Parker No. 974 Vise Refurbished

This is my second Parker video, see the first one here- • 1930 Charles Parker Vi...

[@hiker1392]

You stole that for $50. Nice! I know you’re going to paint it, but in this case I think it’s great the way it is. 👍

[@josemartinezsanchez5690]

Belleza en su color natural del metal gracias por sus vídeos desde Almería España

[@2012JCC]

the vise looks great. Maybe a little red lettering would put it over the top.

[@Gruntled2001]

Meriden, CT! They made lots and lots of tools and other good stuff in Connecticut back in the day...

[@ScoutCrafter]

Yes! What a shame the high taxes drove most away! Thanks!

[@Gruntled2001]

@@ScoutCrafter Taxes never help, but many of these manufacturers didn't just go to lower-tax states - they either closed or moved their manufacturing to China. Stanley is finally re-shoring their factories back to the US. They are still making tape measures in CT. My hope is still hanging on Klein and Channellock - I don't ever want those guys to move their production anywhere...

[@ravendark2422]

If you decide to paint it Google "eye shadow applicators". They're double sided sponges and they are brilliant for dabbing paint on raised letters on tools. Nicked the wifes to do the lettering on a hand cranked Mole grinder and it worked perfectly. Don't bother trying to clean them after use as white spirit dissolves them but they are dirt cheap anyway.

[@ScoutCrafter]

Great tip!

[@uktony1525]

John, leave it as is as it has become a thing of beauty. I remember visiting my son in law on board HMS Defender and on the flight deck was an area where the helicopters were serviced. A new top of the line Record vice was available for the crew and I almost cried that some clown had put a pipe on the handle of a £750 vice and bent it out of shape. Son in law had a smaller vice in his work area (which looked after everything else apart from the aircraft or engines) and I beamed that it was used but had been greased and looked after. Lovely restoration as always and can you send some of the good weather to us in the UK.

[@lewiemcneely9143]

Some people.................!

[@805ROADKING]

That's a beauty Mate!! It would look great painted with highlighted lettering but there is nothing like a big hunk of raw steel in the Shop eh!!☺

[@connguy146]

This beautiful vise comes out of Meriden, Conn, the "Silver City." One of the Charles Parker factory buildings still stands in functionality in Meriden today, as, you guessed it- apartment lofts. I live about 5 miles away from the building. Great job per usual Scout!!

[@loupalladino9578]

This thing is stunning as is. Hope you left it that way.

[@salgiordano9937]

Looks great as it is. I have a Parker 955 fixed base I picked up for $40 on Craigslist that I will be restoring at some point. I think I might leave it unpainted as well!

[@brianmcguire5005]

Leave it for sure!! Those “Chas. Parker” vises are amazing! When union purchased them is that when they started marking them just as “Parker Vise” ? I think that’s correct but I’m not sure to be honest. Great tool!!! Amazing resto!!!

[@mikepollard6472]

As it's not going to be a 'shelf Queen', I would leave it exactly as it is, no paint! Nice job!

[@brandonmurphy4657]

Me too.

[@alobaidibaghdad]

Very nice work, absolutely it shouldn't be painted. It look fantastic as it is

[@Resto-Rob]

Beautiful vise. I would leave the vise as is. 👍👍👍👍

[@glengrossnickle4985]

That vise turned out great. I would usually say paint. But it looks so good I would leave it. Stay safe and healthy my friend. Thanks

[@tonylenge424]

Fantastic purchase at $50. That must have been some walk back to the car lugging a 60# vise! How about some glossy black lettering, and leave it at that? Thanks

[@jeffreyyeater1780]

I really like it raw like that . looks really good .

[@07fjcruiser1]

thats an awesome vise for starters. great job restoring it. I'm for leaving the way it is. the natural look is to good to be painted.

[@TomGunnTools]

Man I was excited when I saw you were doing another vise. As usual I always learn something!

[@ScoutCrafter]

Tom- They are heavy to hold under the wire brush! LOL

[@bigmikeh5827]

And another great vid. You got a smoking hot deal with the vise. Super job. It looks great the way it is in my opinion. Stay safe and enjoy your weather. 👍

[@NickBaggett]

Uncle Bob makes another appearance! Haha! Great video as always and I really liked the Parker history segment near the end!

[@wayneo7307]

Hi John , It Looks Great ! I Would Leave it Just like That ! Great Deal Too ! Nice Vise .

[@paulsworkshop4179]

The weather has been extremely nice! I We were able to see the International Space Station pass overhead the past two nights. That vice looks perfect cleaned up and protected. I'd leave it as is.

[@ScoutCrafter]

Paul- I used to see the ISS every night when working! The best was when the last shuttle was hooking up with the ISS we saw them both!!!!!

[@lotsabirds]

AS AAAlways....a GREAT Resto! AND....a ton of fantastic advice and info! Thank You Sir!

[@pukinpaja1974]

Very nice vise! No need paint... 👍🏻🎅🏻🇫🇮

[@357magdad]

The drum brake swivel design is cool! I like the "natural" finish!

[@ciprian1919]

Yes! Finally a vise again! LE: It's perfect as it is, especially if it's going to do some work. :)

[@RRINTHESHOP]

What a great deal on the vise, it was in great condition, but now it is is awesome condition. Nice job Scout.

[@namleets57]

Great job as always I have a folding cart I take to the flea market makes hauling heavy things a lot easier. By the way my wife tells me that I have to many vices too

[@paulkiddell9211]

Is bob really your Uncle?😉KEEP YOUR STICK ON THE ICE🇨🇦

[@jackmacica9006]

Industrial look is great on such a beautiful Vice!

[@saigaking]

Fantastic video scout don’t touch it love it the way it is Man what a sweeeet vice a lot of work to get right but Once you set them up pure heaven to use god bless take care 👏🙏🇺🇸👍🇳🇿🪓🗽

[@alansmith4734]

Dad Joke: 2 Zombies are walking in the woods. Zombie 1: Look! A dead bird! Zombie 2: [Looks Up] Where? =P

[@setdown2]

You sure they were two zombies...😆😆🙊😆😆

[@alansmith4734]

@@setdown2 Originally, it was 2 Blondes walking down the street! I changed it up, to make it Kid Friendly!

[@setdown2]

Alan Smith. had to be blonds...I love them but they are Blonds....lol..

[@veracious99]

What do you call 5 blondes sitting in a circle. A dope ring!

[@patjohnson3100]

Absolutely beautiful, both the vise and how you refurbished it. I would love to have such a beautiful Parker vise. Tool knowledge and proper tool use are reasons why it's always a good day when a Scoutcrafter video loads. Banishing patina was never more justified than for this vise. It's an heirloom quality tool. Big thumbs up from the intermountain west.

[@tomdale1313]

vises, anvils ...to me are works of art ... sculptures that are testaments to the craftsman who abilities are reflected in those processes that create such pieces...e.g. the foundry molds, the molten steel etc...i always like your insights and caveats on care and proper use of these instruments that made America

[@ScoutCrafter]

Hi Tom- Many Anvils went the way of the scrap yard and many vises were given up in Scrap metal drives during WW2. Shame isn't it? Thanks!

[@ronsbeerreviewstools4361]

Fantastic job on a good working vise. Cheers !

[@highdownmartin]

Looks brilliant as is. Have a raw steel finish on this one 👍

[@highdownmartin]

Lovely swivel lock mechanism. Quality.

[@reynaldovalle1773]

The way it is now looks BEAUTIFUL..GODBLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND EVERYONE..

[@kadmaster]

I miss your vise restorations sir...Perfect job as always....

[@scroungasworkshop4663]

That would have to be the Rolls Royce of vises. I like it the way it is or maybe a wrinkle finish black. Great work as usual Scout. Cheers Stuart and Lea 🇦🇺

[@williammcguire3rd]

Nice vice!! I like the natural look!

[@briantraxler1407]

Yup. I like the unpainted look on this one.

[@johnmclaurin]

Let it stay the way it looks now! AWESOME!

[@rawbacon]

Just realized it would be my Grandmother's 103 Birthday today.........She had a Beat to Hell Shotgun (Busted Stock Wrapped in Electrical Tape & Just an Overall Patina Delight) that I inherited, that was one of my earlier restorations.......I'm still rather proud of the way it turned out.........Funny thing is, she had it as long as I could remember but when I ask her children (Dad, Aunt, Uncle) none of them had a clue where it came from......Winchester Model 37, 12 Gauge Single Shot.

[@ScoutCrafter]

I remember years back I was upstate and a guy was having a yard sale, underneath a big oak tree leaning on the trunk was a shotgun and next to it was a box of shells to go with it... Coming from NYC that was like seeing a UFO! 😂

[@ignaciohenao4110]

Nice work, beautiful machine, beautiful finish. Thank you for sharing and keep safe

[@jonathanmosley4687]

I have a 974 in great condition sitting in my basement. I wire wheeled it over a year ago and just left it on my bench. I'll probably finish restoring it and put it into service once I sell a couple other vises in my collection. They really are great vises.

[@OldSneelock]

Never saw a swivel like that one. The beam being beat on is a pet peave. I would rather there wasn't a flat spot on the vises. Most are cast iron and crack. Forged steel blacksmith post vises can take it. 😁😎

[@ScoutCrafter]

Dave- I don’t even flinch when someone puts a cheater bar on a wrench but hammer a vise slide and I freak out! 😂😂😂👍

[@setdown2]

I got taken to school on a vise...how bout that...always learning..nice job... and I like it the way it is with painted proud letters...stay safe...

[@xxIVANxx13]

looks really good! I would leave it the way it is! great job as always!

[@not2fast4u2c]

The raw metal look is so Nice I would not paint it

[@rpc717]

I can't get over how good of quality that vise is! I liked the gold lettering it had, but otherwise it's perfect as is. Great find!

[@836dmar]

Lovely as is. That was a great deal IMO for $50. Well done!

[@johnfix1]

What an amazing restoration. I have never attempted a major project like that. I would love to have a parker vise.

[@noahlevy48]

I love those old giant vises, I don't have one, but from the videos I've seen with them, they're lovely.

[@ScoutCrafter]

Noah- Reed made some really nice big Vises! For 90% of the work I do a small to medium vise is plenty big- With a huge vise you can lose the feel of what you are doing. 😃👍

[@grahamlarson2738]

It looks great as it is. 👍🏼

[@lv_woodturner3899]

I love that vise it came out really nice. A steal at $50, or the original $60. I knew Parker were good quality vises, but did not know about the unique swivel lock, so thanks for explaining. I learned something. The vise looks terrific as is. Perhaps just some paint on the lettering to make is ScoutCrafter special. Dave.

[@guataco]

Love the way it is right now. Great work, great vise. Thank you.

[@leebrewer1190]

You are a mind reader my friend! I just visited my Dad and he gave me my grandfather's larger vice he used to use. This video is just in time. The tip using the marker ad the file was one I would not have thought of. This one weighs a ton and is a Reed Manufacturing from Erie, PA. I want to get to it soon. Excellent tips and video👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@ScoutCrafter]

Lee- Reed made fantastic Vises!!! Usually on the larger side. 😃👍

[@joeheilm]

Plum crazy....thats my vote 😂. Cheers

[@miketownsend6108]

awesome job never seen a vice that tight

[@soccovitch]

I have always liked the look of that well cleaned cast steel. Turned out very nice man!

[@CarnivoreRonin]

Another beautiful job! I like the bare metal look but I also want to see some ScoutCrafter red... 8-)

[@charlessmall4075]

I like the way it looks now. Nice job. Keep em coming. Stay safe.

[@roadrageburleson]

What a great vice. I really think it is just fine not being painted.

[@adude7050]

Great video great vise once i set up my new shop I am hoping to find a good vise for it .

[@MarkH10]

Fannie's your Aunt!! How about some Gold letters, or this guy I watch uses a lot of Red, I don't know why. Nice clear skies you have. Mine are totally devoid of clouds, and it's only 110, with 4% humidity. Pretty overwhelming. It's funny to be out in a parking lot with people on days when it's ONLY 104 and the conversation is how mild the temp. is. I think you could do a great job if someone brought you the shop vise off the Lusitania, straight from the bottom of the Irish Sea, yesterday.

[@teresaschroepfer3695]

Now if you could do a video about canning that would be good. We are canning everything that isn’t moving

[@alfiversen7023]

Love that vice like that. Simple and ... raw.

[@judyl.761]

Yes, I like the burnished natural cast finish.

[@deeXswanson]

i also have a vice for the vise love the video keep up the hard work and stay safe

[@donwrigley4549]

Beautiful work my man! I'm getting ready to do an old Reed vise that's frozen also. I personally like the raw steel, but I know if you did paint it I'd like it that way too. Didn't you do one of these a few years ago where you had to buy a large socket to disassemble the base? Thanks for sharing.

[@ScoutCrafter]

Don! Yes! 1-3/8" socket! I had to use it again! LOL Reed made great vises too usually large ones! =D

[@thomasthompson6799]

Another excellent restoration returning this beautiful old vise to service. A guy can never have too many tools.

[@highdownmartin]

Actually you can. We all do!

[@jamesalsup9135]

I would leave it just like it is. Adding paint would just be more maintenance.

[@benjamindusseau4912]

did i hear "mirror finish" ... yes yes i think i did, get your polishing sticks out:)

[@tshusker]

Vote for Don't Paint! Love the a'la natural!

[@bigsiss9153]

If you were to paint it I would go with a hammer tone green. Give it the old Industrial look

[@corydriver7634]

No paint on the vise but maybe a splash of Scoutcrafter Red on the wrench handle? Looks great.

[@njpoxman]

Looks good as is. Don’t paint it. Nice job.

[@butchporter5424]

Leave it. It's beautiful. Another great video. Keep em coming!

[@asembler]

Love the natural cast look. Awesome vice. Wish we had these Down Under.

[@tooladdict7463]

Really nice vise for $50 John The vise looks great shellacked But scout craft a red for me :-)

[@ScoutCrafter]

Ben- I’ve seen that vise in many colors and they all look good. I think it just has nice lines... 😃👍

[@scottreynolds4827]

Thank you for NOT PAINTING IT!!

[@marcmckenzie5110]

Out here in the west, at least for me, it's pretty rare to run into these classic vises like your Parker - so this was really eye candy. I've restored a 5" Wilton Mechanic's bullet vise - beautiful but had to sell it - too big for the workbench (replaced it with a 4" Wilton bullet). I'm with you buddy, vises are my favorite tool to restore. The bigger they get, the more physically demanding they become, but they are such satisfying projects! Nicely done as usual!!

[@ScoutCrafter]

Marc- Very big vises are really not very handy for the average shop... Just like huge lathes and big boats! =D

[@62forged]

Looks great without paint.

[@Doco72]

That is one substantial vice. Imagine the work that has been carried out on it and yet it still is in such great shape. Someone has taken care of it during it's life so far and now it looks brand new again. Great job. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@johnkelley9877]

I like the natural color. It looks good but maybe a little ScoutCrafter Red accent on the lettering or logo. Thanks for sharing this great restoration.

[@MadStiles]

Vice looks awesome buddy! I usually just chip the paint during use anyways lol What's the difference between regular alcohol and denatured alcohol?

[@MadStiles]

@Matthew Hopkins great info. Can you use both denatured alcohol and isopropyl alcohol for cleaning?

[@MadStiles]

@Matthew Hopkins thanks buddy!

[@ScoutCrafter]

Jimmy- Matthew is spot on- The reason I use regular 91% alcohol first is because it’s cheap (or was before Covid) and is a good cleaner. However it does have 9% water so I use the denatured alcohol as a fast wipe to remove anything I might of missed and it evaporates really fast- just like lacquer thinner!!! 😃👍🇺🇸

[@MadStiles]

@@ScoutCrafter awesome buddy thanks!

[@autoadjuster]

ScoutCrafter, My I make a recommendation, you need a shield/insulator between the Aluminum shim and cast metal. You will eventually get Galvanic Corrosion from dissimilar metals in contact. If the shim was in an enclosed area with no humidity it will be fine, however it is exposed. It will take a few years but it will eventually start to corrode. Paint will work or a thin piece of plastic 1-2 mils is all you need. I teach corrosion protection to the local body shops, now with more aluminum in vehicles Galvanic Corrosion is an issue. Good work, keep it bare metal...

[@ScoutCrafter]

Phillip- It’s So Funny you mentioned that because The shim was just a few thou too thin so I covered the shim with blue electrical tape on one side and trimmed off the excess... the side facing the vise! 😃👍

[@autoadjuster]

@@ScoutCrafter That will work, hit the other side with some Shellac or a little scoutcrafter Red...lol

[@readysetsleep]

But But the Patina..... I have got one a Parker 434 1/2 in the shed I need to sell, way too heavy for my back to carry. The 1/2 sizes are such a odd ball numbering!

[@ScoutCrafter]

Their number system made no sense! 😂😂😂

[@rickcentore2801]

I would call that vice done!

[@briankruse3584]

Beautiful day at Wallops Island today. My wife and I saw the rocket launch this is history making because of it's too secret mission. 🇺🇸

[@davidgibson9866]

I like the looks of no paint 👍🏻

[@billlink7116]

My wedding song was - 'I love you just the way you are' by Billy Joel. I love it just the way it is. 🙂

[@davidhelmuth5707]

Like the way it looks just like that. But it’s not my vise. You have to live with it not me.😬 Great video, as always I learn something. Thank you!

[@aaronmeredith5453]

I say leave it as is. It looks great!

[@alanr4263]

That is one Sick looking Vise love it.. M.t.A John great Job. Beautiful job.

[@Traderjoe]

I would like it plain five way you left it. It’s a beauty!

[@TheThriftyWoodworker]

I have a Parker 39F that I picked up a few months ago. It is missing the collet. Does anybody know where I can pick one up?

[@east_coast_vintage_tools]

Love the look!!! - I actually picked up a big Record vise today and was thinking about doing the same finish as well!! Cheers!