- Thread starter MattF
- Start date
MattF
Forum Supporter
- Messages
- 18,089
- Location
- South Yorkshire
Any progress yet? 
Working on another couple of vices here at the moment. First one is an old Parkinson wood vice. This one is being used as a bit of a test, to see how Linseed oil and paint behave together. Had to cover it with Linseed when I derusted it as it really wanted to start rusting again. Decided to leave it on there rather than removing it before painting though. Thought it would be a good chance to find out how well both bond and behave with each other. Seems fine so far. When it came:
It's current condition. Just giving the paint a few days to cure before I start reassembly.
I also might have gone and got another one of these to sort too.
Can you guess what it is yet? Looks like the original paint on this one may have been a dark green:
so I'm wondering whether to deviate from my usual colour and go with the Mid Brunswick on this one?
Working on another couple of vices here at the moment. First one is an old Parkinson wood vice. This one is being used as a bit of a test, to see how Linseed oil and paint behave together. Had to cover it with Linseed when I derusted it as it really wanted to start rusting again. Decided to leave it on there rather than removing it before painting though. Thought it would be a good chance to find out how well both bond and behave with each other. Seems fine so far. When it came:
It's current condition. Just giving the paint a few days to cure before I start reassembly.
I also might have gone and got another one of these to sort too.
Can you guess what it is yet?
Looks like the original paint on this one may have been a dark green:
so I'm wondering whether to deviate from my usual colour and go with the Mid Brunswick on this one?
MattF
Forum Supporter
- Messages
- 18,089
- Location
- South Yorkshire
MattF
Forum Supporter
- Messages
- 18,089
- Location
- South Yorkshire
Bit of progress with the latest Swindens. The leadscrew collar screws had rusted solid to the collar, so had to drill the screwheads out and then shear them off.
That takes a fair bit of patience to do with a breast drill and stepping through drill sizes. With them being slotted screws though, there was no way on earth I'd have subjected the task to an electric drill. Hand powered at least makes controlling it easy if a bit tries to skid, and the pillar drill doesn't have enough clearance to have done it on there.
Also made a deviation colour wise, due to orders from the young'un. This was the first coat, but those parts have both had second coats now.
Mid Brunswick.
That takes a fair bit of patience to do with a breast drill and stepping through drill sizes.
With them being slotted screws though, there was no way on earth I'd have subjected the task to an electric drill. Hand powered at least makes controlling it easy if a bit tries to skid, and the pillar drill doesn't have enough clearance to have done it on there.Also made a deviation colour wise, due to orders from the young'un. This was the first coat, but those parts have both had second coats now.
Mid Brunswick.
MattF
Forum Supporter
- Messages
- 18,089
- Location
- South Yorkshire
Almost forgot to ask. Any chance one of you chaps with a 6" could have a look at the serial no. on yours, (it's on the retainer ring for the rear jaw body, behind the main base), and see if it starts with a 6? Just wondering whether the first number denotes the jaw size.
MattF
Forum Supporter
- Messages
- 18,089
- Location
- South Yorkshire
A bit more progress on this one. Just waiting for the second coat to try on the front jaw and then that can go in too, and then I just need to fit all new bolts and screws, make another leather shim and then make a new rear cover.
I'm just hoping it's beginning to look a bit better than it did when I got it?
I'm just hoping it's beginning to look a bit better than it did when I got it?
MattF
Forum Supporter
- Messages
- 18,089
- Location
- South Yorkshire
Well, in a fashion this is back together. Could only get hold of 3/8" long 1/4" screws yesterday, (why they only had that size is beyond me. Talk about quirky lengths ), so the leadscrew collar has a slightly tenuous hold, but good enough for a temporary measure until I get some longer replacements.
I've left the collar unpainted on this one, and just coated it with Linseed oil. Thought it would be a change. Still got the finishing touches to do, but she's in a usable state now.
), so the leadscrew collar has a slightly tenuous hold, but good enough for a temporary measure until I get some longer replacements.
I've left the collar unpainted on this one, and just coated it with Linseed oil. Thought it would be a change. Still got the finishing touches to do, but she's in a usable state now.
MattF
Forum Supporter
- Messages
- 18,089
- Location
- South Yorkshire
The Parkinson wood vice is reassembled and done now.
That Parkinson had a layer of Linseed oil applied before the paint went on, and from a quick scrape test on a small area, it appears that it stands up well. The paint, (synthetic enamel), hasn't reacted badly to it, and it seems to have a sound enough hold.
Also wondered if anyone may have an idea on who was the manufacturer of this vice?
It's somewhat unusual in that the leadscrew nut is actually part of the body/base casting, and not a separate piece as one might normally expect to see.
That Parkinson had a layer of Linseed oil applied before the paint went on, and from a quick scrape test on a small area, it appears that it stands up well. The paint, (synthetic enamel), hasn't reacted badly to it, and it seems to have a sound enough hold.
Also wondered if anyone may have an idea on who was the manufacturer of this vice?
It's somewhat unusual in that the leadscrew nut is actually part of the body/base casting, and not a separate piece as one might normally expect to see.
MattF
Forum Supporter
- Messages
- 18,089
- Location
- South Yorkshire
The grey unknown vice is done. Had to drill all of the insert screw heads out by hand. Those things were rusted in solid, and I've actually become better at doing it with the hand drill, (hand powered, not just hand held), than on the pillar drill, weirdly enough.
I'm still curious as to who the manufacturer of this was though. Nothing to indentify it other than that Rd. No.
I'm still curious as to who the manufacturer of this was though. Nothing to indentify it other than that Rd. No.
MattF
Forum Supporter
- Messages
- 18,089
- Location
- South Yorkshire
Likely a stupid question, but have you got that thing sorted yet?
Found out what manufacturer and model that grey vice above is. It's a Parkinson's Handy.
brewdexta
The biggest tool in the box
- Messages
- 5,742
- Location
- UK
On fleabay today, a Sawyer vice and I quote "Simular to the Swindens Vice used on British Army REME vehicles but in many ways superior due to its clever self locking rotation design and 6 jaws" £200 quid auction start.
MattF
Forum Supporter
- Messages
- 18,089
- Location
- South Yorkshire
I think it's safe to say he might be dreaming a bit on price. He is correct that there don't seem to be a lot of those around though. Saying rare is pushing it, but they're not common either. First time I've seen one over here.
That's the forebear of the import clones which are common these days. Can't see how it can weigh much, if any, more than a comparable size Swindens though.
That's the forebear of the import clones which are common these days. Can't see how it can weigh much, if any, more than a comparable size Swindens though.
MattF
Forum Supporter
- Messages
- 18,089
- Location
- South Yorkshire
Had a feeling you wouldn't have got around to it as yet.
All the ones I've done so far are my own. That's why they're generally quirky or uncommon vices. I stick to collecting unusual or uncommon ones when possible. What can I say. I just really need to get out more, so people keep telling me. Had considered letting some go, but unfortunately I have a bad habit of becoming attached to things.
All the ones I've done so far are my own. That's why they're generally quirky or uncommon vices. I stick to collecting unusual or uncommon ones when possible. What can I say. I just really need to get out more, so people keep telling me.
Had considered letting some go, but unfortunately I have a bad habit of becoming attached to things.
brewdexta
The biggest tool in the box
- Messages
- 5,742
- Location
- UK
I guessed he might have been stretching it a bit more than Dolly Parton's face.
Here's another the same make at a silly price, no wonder he's added a message trying to encourage people to bid.
MattF
Forum Supporter
- Messages
- 18,089
- Location
- South Yorkshire
There's one of those rotating head type for sale over in the states which has been sat on Craigslist for a good while at $200, so even over there they don't command silly money. Kept seeing that second one you've linked to listed on and off for the last several months. The Oswego's are apparently of good quality, but even larger Record's rarely command that type of money over here, second hand. Trying to sell an American one which most people wouldn't have the foggiest about for that type of money is a doomed enterprise, IMHO. If he ever listed that for a realistic price I'd be seriously tempted though.
The American stuff is always at a disadvantage for getting decent money over here. We all know the quality of our own kit, but the Merkin stuff is an unknown quality thing for most. One I would have liked to bid on the other month was a Simplex/Desmond type fast acting vice. If it hadn't been so far away, I'd have had that. It went for peanuts eventually too. T'was an old one too, judging by the single bolt for mounting and the excessively large wing nut. There's what appears to be a little old clamp on Stanley on Ebay at the moment too. I'm really gonna have to stop checking out vices on there.
The American stuff is always at a disadvantage for getting decent money over here. We all know the quality of our own kit, but the Merkin stuff is an unknown quality thing for most. One I would have liked to bid on the other month was a Simplex/Desmond type fast acting vice. If it hadn't been so far away, I'd have had that. It went for peanuts eventually too. T'was an old one too, judging by the single bolt for mounting and the excessively large wing nut. There's what appears to be a little old clamp on Stanley on Ebay at the moment too. I'm really gonna have to stop checking out vices on there.
