3/4 inch and 3 inch sets both have a very light cut and end up with a larger diamond pattern on the face. Note the course pitch that the 8" has, 1/8" between serration cuts and cut deep.

The next question I have concerns putting in the pin holes. It will be almost impossible to match where the pins are located on the jaws and matching the pin hole to the vise, and adding screws is out of the question.
My thought was to move the pin holes to a different location, and have the new owner drill and ream the jaws. They would locate and close the jaws tight and then locate the holes on a milling machine for the 8" and 6", the 5" and Smaller vises could be drilled and reamed on a large drill press. I would supply a reamer or drill and a pin to fit the jaws and a link to a video on how I would do it. Would that be a problem for any of you? Tell me what you think in the poll below.

Poll Questions
1) Which serrations would work best for you? Heavy Light

2) Would you have any issues adding the pin holes on your vise? Yes No

Thanks in advance. These jaws are expensive to build and are not easy to fabricate. The material for the 8" is over $100 and will take over 8 hours to build. I want the challenge of getting these old Chas Parkers up and running again, and want to do it the right way.

Let me know any suggestions you might have.

Thanks Kevin

 

[Packard V8]

Coarse or fine, shallow or deep depends upon what work the owner plans to do. Smooth is also an option.

You, of course, already know the way to do it correctly is have the owner send you the vise. Once the jaws are done, clamp each vise half in turn to your mill table and locate off each hole. Install the jaws and drill through the jaw into the existing hole and pin them.

Most Parker jaw customers who are paying the big bucks would probably prefer to pay shipping than have to watch the video, drill new holes and worry about doing it correctly.

jack vines

 

[WhoWhatNow]

I would vote the fine serrations with a deeper cut if possible.

How would you locate the holes for pins if you were drilling the jaws? Can you locate them from the bottom? Are you suggesting drilling the vise because the jaws will be too hardened?

 

[ganymede]

If someone needs smooth jaws they can always pad them but you can't add serrations.
For adding the holes I'd just place the jaw pads on, take a hand drill and drill into the existing holes in the vise itself. Drill just enough to mark the new jaw pads. Then take them out and finish drilling with a drill press.

 

[KMScott]

I would vote the fine serrations with a deeper cut if possible.

How would you locate the holes for pins if you were drilling the jaws? Can you locate them from the bottom? Are you suggesting drilling the vise because the jaws will be too hardened?

Yes the vise is soft steel, it is the same issue when locating dowell pins on a fixture. The jaw is reamed for a nominal size pin, first you clamp the block/jaws in position and spot drill the hole with the same size drill bit by positioning the vise where the drill finds the hole, a Dowell pin can also help aid in locating the pin hole, you bounce around the vise to locate. Remember these jaws are very hard and will not be cut with HSS drill bits, after you spot drill into your vise you use a 1/64 smaller drill to drill through, then follow up with a reamer. You do not move the vise after you find the hole the first time. The hole in the jaws act like a drill bushing and will guide the spot drill and reamer, a soft CRS pin material then is pressed in.

I hope this makes sense.

 

[zoomieport]

Heavy, and I'll drill my own holes...

 

[KMScott]

You, of course, already know the way to do it correctly is have the owner send you the vise. Once the jaws are done, clamp each vise half in turn to your mill table and locate off each hole. Install the jaws and drill through the jaw into the existing hole and pin them.

jack vines

Jack
I would be happy to do it for the customer, shipping a 8" vise might be a little expensive though.

 

[cclfn]

Heavy, and I'll drill my own holes...

I 2nd this motion!

and thanks for all the great work.

Wes