36” Walworth pipe wrench restoration.

[S-K Tool Fanatic!]

I got the big old 36” Walworth for free out of scrap a little while back. It’s in pretty sad shape and I would love to restore it and make it usable again. But one thing I don’t is what color it’s supposed to be, so if some could tell what it’s supposed to be or a picture in a catalogue. I plan on taking it apart and media blasting it. Once more things are done I’ll post some updates.



(Don’t worry the leg vise will be done soon)

 

[d42jeep]

If It was mine and I was going to repaint it, I would leave the wrench part natural with some fluid film and paint the handle black, maybe flat black. I might fill in the inset with black as well. This is from 1949.
This is a NOS wartime Walco by Walworth. The black paint is flat
-Don

 

[Shiftless]

d42Jeep has good suggestions.
The media blasting you are considering will strip off the patina of age that many old tool aficionados admire.

 

[S-K Tool Fanatic!]

I’m not a big of patina, I prefer bare metal or painted.

 

[Shiftless]

I’m not a big of patina, I prefer bare metal or painted.

In that case, if you blast, I think a metallic medium dark gray color would look great on that wrench. Post some pics when you’re done.

 

[d42jeep]

You could just dip the jaw end of the wrench in evaporust so it wouldn’t have the bead blasted look. Then paint the handle and other areas.
-Don