Charles Parker Vise Rehab

[BandSawyer]

I just spruced up my Rock Island vise that looks quite similar. I took it apart cleaned it then removed the paint. Repainted it, lubed, and assembled.

[DCM]

I'm with Philip - do you use BLO if you finish with paint?

[Timberwolf]

I don't know if it is originally correct, but I always like the letters in a contrasting color, like this:

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That's a good looking Parker... somewhat larger than the one I have on a bench but it's the same style without the swivel...I'm not a fan of swivel-base vises anyway..the swivel is the Achilles heel of vises IMO, altho I have a couple of them.

[JimReed@Tallahassee]

I acquired a pair of Morgan WW vises recently. Can you spot the one that was rehabbed?

[JimReed@Tallahassee]

Here is a Columbian with swivel jaw. The jaw pin was missing and I made one from a lag screw.

[JimReed@Tallahassee]

And a Prentiss #18 swivel jaw. One of the jaws was missing and I had to drill out two of the jaw screws. Luckily I was able to find a replacement jaw set so the vise looks like new. They changed the swivel mech in 1919, so this one predates that.

[JimReed@Tallahassee]

Big Barney. Had to pressure him in the driveway. 68 lbs of fun.

[JimReed@Tallahassee]

This Reed 1C vise was in really good shape for something out of the 1930s. It had most of its original japan finish. I cleaned it and finished it with BLO. Then I smeared some white paint on the raised lettering. It is one of my favorites. That branch of the Reed family made good stuff.

[Philip1231]

So I was feeling pretty good about progress today, that was until I saw Jim's vise porn.
I ended up doing the first pass of cleaning with Castrol Super Clean: amazing stuff.  Scrubbed with a bristle
brush, and got most of the unit apart.  Tomorrow I will remove the large screw holding the base to the body.
I contacted someone who can media-blast.  Stay tuned for the results of that effort.  

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[Philip1231]

Wait: is that metallic blue paint? Outstanding!!!