Show us your bench vice(s)

[25.4_mechanic]

What to do with a vice once it no longer works as a vice? Well this one was beyond economical repair, and beyond the limitations of my workshop and so lay rusting in the garden for some time. Bits of it have been resurrected in different ways.

Nice!

This brings me directly to the question that has been bothering me for a few days: Is it conceivable to find a QR lever, the QR nut, the QR spring and perhaps the 1/2" rod offered for sale or does it just never happen because if something is missing, it's exactly these parts????

Carsten

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[MattF]

I seem to recall someone listed at least some of those bits from a vice on here recently, so they appear occasionally. They need to be for the same size though.

 

[dannysheff]

Nice!

This brings me directly to the question that has been bothering me for a few days: Is it conceivable to find a QR lever, the QR nut, the QR spring and perhaps the 1/2" rod offered for sale or does it just never happen because if something is missing, it's exactly these parts????

Carsten

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I struck lucky a few years ago -- had a first gen Parky QR of about 1895 with tired, broken spring, nut and soft bar , found a broken casting Record from about 1980 maybe £5 - parts fitted perfectly I was using the vice today (not a Cocker unfortunately). But won't always work.


There was a nice homemade qr lever and rod on these pages a while back.

 

[25.4_mechanic]

I seem to recall someone listed at least some of those bits from a vice on here recently, so they appear occasionally. They need to be for the same size though.

Thanks Matt.
Unfortunately, I can't find any such offer, not even as "sold".
With the search terms >quick release< I find anyway only already sold, but always whole pieces ...

Yes, the differences in size are sometimes enormous. Fortunately, however, the short rod on the lever seems to have remained 1/2" over several models - by the way, don't think how difficult it is in our country to buy a short piece of 1/2" stainless steel rod without taking metres or kilos off it.

Have a nice evening

Carsten

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[25.4_mechanic]

I struck lucky a few years ago -- had a first gen Parky QR of about 1895 with tired, broken spring, nut and soft bar , found a broken casting Record from about 1980 maybe £5 - parts fitted perfectly I was using the vice today (not a Cocker unfortunately). But won't always work.

Congrats!

There was a nice homemade qr lever and rod on these pages a while back.

Any idea how I could find that thread?

Carsten

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[dannysheff]

Congrats!


Any idea how I could find that thread?

Carsten

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look at vono's parky on page 268 - not original QR lever and bar, but looks good and is simple

 

[25.4_mechanic]

look at vono's parky on page 268 - not original QR lever and bar, but looks good and is simple

Thank you very much Danny,

sometimes it's laughable how much I match the cliché of my origins: so far, only rather complicated ideas have come to my mind.
I never thought of something as simple as this, which serves the same purpose perfectly well if it's done right, ... I will keep it in mind.

Carsten

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[25.4_mechanic]

In a neighbouring village there is a real beast of a vice - I must at least have a look at it.
Very special and gigantic - I think we are in the 80kg+ class.

I should probably bring at least some pictures, we'll see.

Has anyone seen anything like it before?

Good night

Carsten

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[Arc Tourist]

Bought a vintage cabinet recently, and decided it would be a good candidate for a vice, so I mounted the Parkinsons ball base swivel vice I acquired last year.

 

[MattF]

They really are a beautiful little vice those, aren't they.

 

[Arc Tourist]

Yeah, I really like it; good proportions too.

 

[CwazyWabbit]

They seem to be quite pricey on eBay nowadays, I remember when they were almost mythical and yet would sell for under £50

 

[25.4_mechanic]

Bought a vintage cabinet recently, and decided it would be a good candidate for a vice, so I mounted the Parkinsons ball base swivel vice I acquired last year.

Congratulations!

From what I've read here, the ball-base Parkinsons are probably among the most sought-after, as they are rare. Right?
I've never seen one of those in person, I'd remember.

I particularly like the tool cabinet, too! Very nice combination.

Have a nice day everyone,

Carsten

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[Arc Tourist]

Congratulations!

From what I've read here, the ball-base Parkinsons are probably among the most sought-after, as they are rare. Right?
I've never seen one of those in person, I'd remember.

I particularly like the tool cabinet, too! Very nice combination.

Have a nice day everyone,

Carsten

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Thanks. The vice has 4" wide jaws and opens to 3 1/2" with full contact of the screw threads in the nut, which you can stretch to four inches if you don't clamp down too tightly. Only a quarter turn of the lock/release handle is needed to reposition the vice. The serrations on the jaws are much finer than the coarse ones you usually find on most 4" vice's. I think its just right for filing and working on smaller items. I've seen a few on ebay lately, but unfortunately they have exhibited obvious abuse, with bent handles and major welding repairs.

I don't know about the rarity, but being sought-after is due to people watching YouTube videos and reading about them on threads in Forum's like this one, and then a flood of interest starts and prices begin to rise. I remember when doubleboost did a video on restoring a Swinden's vice. I saw the merits of this model and shortly after was also looking for one, which I fortunately found for a reasonable amount.

 

[Vono]

Bought a vintage cabinet recently, and decided it would be a good candidate for a vice, so I mounted the Parkinsons ball base swivel vice I acquired last year.

View attachment 315429

That looks brill on there.
Funky little vice & great that it has remains of sticker too. I like the cabinet too to be honest !

 

[Vono]

Thank you very much Danny,

sometimes it's laughable how much I match the cliché of my origins: so far, only rather complicated ideas have come to my mind.
I never thought of something as simple as this, which serves the same purpose perfectly well if it's done right, ... I will keep it in mind.

Carsten

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If any more photos of the QR on my Parky would help Carsten let me know & i'll take a few

 

[Arc Tourist]

That looks brill on there.
Funky little vice & great that it has remains of sticker too. I like the cabinet too to be honest !

I don't think its a sticker, just the way the paint has worn, but will have a better look tomorrow. The seller has a few more cabinets that are going to be available. See the thread "Bridgeport Tooling Cabinets" if you're interested. There are photos on page 1629 of the "Today I Acquired topic". I'm on his list for another one.

 

[Vono]

I don't think its a sticker, just the way the paint has worn, but will have a better look tomorrow. The seller has a few more cabinets that are going to be available. See the thread "Bridgeport Tooling Cabinets" if you're interested. There are photos on page 1629 of the "Today I Acquired topic". I'm on his list for another one.

Oh right fair enough, I thought it was the remains of the "Parkinsons Handy" sticker as I think those were part of that line.
Just looked at the photo's, oh wow those cabinets are sooo cool. I don't have room sadly.

 

[25.4_mechanic]

If any more photos of the QR on my Parky would help Carsten let me know & i'll take a few

Oh, yes, I would love to have some photos of the mechanism.

I am also particularly interested in the length ratio between the slide or jaws of a vice on the one hand and the dimensions of the QR-elements (flat bar, round bar, castle nut) on the other.

Today at least the 1/2" round stock arrived. I couldn't get it in small quantities in my country, I had to turn to a dealer in Luxembourg. Not cheap but fast.

It ended up being 115CrV3 and not stainless steel as I first wanted, but this stuff should be even better.

115CrV3 has also become known under the beautiful name silver steel -> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_steel
... with the best recommendations from the marketing department

Have a nice Saturday afternoon

Carsten

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[Vono]

Hello Carsten

I took a few photo's not sure if these are ok but let me know. They're of a Parkinson No6.
Thanks