Dam vise thread sucked me down the rabbit hole!
- Thread starter Montauket
- Start date
3baygarage
Well-known member
Oh my. Two with the wrench and a swivel vise with the pin. Very nice. 
Did you have to trade a limb or two?
Did you have to trade a limb or two?No, just three of his other vices...er, I mean vises!Oh my. Two with the wrench and a swivel vise with the pin. Very nice.
tool_scrounge
Well-known member
Nice finds! Are they all 4-4.5” wide jaws?
Sadly, the Prentiss is defective as I do not see the usual crack in the top of the slide
Sadly, the Prentiss is defective as I do not see the usual crack in the top of the slide
Well let’s just say that you couldn’t buy 1 abused and trashed Wilton 17 series around here for what I got these for. I was pleased that none of them have any slag, hacksaw marks, or hammer dings of concern. The prentiss does have an issue though. There is a chip in the bottom of the static jaw face. The Parkers are 974’s so yes all 4 and 4 1/2”. Jaw faces are just ok on the Parker’s, would like them a little taller in the tooth. For the age of these and it being my first pick I think I did OK.
If there are any Prentiss gurus in the group I could use a hand with figuring out how to get the jaw off the static side. I haven’t got to cleaning them up yet but I don’t see that the rear screws are slotted, not sure if the head wore flat or if I just need to get further in there.
If there are any Prentiss gurus in the group I could use a hand with figuring out how to get the jaw off the static side. I haven’t got to cleaning them up yet but I don’t see that the rear screws are slotted, not sure if the head wore flat or if I just need to get further in there.
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3baygarage
Well-known member
Well done for a first pick.
Shiftless
Well-known member
Welcome to the club.
Started scraping some of the crud and light wire brushing today. Found some numbers on the Prentiss stamped in the slide, swivel jaw, and main body. 2 18 assuming these are born on dates from what I’ve read . If that’s the case then this was made the same year my Grandfather was born. The dynamic jaw on the prentiss has slotted screws but the static well that’s another story. See below. Seems to be a little bit of a hang on the swivel. Turns full out to the left side but hangs 1/4 turn to the right. A little file work on the right side of the base should make it turn. Kinda makes me wonder, all these years no one bothered to fix that. Set screw on the collar spun out with no issue.
Took the jaws on the Parkers down to some cleaner metal looking for the top of the pin holes that hold the jaws in. Easy enough on the grey one found two of 4 on the orange one. Bottom holes are all visible. Anyone know if these are roll pins or solid? Retainer plate screw for the main screw came off with ease as well on the orange one.
Took the jaws on the Parkers down to some cleaner metal looking for the top of the pin holes that hold the jaws in. Easy enough on the grey one found two of 4 on the orange one. Bottom holes are all visible. Anyone know if these are roll pins or solid? Retainer plate screw for the main screw came off with ease as well on the orange one.
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gatewaysysop
Well-known member
Really nice finds, especially with the original wrenches. I really like the Parker mechanism, but too often the wrenches have gotten lost. What a score, hats off to you. 
I have to give the score credit to the scrap metal guy that saved them from going to the heater. He’s the savior here. I’m just the guy going to clean them up and put em back in service at least to the best of my ability . I’m not a machinist.
thehorse13
Well-known member
I need a scrap guy like the one you know. What a nice cleanup!
As for the Prentiss, the jaw screws will have to be drilled and then you can use a tap to get them out. You'll have to make new jaw screws but that's a simple task. I've done it a few dozen times.
As for the Prentiss, the jaw screws will have to be drilled and then you can use a tap to get them out. You'll have to make new jaw screws but that's a simple task. I've done it a few dozen times.
So I got the post war grey one apart and took the paint off. Inside the swivel base is let’s call it the clutch ring. The two pieces of the ring have a pin connecting them together. The bottom hole that the pin drops into is broken but I have the piece. Thinking of mig welding it or just braze it, any thoughts or has anyone BTDT already?
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Roberts210
Well-known member
Nice job. Very nice.
Just a sweet job on those old Parkers! You need to soldier on to the formal vise mega-threads, if you haven't already. Just make sure all your affairs are in order before you go. Many don't return.
Thank you PSC
Started working in the swivel that was hanging on the prentiss. Wound up having to do a little file work on the top of the static base where the bottom of the swivel rides. Took it dow just a little bit and it spins full out in both directions now. Next is to attack the static jaw but I think I need to have a conversation with someone more knowledgeable about the prentiss vises. I’ve read here that they have a unique taper to the screws that hold the Jawa in place. I don’t know where that will take me but I may need to source that out. I’m not a machinist. Would any of you know if this era prentiss was “Japanned” or the flat black paint? I want to say this is from around the 20’s.
Started working in the swivel that was hanging on the prentiss. Wound up having to do a little file work on the top of the static base where the bottom of the swivel rides. Took it dow just a little bit and it spins full out in both directions now. Next is to attack the static jaw but I think I need to have a conversation with someone more knowledgeable about the prentiss vises. I’ve read here that they have a unique taper to the screws that hold the Jawa in place. I don’t know where that will take me but I may need to source that out. I’m not a machinist. Would any of you know if this era prentiss was “Japanned” or the flat black paint? I want to say this is from around the 20’s.
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pelletman
Well-known member
Parker 97X series is one of my favorites, I grew up using a 975 1/2. Great vises.
Got the prentiss cleaned up but I think it looks like a ****** in cheap clothing. I thought going with the gloss would make it wipe down easier and probably would. I may strip it down again and go flat black. Wasn’t going for perfection on this one as it’s gonna be a worker if I don’t trip it. I kind of like the Parkers better.
larry4406
Well-known member
Put it to work and soon you will forget the gloss and shiny bits.Got the prentiss cleaned up but I think it looks like a ****** in cheap clothing. I thought going with the gloss would make it wipe down easier and probably would. I may strip it down again and go flat black. Wasn’t going for perfection on this one as it’s gonna be a worker if I don’t trip it. I kind of like the Parkers better.
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
You can rub that gloss down to a matte with very fine (#0000) steel wool and vigor. Seriously. It's actually an old professional technique between multiple coats of paint. Easier if it hasn't cured all the way, but it will work. I've done it on all kinds of wrenches to affect a black japanned look. Rub in multiple directions. Anything coarser (#000, #00) will leave scratches. Even #0000 will but they will buff right out. Try it. Experiment. You could always strip it if you don't like it.
Maui
Well-known member
You have been assimilated.
By the way, that Prentiss would look much better in bright gold in my opinion.
By the way, that Prentiss would look much better in bright gold in my opinion.