Vintage Tool Restoration

Ryan · Nov 17, 2018

So about a year ago I found this guy on YouTube that silently restores vintage tools. I'm pretty sure it's a foreign production, but the quality is high and the tools are almost exclusively things that we would like. Unfortunately, he doesn't make vi...

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Ryan · Nov 17, 2018

I had a little issue with the blog this morning and lost all of the comments from this feature... Sorry Stuart... But we should be good to go now.

Shiftless · Nov 17, 2018

I’m completely blown away at the level of quality and attention to detail that this guy achieves. He uses machinery that is not available to most of us but even so, it is inspirational to watch him restore a rather mundane tool like a tire inflator. But it’s certainly not an ordinary tire inflator.

All I can say is ...WOW!... :bowdown:

Thanks Ryan for posting and providing a link to the guy’s other videos.

EEErik · Nov 17, 2018

Goes from a weekend restore project to a full on machinist real fast. Very impressive and nice to see all of the uses of a lathe.

jmlcolorado · Nov 17, 2018

That was thereputic to watch. I actually enjoy it with no voiceover. Just the sounds of work being done. And that’s not normal for me. That guy got a new sub from me for sure.

Provincial · Nov 17, 2018

I like how he lays out all the parts on the bench like an exploded parts diagram. Take a photo and you have a reference for reassembly.

Fantastic workmanship!

JohnS · Nov 17, 2018

Incredible .....you should be working for NASA!

Stuart in MN · Nov 17, 2018

Here's another guy I follow: https://www.youtube.com/user/stevieabz/videos He's not quite as technical as the guy in the original post but he still does some good stuff.

This guy just finished a restoration of a Honda Trail 90 that was pretty good, and he's done some tools as well.

tin medic · Nov 17, 2018

I should send him some things to work on. That was awesome.

txvwnut · Nov 17, 2018

Yeah that guys some serious patience and fabrication skills. I bet that gauge didn’t look that good new.

Terranova · Nov 18, 2018

Oddly enough I've been watching a bunch of tool refurb videos too. This is the guy who's caught my eye...

Stuart in MN · Nov 18, 2018

Terranova said:
Oddly enough I've been watching a bunch of tool refurb videos too. This is the guy who's caught my eye...

Hand Tool Rescue guy. He's fun to watch, I think he's a little unhinged.

He's done some joint videos with Jimmy Diresta.

1/2 Cup · Nov 18, 2018

Just awesome :bowdown:

WWShop · Nov 18, 2018

I just subscribed to this channel last week after watching him do an awesome vise restoration. I think he is from Switzerland from a comment on YouTube.

Private Lugnutz · Nov 18, 2018

txvwnut said:
I bet that gauge didn’t look that good new.

Interesting you should say that.

I love the silence, and he has mad skills, obviously. But restorations this good remind me why I favor preservation vs. restoration: the history of the piece is obliterated in the process. It quite literally looks brand new, and not in a time travel way. It may as well be a reproduction. I realize that very few of the parts he is making are actual reproductions, but that is the overall effect, for me. A curator in a museum would use a much lighter touch. I understand, his goals are different. I get it. And I'm not trying to kill the buzz here. It's clearly a subjective thing. Exactly the reason why they added a "Preserved Class" at the Nationals in Monterey. Some people appreciation seeing all the age on that old Stutz Bearcat rather than a Stutz Bearcat that artificially defies time. I actually his "BEFORE" pictures more than his "AFTER."

Ryan · Nov 18, 2018

Private Lugnutz said:
Interesting you should say that.

I love the silence, and he has mad skills, obviously. But restorations this good remind me why I favor preservation vs. restoration: the history of the piece is obliterated in the process. It quite literally looks brand new, and not in a time travel way. It may as well be a reproduction. I realize that very few of the parts he is making are actual reproductions, but that is the overall effect, for me. A curator in a museum would use a much lighter touch. I understand, his goals are different. I get it. And I'm not trying to kill the buzz here. It's clearly a subjective thing. Exactly the reason why they added a "Preserved Class" at the Nationals in Monterey. Some people appreciation seeing all the age on that old Stutz Bearcat rather than a Stutz Bearcat that artificially defies time. I actually his "BEFORE" pictures more than his "AFTER."

I agree with you on a lot of levels... However, my tastes change from object to object. Sometimes I can find something and know - this one has to be preserved. And other times, I feel like it needs to be better than new. Plus, it's just fun to see how far you can take something.

Whatever it is just gives me a feeling to go one way or another.

Private Lugnutz · Nov 18, 2018

Great point. Totally agree. I have been accused of flip flopping myself on projects, and that is usually the reason.

Chaznsc · Nov 18, 2018

The thing that I come away with is this project involves many many skill sets shushing many different tools and techniques that take a lifetime to accumulate. I’m usually elated when I just take it apart and get it out back together.

Amazing.

Stuart in MN · Nov 18, 2018

He posted another video today, restoration of a 'perfect' handled screwdriver.

Vintage Veloce · Nov 19, 2018

I work on some vintage motorcycles where the bolts have been "restored" like this. Sadly after sanding the blemishes off of the bolts, they are no longer properly sized and wrenches don't fit correctly. It becomes much easier to round them off. They look great though!

LegacyIndustrial · Nov 20, 2018

Phone was ringing off the hook while I sat there watching his restoration in amazement.
I need to get one of those polishing wheels!!

Good find Sir!

bsg1 · Nov 20, 2018

I am amazed at the skill set displayed in the video. still, my preference is for the piece to be in it's former condition that use and time had brought it to.

OOBER · Nov 20, 2018

That was oddly therapeutic. I feel calmer now :eek2:

WarrenJ · Nov 21, 2018

Enjoyed watching the screwdriver restore. Need to watch some of the other videos.

Thehashman · Nov 21, 2018

Does anybody know who made this air impact?
Looking for make and model.
Impact has no markings. It's a 1in twin hammer impact gun. I need a rebuild kit for it & i just don't know where to get it.

^&right · Nov 22, 2018

I found this guy a few days ago, started with the Swiss vice resto and was blown away. Followed that with the tire inflator and spiral jack.

Watched this one yesterday. Not quite as much talent as the OP, but very satisfying to watch just the same.

Notgrownup · Nov 23, 2018

WOW! that is craftsmanship there... I wish I had all those tools, maybe I could learn just a part of what he did...

sns1938 · Nov 23, 2018

I'd never watched anything like this before. It's amazing! I also found one restoring a 10 euro English made black and decker drill (I think my father still has one the same) and a nice like 1960's chainsaw!

I'm definitely going to be looking out for some restore projects now!! Amazing work, and you just end up with something as beautiful as it is useful.

Thank you

Woogeroo · Nov 25, 2018

ah, that is some good stuff there.

Thanks for sharing.

-Woog

catch2otwo · Nov 28, 2018

very refreshing. Not another youtube **** bumbling on and on about things that dont matter. Most youtubers just love the sound of their own voice. Video = two thumbs up

JonnyC · Dec 5, 2018

I like this guy's videos a lot as well, it's so therapeutic.

bwringer · Dec 5, 2018

OK, where I can buy a new inflator with that wonderful gigantic dial?

Marked in PSI, please.

Rocket3004 · Dec 8, 2018

That was incredible! Next-level work.

OOBER said:
That was oddly therapeutic. I feel calmer now

Same!

dapekema · Mar 13, 2025

I'm a big fan of My Mechanics (Mister Patina is another favorite). After a couple years of watching their videos I was inspired to try my hand at making them. If you're at all interested I'm @TetanusTime on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@TetanusTime The train track anvil and pipe cutter videos are probably my favorites that I've produced thus far. Just trying to get better (both on the restoration and videography fronts) with every new video! Don't forget to like and subscribe!

Beerhippie · Mar 13, 2025

Following....

four.cycle · Mar 15, 2025

I found myself in the wrong rabbit hole one day, and spent half an hour watching this.

Mr. David Henry Goodell, in addition to inventing all manner of incredibly efficient and imaginitive machinery, was also the Governor of New Hampshire at one time. He was quite the innovator.

BSWS · Mar 15, 2025

Those hands in the video looked a lot like Don Long's

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