Cleaning up old Pipe wrenches

[bulwnkle]

I'm wondering if anyone else has cleaned up and painted their old pipe wrenches. I've collected a few over the years and thought they would look better cleaned and painted. I by no means pretend to be a tool or hardware restorer but I had a little time to kill and this is what I ended up with. The 14" is in branded but says BF Spain on the end of the handle. The 18" was made by The Ridge Tool Co in Elyria Ohio. And the spud wrench is a USA made Ridgid. Any thoughts, criticism or pics of similar projects would be great.

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[The Cobbler]

Nice job!

 

[DadsTools]

Very, very nice work!

I deal in older tools, and I can tell you that for the most part, older standard design Ridgid- or Stilson-style pipe wrenches 16" or under have very little value, even vintage ones in really nice condition. Even many of the monkey-style with wood handles are flat. Part of the problem is that we use so much plastic pipe today that these girls just aren't the 'must-have' items they once were. Secondly, no one ever throws away working pipe wrenches, so there are zillions of them out there.

That said, if they were kind of cruddy, restoring them as you have can do nothing but enhance their value.

They came out beautiful. Thanks for sharing them.

 

[southalabama]

Looks good.

What paint you use?

 

[wrench409]

I did clean and oil my two 18" pipe wrenches today but did not paint them.

What a coinikydink.

 

[bulwnkle]

Nice job!

Thank you

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[bulwnkle]

Looks good.

What paint you use?

I used Rust-Oleum automotive primer followed by 3 coats of Rust-Oleum gloss sunrise red.

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[bulwnkle]

Nice job!

Thanks!!

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[bulwnkle]

Very, very nice work!

I deal in older tools, and I can tell you that for the most part, older standard design Ridgid- or Stilson-style pipe wrenches 16" or under have very little value, even vintage ones in really nice condition. Even many of the monkey-style with wood handles are flat. Part of the problem is that we use so much plastic pipe today that these girls just aren't the 'must-have' items they once were. Secondly, no one ever throws away working pipe wrenches, so there are zillions of them out there.

That said, if they were kind of cruddy, restoring them as you have can do nothing but enhance their value.

They came out beautiful. Thanks for sharing them.

Wow, for someone that deals in older tools that complement really is appreciated. These were all usable but looked like they were just tossed around or sat in the bottom of a tool box.

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[Sunset_Z28]

Very nice job. I've got a few that I've cleaned up using electrolysis but have never painted any of them. This is the last one I de-rusted.

 

[tym]

They turned out great!

 

[txvwnut]

I bought a couple 18" rigids from a pawn shop that were nasty and looked un-usable. After a trip through the media blaster and a can Krylon got two nice pipe wrenches.

I didn't put near the effort as the OP as I knew these were going to get beat up but they still look decent after twenty years of use.

 

[jakemac]

6" to 36" Walworth Stillson wrenches (still haven't found a 48" to add to the family).
The 36" still needs to be cleaned and painted.

 

[JimNC]

They look great!

 

[Corndoggeh]

Whenever im doing my restorations on other items for selling, I will fill in with pipe wrenches to fill up time between drying/blasting of the important stuff. Nice job on those ones!

 

[Toolmaker65]

They look great. Still use them in industry where most of the piping is still pipe, not plastic drinking straws used in homes.

 

[Sawdustmaker]

Nice work. Has inspired me to clean up and paint mine.

 

[skruft]

You can get a color of spray paint closer to the original Ridgid if you want, or at least you could several years ago. I think it was Krylon and I only saw it in one paint store.

 

[slip knot]

I've cleaned a few up but never could get the color right. its always a bit too red.

Those 2 look good.

 

[countryroad82]

I cleaned one of mine up once, it doesn't look like it now . The rest of mine I won't hardly even use because they were my dads or grandfathers, to me every nick or scratch was put there by them so I leave them.

 

[SweetD]

A few years ago my brother in law found a pipe wrench on his recently-purchased property. I think the research showed this one was made in Boston, MA - which makes it very old.

It was frozen up solid, broken teeth, etc. I used an electrolysis bath to de-rust it, and painted it up with the same primer and Sunrise Red that you used. Gave it to him for Christmas that year - he has it hanging on his wall I believe. Pretty cool.

 

[WildwoodChuck]

A little repaint for the Mrs.

I am planning on a green one for the youngest SS.

 

[Al Borland]

I've cleaned up and painted a few old ones, but painted them fluorescent orange or green to make them easier to find if set down or dropped.

 

[Mick56]

I cleaned and painted mine years ago. I like them!!

 

[bulwnkle]

I just put a 24" Trimo back together with a pat date of 6/20/16. I will get a picture of it on here sometime when the sun is out....lighting in my shop is horrible.

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[Ole Slewfoot]

I have a couple of those, I just try to use em enough they stay shiny.

 

[rsanter]

Yup, I cleaned up some too rusty for me Cman pipe wrenches.
Took them apart, electrolysis, and then paint

Bob

 

[bulwnkle]

The hot rivet was replaced with a bolt before I picked it up,if I knew how to do it I would bit for now a bolt will have to do.

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[Arne73]

A few years ago my brother in law found a pipe wrench on his recently-purchased property. I think the research showed this one was made in Boston, MA - which makes it very old.

It was frozen up solid, broken teeth, etc. I used an electrolysis bath to de-rust it, and painted it up with the same primer and Sunrise Red that you used. Gave it to him for Christmas that year - he has it hanging on his wall I believe. Pretty cool.

Nice-
I'm thinking that's a Diamond-Caulk markings..

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[gicts]

Here's a Ridgid Ridge Co I picked up at a yard sale on Saturday for a buck. Not finished yet, (started as a rusty mess) but has me kicking around paint options the the Craftsman like powder coating or Cerekote. Used Testor's spray paint on the Ridgid.