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Fixing a vintage tool

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mark-NJ

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Apr 1, 2019
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775
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new jersey
So here's the deal: This very-cool set of thin wrenches was my dad's, and quite likely his dad's before him. From what I can find on line, these were made in the early 20th century:


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Made in Germany, certainly pre-WWII...

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At the tender young age of about 11 or 12, I used these to open a paint can....with the (then-unexpected) consequences. But, at the time...well, hey... "What could go wrong?"

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Dad wasn't impressed.

So this weekend, a full half-century (+ a few years) later, I'm going to attempt a repair. I got some annealed 1095, and I'm going to try to TIG a new "ear". From there, I'll shape it, then heat / quench it...hopefully hardening it to where it will be usable.

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I've never TIG'd 1095 before, but I've read a bit about the importance of pre-heating. I'll figure something out. As for the rod, I keep reading about all sorts of exotic nickel-based rods, but I also keep reading that 70S-2 will work just fine. Any input that y'all want to make is certainly welcome!

One thing's for sure: I don't think I can make it any "more broken", right?
 
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M

mark-NJ

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 1, 2019
Messages
775
Location
new jersey
So tonight was the big night...clean-up, bevel & fit-up. I set it up on a thick steel "shelf" because I needed to pre-heat it and I didn't want the table to act as a sink:

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Check the layout for comfy TIG torch handling & travel, got everything staged, and hit it with a torch to get everything warm-hot. Put the propane torch down, "assumed the position", grabbed the TIG torch & went for it. Not bad! Slight incomplete fill with a smidge of burn through on the start, but nothing I can't fix.

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Flapped it smooth, and carefully ground out where the filler was sitting in the V of the mouth. I didn't realize that, in the fog of battle, I messed up the geometry of the V. No biggie: I just filled in some filler, and re-ground it correctly. I did have to scribe a line, and I dug in a little too deep, so that's my scar to carry. No photos, though.

I traced the other side of the wrench, cut a template and marked where the added steel needed to be cut:

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Not too shabby! Beginning to look like it did long, long ago!


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I added a spit of filler to that small void on the right, then used a cutoff wheel & flap disc to finish the shape...

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I'm diggin' it!! You can see the scribe line I mentioned above. It's not as deep & bright as the photo makes it look, but still. Makes me wonder exactly how hard this wrench was to begin with...

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I can't hold the wrench, the torch and a camera all at once, so you can't see the cherry-red glow of the steel, but here we are, post-quench.

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Right now it's in the kitchen stove for 2 hours at 500F to de-stress it. My amazing wonderful wife has not yet mentioned the aroma... :)

Not bad, all things considered. It's times like this that I wish I could call my dad and say "Guess what?!?!", but he's not with us anymore... I'd like to believe that somehow he knows.
 
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mark-NJ

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 1, 2019
Messages
775
Location
new jersey
Old tool guy said:
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I never would have thought to quench in coffee. Does cappuccino or latte work best?
Click to expand...


That's espresso, specifically an Italian Doppio Espresso Macchiato. Want a sip? I'll warm it up for you! I saved every drop (in a jar curiously-labeled "Quenching oil"). But if you want some, let me know!
 
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