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Tool restoration

13

Posts

  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Great stuff @wild edges . I'm currently following the advice and am soaking in vinegar two vine eye screws the fencing chap had very kindly removed from the old posts and then forgot to give them to me. They've been out in the rain since Saturday! I'd better go and check on progress.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    I found an old rake handle that I snapped a few years ago (don't ask) and chopped the end off for the handle. I might shape it up a bit to match the old one at some point when I have more time. I drilled the lanyard hole in the side so it hangs flat against the wall. Quick before and after...


    Not the easiest of tapers to shape but it's very snug and strong. It could do with tapping in a little bit more but I'm too afraid to bend the tip of the trowel.


    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Lovely. I guess any acid would work pretty well.
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    Fire said:
    Lovely. I guess any acid would work pretty well.
    Pretty much, as long as it's not too strong. You can even water vinegar down a bit and leave it in for longer if you don't want to waste so much of it (or if you've only got the stuff left from your pickled onions :#).
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • matt_fendermatt_fender Posts: 169
    NannaBoo said:
    I'm with you on that one JennyJ but it makes you wounder what it does to our inside if it cleans so many things.
    Phosphoric acid in coke is what makes it work for rust removal - also used in some commercial rust removal products. But don't forget that our own stomachs are making even stronger hydrochloric acid (also a rather effective rust remover!) so I wouldn't worry too much about drinking coca cola.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    @matt_fender Yes indeed.
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    I've been watching a channel called My Mechanics recently actually. I've been slowly fixing up an old bench vice I found and he did a really good restoration of one which was really helpful. Way above my level though and I prefer to leave some marks of age rather than make things look like new. I've seen him machine a new washer for something he's restoring rather than use an off the shelf one. It's a whole new level of perfection.
    I've recently restored a ship's mast-head lamp into a light for my office and it looks great with a flame effect LED lamp inside. Maybe I'll take some photos.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Thread's been dredged up by a spammer @wild edges. He posted then edited to add his advert  :/
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    These spammers get weirder all the time.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    I usually soak uncared for tools in vinegar and it works pretty well. The black gunk that comes off has such a particular smell. This time I soaked tools overnight but a blade was eaten away. Surprising and interesting. I don't think that I can get any useful edge on that - it's like lace. I guess you don't want to use the vinegar treatment too often.


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