I picked these four up at an estate sale for a song. Anyone have an idea where I can find the short shovel handles and proper wooden pick handles? The fiberglass ones I’m finding locally are way too large.
Hello - when restoring old rusty files (really rusty beauties that I found at yard sales 😊) do you oil them between vinegar soaks?
And when brushing / scraping/ using sandpaper, what direction? I’m worried about damaging the file, dulling it if that’s even possible
Edit to thank everyone for their help. I absolutely love learning new crafts/skills, my projects are what keeps me going. Anything that gets me thinking creatively (problem solving and / or artsy crafty) and working with my hands. Big into tools currently so keep the tips coming! Thank you so much!
Follow up post after 4 days of work. Polished the brass hardware, stripped and oiled the wood. Added some straight grain sanded finishes where I could. The original black paint was 90 percent gone already so a little blasting was in order to set it right. Primed and painted with new black paint and sharpened to a surgical finish on the blade.
Turned a new bolt that was missing, cleaned, repaired and sharpened!
I love these!
Patent from 1892 for reference.
Today's haul for $25: a Proto inch pound torque wrench with a last calibration date of June 1981, two JetTwist safety wire pliers and a roll of .25 wire. A Stanley C72 plane for $10, a set of Craftsman micro drivers, a Snap On screwdriver, two scribes and a custom welded snap on 10mm socket welded to a 5/8 wrench. This guy was an aircraft mechanic and made a lot of custom tools with specific bends and uses.
Hello community,
I found these embossing punches(?) that apparently came from my grandfather and I thought it would be nice to restore them as a gift to my father.
While I am technically inclined, I am new to restoration and I am worried to damage the tools in the process.
My biggest question, at this stage is, what the pros would recommend for rust removal.
Since the letters at the end of the punch are quite fine, I am worried that acidic solutions might be too aggressive.
I have different options at hand. Like soap, citric acid, aceton, and vinegar.
The punches seem to have some black paint or coating on them but I have no idea what it could be.
Or would you just grind off all rust and paint and then repaint the whole thing? That seems like a nuclear option to me though.
I'd be happy for getting any hint.