Boogerman
Well-known member
I'm not much of a tool polisher. Quite the opposite, I'm a buy nice stuff, use it hard, discard it when it's worn out kind of guy. Have read GJ for years, seen the fascination with fixing up old Craftsman grinders. Saw one, very complete, and what I thought was one of the more desirable configurations at a junk sale a couple weeks ago. Bought it and figured I'd pass it on to someone on here that would want to do a restoration. It was oxidized in the aluminum parts, and rusty on the steel, but it was complete and ran excellent. Even the scrapers, tool rests, eye shields and lamp were complete.
Put it in the classifieds, and absolutely no interest. Everybody must have already found one and done their restoration. So, I figured I'd refinish it, at least get rid of the oxidation and rust. Have absolutely no use for it, but would rather have a nice thing in the way than a ratty oxidized ugly one.
Deleted a few photos by mistake, so can't show the start of the process. Took it all apart. Used headlight polishing on the plastic eye shields and the light bulb shield, they got amazingly better. Took the whole thing apart, and cleaned the heavily oxidized aluminum parts with a stainless steel brush and mag wheel cleaner. Looked like hell, but it got off the oxidized aluminum and rust barnacles combined with that oxidation. Then, used self etching primer to prime the aluminum.
There was no chemical helping the water dip tray; it had been filled with iron filings and sediment and allowed to corrode. Nothing helped. I chiseled the sediment out and broke the rust/oxidation off with a screwdriver. then, used a coarse hone to clean the inside as well as I could. the outside had immense pits, filed it, used the belt grinder, and got it cleaned up:
the sheet metal housing that bridges between the two sides of the grinder was heavily rusted and the label was garbage. I had mattblast on here make me a reproduction label. While I was waiting for it to come, I put the sheet metal into electrolysis for 3 days, and it came out good enough to clean up with maroon scotchbrite. Meanwhile, painted the aluminum castings with hammer finish paint, and when the electrolysis was done primed the sheet metal and painted with stainless steel paint. The label came today in the mail and will look great. Used Rustoleum self etching primer, hammerred bronze paint, and stainless steel paint for the refinishing. Hate rattle cans, especially when it's cool, but by heating the parts and the paint can in the shop and then painting quickly in short stretches outside, got a decent job of it.
Painted the rusty light with aluminum/chrome paint, and rubbed it out with a rag when dry to look like aluminum or galvanizing to match original better than shiny chrome look.
The stones had been used grinding aluminum and were worn and out of balance, so set aside two new stones to put on it.
Temptation is to put it all together, but I just painted today, so will set the parts in the warm shop for a week or so, to harden up so they won't get scratched or marred. Better to be patient than come out with a substandard product.
I'll put it together in a week or so, and post a final product picture.
Put it in the classifieds, and absolutely no interest. Everybody must have already found one and done their restoration. So, I figured I'd refinish it, at least get rid of the oxidation and rust. Have absolutely no use for it, but would rather have a nice thing in the way than a ratty oxidized ugly one.
Deleted a few photos by mistake, so can't show the start of the process. Took it all apart. Used headlight polishing on the plastic eye shields and the light bulb shield, they got amazingly better. Took the whole thing apart, and cleaned the heavily oxidized aluminum parts with a stainless steel brush and mag wheel cleaner. Looked like hell, but it got off the oxidized aluminum and rust barnacles combined with that oxidation. Then, used self etching primer to prime the aluminum.
There was no chemical helping the water dip tray; it had been filled with iron filings and sediment and allowed to corrode. Nothing helped. I chiseled the sediment out and broke the rust/oxidation off with a screwdriver. then, used a coarse hone to clean the inside as well as I could. the outside had immense pits, filed it, used the belt grinder, and got it cleaned up:
the sheet metal housing that bridges between the two sides of the grinder was heavily rusted and the label was garbage. I had mattblast on here make me a reproduction label. While I was waiting for it to come, I put the sheet metal into electrolysis for 3 days, and it came out good enough to clean up with maroon scotchbrite. Meanwhile, painted the aluminum castings with hammer finish paint, and when the electrolysis was done primed the sheet metal and painted with stainless steel paint. The label came today in the mail and will look great. Used Rustoleum self etching primer, hammerred bronze paint, and stainless steel paint for the refinishing. Hate rattle cans, especially when it's cool, but by heating the parts and the paint can in the shop and then painting quickly in short stretches outside, got a decent job of it.
Painted the rusty light with aluminum/chrome paint, and rubbed it out with a rag when dry to look like aluminum or galvanizing to match original better than shiny chrome look.
The stones had been used grinding aluminum and were worn and out of balance, so set aside two new stones to put on it.
Temptation is to put it all together, but I just painted today, so will set the parts in the warm shop for a week or so, to harden up so they won't get scratched or marred. Better to be patient than come out with a substandard product.
I'll put it together in a week or so, and post a final product picture.
