It's nice to see a craftsman work. Putting effort into an old tool is a reward. Many people ask me why I do it. It's hard to explain to someone who doesn't get it. You just gave that tool another 100 years. Hopefully another craftsmen will do the same in the future. An A+ job. Great inspiration to up my effort. Thank you.
Wow! You went the extra step and showed off your skills on this one! More than your average restore, with the mending of that threaded piece, and manufacturing the new knurled nut. We got to see more than just a clean, wiring, and shine! Very fun!
Hello Christina! Boy O Boy! You must have a background in mechanical or engineering or something! You really know your stuff!!! I bet you restored your home! I wouldn't want to see the mechanic who tries to pull the wool over your eyes!!!! lol Thanks so much!!!!
Hey Scout. I come from a long line of engineers, mechanics, and repairmen......but nothing teaches a person like the rigors of life. When my very handy and skilled-at-everything-mechanical husband passed away in 2010, I had to learn to complete the Honey-do list on my own. I'm no expert. I just like dabbling and tinkering. I also enjoy watching all the fix-its and restores that folks with your talent post.
This was a great restoration. My 10 year old son loves watching your videos with me. We watch for your new uploads and catch them as soon as they are posted. Thanks for a great, family friendly restoration channel with lots of great content.
Hello OnceWasLost1982! Wow! You can't imagine how much I love to hear that! I ran a Scout troop for 20 years and I used to love to bring tools and machines like drill presses and a lathe down to the meetings and let the boys have fun with them! I try to always add a few tips with every restoration hoping that it might inspire others to join in this very satisfying hobby! Thanks so much for your kind words and I do so appreciate them! =)
Hello David! Glad you enjoyed the tapping stand! I almost cut it out of the video because it was running long but I'm glad now I kept it in!!!! Thanks very much!!!!
Brilliant job! After the thread snapped I would have given up for sure but it's pushing though challenges like this that makes one a better craftsman. This video is a lesson to us all, not only in metalworking but also in confidence and resourcefulness when things don't go our way. Thanks for your efforts!!
Hello Adam!!! Thanks so much! You are absolutely right! Sometimes you have to take a breath and re-evaluate the situation and do the best you can! Thanks again!!!!!!!
Hello JP It would be nice if I knew how to cut ACME threads at whatever crazy pitch Billings had back then but for my limited skill-set I am glad this tool is back in service!! Thanks so much!!!!!!!!
I wish those were stil available new. It looks handy. Great restoration. I didn't expect it to turn out so nice. I wish I had a nice area and tools to work with to restore old tools like that wrench.
Hello Mark! There are really nice examples available on eBay for about $30- I highly suggest you look around and wait until one comes up and pick it up! You will really like this wrench! Not to mention it's a 100 years old! Great conversation piece!!!! Thanks very much!!!!!
Hello Norherman! You wouldn't be if you saw the mess it is! lol I ran out of room and now I am stepping over stuff! I'm planning to move soon and don't want to start a whole reorganizing job! Thanks very much!!!!
It's always a good thing to have people restoring and saving old tools that were really very well made a hundred or more rears ago,well should never forget our history, I will always give good restoration projects a 5 ☆ rating,simple ply because they are worth tt
Hello Colin! This was a fun project and the tool put back into service without spending a fortune! The best thing is one of the viewers has another billings wrench that needed the knurled nut because his was broken! I am sending it to him so now we have two restored wrenches!!!!! Thanks so much!!!!!
Great repair. The mini-lathe is a handy little machine, I still use mine frequently, though I bought it in '94 and it's CNC now. Knurling is tough on any lathe and especially on a mini-lathe. It must be nice to live back east where all the really old tools seem to be commonplace. Thanks for another really great restoration and video!
Hello George! I am fixing to move soon and will upgrade all my tools to larger more industrial tooling... But as you know, where there's a will there's a way! I remember this friend of mine who is gone now, had this small shop in the basement, sold his house and bought a home in the country with a huge shop! I visited him once and I was drooling over his new shop with all his new equipment... As I looked over he looked a little glum, I asked him "What's wrong"? He said "I miss my old shop" You know George, the grass is always greener and I remember my first workshop was the old Coal Bin that was in the basement! I did a lot of projects in that shop with only a few tools and had a great time! I'm sure you know what I mean! Thanks very much!!!!!!
Great restoration; great lathe and tap work! Glad you rebuilt it instead of tossing it. Your viewers are learning a lot from your projects. Keep the videos coming. If there is anything special you do to prepare various tools for painting, please be sure to tell us. Thanks again.
Hello Anonymous98! Usually I just make sure the tools are squeaky clean before paint, I wipe them down with denatured alcohol or lacquer thinner and after spraying them I put them in a warm dry place (for me it's the oil burner in my house). Thanks very much!!! 😃👍
Hi Bernie!!! This one had a happy ending! I really want to thank you again for the plier-Wrench! I’ve done some good research on them already! Are you far from Dover? That’s where they’re from!!! 😃👍
D'oh! That is exactly what would happen to me! I must say you handled it much better than I could. The finished product looks and works great! Thanks for another fun video!
Hello Tom! These were so nice that people always held on to them! They weren't a useless wrench that eventually got tossed, they were timeless in design and even today are appreciated by everyone!! Thanks so much!!! 😃👍
Wow, my heart went out to you when the thread broke but what an amazing recovery !!. The wrench (I still want to call it a spanner being a Brit) looks great and most importantly works wonderfully. I have just got a Richards adjustable spanner marked 1943 with the War Department mark on it of a similar design and guess what, the thread is slightly bent like this one. Your video is a lifesaver as it has warned me that it is brittle. Take care and kind regards from this side of the Atlantic.
Hello Tony! I had to laugh because the week before Old Sneelock had a similar incident! Lol. If I had to do it all over again I would probably add heat... Normally I try not to disturb the temper but I don't know how else to straighten it without the "DOH"! Thanks very much!!! 😃👍
Hello 357magdad! How about a brass knurled nut and hot blued body!!! 😃👍. I almost did it!!! Still experimenting with Hot Bluing!!! Thanks very much!!!!
Hello Emerson!! LOL That sinking feeling is very common to me!!!! I have a string of expletives that just roll off my tongue! lol Thanks very much!!!!!!
Hello Mick, I would have liked to replace the acme thread but it is hard to find and I wanted to fix it right then.. If the wrench was perfect to start maybe I would have gone the extra mile but you saw the pits and rust, I wasn't 100% sure it would shine as good as it did! Thanks very much!!!!!
Phenomenal! Absolutely FANTASTIC repair and restoration!! Next week, I wanna see you machine an engine block from a bunch of old train rails! I'm bettin' you could pull it off!! All joking aside....You Got Skills!!
ScoutCrafter I hear you talk about learning from your ancestors...We grew up in an era where that was normal. My Grandfather was from Poland. We lived in Williamsburg, Brooklyn! My Grandpa was a master craftsman. He did everything! He taught me how to use a pipe threader when I was 5 years old! I went out to work with him when I was 6! LOL! He did a lot of house painting! My job was to paint the lines between the bricks! I still hate painting!! Anyway, the point is that we learned as kids to respect our tools and we learned how to fix anything! It ain't that way now! Again, thanks for these GREAT videos!
Wow! That was awesome! So great that you made the effort to restore it instead of throwing it out. Ive been on the hunt for a billings wrench myself, but they are hard to find down here. Great work I truly appreciate your content.
Hello Tony! I was very happy with the end product... It really was a mess to begin with but Billings and Spencer really made good stuff back then!!!! Thanks so much!!!
Recently found your channel and have watched loads of your videos already. Love the style of them, not too long, well described and the work is fantastic. Keep them coming 👍
lol, i can't count the number of times i've done that. i go into the shop, think something's gonna be easy....and it winds up taking about 3 hours to do it.
Great job! That was an amazing amount of work for such a small wrench. It is always the "quick jobs" that snowball. I have a quick hatchet restoration that is on day 3. Anyway very cool and good job on the knurled nut! Very impressive. Cheers.
Hello spatss! When I first saw the wrench at the flea market I thought to myself "maybe I can save it?" I had no idea it would be such a rewarding challenge!!! I'm so glad you enjoyed the project!!! Thanks so much!!! 😃👍
Hello Dan!!! Yes!!! I was super close to launching it across the shop!!!! But I have thru the years become accustomed to making mistakes, dropping parts, scratching a shiny finish! You basically go thru a list of curses and start over! lol Thanks very much!!!!!!!
Hey, nice fix! "I could toss the wrench, which would probably be the smart thing to do." At least you're honest lol. Cool to see some lathe work on this channel. Looks like that thread is a tiny ACME trapezoidal thread. It's possibly you could have found a tap and all-thread, but the new nut was definitely the way to go. I'm amazed at how well your little lathe parts off. I've even had a fair bit of trouble with our 10". Between the parting blade cutting a taper, or it jamming and breaking the blade. Perhaps it's I that is the problem. Making one of those little tapping devices is on the list, they're pretty cool. Yours looks like it works nice. Lastly, that machinist vice is super unique. Half nut for quick adjust and a coarse buttress thread to make it work. Never seen that before.
Hello Metal Butcher ! Wow you really know your stuff!!! Your spot on about both threads!!! The Billings is indeed an acme thread and I probably could have gotten some from McMaster Carr and then shipping, waiting, then either buying an acme tap or turning down the end and pinning it... If the wrench was a pristine or rare model, maybe but these are available all day long at $30 for a really nice example... BTW acme threads are awesome, I wonder why these were broken/damaged? And what's most impressive is that you picked out the buttress threads on the machine vise! About ten years ago I found a big old lag bolt on the ground, it must have came from a nearby telephone pole, I examined the threads and was amazed! WTH kind of magic is this?!? I asked around and nobody knew anything until I asked a machinist, he said "Oh yeah, that's a buttress thread". Ever since I felt somewhat enlightened! That's some interesting stuff right there!!! You really know your threads!!! Thanks very much!!!!
:) I'm not sure how the threads got broken. Maybe it was over hardened, they were brittle and any grit in the nut over stressed them. Not really sure. As for the buttress thread, I learned about those after researching them after seeing them in on of Adam Booth's Hydraulic videos. Apparently some cylinder glands use them. I'm guessing yours are cut negative, so the tighter you tighten the vise, the more it pulls it into the nut?
The Metal Butcher - With the buttress threads I'm not sure what positive or Negative is but there is a sort of built in half-nut at the rear of the vise and all you do is lift the threaded arm out of the half nut pocket and the vise becomes 'fast acting', when you want to tighten the vise just drop the rod into the pocket and you're ready to tighten! Works surprisingly well!!! I would like to do a video on machine vises, I have a bunch, but my audience is mostly just regular people who enjoy seeing stuff cleaned up with a bit of history... Lol. Thanks!!! 😃👍
Hello Derek! I noticed that! We have a lot of great subscribers here that are also into fixing up old tools and just having a great time in the shop!!! I look at it as more of a club where everyone gets together and enjoys seeing a tool brought back to life!!!! Thanks so much!!!!!!
Great save. That is a cool old tool. I inherited a set of Billings Vitalloy thin wrenches from my Grandfather. Same Billings? They look to be from the 50s or 60s.
Hello upside downdog! Yes same Billings!! Those Vitaloy wrenches are awesome! Great steel! Nothing better then Grandpa's tools!!! Thanks very much!!! 😃👍
For some reason I was thinking that was an old 36 inch pipe wrench. Brain fart .. Great job as usual. Looks like it works better than some of my small crescent wrenches.
ScoutCrafter I made a big boo boo today. I was cleaning up a drift punch set. After watching you I found the maker. Starrett OMG I was so excited. A full set of 8 in a round wooden box. I cleaned them up. The last one was a tiny one and it was bent. I had to try. SNAP It broke. I said a couple really bad words. Now I don’t have a full set 😩😢
Hello Lisa! That is not a problem at all because punches are readily available in any size to complete your set! It might have been a 1/16" punch or 1/32" Just wait and you will find a replacement very soon!!! Even eBay is a good source! I have seen many of those Starrett sets missing one or two punches... The Wooden box is what is the real find! That is harder to come by!!!!! BTW- You had to try to straighten the punch because it was useless when bent! All in all it was a Great score!!!
Great save. Glad you fixed it. BTW, I think the B on the body is a size designation. I have a smaller one with an A.... Or C... Forget which. I've seen both A's and C's, and I think D's
Hello Jim! I've also seen E and F wrenches! There are some experts out there who know every variation! This shape (double curve) usually came in 6" versions, you don't see too many 5" ones! I really like these little wrenches! As you know they feel so nice in the hand! Thanks very much!!!! 😃👍
Hello Lord Venger! You are so right! That little wrench is such a sweet design it just feels so marvelous in the hand and works great too! Definitely a great addition to anyone's toolbox! Thanks very much!!!!!
As usual, a great restoration. One comment if I may, the threaded rod has such sharp threads but obviously worked. Awhile back, I replaced the threaded rod on my small drill press vise. I purchased a replacement threaded rod at ACE but it was totally different than the original, it too had the sharp threads. I went to OSH and they had a better threaded rod that matched the original. I know, who is this guy a troll, no just stating my opinion. Thanks for sharing and looking forward to more great videos. Ken, the old guy from Marina CA.
Hello Ken! Absolutely right! The threaded portion of the wrench was originally a ACME thread, very common for vises and clamps... This Billings wrench used a particular size that was forged along with the wrench. Now if this wrench was pristine and I wanted to restore it the best way possible I could have found a supply of Acme threaded rod and turned down one end so that it would fit in the body of the head, then drill the rod and pin it so it wouldn't spin. Then I could have used the original nut. Now this wrench was a very poor example of the Billings Bicycle wrench to start off with meaning it will NEVER be worth anything because it was in really poor shape. You can find beautiful examples of this wrench all day long for $30 on eBay... So like I said in my earlier videos, you have to be very careful about getting sucked into a restoration that is just cost prohibitive! I spent 15 years restoring a 1951 Pontiac and took a big loss when I sold it but I learned a valuable lesson. If you count the 3 hours time on this restoration and the $4 I paid for this wrench I am still very much in the hole! Even if the wrench was perfect to start it has little value as a repaired item so use what you have around the shop, get it working and chalk it up to experience... Just so you know I did look for a acme bolt around the shop but very uncommon in that size! Thanks Ken! BTW you've got good eyes!!! =)
I just bought my first old time tool. A wrench very similar to that one. It also has a twisted threaded end, just like yours. So now I'm terrified to try to straighten it. I don´t have the facilities you have to make new parts. Wish me luck!
Hello Roberto!!!! Some forged wrenches are no problem to straighten but the cast ones are unforgiving!!!! Apply some heat, it always helps soften the metal a little! Thanks and GOOD LUCK!!!!!!! =)
OMG SCOUT!!! I MISSED THIS!... You display your invention at about 3:30... You simply must patent that. Each time you come up with either process or part, they need separate patents.
Hello José! I really need to up my game and learn how to weld... The only problem is welding takes a while to master and isn't cheap. I would love to TIG as it looks so great when done right! Maybe soon!!! Thanks very much!!! 😃👍
Hello Matt, You are probably one of very few young men who have an interest in mechanics! Kudos to you!!!! I bet the shop teachers are so happy to have someone like you who is interested in such endeavors!!! Outstanding!!!!!
Hello Manolis! I did try Nickel plating some parts on a 1951 Pontiac I restored but the home kits don't really apply a thick enough coating to be effective... Lot's of these tools came from the factory polished like I do!! Thanks very much!!!!!
Bought some Sidchrome shifting spanners recently. It used to ne a name brand. Now they jam up every time I try to undo a tight hex nut. Gotta belt it off the nut with a hammer.
Scout crafter I have a vise with 5 5/8” wide jaws. It has Royal 414 on one side, is painted red and has Japan on the bottom. It was in the basement of a house and looked like it had been there a long time. Any idea of its age. Love your videos.
Hello David! The originals are Acme threads, unusual size too! Right now it’s just out of reach of my limited skills! To be honest I’m pretty much bluffing my way thru most of these Restorations! Lol. Thanks very much!! 😃👍
maybe if his lathe could do the same TPI, sometimes you dont have the wheels/gearbox for some stuff, and hed have to grind his own cutting tool to cut acme, in all another skill to learn one day!
ScoutCrafter well, you get results that you like and the tools have a renewed life so even if you're bluffing you're doing a great job. "Fake it til you make it", they say.
Boy, that was fun to watch! I doubt you enjoyed all that extra work but it was entertaining on this side. What was the total time you had on that restoration?
Hello John! About Six weeks... LOL =D I think the repair took about two hours and the restoration another 40 minutes... Some guys I know are suoer fast workers but for some reason I tend to lolly-gag and drag my feet... Maybe that come from working for the MTA for 32 years! lol Thanks very much!!!!!
Seems like lightspeed to me at 2 hours. Really liked your personal tool for tapping that wrench and maintaining correct angle, am sure that saved time. Please keep up the great videos, I certainly look forward to that email availability notification everyday!
hi scout good vid ... was wondering have a old home brew grinder it has a large white wheel on it was kinda wondering what it is for any idea .. thanks .. †
Hello Reds! The most common wheels as you know are Grey and they do a decent job however the White wheels are usually Aluminum Oxide and cut faster and run cooler making them a nice choice for grinding tool bits and other items you don't want over-heated! It's a good wheel!!! Thanks very much!!!!!
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
It's nice to see a craftsman work. Putting effort into an old tool is a reward. Many people ask me why I do it. It's hard to explain to someone who doesn't get it. You just gave that tool another 100 years. Hopefully another craftsmen will do the same in the future. An A+ job. Great inspiration to up my effort. Thank you.
Wow! You went the extra step and showed off your skills on this one! More than your average restore, with the mending of that threaded piece, and manufacturing the new knurled nut. We got to see more than just a clean, wiring, and shine! Very fun!
Hello Christina! Boy O Boy! You must have a background in mechanical or engineering or something! You really know your stuff!!! I bet you restored your home! I wouldn't want to see the mechanic who tries to pull the wool over your eyes!!!! lol Thanks so much!!!!
Hey Scout. I come from a long line of engineers, mechanics, and repairmen......but nothing teaches a person like the rigors of life. When my very handy and skilled-at-everything-mechanical husband passed away in 2010, I had to learn to complete the Honey-do list on my own. I'm no expert. I just like dabbling and tinkering. I also enjoy watching all the fix-its and restores that folks with your talent post.
This was a great restoration. My 10 year old son loves watching your videos with me. We watch for your new uploads and catch them as soon as they are posted. Thanks for a great, family friendly restoration channel with lots of great content.
Hello OnceWasLost1982! Wow! You can't imagine how much I love to hear that! I ran a Scout troop for 20 years and I used to love to bring tools and machines like drill presses and a lathe down to the meetings and let the boys have fun with them! I try to always add a few tips with every restoration hoping that it might inspire others to join in this very satisfying hobby! Thanks so much for your kind words and I do so appreciate them! =)
Never stop doing these. Could watch this all day
Hello DCPorter!!! Thanks so much!!! Really appreciate that!!!!
Well worth the effort to bring a 140 year old wrench back from the dead.Excellent job.
Hello Darrin!!!! Absolutely! There was no way I was going to let that wrench meet it's demise in my shop of all places! lol Thanks very much!!!!!!
Really nice and very enjoyable . That tap jig is a great idea thanks for showing ,the finished wrench looks amazing 👍
Hello David! Glad you enjoyed the tapping stand! I almost cut it out of the video because it was running long but I'm glad now I kept it in!!!! Thanks very much!!!!
Scout Crafter, you are like Mr. Scott on the Enterprise; a real miracle worker.
Good save with the Billings!
Hello Peter! Did you ever see the Star Trek Returns series on RUclips! His son plays Scotty! Great shows! Really fun to watch! Thanks very much!!!!!
Wow! What a save you pulled off on that one. Really enjoyed this one. Came out beautiful as usual!! Keep the videos coming!
Hello Pops!!! So glad you enjoyed the project! Thanks so much!!!!!!!
Brilliant job! After the thread snapped I would have given up for sure but it's pushing though challenges like this that makes one a better craftsman. This video is a lesson to us all, not only in metalworking but also in confidence and resourcefulness when things don't go our way. Thanks for your efforts!!
Hello Adam!!! Thanks so much! You are absolutely right! Sometimes you have to take a breath and re-evaluate the situation and do the best you can! Thanks again!!!!!!!
Fantastic job saving a piece of American history! Keep up the good work!
Hello Clint! Thanks so much!!! These were great little wrenches!!!!!! =)
ScoutCrafter Have you seen the new ones the RUclipsr is making? They're fantastic. I have one ordered but there is a long wait list.
Amazing. Very nice solution on the threads. You did a very good job here
Hello JP It would be nice if I knew how to cut ACME threads at whatever crazy pitch Billings had back then but for my limited skill-set I am glad this tool is back in service!! Thanks so much!!!!!!!!
I wish those were stil available new. It looks handy. Great restoration. I didn't expect it to turn out so nice. I wish I had a nice area and tools to work with to restore old tools like that wrench.
Hello Mark! There are really nice examples available on eBay for about $30- I highly suggest you look around and wait until one comes up and pick it up! You will really like this wrench! Not to mention it's a 100 years old! Great conversation piece!!!! Thanks very much!!!!!
Check out handtoolrescue. He is making them new! Pretty cool!
david helmuth Thanks
Great fix. I'm jealous of your shop. Thanks again great stuff.
Hello Norherman! You wouldn't be if you saw the mess it is! lol I ran out of room and now I am stepping over stuff! I'm planning to move soon and don't want to start a whole reorganizing job! Thanks very much!!!!
Your wildlife is going to miss you.Luck with that big project.
It's always a good thing to have people restoring and saving old tools that were really very well made a hundred or more rears ago,well should never forget our history, I will always give good restoration projects a 5 ☆ rating,simple ply because they are worth tt
Hello Colin! This was a fun project and the tool put back into service without spending a fortune! The best thing is one of the viewers has another billings wrench that needed the knurled nut because his was broken! I am sending it to him so now we have two restored wrenches!!!!! Thanks so much!!!!!
"Doh!" -- I laughed out loud. Absolutely love your relentlessness when it comes to bringing back the beauty and functionality of these old tools.
Great repair. The mini-lathe is a handy little machine, I still use mine frequently, though I bought it in '94 and it's CNC now. Knurling is tough on any lathe and especially on a mini-lathe. It must be nice to live back east where all the really old tools seem to be commonplace. Thanks for another really great restoration and video!
Hello George! I am fixing to move soon and will upgrade all my tools to larger more industrial tooling... But as you know, where there's a will there's a way! I remember this friend of mine who is gone now, had this small shop in the basement, sold his house and bought a home in the country with a huge shop! I visited him once and I was drooling over his new shop with all his new equipment... As I looked over he looked a little glum, I asked him "What's wrong"? He said "I miss my old shop" You know George, the grass is always greener and I remember my first workshop was the old Coal Bin that was in the basement! I did a lot of projects in that shop with only a few tools and had a great time! I'm sure you know what I mean! Thanks very much!!!!!!
Mad restoration skills! Love these videos. Rob in Miami.
Fantastic recovery there
You have real skill and have fired my enthusiasm to restore tools.
Thanks for sharing
Hello Gordon!!!! Thanks so much!!!!! I'm so glad you enjoyed the project!!!!!
Great restoration; great lathe and tap work! Glad you rebuilt it instead of tossing it. Your viewers are learning a lot from your projects. Keep the videos coming. If there is anything special you do to prepare various tools for painting, please be sure to tell us. Thanks again.
Hello Anonymous98! Usually I just make sure the tools are squeaky clean before paint, I wipe them down with denatured alcohol or lacquer thinner and after spraying them I put them in a warm dry place (for me it's the oil burner in my house). Thanks very much!!! 😃👍
Love to watch older vids...you are skilled...
Great save on a great little wrench! It turned out better than new and you were able to use the little late. Always a plus
Hi Bernie!!! This one had a happy ending! I really want to thank you again for the plier-Wrench! I’ve done some good research on them already! Are you far from Dover? That’s where they’re from!!! 😃👍
Your more than welcome. I'm about 90 mins from Dover. I can't wait to see what you do with it!!
You really did a good job on repairing the wrench. A piece of history has been preserved.
Outstanding job John , Looks better or atleast as good as new . First knerling job I've seen anyone do ..Cool !
Hello Dave!!!! Thanks so much!!!!! I almost gave up!!! lol =)
I'm very impressed on the repairs nice work
Hello John! I'm so glad you enjoyed the video! These old Billings wrenches are awesome!!!!! Thanks very much!!!!
Amazing!
Your skills really, really shine!!!!!!!!
I loved this video, thank you for sharing with us.
Hello Skippy!! We really got lucky with this one! I'm so glad you enjoyed the video!!!!!! Thanks very much!!!!!!
Unbelievable restoration!!
D'oh! That is exactly what would happen to me! I must say you handled it much better than I could. The finished product looks and works great! Thanks for another fun video!
Please break and repair more restorations. This channel just keeps getting better and better.
Hello David! Thanks so much! I really appreciate that!!! 😃👍
Holy cow! Great job! Love this Chanel.
Mmmmmm.
Hello Hand Tool Rescue! Been a subscriber to your channel for years and enjoy your work! Thanks for stopping by!!!!
ScoutCrafter No problem! Keep up the good work.
Super repair bud. Well restored.
I'm buying one for 40 dollars.
Very nice job. I have one of those but had no idea about the history of it.
Hello Tom! These were so nice that people always held on to them! They weren't a useless wrench that eventually got tossed, they were timeless in design and even today are appreciated by everyone!! Thanks so much!!! 😃👍
Wow, my heart went out to you when the thread broke but what an amazing recovery !!. The wrench (I still want to call it a spanner being a Brit) looks great and most importantly works wonderfully. I have just got a Richards adjustable spanner marked 1943 with the War Department mark on it of a similar design and guess what, the thread is slightly bent like this one. Your video is a lifesaver as it has warned me that it is brittle. Take care and kind regards from this side of the Atlantic.
Hello Tony! I had to laugh because the week before Old Sneelock had a similar incident! Lol. If I had to do it all over again I would probably add heat... Normally I try not to disturb the temper but I don't know how else to straighten it without the "DOH"! Thanks very much!!! 😃👍
That fix... excellent save.. Keep up the good work ..take care of your tools and they take care of you
Hello David!!! Absolutely!!! Always a plus when a job turns out well!!! Thanks so much!!!!
It actually worked out nice that it broke. You were able to show how to fix it. I think a knurled brass nut would have looked hot!
Hello 357magdad! How about a brass knurled nut and hot blued body!!! 😃👍. I almost did it!!! Still experimenting with Hot Bluing!!! Thanks very much!!!!
Good repair and restoration on the wrench. Looks real good.
Hello Tommy!!! I can't believe the Nickel held up on the edges of this wrench when the rest of it was horrible!! Thanks very much!!!!!!!
Nice save on that one, came out great. I sure know that sinking feeling when things go horribly wrong.
Hello Emerson!! LOL That sinking feeling is very common to me!!!! I have a string of expletives that just roll off my tongue! lol Thanks very much!!!!!!
Sweet restoration!
I like your idea of using threaded rod and machining a new adjusting nut. Very cool to have the metal lathe. nice job!
Hello Mick, I would have liked to replace the acme thread but it is hard to find and I wanted to fix it right then.. If the wrench was perfect to start maybe I would have gone the extra mile but you saw the pits and rust, I wasn't 100% sure it would shine as good as it did! Thanks very much!!!!!
ACES ~ BACK TO BACK, VERY BEAUTIFUL.
Awesome job!
Awsome work Scout, thanks for going that extra mile for us
Hello Kevin! I'm so glad you enjoyed the project!!!!
Great job as always keep the videos coming
Hello Gam C- Thanks so much! I really appreciate that!!!!!
Phenomenal! Absolutely FANTASTIC repair and restoration!! Next week, I wanna see you machine an engine block from a bunch of old train rails! I'm bettin' you could pull it off!! All joking aside....You Got Skills!!
Hello Bill LMAO!! It was very satisfying when the wrench worked again! I hate to see nice tools discarded and neglected... Thanks so much!!!!!!!
ScoutCrafter I hear you talk about learning from your ancestors...We grew up in an era where that was normal. My Grandfather was from Poland. We lived in Williamsburg, Brooklyn! My Grandpa was a master craftsman. He did everything! He taught me how to use a pipe threader when I was 5 years old! I went out to work with him when I was 6! LOL! He did a lot of house painting! My job was to paint the lines between the bricks! I still hate painting!! Anyway, the point is that we learned as kids to respect our tools and we learned how to fix anything! It ain't that way now! Again, thanks for these GREAT videos!
Wow! That was awesome! So great that you made the effort to restore it instead of throwing it out. Ive been on the hunt for a billings wrench myself, but they are hard to find down here. Great work I truly appreciate your content.
Hello Raven! Believe it or not Ebay is always a good source!!! Sometimes there will be eight for sale at once!!! Thanks very much!!! 😃👍
Lovely repair and restoration.
Hello Steve!!! Thanks very much!!!!!! I really appreciate that!!!!
I think I have seen another video where someone restored one of these wrenches. Awesome job!
Hello Deserving! That might have been me, I did three videos on these type wrenches! lol Thanks very much!!!!!!!
Brilliant vid !
Even though you may have bind it
It was worth the demo to show others it's repairable! And what a lovely tool . Nice work ;)
Hello Tony! I was very happy with the end product... It really was a mess to begin with but Billings and Spencer really made good stuff back then!!!! Thanks so much!!!
Awesome repair. Turned out great!!!
Hello William!!! I was real happy with this one! I was this close to throwing the wrench across the shop! lol Thanks very much!!!!
Do you use the tools you restore or do you just collect them?
Came out Beautiful! I have things to do an funny I can't seem to stop watching your video's. LOL
LOL That's awesome!!!! It will drive you nuts after a while! LOL Thanks!!!!!
Recently found your channel and have watched loads of your videos already. Love the style of them, not too long, well described and the work is fantastic. Keep them coming 👍
Hello Chewbacca! It's so hard to keep a video at 5 minutes (my goal) mostly because I'm long winded! lol Thanks so much!!!!!!
Good lathe work, sir!
This was really cool. Wow.
Thanks so much Tony!!!!!!
You're a true Craftsman 😎😎👍👍👍👍
Impressive restoration. Really.
Hello Felix!!! Thanks very much!!!!! Really appreciate it!!!!!
nice resto, man. and good job on getting it fixed after the...um....accident, lol.
Hello Sean! LOL I think I jinxed myself by saying "Easy-Fix" =D Thanks very much!!!!!!
lol, i can't count the number of times i've done that. i go into the shop, think something's gonna be easy....and it winds up taking about 3 hours to do it.
Very interesting great job
Thanks very much Mike!!!!!!!!!
This was very interesting...great job 👍
Hello Vicky! I am so glad you enjoyed the project! It's nice to save a tool that's over twice our age!!!! Thanks so much!!!!!
Now that is a great challenge and video, top class
Hello Jusb! Thanks very much!!! I really appreciate that!!!
nice job as always! hey, now that it's summer, I bet you could really make an old grill look nice.
Hello Jedi Knight! Today was almost 90 degrees here! A little too hot for me! I like it 60 degrees and cloudy! Go figure! lol Thanks very much!!!!!
Great job! That was an amazing amount of work for such a small wrench. It is always the "quick jobs" that snowball. I have a quick hatchet restoration that is on day 3. Anyway very cool and good job on the knurled nut! Very impressive. Cheers.
Hello Joe! I think I jinxed myself with the “this will be an easy fix” line! Lol! Thanks very much!!!! 😃👍
Best video restoration
Hello MR. NVC DIY ! Best Comment Ever! 😃👍
That was an awesome restoration!
Hello spatss! When I first saw the wrench at the flea market I thought to myself "maybe I can save it?" I had no idea it would be such a rewarding challenge!!! I'm so glad you enjoyed the project!!! Thanks so much!!! 😃👍
Wow awesome job!
Hello Dominic!!!! Thanks very much!!! I almost threw it across the shop!!!! lol
ScoutCrafter lol
Beautiful workmanship
Another nice one and a great repair.
Hello Lifes Journeyman!!!! Thanks so much! I was very close to launching this wrench across the shop!!! lol =)
Way to pull off the save great job.
Thanks so much A Dude! =D
Wow I'm amazed.. I would of just tossed it across the room.. glad you broke it ,and teaching us how to fix it. ..
Hello Dan!!! Yes!!! I was super close to launching it across the shop!!!! But I have thru the years become accustomed to making mistakes, dropping parts, scratching a shiny finish! You basically go thru a list of curses and start over! lol Thanks very much!!!!!!!
Glad you didn’t toss it, great job sir.
Hello David! I am very good at dealing with screw-ups... I've been performing them since the early 70's! lol Thanks very much!!!!!
THANK YOU...for sharing. That tap machine looks really nice, do you have a video on making that? Gary
Hi Gary! No, it was started by someone else I just finished it. Bought it at a Steam engine show! =)
That was awesome, should have more videos with those extra steps, but kind of missing the welding machine in your great shop
I wish my shop was bigger! Right now everything in my shop is flammable and I am always worried about a welder! Soon I am moving! =) Thanks!
@@ScoutCrafter all the best, am excited to see the new shop
Awesome job & vid..
Hello Darren! Thanks very much!!!!!!! I almost chucked the wrench across the shop! lol!
Hey, nice fix! "I could toss the wrench, which would probably be the smart thing to do." At least you're honest lol.
Cool to see some lathe work on this channel. Looks like that thread is a tiny ACME trapezoidal thread. It's possibly you could have found a tap and all-thread, but the new nut was definitely the way to go. I'm amazed at how well your little lathe parts off. I've even had a fair bit of trouble with our 10". Between the parting blade cutting a taper, or it jamming and breaking the blade. Perhaps it's I that is the problem. Making one of those little tapping devices is on the list, they're pretty cool. Yours looks like it works nice.
Lastly, that machinist vice is super unique. Half nut for quick adjust and a coarse buttress thread to make it work. Never seen that before.
Hello Metal Butcher ! Wow you really know your stuff!!! Your spot on about both threads!!! The Billings is indeed an acme thread and I probably could have gotten some from McMaster Carr and then shipping, waiting, then either buying an acme tap or turning down the end and pinning it... If the wrench was a pristine or rare model, maybe but these are available all day long at $30 for a really nice example... BTW acme threads are awesome, I wonder why these were broken/damaged? And what's most impressive is that you picked out the buttress threads on the machine vise! About ten years ago I found a big old lag bolt on the ground, it must have came from a nearby telephone pole, I examined the threads and was amazed! WTH kind of magic is this?!? I asked around and nobody knew anything until I asked a machinist, he said "Oh yeah, that's a buttress thread". Ever since I felt somewhat enlightened! That's some interesting stuff right there!!! You really know your threads!!! Thanks very much!!!!
:)
I'm not sure how the threads got broken. Maybe it was over hardened, they were brittle and any grit in the nut over stressed them. Not really sure.
As for the buttress thread, I learned about those after researching them after seeing them in on of Adam Booth's Hydraulic videos. Apparently some cylinder glands use them. I'm guessing yours are cut negative, so the tighter you tighten the vise, the more it pulls it into the nut?
The Metal Butcher - With the buttress threads I'm not sure what positive or Negative is but there is a sort of built in half-nut at the rear of the vise and all you do is lift the threaded arm out of the half nut pocket and the vise becomes 'fast acting', when you want to tighten the vise just drop the rod into the pocket and you're ready to tighten! Works surprisingly well!!! I would like to do a video on machine vises, I have a bunch, but my audience is mostly just regular people who enjoy seeing stuff cleaned up with a bit of history... Lol. Thanks!!! 😃👍
You are the man!!!
Hey scout your channel is growing very fast! Nice work
Hello Derek! I noticed that! We have a lot of great subscribers here that are also into fixing up old tools and just having a great time in the shop!!! I look at it as more of a club where everyone gets together and enjoys seeing a tool brought back to life!!!! Thanks so much!!!!!!
Great save. That is a cool old tool. I inherited a set of Billings Vitalloy thin wrenches from my Grandfather. Same Billings? They look to be from the 50s or 60s.
Hello upside downdog! Yes same Billings!! Those Vitaloy wrenches are awesome! Great steel! Nothing better then Grandpa's tools!!! Thanks very much!!! 😃👍
For some reason I was thinking that was an old 36 inch pipe wrench.
Brain fart ..
Great job as usual.
Looks like it works better than some of my small crescent wrenches.
Hi John! It really is an awesome wrench!!! They are so ergonomic! Thanks so much!!
Nice job!
Hello Lite Roadie!!!! This one was a real challenge, I'm glad it's back in service!!! Thanks so much!!!!!
Great end result
Hello Rusty Gun! You know I actually considered hot bluing her!!! How cool would that look!?!?! =D Thanks very much!!!!!
Great fix. Glad you didn’t toss it.
Hello Lisa!!! It was close! lol It was so rusty!!!! =D Thanks very much!!!!!!
ScoutCrafter I made a big boo boo today. I was cleaning up a drift punch set. After watching you I found the maker. Starrett OMG I was so excited. A full set of 8 in a round wooden box. I cleaned them up. The last one was a tiny one and it was bent. I had to try. SNAP It broke. I said a couple really bad words. Now I don’t have a full set 😩😢
Hello Lisa! That is not a problem at all because punches are readily available in any size to complete your set! It might have been a 1/16" punch or 1/32" Just wait and you will find a replacement very soon!!! Even eBay is a good source! I have seen many of those Starrett sets missing one or two punches... The Wooden box is what is the real find! That is harder to come by!!!!! BTW- You had to try to straighten the punch because it was useless when bent! All in all it was a Great score!!!
ScoutCrafter Thanks!
Nice save.
Hello Max!!!! I only put $60 labor into a $10 wrench!! lol Thanks very much!!!
Great save. Glad you fixed it. BTW, I think the B on the body is a size designation. I have a smaller one with an A.... Or C... Forget which. I've seen both A's and C's, and I think D's
Hello Jim! I've also seen E and F wrenches! There are some experts out there who know every variation! This shape (double curve) usually came in 6" versions, you don't see too many 5" ones! I really like these little wrenches! As you know they feel so nice in the hand! Thanks very much!!!! 😃👍
Very amazing restore and a wrench full of history outstanding x3 and that's a very impressive invention :D
Hello Lord Venger! You are so right! That little wrench is such a sweet design it just feels so marvelous in the hand and works great too! Definitely a great addition to anyone's toolbox! Thanks very much!!!!!
ScoutCrafter you are welcome tools of the past are the best x3
Thanks for sharing ScoutCrafter. I always enjoy your videos.
Vaughn
Hello Vaughn! Thanks very much!!! I really appreciate that!!! 😃👍
I have a B&S Pierce Arrow bicycle wrench with the Model E stamp on it. I found it in my dads belongings after he passed away in 2020
Great job saving it.
Hello Mike! That wrench spent over 100 years in the field there was no way It was going see it’s demise in my shop! Lol. Thanks very much!!! 😃👍
As usual, a great restoration. One comment if I may, the threaded rod has such sharp threads but obviously worked. Awhile back, I replaced the threaded rod on my small drill press vise. I purchased a replacement threaded rod at ACE but it was totally different than the original, it too had the sharp threads. I went to OSH and they had a better threaded rod that matched the original. I know, who is this guy a troll, no just stating my opinion. Thanks for sharing and looking forward to more great videos. Ken, the old guy from Marina CA.
Hello Ken! Absolutely right! The threaded portion of the wrench was originally a ACME thread, very common for vises and clamps... This Billings wrench used a particular size that was forged along with the wrench. Now if this wrench was pristine and I wanted to restore it the best way possible I could have found a supply of Acme threaded rod and turned down one end so that it would fit in the body of the head, then drill the rod and pin it so it wouldn't spin. Then I could have used the original nut. Now this wrench was a very poor example of the Billings Bicycle wrench to start off with meaning it will NEVER be worth anything because it was in really poor shape. You can find beautiful examples of this wrench all day long for $30 on eBay... So like I said in my earlier videos, you have to be very careful about getting sucked into a restoration that is just cost prohibitive! I spent 15 years restoring a 1951 Pontiac and took a big loss when I sold it but I learned a valuable lesson. If you count the 3 hours time on this restoration and the $4 I paid for this wrench I am still very much in the hole! Even if the wrench was perfect to start it has little value as a repaired item so use what you have around the shop, get it working and chalk it up to experience... Just so you know I did look for a acme bolt around the shop but very uncommon in that size! Thanks Ken! BTW you've got good eyes!!! =)
Outstanding!
Hello Lost Mountain Restoration!!!!!! Thanks very much!!!! I bet you heard the "snap' all they way over there!!! lol =)
I did. Then I heard some guy with a New York accent say a few bad words. You wouldn't know anything about that would you? LOL.
I just bought my first old time tool. A wrench very similar to that one. It also has a twisted threaded end, just like yours. So now I'm terrified to try to straighten it. I don´t have the facilities you have to make new parts. Wish me luck!
RobertoDonatti, heat and tap....less likely to shear.
Hello Roberto!!!! Some forged wrenches are no problem to straighten but the cast ones are unforgiving!!!! Apply some heat, it always helps soften the metal a little! Thanks and GOOD LUCK!!!!!!! =)
Can I buy that tool from you came out great.
OMG SCOUT!!! I MISSED THIS!... You display your invention at about 3:30...
You simply must patent that. Each time you come up with either process or part, they need separate patents.
Hello Mark! LOL I just got this! Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!
Fine work. When/how do we decide to TIG weld to fill in pits and to weld a broken bolt back on?
Hello José! I really need to up my game and learn how to weld... The only problem is welding takes a while to master and isn't cheap. I would love to TIG as it looks so great when done right! Maybe soon!!! Thanks very much!!! 😃👍
+ScoutCrafter community college and the teachers let me work on projects
Hello Matt, You are probably one of very few young men who have an interest in mechanics! Kudos to you!!!! I bet the shop teachers are so happy to have someone like you who is interested in such endeavors!!! Outstanding!!!!!
Stirling job
Hello Todtiger! Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed the project!!!!!!!
I thoroughly enjoyed this, thank you....I apologize if this has been asked before but, what do you do with all the tools?...thank you!.😊
Hello Roberto! Sorry it took so long! I always keep them and hopefully will have a BIG shop one day!!!! Thanks!!!!!!
I really enjoyed this video!
Have you ever tried to nickel-plate restored tools?
Hello Manolis! I did try Nickel plating some parts on a 1951 Pontiac I restored but the home kits don't really apply a thick enough coating to be effective... Lot's of these tools came from the factory polished like I do!! Thanks very much!!!!!
beautiful!!
Hello Jeff! Thanks so much!! Glad you enjoyed the project!!!!
Bought some Sidchrome shifting spanners recently. It used to ne a name brand. Now they jam up every time I try to undo a tight hex nut. Gotta belt it off the nut with a hammer.
I hate when products lose quality with new owners!!!! Thanks!!!!!!!!!
Scout crafter I have a vise with 5 5/8” wide jaws. It has Royal 414 on one side, is painted red and has Japan on the bottom. It was in the basement of a house and looked like it had been there a long time. Any idea of its age. Love your videos.
Great save! Could you have cut threads of the exact (custom) dimensions on your lathe and kept the origina l knob?
Hello David! The originals are Acme threads, unusual size too! Right now it’s just out of reach of my limited skills! To be honest I’m pretty much bluffing my way thru most of these Restorations! Lol. Thanks very much!! 😃👍
maybe if his lathe could do the same TPI, sometimes you dont have the wheels/gearbox for some stuff, and hed have to grind his own cutting tool to cut acme, in all another skill to learn one day!
ScoutCrafter well, you get results that you like and the tools have a renewed life so even if you're bluffing you're doing a great job. "Fake it til you make it", they say.
Boy, that was fun to watch! I doubt you enjoyed all that extra work but it was entertaining on this side. What was the total time you had on that restoration?
Hello John! About Six weeks... LOL =D I think the repair took about two hours and the restoration another 40 minutes... Some guys I know are suoer fast workers but for some reason I tend to lolly-gag and drag my feet... Maybe that come from working for the MTA for 32 years! lol Thanks very much!!!!!
Seems like lightspeed to me at 2 hours. Really liked your personal tool for tapping that wrench and maintaining correct angle, am sure that saved time. Please keep up the great videos, I certainly look forward to that email availability notification everyday!
A
hi scout good vid ... was wondering have a old home brew grinder it has a large white wheel on it was kinda wondering what it is for any idea .. thanks .. †
Hello Reds! The most common wheels as you know are Grey and they do a decent job however the White wheels are usually Aluminum Oxide and cut faster and run cooler making them a nice choice for grinding tool bits and other items you don't want over-heated! It's a good wheel!!! Thanks very much!!!!!
kool thanks ... kinda strange thing but do you drip little water on that kind of wheel or ..