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I'm wondering what I should do with this old vice:
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It was my grandfather's. He was a farmer, so this was used for workshop duties on the farm.
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It's a Parkinson's Model F No. 8A "Perfect Vise".
Unfortunately it's had a hard life and the jaws have been fractured on one side and the insert is missing. The handle is also missing.
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I'd like to get it back into a useable state, but I'm not really sure that its condition justifies a whole lot of work. Maybe I should scrap it and buy a second hand vice in decent condition? This beast weighs over 40kg, and I think it's probably over 100 years old. I am a bit sentimentally attached to it.
If I do try to repair it do you have any suggestions on how to repair the jaw (could it be welded?) and where I can get a replacement handle? Google hasn't been much help.
Thanks for any advice!
Be nice to do it up. The jaws are cast I think so awkward to weld I guess but surely you can manage as they are? Alternatively make a new set to bolt on the front. Does quick release work on?
Edit new jaws. Machine away existing and make new.
If it were mine I'd look at getting it professionally blasted, a replacement front jaw* brazed in, sprayed undercoat and once that's done I'd Hammerite it myself.
I'd do a handle of plane bar, threaded both ends, pairs of nuts both ends, lock-nutted, with any rough edges smoothed.
*(edit) the grippy bit that's missing, might as well get the back one done at the same time. If it will come off, it will do as a pattern. So - PlusGas to get the screws out, first. Find the thread details and run a tap through.
Not sure if you can tell from the photos, but the casting has broken off through one of the holes that the jaw would have been bolted on through. Will make it difficult to attach a replacement jaw.
Quick release does work.
New jaws some mild steel drilled to accept a counter sunk bolt each side with some grip milled into the faces, as for the bar/handle a metalworker can make a new handle/bar as wel as replacemt pads, then just spray balck and mount on a bench.
Yep. Blast and paint above. Bore new hole for new jaws? Gotta be worth keeping.
Do you have the broken piece? You can weld cast, it's not even that difficult, arc welder and keep chucking it in. If not you could build it up and blend it back in. Would be a wee bit of work though if you took it to someone.
No, don't have the broken piece. Suspect it was broken long before I was born...
Will have a look if there are any local blacksmiths who could weld it.
If you're right handed you probably won't use the broken side much, you may get away with not fixing it if you can replace the insert securely.
I've got one of those in full working order. It's not quite as well built as the best Record vices but not too shabby either.
Surprising what can be repaired. I've seen some welded and machined looking almost like new!
I think the first thing you should do is join the mig-welding.co.uk forum and stick a post in [url= http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/show-us-your-bench-vice-s.52872/ ]this thread[/url]. Ask nicely and you may find someone who either has a moving jaw from a scrapper lying about or someone local who would be willing to help with a welding/brazing repair.
They're a great bunch of guys over there and the forum is an absolute joy to use compared with STW (better features, mobile version that actually works, no politics...)
Wee bit addictive though 😉
Cheers for the link scruffywelder - will put a post on there.
thats a lovely looking beast you should defo try and save it. im sure you can do something about the jaws. making a handle shouldnt be too much drama either