Any antique tool experts here?

[Techie1961]

I picked up this cart this afternoon knowing that they often fetch a good return. I'm going to get it ready for resale and was hoping that there are some here that know about these sorts of tools and how to retain their value.

From what I understand, the last thing that I want to do is strip it down, sandblast it, paint it blue (a little inside humor for those that know me), and put new boards on it. I think that the "patina" is what makes them valuable. That being said, the boards are rough and I have lots of old barn boards that I could put on it. The cuts would be new in the wood though.

 

[Rileysan]

I picked up this cart this afternoon knowing that they often fetch a good return. I'm going to get it ready for resale and was hoping that there are some here that know about these sorts of tools and how to retain their value.

From what I understand, the last thing that I want to do is strip it down, sandblast it, paint it blue (a little inside humor for those that know me), and put new boards on it. I think that the "patina" is what makes them valuable. That being said, the boards are rough and I have lots of old barn boards that I could put on it. The cuts would be new in the wood though.

Don't you know - we're all experts here!

But seriously, you have an item that fits a very small niche in the world of tool collecting. As far as restoration, I believe you are confusing vintage furniture with tools. To date, I haven't heard of tools losing their value due to cleaning and/or restoration. There is no value in the wood (if it's even original) in its current condition. The rest of it needs to be cleaned, stripped, and repainted and the wheels disassembled and repacked with new grease.

Because of the time needed and replacement parts costs, unless you paid next to $0 for it, you return on investment will be limited to the satisfaction in restoring a really neat cart.

Best of luck!

Brian

 

[Packard V8]

Don't you know - we're all experts here!

But seriously, you have an item that fits a very small niche in the world of tool collecting. As far as restoration, I believe you are confusing vintage furniture with tools. To date, I haven't heard of tools losing their value due to cleaning and/or restoration. There is no value in the wood (if it's even original) in its current condition. The rest of it needs to be cleaned, stripped, and repainted and the wheels disassembled and repacked with new grease.

Because of the time needed and replacement parts costs, unless you paid next to $0 for it, you return on investment will be limited to the satisfaction in restoring a really neat cart.

Best of luck!

Brian

Then, there are those who'll disagree totally and vehemently. In their world, original/patina/survivor are the sought-afters. Any cleaning, replacement, modification trashes the value.

jack vines

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

Id grease the hubs till the dont squeak, and offer to replace the deck for extra cost.

 

[Techie1961]

Hahaha! Yes, we're all experts here but you do know the definition of "expert" don't you. An "ex" is a has been and a "spurt" is a drip under pressure.

I know that as a "tool" it doesn't hold a lot of value but the city condo dwellers seem to like this antique stuff a lot and use it as furniture. I think that's the best market for it.

 

[bonneyman]

Hahaha! Yes, we're all experts here but you do know the definition of "expert" don't you. An "ex" is a has been and a "spurt" is a drip under pressure.

I know that as a "tool" it doesn't hold a lot of value but the city condo dwellers seem to like this antique stuff a lot and use it as furniture. I think that's the best market for it.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I think I would try to encapsulate the wood in resin thick enough to serve as a table top and also coat the rest in it's original patina also with resin. I have no idea if this is feasible or advisable, it's just what I would do.

 

[Techie1961]

I think I would try to encapsulate the wood in resin thick enough to serve as a table top and also coat the rest in it's original patina also with resin. I have no idea if this is feasible or advisable, it's just what I would do.

I like that idea for the wood. I love the look of the old boards but would be very leery of putting it into my house with the potential for unwanted visitors.

 

[Davefr]

If you're going to flip it then leave it as is. Don't second guess how the next owner wants it to look. That old wood looks pretty cool but that's just my humble opinion.

 

[bwringer]

That thing is cool as hell. At first, I thought that was actually moss growing in the front bracket.

Personally, I'd leave it as-is (aside from maybe greasing the hubs if they're squeaky) and leave the restoration up to the buyer. This cart could serve many different purposes, so I wouldn't try to guess. The old wood looks cool, but if it's really rotted out or contaminated, someone may want it replaced or encapsulated.

"Price as-is, with original patina. Expert restoration to whatever level desired is available at added cost."

 

[jakemac]

If it were me, I'd hose it off (not pressure wash) and let it dry thoroughly in the sun.
Then I'd brush Boiled Linseed Oil onto the wood and let it soak in and dry for about a week.
After that, I'd slowly build up light coats of BLO to seal the wood.
Once the wood is sealed, more coats of BLO can be built up to create a "finish". Let each coat dry fully, then a very light sanding with #0000 steel wool between coats.
After you've dealt with the wood, one or two light coats of BLO applied with a rag on the metal will preserve the patina.

Top it off with a thick glass table top, and you should be able to list it at $1200 or more as a coffee table.

 

[Techie1961]

If it were me, I'd hose it off (not pressure wash) and let it dry thoroughly in the sun.
Then I'd brush Boiled Linseed Oil onto the wood and let it soak in and dry for about a week.
After that, I'd slowly build up light coats of BLO to seal the wood.
Once the wood is sealed, more coats of BLO can be built up to create a "finish". Let each coat dry fully, then a very light sanding with #0000 steel wool between coats.
After you've dealt with the wood, one or two light coats of BLO applied with a rag on the metal will preserve the patina.

Top it off with a thick glass table top, and you should be able to list it at $1200 or more as a coffee table.

That's an awesome bit of advise and exactly what I was looking for. The glass top is the perfect finish for it. Thanks so much.

 

[jakemac]

It will take time, but the results will be worth it.
Keep the coats thin, otherwise the BLO will remain tacky and take longer to cure.

 

[PSYKO_Inc]

I'm afraid you're going to have to give us the story behind the "strip it down and paint it blue" comment; forum tax

 

[lilredex]

I'd be inclined to leave it as-is until you find a buyer. What ever you do will be wrong in the eyes of a potential buyer. You can then offer your services to up grade it, if the buyer wishes.

https://www.google.ca/search?q=rail...0ahUKEwjm8abuq5TNAhXo8YMKHY52DPEQsAQILQ&dpr=1

 

[crguy]

As expected, there are a wide range of ideas offered on this. Notice how nobody has jumped up wanting to buy it?
My advise is to sell it as is, and let the next owner do what they want with it (and their time and money).

 

[Stuart in MN]

If the point is to flip it, don't do anything to it. You'll get the most money for it as is, someone will want it as a rustic coffee table.

 

[Techie1961]

I'm afraid you're going to have to give us the story behind the "strip it down and paint it blue" comment; forum tax

I have a thread on a barn that became my shop and a lot of the tool restorations were painted Tremclad Royal Blue and Tremclad Burnt Orange. There have been a few comments on my persistence with those colours.

 

[anndel]

I think by now you realized there are many antiques here online but no experts

 

[toolmiser]

I was told once by a very wise person that "an expert is someone who is twenty miles from home".

 

[four.cycle]

Okay... I'll chime in here....

That looks like just the sort of thing my mother would pay $150-$200 bucks for and then call me and say "Can you come over and take a look at this thing and see if maybe we could fix it up for a plant stand?"

She did exactly that with an old laundry wringer - had heavy tempered glass shelves cut for it and had it in the living room holding a couple potted plants.

Now, bear in mind my mother is even nuttier than me when it comes to old stuff like that. Maybe it's a gene that runs in the family, but my sisters didn't inherit it.

If it were ME, and the intent was to flip it, I would leave it exactly as it is and not do one thing to it - particularly not the squeaky wheel. (See the story about Sergio Leone and the squeaky windmill howling during the first seventeen minutes of "Once Upon a Time in the West".)
That squeak is an inherent part of its charm.

If you're going to keep it, or your wife wants to use it for a plant stand or firewood holder in the living room, then yes, by all means cut some new wood for it, clean it up a bit and it will be a conversation piece. (If it were me I would have it blasted and put a few coats of jet black paint on it and re-do the top with some old barn wood - you can bleach the wood with ordinary household bleach to get the end cuts to match the top pretty easily - I've done that on several pieces.)

But if it's just a "flip it and forget it" deal, leave it alone and try to get the best price you can for it.
In North Seattle some fool would pay you $200-$300 easy for that thing - no idea what your market is there, though.

Let us know what you finally decide to do.