1900s Door Mortiser [Restoration]

This restoration is on a 1900s patented door mortiser made by A.W. Miller Mfg. Co.. You can view the original patent here: patents.google.com/patent/US7....
I obtained this tool knowing it was missing several parts that needed to be remade. Luckily, the missing parts were mostly easy to reproduce, except for the missing hand-wheel. For this, I decided to have all the hand-wheels re-cast in bronze by Windy Hill Foundry. The full process of that re-casting can be seen here: • HAND WHEELS. A Collabo... . Big thank you to him as well!
The original finish for this tool was japanning, but I actually ran out of the ingredients to make a new batch, so I had to resort to repainting it. I made a new handle out of jatoba and brass. I was able to salvage the original cutter, but I wish I could find the other cutters, which apparently came with this tool originally.
As specialized as this tool is, it does perform very well and make quick work of cutting a slot into some test pieces of wood. Definitely faster, easier, and more accurate than chiseling it out by hand.
This tool has an amazing look to it, so I might end up selling or giving this tool away.
Wrenches and screwdrivers are now for sale at www.handtoolrescue.com
Help secure more tools for future videos (if you want):
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Facebook Group - Share your restorations
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Reddit - Share your restorations
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Podcast (with Jimmy DiResta and Andrew Alexander) - anchor.fm/fitzall

[@HandToolRescue]

Need some parts re-cast? You can contact Windy Hill Foundry at [e-mail] or at www.windyhillfoundry.com. Massive thank to him for helping out with this project!

[@kevin34ct]

I was wondering when I'd see this video using the recast pieces. I watched that on and that was interesting.

[@UncleTogie]

Oddly enough, I saw the casting video already. Beautiful work from you both, as usual!

[@keith68]

what do you do with the tool after video is done? I am a locksmith this would be a cool start to a collection

[@sarchlalaith8836]

Maybe a little thin lead sheet or similar soft material over those vice jaws?

[@windyhillfoundry5940]

Glad I was able to help you with this Eric👍

[@RamblingEngineer]

I miss trash on the floor, such a great actor!

[@Slenkamure]

i know the pandemic takes away another job

[@silvahawk7109]

I hope it didn't catch covid! I know it was good about being socially distant!

[@diegoviniciomejiaquesada4754]

I feel you bro...

[@Sulfuron41]

Hahaha I was just about to write about how I missed the socially distant trash on the floor when I saw your comment!

[@ct92404]

I heard it wanted a new contract and a raise.

[@morkovija]

The biggest relief was seeing how this monstrosity actually works. Now I can die in peace

[@Frightningman]

When I think of all the mortice locks I've fitted over the years with just a brace & bit, a chisel and a hammer, it saddens me to think that I could have been humping a monstrosity like that about instead.

[@morkovija]

@@Frightningman while asserting dominance over client by not breaking up the eye contact while in the process... x)

[@aserta]

@@Frightningman You can get an attachment that fits on most hand held routers which allows you to use mortise drills. The part that makes the square hole attaches to the body of the router and the drill goes through an attachment to the collar chuck. The fence doo-hikey is a bit weird to use at first, but it's a decent tool. Certainly worlds better than having to carve it out. Unfortunately, i don't remember the name, i know it's made in Canada tho. I think it's something with a small beaver tail on a square drill as a logo. Oh, and it's not a recent tool, we're talking mid 80's i believe. My Canadian uncle had a couple of them. Alternatively, you could just use the contraption Matthias Wandel made (also, a Canadian...), AKA his panto-router. Which is perfect for drilling square holes and other things.

[@Frightningman]

@@aserta I'm 74 next month - retired years ago and I've no intention doing any more morticing unless in dire need. If I am in dire need, I'll use the tools & skills I already have.

[@StuartMaginnis]

You've helped take away the anxiety of wondering whether it will show at the end of the video. Thanking you!

[@erikhedin1454]

If this one and the apple peeler could mate, the offspring would be the most beautiful, most unnecessarily complicated piece of machinery ever, and I'd be the first in line to adopt it!

[@Aleph-Noll]

cant deny it really does do a good job at what it does haha

[@oem42]

That apple peeler was a thing of beauty

[@sinephase]

is it overly complicated, though? seems like it does the job real quick and if you had a lot of doors to do on a daily basis, you'd want it to last

[@hugeinjapan4635]

I made practically the same comment because, like a psychopath, I don't scroll before I comment

[@implausibleimpossiblehypot4006]

So your expecting the pearents to put up their beautiful child for adoption somehow I feel like the apple peeler would be a great mother

[@mysticarchfire]

This has really become one of those tv series you just get all excited for when a new episode drops

[@bikergirl2000]

Could not fathom how this worked until you put it into action. Ingenious! Love the bronze wheels.

[@runsolo7418]

Head bonking the sandblasting booth, never gets old!

[@LuvLikeTruck]

I love it every time

[@oldninjarider]

I've met Eric, he does have a flat forehead. ;-)

[@cassia_cries]

never stopped laughing since he broke the glass doing it 😂

[@hdezn26]

@@cassia_cries I actually missed that one. That would explain the clearer glass after a certain episode.

[@cathybenson5119]

Does he ever get a headache? Lol. 👍👍👍🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🦘🦘🦘

[@ottomaddox2188]

Breaking apart that old handle kinda broke my heart.

[@dacoobob]

same

[@aycfes2891]

Idem

[@pinballrobbie]

Me too, could have been restored.

[@flame3723]

Nooo my heart! It was so nice!

[@ZJohnnymnemonic2]

Me too. It was nice looking

[@davanders2006]

I did historical restoration for years and I wondered how they cut the opening for the locks. This is why I didn't see chisel marks on the door. I've never seen one of these before. Thanks for sharing

[@spugintrntl]

It's weird to hear a theme song that peppy and upbeat and not have it immediately followed by "HEY GUYS THIS IS BLAHDY BLAH HERE AND TODAY WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT YADA YADA BUT FIRST IMMA TELL YOU ABOUT SURFSHARK." I am very grateful for your weirdness.

[@DoomOfConviction]

I’m always mainly interested in the tool itself and less the Restauration process so I’m really thankful to find a channel that uses the finished tools at the end.

[@travis7500]

As someone who works on old houses, I want one! Great job! It's awesome to not only see a cool restoration, but learn about tools used a long time ago.

[@wirenut003]

You would never find a hand tool so complicated made any place in the world NO MORE- Great job bringing that tool to life again.

[@zsandmann]

I was so sad when they wrote out Socially Distant Garbage On The Floor in the mid-season finale!

[@HandToolRescue]

Working on signing a new contract for this season.

[@shootadeah]

As a door technician I really appreciate this antique tool! Great job!!👏

[@clydedecker765]

I Can't imagine more than a few of these were ever sold and USED over the years. So complicated and uncouth doing it. Ah the joys of hand drills and chisels - they just look so cool and crafty....

[@doktordizzel9261]

Полностью согласен. Неужели проще таскать с собой эту штуку, чем пару стамесок и одну ручную дрель?

[@narcoleptic8982]

Eric: *has milling machine* Also Eric: *drills holes in part he's just finished milling with a cordless drill*

[@HandToolRescue]

Hahaha. You'll see why I couldn't use my milling machine in a future video.

[@TexasBaker]

Eric: Uses CNC to mill small metal piece Also Eric: Hand held grinder to cut it in half

[@HandToolRescue]

@@TexasBaker if you don't use every tool in the shop every day, what are you even doing?

[@dougscott8161]

At least he isn't using all steam powered equipment.

[@HandToolRescue]

I wish.

[@IlhanNegis]

this made me appreciate $80 cheap router and a template little bit more

[@SomePeopleCallMeWulfman]

Fun fact: "mortiser" is "Zapfenlochstemmmaschine" in German. Note the triple-m

[@SxTxferlife]

Lol thought the triple M was a typo for sure

[@M_to_the_T]

And I think it's beautiful

[@thecynic807]

How german/saxon is the parent language to english baffles me.

[@D45Z]

@@thecynic807 Both modern English and modern German have changed a lot in the last few hundred years. Old English sounded a lot more similar to German than it does nowadays. But then, lots of things like grammar, words or sayings still are very similar or even the same. Such as like Ball = Ball, Salad = Salat, Telephone = Telefon etc...

[@Ragnar8504]

@@D45Z Old English and Old High German are a lot more similar than modern German and English (and mostly incomprehensible to modern speakers of either language). BTW, the triple m was introduced with the mid-1990s spelling reforms, prior to that one of the letters was omitted when three identical letters met in a compound word.

[@robhowell7795]

No one on KZbin does restorations as good as you. You take a real old items and make them new again. Everyone else on here fakes it by aging their items and making them look old. You are my favorite

[@jacefairis1289]

I had legitimately no idea what this thing did til the very end. great restoration!

[@misoman]

When you finally retire that table, we need to see what a single match will do to it. I am willing to take bets ;)

[@TexasBaker]

I got $50 on instantaneous detonation, but I also have $50 that says absolutely nothing can harm it.

[@sciangear4782]

@@TexasBaker put me down for a piece of both of those 😆

[@pileofstuff]

My bet is for spontaneous combustion - no matches required.

[@avantesma1]

It'll probably be like those "lighting 5000 matches" KZbin videos, only with just 2 matches: 1 that'll light the bench and the humongous 1 the bench has been turning into over the years.

[@petebeatminister]

retire the table? its the next restoration project!

[@deweyeaves2332]

This mechanism is just genius. Well done on the restoration.

[@SteveSummers]

The face plant on the sand blaster was great! 😂

[@randyruppel6727]

I recommend all previous catalog. Where you will find some very memorable face to blaster cabinet content.

[@user-ju1xm5sx2m]

До последнего не мог догадаться, что это такое! Очень интересно! Всегда смотрю с удовольствием! Я из России. I couldn't guess what it was until the last moment! Very interesting! I always look with pleasure! I'm from Russia.

[@Bzzzz1977]

Аналогично. Что только люди не придумают, лишь бы стамеску не использовать.

[@kotovsk66]

>Я из России Ты этим гордишься или тебе наоборот стыдно?

[@hdezn26]

I was wondering what it was too. Til the end of the video.

[@user-xl2ok4cr7q]

@@kotovsk66 а как должно быть?

[@ttillicome]

@@user-xl2ok4cr7q завидует, не обращай внимания.

[@humancattoy7767]

Windy Hill Foundry did a wonderful job. I saw the video and I am glad I did. You always get me so engrossed in the video, wondering what you are thinking. I'm a fan of the process. You never disappoint.

[@phukincack1]

Some of these tools, they amaze me with the ingenuity that someone had to come up with them! Great job.

[@alan3082]

This is one of the coolest videos on KZbin. I've enjoyed seeing the hand craftsmanship in all your videos but watching this old broken tool brought back to life was great.

[@walley2637]

wow, i cant believe that someone designed such an intricate machine 100yrs ago and i'm still using a hand chisel and a hammer!

[@everythingknife8763]

I got so excited when I saw Molten Bronze was doing a cameo in this episode.

[@frednew7755]

I absolutely love that a metal working lathe was used to make the wooden handle. I'm sure that there are machinist out there having a fit but, I like it!

[@rontocknell5400]

I imagine that anything that can be turned on a wood lathe can also be turned on a metal working lathe. But it doesn't work the other way around.

[@michelhv]

The buildup towards the power hammer restore is getting CRAA-ZY! Can’t wait.

[@tomtruesdale6901]

When a bunch of tool designers get together , drink beer, lots of beer and design tools. "Hey lets design a tool to replace a brace and bit and a chisel" .

[@jonanderson5137]

Ah, perhaps if you want skilled labor. A door manufacturer that wants a low pay, low skill worker to bang it out all day... this might start making more sense. I'm sure this can't be the only reason for this tool to be developed.

[@aw7248]

@@jonanderson5137 If you're prepping multiple doors that need to have the exact same mortise locks installed, then you definitely want something consistent, and less strain on your body.

[@donniebrown2896]

@@aw7248 when this tool was made there was no such thing as a "pre hung door"

[@technosasquatchfilms]

@@jonanderson5137 Just because a tool makes a job "easier" does not mean it takes less skill to still do that job.

[@Adierit]

@@technosasquatchfilms well, considering this tool requires less skill than carefully chiseling out to exact dimensions with a good old hammer and chisel, yes, it takes less skill to do this job with this tool versus the alternative method

[@joannaatkins822]

I really enjoyed this one, what a fantastic over complicated beautiful piece of machinery

[@DannyMaas]

Had to watch till the end to understand what this tool is for. Ingenious!!!

[@gaynorjackson8857]

Love seeing how you restore damaged tools and you restore them to great workmanship great quality 👌

[@JLCra87]

The entire video I thought the purpose of this thing was like 100% something else. Very interesting!!

[@lucaortolani2059]

I thought it was some kind of sliding door mechanism

[@JLCra87]

@@lucaortolani2059 Same here. Or some kind of old rolling barn hoist.

[@Mcbabygravy]

Ohhhh dang, super excited now. Thanks Mr Rescue ❤️

[@steveferguson1232]

I’m a woodworker and have never seen a lock mortiser like that. It is totally bad a**. Love how you restore the past

[@jan-martenvandijk3356]

Prachtig. Weer een oud stuk gereedschap gerestaureerd waar ik nog nooit van had gehoord en waar je ook niks meer mee kunt 😁. Ik vind het geweldig. Bedankt en ga vooral zo door. 👌👍👍

[@misterpatina]

And I thought crazy tools were made in Germany 😄 This thing is beautiful. Nice job!

[@TreyWait]

That is a big weird machine that does a job I'd still probably just do with a chisel and hammer.

[@dacoobob]

that's what makes it cool

[@petebeatminister]

Yes, and now it needs a nuclear powered drive to operate the lever...

[@bobm4917]

This machine is fantastic! The finished restoration looks incredible! Definitely a centerpiece, for any collection!

[@skoalonguys6788]

This has been very enjoyable to watch. I hope they appreciate the hours of work that went into this perfect restoration.

[@Syberz]

Me: How often can you reuse Evaporust before you need to replace it? Hand Tool Rescue: Yes.

[@DeliveryMcGee]

It says on the jug "until it stops working".

[@reigninoel]

@@DeliveryMcGee Yeah that sounds like the only real answer, there are just too many variables at play to say "this product will remove rust for X amount of time". It's a chemical solution and will lose reactivity over time, depending on volume and what you throw in it.

[@bernardfender5147]

Is it just citric acid?

[@theropesofrenovation9352]

@@DeliveryMcGee Ohhhhhh. Was wondering too!

[@R_Forde]

He can run it though a filter and get even more uses out of it then.

[@bobferranti5222]

I'm waiting for the day that you just drop a project completely into the drum intact and remove it finished lol

[@pauln2661]

April 1st.

[@alexgraham9458]

Seeing how this thing worked brought such a delightful relaxing joy

[@rrrosecarbinela]

Always amazed by the ingenuity of the ancestors. Great restoration!

[@ETKSauron]

Well, there goes my morning productivity...new video time!

[@katana24]

play it in 2x spedd and will take you half time to watch

[@crimsonixi]

When is the Scaling Banana (for scale) going to make a cameo? Feels like he hasn't been in the show for a while and always been a favorite recurring side character.

[@laurigardner6227]

I've looking forward to the banana scale again! Maybe it's joined another show?

[@braydenh190]

I love how we are all interested in a metal banana

[@HandToolRescue]

Maybe soon...

[@Crewsy]

Giant Banana hasn’t been around because they had no aPeel. 🍌 #dadjoke 😜

[@nathanokun8801]

That is one ingenious complicated device. Even Rube Goldberg would be proud of creating this thing!

[@markpenn4831]

Well worth the time and energy ! Beautiful piece of antique engineering ! Still works very well fantastic !!

[@MetalRestorationBho]

Great my friend! This is a masterpiece. Congratulation from Vietnam.🙂🙂🙂

[@homeyshlitz]

Before you attached the handle to the main body of the mortiser it reminded me of Lionel' sword from Thundercats show HandTool....thunder..Thunder THUNDERCATS are GO!(ing to install your door locks) Looks great man.

[@slackjaw703]

Wow! That turned out simply spectacular! Just a beautiful old tool brought back to better than when it was in its prime. Love this channel!

[@paulorth2251]

Wow what a piece of nostalgia brought back to life again. Great restoration and thanks for sharing this video with us.

[@The_Shiny_Red_Dingus_of_Mingus]

There are many reasons why I could never do what you do... Time, patience, mechanical aptitude, access to tools, and I would still be waving the centre swing-arm above my head while making lightsaber sounds.

[@theropesofrenovation9352]

LMAO

[@DiamondDustAndVerdigris]

I was totally thinking the same thing. Well... more like broadsword than lightsaber, but still. LOL

[@braydenh190]

Im still waiting for him to come out of nowhere and scream "The Model" at me...

[@SpadeCaller]

I could watch your videos all day long.

[@DaveGDesigns]

That is a cool piece of kit. How could anyone not love old tools 👌🏻

[@geohazelman7039]

Finally! It's been two years since your last upload!!

[@budmeister]

What? His last upload was 3 weeks ago.

[@geohazelman7039]

@@budmeister 3 weeks is two years to me

[@mattgies]

@@geohazelman7039 Maybe you were thinking of Clickspring.

[@bryanduncan1640]

The words “sledgehammer”, “crack” and “walnut” come to mind!

[@EuelBall]

At least the walnut gets cracked... Then your problem is getting fragments of nut and shell off the floor, or making sure those saw-toothed things get properly alined. :)

[@alkydaklown]

I couldn't wrap my mind on how this worked, when he 1st started. After seeing it work i can rest easy. Great work

[@suhayl5157]

so that's what this contraption does. I had no idea what it was till the very end. yes, most unnecessary invention, but truly brilliant. good job bringing her back to life.

[@Kripted]

I love how an april fool's joke became your cannon intro. I love it

[@user-km8zs2lh1c]

Интересная приблуда! До последних минут гадал-что это? А это,оказывается,для тех у кого руки под стаместку и долото не заточены! Но реставрация,как всегда,класс!

[@MrDozer1967]

Стамеской проще... И быстрее...

[@user-km8zs2lh1c]

@@MrDozer1967 ни разу не деревяшечник,(всю жизнь с железом),но согласен.Разве что замки в промышленных масштабах врезать...

[@ToborGun]

@@user-km8zs2lh1c Именно что в промышленных, и при этом на операцию можно посадить любого, не обязательно, чтобы у человека была квалификация плотника.

[@gutsngorrrr]

What an amazing piece of equipment, just watching it work and so we'll was great. Lovely restoration as ever.

[@hackweezy]

I get so excited when parts go in the sand blaster. I know that *bonk* is coming!

[@deeschoe1245]

Was wondering where the disclaimer was for for not using glue as hair care products🤣🤣

[@oldninjarider]

Is HTR going woke?!? #Eek

[@aterack833]

Where was it?

[@The_Shiny_Red_Dingus_of_Mingus]

It's a reference to a simian branded super/epoxy glue being used as a hair fixative by an idiot.

[@timehunter9467]

She used gorilla glue spray adhesive, I can’t believe someone was that stupid.

[@JohnLeePettimoreIII]

... or as a sublingual nitroglycerin replacement.

[@Summer-it3wh]

Carbide tools and a metal lathe for cutting wood. Nice.

[@HandToolRescue]

I'm a genius...

[@hdezn26]

Got to shape them tree carcasses somehow! They won't willingly take that shape!

[@donniebrown2896]

@@HandToolRescue and humble also

[@husky9104]

I love your intros, they are so 80´s.

[@rennan408]

yess hahaha

[@markhedquist9597]

What an ingenious way to cut a mortise. Some of those old timey tools is the cwaziest tools!

[@yamal8944]

Привет 🙋‍♂️ долго ждали ))

[@tsilfidis1996]

That intro gets me every time xD

[@finnyr9330]

I can't understand why they don't still make these! Router smouter. This thing is awesome.

[@jacq135]

Always nice to see you tinker on old antique forgotten tools and make them as good as new. thumbs up for you

[@roberternest7289]

What happened to the socially distant garbage on the floor? Did they get pinned to a wall by a jeep with a badly designed shifter?

[@HandToolRescue]

Oh, you'll see.

[@TheCoffeehound]

Socially Distant Garbage On the Floor has left Hand Tool Rescue's employment to pursue other opportunities.

[@thesledgehammerblog]

Too soon.

[@theregytor2515]

Эгегей))) Ору от радости!! Дружище Ты Красавчик)))

[@yeagerxp]

Very good restoration to one of the first tools to replace craftsmen👍👍👍Thanks for sharing

[@shawnwright4129]

Always cool to watch you fabricate the items needed!

[@lanfear552]

I don't understand the functionality of the teethed rods on the sides, what are they doing (other than just being present)?

[@HandToolRescue]

All they do it help clear wood chips...apparently.

[@up.grayedd]

At first i thougt i missed a ratched system.

[@jondough76]

When I saw the Gorilla Glue, I thought we might be getting some hair styling tips as a bonus..

[@Flymochairman1]

...and in the end, a piece of history is saved, and even improved on a bit! Lovely brass handles there too. It worked too! Thanks again! Keep Safe and Keep Well, sir!

[@quispegualinchay8335]

there are many 19th and 20th century machine restorers on youtube, but none like: "Hand Tool Rescue" is extraordinary didactic and one learns how to disassemble without breaking

[@Jarlerus]

In today's standard, it seems like an overly complicated and specialized tool - but I guess it made sense back then, for faster production. :)

[@dhamma58]

If you ever had to install these old style mortise locks, or modern ones designed for fancy entry doors...tools like this were a blessing....I paid almost a thousand bucks for a power mortiser and all the different possible bits almost 35 years ago and it saved thousands of hours in door installations since. Sometimes you just gotta...

[@bobwitt305]

@@dhamma58 absolutely. Doing mortise locks with hand tools is no fun.

[@dhamma58]

@@bobwitt305 not to mention the possibility of a boo-boo on a door that costs more than you are worth!

[@bobwitt305]

@@dhamma58 100%. I did a few by hand and it took twice as long as it might of because I didn't want to dig into my life savings to replace a door.

[@dhamma58]

@@bobwitt305 exactamente....

[@Prah123]

poor wooden handle :(

[@1776Meow]

Simply beautiful craftmanship. You continue to do such an amazing job!

[@kentremendous5112]

You will forever be my favorite restoration channel

[@iamaldovanucci]

Anyone else think one of handle lever looks like the Sword of Omens from Thundercats? Maybe trash on the floor is away prepping for its cartoon debut!

[@bumbleguppy]

Came here to say the same thing. Hand Tool Rescue Ho!

[@joshfick4107]

@1:26 is where I would have buried my Diresta icepick in my hand for sure!

[@ShayrinBunny]

Just re-watching this in the background and I had a thought. That work bench will never rot at this point. It's been soaked, stewed and marinated in every restoration related fluid there is. And a few there aren't!

[@cbmsysmobile]

Received my large screwdriver the other day, thanks so much. Shipped all the way to the UK, arrived safe and sound.

[@petepeterson4540]

power hammer power power!

[@oneshotme]

Now I see why he made those wheels for you

[@baconfarts3211]

Another tool jewel for your collection. Gorgeous!

[@kempaswe4022]

It's hard to imagine how much work it was behind making a door in the past. Today we do thousands of doors at work every day.

[@user-xw7hs6md1j]

Как всегда интересно смотреть👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@augustus5151]

Hand tool rescue can fix anything, but... can he repair my heart?

[@Madlintelf]

Now that is a gorgeous machine and it works so smoothly, really great restoration!

[@tonyc.4528]

Well done, sir! I've never seen one of those, but completely understand that application.