Show us your most dramatic old tool clean up.

[Adam Woznicki]

Show us your most dramatic old tool clean up.
And if you don't mind, what did you pay for it?

I have a lot of fun cleaning up and repairing the old tools I pick up at garage sales and flea markets.

I love bringing an old tool that was around in a different age back to life.


BTW, I paid $3 for this Yankee 2100-10in brace at a garage sale.

[Michael Faurot]

Here's a Sargent (I can't remember the model number), that's the equivalent of a No. 3. Paid $10 at an antique fair. Cleaned up via electrolysis and then repainted, flattened etc. It's now one of my favorite go-to planes.

[Jim Koepke]

Adam,
Nice find and clean up on the brace.

Michael,
Good job on the plane.
It's now one of my favorite go-to planes.

I think it is the bonding that takes place during the clean up. I feel the same way about my type 7 #7 jointer. It cost $21.25 with tax. Good thing I went for it when I did. Just after buying it, the owner of the shop had the people with stuff on consignment there clear out a lot of stuff that had piled up. She felt she was doing more junk storage than antique selling.

131900

131901

It was cleaned using a citric acid bath.

The refurbishing project is here:

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?p=1155785#poststop

jim

[Stu Gillard]

I originally posted this on another forum...

These are 2 neglectarino braces I've just received from 'the Bay'.
Grand total of $5. ($4ish US)

The first pic is from Ebay. As you can see, it was always going to be hit and miss, but for $5 I took the chance http://cdn.woodworkforums.com/images/smilies/standard/biggrin.gif

The second pic was after unwrapping them at home. Lot's of deep rust, frozen ratchet on the smaller brace etc. The wood was great though, and after a good soaking in WD40, degreasing, derusting, refinishing and lubing, they turned out to be good tools (pic 3).

The larger brace is marked AHREM'S GOOD LINE made in Germany, the smaller is unmarked.
My previous user brace was a old Fray all steel thing. Primitive but effective.
These will be luxury in comparison.

I'll keep a countersink bit in the smaller brace, and use the larger one for general work.

[Derek Cohen]

Hey Michael

I had one that looked just like yours!!!

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=131894&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1257394808

After cleaning up, however, it looked like this ...

http://www.sauerandsteiner.com/news/uploaded_images/CKXSNo4profile-797106.jpg




(OK, that is a Sauer & Steiner :) No, not mine)

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Dominic Greco]

I was walking through a flea market and noticed a milk crate full of old tools. After some digging I found a old bronze small router plane. I got it for $3.

Here's some "before" shots:
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z287/DominicGreco/sm_router_plane3.jpg

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z287/DominicGreco/sm_router_plane2.jpg

Here are some "after":
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z287/DominicGreco/bronzerouterplane.jpg

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z287/DominicGreco/bronzerouterplane2.jpg

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z287/DominicGreco/bronzerouterplane3.jpg

[Matt Wilson]

Here is mine. I can't say I use it much. Its a keen kutter (kk) 9 1/2 I "won" on ebay for I think $5.

http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb279/mwilson_24/ebay.jpg

Having a citric acid bath
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb279/mwilson_24/bucket.jpg

post toweling off..
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb279/mwilson_24/clean.jpg

http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb279/mwilson_24/clean2.jpg

[David Gendron]

Wow these are all great reabb tools, you have way more patience than me...

[Jim Koepke]

Wow these are all great reabb tools, you have way more patience than me...

Or more free time?

jim

[Matt Edwards]

Heres my favorite.

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/7140/605cpside6js.jpg
Shot at 2006-06-18
http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/1787/605cside1lu.jpg
Shot at 2006-06-13


Matt

[jerry nazard]

Matt,

That's a beautiful photo. You suck!! :D

-Jerry

[John Keeton]

This doesn't compare to Matt's steal, but this was actually my first "rust" purchase - a type 11 #4 purchased for $7. I posted a thread on the rehab here (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=116981&page=3).

The "before" pics -
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=123646&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1248540071 (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=123646&d=1248540071)http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=123652&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1248540356 (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=123652&d=1248540356)

And, the "after" pics -
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=123706&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1248569080 (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=123706&d=1248569080)
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=123767&thumb=1&d=1248647029 (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=123767&d=1248647029)http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=123768&thumb=1&d=1248647049 (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=123768&d=1248647049)

[Derek Cohen]

There are some wonderful restorations here. Here are two of my own.

The first is a Stanley #51/52. The full write up is at http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ToolRestorations/Restoring%20a%20Stanley%205152.html

This may look OK to the casual observer ...

http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ToolRestorations/Restoring%20a%20Stanley%205152_html_72dbf4d2.jpg

... but the tool was a mess. Not just poor japanning, but the mouth was unsupported owing to a broken frog and so the plane would not cut.

I rebuilt the plane (including mouth), and re-japanned it (not paint).

Now it is a precision tool again, and frequently used ..

http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ToolRestorations/Restoring%20a%20Stanley%205152_html_m26da2a7b.gif

http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ToolRestorations/Restoring%20a%20Stanley%205152_html_5c0fbad.gif

http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ToolRestorations/Restoring%20a%20Stanley%205152_html_m6530f939.gif


Another restoration I have done - perhaps the most dramatic - was from this old very poor infill smoother...

http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ToolRestorations/Renovating%20an%20Infill%20Smoother1_doc_52c5f396. jpg

I originally thought it was shop made, but it turned out to be an early Spier.

Since the wood had to be replaced, as well as a blade, and I also wanted it to be a working tool, I had a little fun with the "restoration".

Full story at: http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ToolRestorations/Renovating%20an%20Infill%20Smoother1.html

So we went from this ...

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Restoration/Bareshell.jpg

... to this ...

http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ToolRestorations/Renovating%20an%20Infill%20Smoother1_doc_141a3bc0. jpg

And a glamour shot ..

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Restoration/spier2.jpg

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Richard Magbanua]

I didn't take any before pics but here is a Miller's Falls #2 I restored recently...

[Mike Brady]

Sorry, no "before" photos:http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee300/finefettle/Planeshots008-1.jpg

[Mike Brady]

...and one more for variety:http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee300/finefettle/sawshots003.jpg

[dan sherman]

My first and most dramatic was a Stanley #3 type 13.
Before (http://www.dans-hobbies.com/2009/04/10/my-new-smoother-plane/)
After (http://www.dans-hobbies.com/2009/06/30/refurbished-stanley-3/)

My next project is this Stanley #15 (http://www.dans-hobbies.com/2009/11/06/stanley-15-block-plane/).

[george wilson]

Derek,you really DO suck!!! Love that schute board. I had one at work that collections loaned me. The plane was out of square,but Jay Gaynor wouldn't let me take a light cut in the groove to square it up,so I never used it. They had a big bunch of old Stanley planes,some quite valuable,that someone donated. They weren't 18th.C.,couldn't be exhibited,and no one could use them,so they just sit there. #444 among others,mint. Also a mint center wheel plough plane by Sandusky. Must be worth over $3000.00,as it was in the early 80's that a collector offered nearly that much.

[Derek Cohen]

Hi George

Thanks!

The #51/52 is one of my favourite - and most used - tools. It is remarkably accurate.

This restoration spanned over a year. I searched for a replacement frog - hah! Then I looked into casting a replacement. A good friend actually loaned me his #51 plane for some months for use as a mold. In the interim I had the weld (that was already present) looked at by a pro. He pronounced it strong, so I decided to leave it alone, which I did. It has stood up to the usual abuse.

The only modification from the original configuration is the addition of a Japanese laminated Smoothcut blade and the thick Clifton cap iron. A great combination.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Harold Burrell]

Derek, you really DO suck!!!



Hi George

Thanks!


I soooo love this place! :D

[George Clark]

This has become one of my favorite threads. I really admire the restorations. Nice work gentlemen. My attempt with some Stanley 720s and stabilized maple. It took an incredible amount of rubbing to get the backs flat.

George

[Matt Edwards]

Wow Mike that saw handle looks sweet! The scrub looks fantastic also. I recently sorta did a #40, I picked up an orphan bed on the cheap (no blade or lever cap) I made a blade from an old used lawn mower blade and a make shift lever cap out of spare #78. It actually works real good, and will suffice till I run across a legit lever cap. Of course,mine doesn't hold a candle to yours.


Derek,

I never get tired of seeing your work or reading your write ups. Thanks for all you do!



Matt

[Bob Easton]

A $28 Goodell-Pratt egg-beater

http://www.bob-easton.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/goodell-pratt-259.jpg

http://www.bob-easton.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/goodell-pratt-refurb-sm.JPG

Blog entry detailing the rehab; http://www.bob-easton.com/blog/?p=807

[Jim Koepke]

A $28 Goodell-Pratt egg-beater

It looks like a million bucks...

What was used for the red paint?

This thread has me thinking about fixing up one of my Millers Falls egg beaters.

jim

[David Gendron]

Wow Bob, well done! I will send you a couple Miller Falls and you send me that one!

[Pat Zabrocki]

Here is an old transitional that I really like along. I didn't do the finger joints but now I know how. There's a Millers Falls egg beater that is in progress. Still trying to work out the knob for the crank. It is pink ivory which I think is a natural for the Millers Falls line. There's a marking knife that was brought back from the dead and some perfect handle basket cases that were fun to fix up. I like that ebony ball peen hammer. The 140 and the number 7 were total frankenplanes when I got them (still some work to do on the 7) and some chisels, too
cheers
Pat

[Pat Zabrocki]

here's some more pics

[Derek Cohen]

Whooo, George ... I really like those chisel handles. Where did you get the stablized maple?

And Pat, that transitional is sensational. If you did not do it, who did, and how?

Here's one more from me. Several years ago I bought a Stanley #62 really cheaply (!) on eBay (!!) because it was advertised as having a mouth that was too large to make it a user (ignoring the fact that the mouth is adjustable :) ). It was in a sorry state.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Restoration/Stanley%2062/image001.jpg

Indeed, it did not work as the sole was a little banana shaped. I lapped it, cleaned the wood, and left the japanning alone. Later I added a LN blade, which was a little thicker than the original Stanley blade that came with the plane. It turned out like this ..

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Restoration/Stanley%2062/Stanley62after.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Restoration/Stanley%2062/Stanley62completed.jpg

I wrote an article about this (article: http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ToolRestorations/Stanley%2062%20Low%20Angle%20Jack%20renovation.htm l). The interesting post script is that Rob Lee offered me a LV LA Jack for a comparison (article: http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ToolReviews/Son%20of%20Stan%20or%20LV%20and%20its%20developmen t%20of%20the%20Bevel%20Up%20Jack%20plane..html) and this was the start of a great friendship.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Pat Zabrocki]

And Pat, that transitional is sensational. If you did not do it, who did, and how?

I bought a pile of junk no. 27 off ebay. the only thing that was done was the finger joints and I bought it to study that. I am making a sled to cut the finger joints so I can do some more. They need to be cut at about a 60 degree angle to make the joints appear smaller at the toe and wider on the sides. I did the glue up, carved out the mouth, rejapanned the metal and repaired the tote. I don't really like the tote much and I have some ebony left over from a Gramercy dovetail saw kit so maybe I'll make a tote and knob to match the ebony sole.

cheers
Pat

[David Keller NC]

"Also a mint center wheel plough plane by Sandusky. Must be worth over $3000.00,as it was in the early 80's that a collector offered nearly that much."

George - A truly mint-condtion Sandusky center wheel plow in boxwood is worth about $12,000 at the Brown auction. In rosewood, about the same. A mint condition ebony Sandusky center-wheel plow is worth about $16k (they are very rare). An Ohio Tools ebony center-wheel is worth about $20,000 - $30,000 and perhaps considerably more, since there are only 2 known to exist.

[Bob Easton]

It looks like a million bucks...

What was used for the red paint?...

Thanks Jim. The red paint is Rustoleum spray enamel, Sunrise Red. It's probably more red than the original GP color, which I think was a bit more orange. I selected the red that tended most toward orange, rather than toward blue like the maroons.

[george wilson]

David,the center wheel plough was a boxwood one.

[lowell holmes]

What is the new coating on the router plane. I have one that needs new chrome. Would an epoxy coating work?