Posted: 6/5/2017 5:13:16 PM EDT
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Hello all,
I am in the middle of a resto on an old Chas Parker 954. It looks like the one in the picture below. I have it all apart, and all the parts are in fantastic shape. Jaws are amazing, no cracks / welds, screw looks perfect. Right now, the main body and the jaw are glass beaded, and I need to pick a color. When I got it (from a tag sale, paid $5), it was rattle canned silver (like Craftsman Silver). Under the flaking paint, there was some dark green, almost like forest green. There wasn't much paint left (of either color) and there was some mild surface rust. That's why I decided to glass-bead and re-paint. Also, while I had it apart, I put the base in a Bridgeport, and milled the bottom flat. They did a really s**ty job cleaning up the parting line from the casting, and the vise would rock if you put it on a table top. So, I need to pick a color. I kinda like the gloss red like the one shown below. One co-worker said I should do it in the green (like the factory paint) and one said do it grey. Any thoughts? Or is this just personal preference? Not looking to sell it once I'm finished, so I'm not worried about it being "correct". Also, on a side note, I was thinking about cutting off the factory handle, and making a stainless handle, with weighted ends, and a notch in the center. Similar to this thread: Weighted Handle Mod I already have a drilled and tapped hole in the center of the shaft, which has a spring in it already. This is used as a friction type feature that keeps the handle in place, until you push it one way or the other. Thoughts? 
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I have some thoughts. These are vises you will never again see the quality of in your lifetime.
Don't mod the handle for petes sake. Leave it be. The factory original paint was a flat to semi flat black. This was back in the teens and 20's. I know cause i have a 974. Factory original. Dad bought it at auction at a factory going out of biz, and gave it to me as house warming present. By the way, he paid $55! The lettering was highlighted in a cream white. Like mine. 
I've since taken it apart, degreased it, lubed it up, and use it weekly. |
