Antique Nutcracker Press Restoration - The Most Useless Invention Ever!?

In this restoration video, you will see sandblasting, metal work, powder coating, chrome painting, and the usual restoration work details. This nutcracker press was made for sure after 1910. I did detailed research and found some similar ones but not the same, so it is a unique vintage kitchen tool. The restoration process went well, even though the nutcracker press was very rusty. I was surprised while disassembling it by the brass nuts; they give this antique press such a personality. This old kitchen tool cost about 25 $, and I bought it online from a local shop similar to eBay.
I hope you like this restoration video and share this autumn joy with me.
Cheers, and Thanks for watching !!!
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00:00 Presenting the Nutcracker Press
00:25 Disassembling the Nutcracker
03:30 Drying all the parts
03:52 Sandblasting
04:26 Wire brushing
04:40 Sandblasting the rest of the rusty parts
05:34 Hidden screws
06:10 Brushing the brass nuts
06:29 All pieces are clean
06:43 Filing the imperfections
07:00 Repairing the rust-pitting holes
07:36 Preparing for powder coating
07:58 First coat - Primer
08:15 Sanding the metal putty
08:44 Applying Primer on the other parts
09:13 Wet sanding
09:46 Chrome painting
10:06 The chrome painting result
10:22 Olive Green powder coating
10:48 Olive Green painting results
12:04 Assembling the Antique Nutcracker Press
15:08 Before restoration
15:19 After restoration
15:30 Cracking nuts - Testing the Nutcracker
#restoration #restorationvideos #nutcracker

[@dsmith004]

It would be nice if there was a museum of restored objects.

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Oh, yes. That's cool ideea!

[@marchelleharris4842]

Love the green you chose. It is a very useful machine. Walnuts are very hard to crack. Thank you for sharing.😊

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

I'm glad you like it! 👍

[@johnemmett2969]

There’s always somebody who will try to invent, progress a small thought, it’s all wonderful🎉 and is why we are, where we are. Silly sometimes, but, for goodness sake, the gift of thinking and trying helps you, and me. Thank you for restoring this odd “useless” piece of progress. I enjoyed your video…..kind regards ……John

[@martinnicholls1871]

The green looks fantastic, great looking nuts too !!!!!

[@michelecrown2426]

That is one heavy duty nutcracker. I wish we had that as a kid. We sat on the steps with a hammer smashing away at butternuts which were a lot harder to crack than walnuts. This came out beautiful.

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

I was hammering them too as a kid. Thank you, I'm glad you like it!

[@ivanleterror9158]

Useful to people with restrictions like arthritis and such. Also a good table top party piece. Don't think they'll break it.

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

That's true! Cheers 🙂

[@evelynhouston236]

Yes you can,, you are good. Yes my first time turning in.......❤❤❤

[@noras.9774]

Lovely piece, decorative and more adjustable as the force than with the hand!

[@sheilatodd7280]

Love to one of those. Its probably made for the harder nuts. Not like pecans. Great job!

[@user-gm7sd9xy2u]

Прекрасное видео.Браво!!!

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you! 🙂

[@MichelMorinMontreal]

Another perfect restoration! You have to admit that this nutcracker is a bit of an overkill!

[@norman9076]

When you mentioned that you chose olive green for the colour I wasn't sure about your choice.... but.... it was perfect. Thanks for the great video..

[@crouchingjaguar]

I wonder how it would do with Brazil nuts and black walnuts.

[@pfadiva]

I think it would be excellent for both. They are very tough nuts to attempt with those plier-type nutcrackers. Put the nuts upright in the bottom and just cranking down just enough to crack the shells, not pulverize them.

[@ladymaeden3204]

It feels like a vintage Christmas nut cracker

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Oh, yes! I think the same about it. Thank you for watching!

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

*Hi folks! This time you will see a season antique tool. I had a lot of good time restoring this Nutcraker Press and I hope you will enjoy the video. Thank you all for your support and I invite you to crack as well if not some nuts at least that like button! Cheers!*

[@freedomwriter1995]

The work you did was great. However, instead of using putty you could try to weld on more metal onto the cracks and pits in the structure/base of the tool.

[@freedomwriter1995]

The worst of the pitting on the metal can be fixed with welding. The miniscule pitting can be covered with putty.

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Unfortunately I still don't own a welding machine, but I'm saving money for a good one.

[@Austeration]

Regardless if you welded it or filled it with putty the end result is amazing and you would never know what's under that olive green. Well done.

[@christopheferraux2864]

Hello from France It was time to restore it because the walnut harvest is coming soon

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Hi Christophe! Greetings from Kraków. Oh, yes, now it is the season of nuts.

[@user-vd8gu3uy6t]

Nice job! 👍

[@MrsIsmena]

What an autumn vibe! 🍂 Great job 👏 👍

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you Ewa! 😊

[@abazrtaha4870]

Thank you, we love this work and you are a great person

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you Abzar! 🙌

[@RaionGaru]

Great job as usual 👍love the colors too. Thank you for this awesome video restoration!

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Glad you enjoyed it and thank you for watching! 🙂

[@LunaP1]

"I can do this for hours." Yes. Yes you can, because it's very cathartic.

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

That is very well said! 🙂

[@ghoulgoil5029]

I love the color!

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Yes, it is a nice one. Thank you for watching 👀 🙏

[@luciecomeau67]

Olive green is a very good choice of color, with brass it is very pretty. And it's true that a good pair of pliers does the job well and personally, I find it more fun. Beautiful restoration.

[@lyndseybeaumont7301]

You find such wonderful and unusual things to restore. This is wonderful and would look great in a farmhouse style kitchen. I love the green colour xx

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Oh, yes, that will be a perfect fit. I'm glad you enjoyed this video and the olive green. 🫒 Thank you for watching! 🙂

[@elizabethwatson71]

I think the colors are very appropriate, as most were brought out and displayed in the winter months. Pretty nice work, over all. As Becky Holdford said, I’m not the one doing the work. I world like sharper edges and crisper lines

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you 🙌

[@robertjames8256]

excellent work love your choice of finish looks good

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you Robert 🙌

[@stevenkeithley4336]

Great job and video bud, keep'em coming. Wishing you and yours the best. Stay safe and be well brother. 👊😎🤙🍻🇺🇸

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you Steven! 🙂

[@DrMrSmooth]

Perfect restoration and work mate ! Keep going !!

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thanks buddy! Cheers 🙂

[@carlos-xc3sl]

Excelente restauración; yo había visto un abridor de nueces manual, pero no esta maquina de abrir nueces antigua es excepcional, bonita y práctica.

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Gracias!

[@markneo1]

Excelente trabalho. Parabéns 👏👏🇧🇷

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Obrigado Marcello! 👍

[@skovbeats1929]

Amazing job once again!

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thanks bro! 🙂

[@Mikey__Mike]

The colours came out great :). Great video

[@user-px4dm1ss7f]

Блестящая работа. Выглядит теперь 👍👍👍. Супер. Поздравляю.

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you 🙌

[@joseluisarco9265]

Muy bonito buen trabajo

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you 🙌

[@RestorationAustralia]

Nicely done.👍

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank buddy! 🙂

[@johnmartin5755]

Great job! I can visualise other uses for a small press like that ,

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you! What are you thinking about? Maybe I can use it too.

[@shedmanx3640]

Superb colour choice mate. Love the look of it and a great job of restoration too. You’re right that it is a beautiful antique and you did it justice by your magnificent work. Love your work buddy. 👌👏👏👏

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

I'm glad you liked the colour and the video. Thank you for watching and commenting, I really appreciate it 🙏

[@smaybius]

Electrolyzing them after sandblasting can pull away rust too

[@Austeration]

Another brilliant job 👍 cleaned up very nicely and that olive green was the best colour choice. It runs so smoothly now you could almost take a swing on that handle and it might run down and crush the nuts by its self. Looked like a fun project. Well done.

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thanks buddy! I'm glad you enjoyed this video too. Cheers 🙂

[@badrzaineh]

Great job

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you Bob!

[@SC.243k]

Great work

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you 🙌

[@Sergio_Hattifnatt]

11 pieces, and one missing pin). And all parts in pretty good condition))). Beautiful nutcracker, like most of stuff from the past days... UPD: Do not try this drying method at home! It didn't work with jeans and socks(((

[@AyazRestoration]

Great Restoration bro❤

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you! I'm glad you like it!

[@k.george8722]

Interesting and unique.. Never saw one like that before. Very whimsical. Somebody had a sense of humor when designing it. Overall, a great restoration job. Easier to crack the nuts this way than with a hand held cracker

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you 🙌

[@teariana1]

Hint: you're supposed to stop when you hear the first crack; unless of course you want smashed walnuts. Which actually for cookie and muffin recipes would probably be nice. There are nuts like Brazil nuts and macadamias they have extremely tough shells. There also could be other uses if you think about it for awhile. I think i would have just sanded the 2 column pieces and nickle plated them, an idea.

[@vickiefowler1429]

I think I would have gone for a brass color instead of the chrome… but, it’s a nice looking piece now that it’s restored! Well done!

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you 🙂

[@bobjoncas2814]

...lookin' good, nice job. keep well..

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you Bob! 🙌 Cheers 🙂

[@persioboni9373]

Excelente 👏👏

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you 🙌

[@annetodd4626]

Looks pretty 😍

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

I'm glad you like it Anne! 🙂

[@mred8002]

You are correct that it is a bit too robust for easy nuts like walnuts, that can be cracked by hand, but for the tougher to crack ones, it should work well. Beautiful work!

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Cheers 🙂

[@sultanalvi9029]

Great job 💚💯🏆

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you 🙂

[@RestorationHT]

Super restoration channel 👍👍

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

I'm glad you like what you see! Cheers 🙂

[@ellenswartz7203]

Thanks!

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you so much Ellen! This will go in the next project! 🙂

[@kvitkaqueenly8029]

Мы спилили орех в прошлом году на даче. Мне очень пригодился бы этот орехокол раньше! Не надо тратить много усилий для колки большого количества орехов))

[@naznomad635]

Beautiful job. I'd loosen those grub screws so the top cup can rotate freely from the big screw.

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you 🙌 I will try to see if this will bring any good change. 👍

[@restorerestoration4705]

very nice

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you 🙌

[@19Bmiller]

Very nice

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you Bob! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@MarrockV]

It's not useless, it over-engineered and I'd happily give it a home.

[@adcdo]

Antique Nutcraker Press Restoration - Ferramenta de Cozinha Vintage

[@98407re]

Do I like the colour? Yes, I do :) Mega-Excellent work!

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you Dan! 🙌

[@98407re]

@@rustyshadesrestoration You are very welcome. Thank you for the hours of enjoyment you have given me. Your videos are fun and interesting. I have learned a lot about restoration from watching your videos.

[@mojezdanie2618]

Niezły mebelek 😊. Musi się pięknie prezentować. Dziękuję i pozdrawiam. Hej!

[@marlenneespinoza6403]

Ahora lo vemos como un objeto inútil, pero hace unas décadas atrás era una máquina muy práctica 😂 Saludos desde Valdivia al sur de Chile 🇨🇱

[@staceysarian7444]

Nice color chooses.

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you

[@thisolesignguy2733]

Great job! I have one very similar to that one that I repainted a few years ago. Yours looks 1000% better than mine, I painted it a forest green but used cheap paint...after sitting in my window as decoration for a couple years, half of it faded. So now one side is still forest greem and the otherr faded into an ugly baby-poop green. grosses me out so I hid it in my cupboard lol.

[@Decebal_of_the_Getae]

Esti un om inventiv si priceput Radule. Pacat ca nu am avut ocazia sa te intalnesc in Targu Neamt. Imi aduc aminte de videourile cand pescuiai relicve din parauri cu ajutorul unui magnet!

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Mulțumesc! Poate ne vom intalni intr-o zi 🙂

[@estebanmartinez8576]

That's a lot of nuts!

[@mmaldonadojr]

Quite a heavy machine just to crack nuts... nice restoration anyway!

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Yes, it is pretty heavy to have it in the kitchen all the time. As a decorative item can be great, in a shop/pub. Thank you for watching!

[@GT_Racer347]

Way cool 😎 👍

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Glad you like it! 🙂

[@Patrick-pr7pw]

Looks great. You should loosen the set screws on the top part of the crusher so that it doesn't spin the nut. It will probably loosen up over time.

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you. I'm not willing to use it, so I didn't care about that. It will serve as a decorative item.

[@whocares0692]

Nicely done on restoring it. I like the olive green colour you did. But like you and others have said, it takes too long to crack those nuts, when a hand nut cracker will be faster.

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you Frank!

[@historias.para.que.cuentes]

Great !

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you 🙌

[@user-hn7op7rx1y]

Спасибо большое мастеру за проделанную работу. Все сделано с душой. Удачи во всем 🛠️📹👍

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you! Good luck! 👍

[@nurmaybooba]

nice color I like it....most nut crackers are time wasters but this is attractive.

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

I'm happy you liked the colour. Oh, yes, I think I can crack 2 nuts in my hands while with this tool only one in the same amount of time, but yes, it is a beautiful part of our history.

[@andrzejporeda7281]

Świetnie jest odrestaurowany ten prehistoryczny dziadek do orzechów pozdrawiam twórcę tego filmiku mile i serdecznie 👍👍👍👍👍

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Dziękuję Andrzej! 🙂

[@ellenswartz7203]

Beautiful restoration. And I agree - nice nuts

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you Ellen! 🙌

[@karavalle12]

👍belle restauration. !à essayer sur les noix de notre région😉. « la Noix de Grenoble »😌😀

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Merci beaucoup! 🙂

[@yusufabdrahman592]

Good ii boss 👍👍😊

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thanks for watching!

[@dreyhawk]

If your someone like me with damaged shoulders that need replaced something like this makes eating fresh nuts a lot easier. I was actually hoping you would plate it or chrome it though so it looked original. Metal Nutcrackers of that era were almost never painted unless they had a wooden base and then just the base was painted or stained. If this was a custom order and they wanted it painted, well, that's their decision. Still, nice job. It looks really good! The peices were in surprisingly good shape and you did a wonderful job bringing them to life. I think one of my favorite things is watching the sandblasting. Watching the rust disappear is really satisfying and almost looks like sanding medium is devouring the rust.

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

This one was black and chrome but I'm quite full of painting things that way, I may bore my audience, so this is a thing that some people doesn't take in consideration 😁 Yes, sandblasting it is quite satisfying, but requires a lot of patience especially with the compressor when gets hot. I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Thank you for watching 👀 Cheers 🙂

[@dreyhawk]

@@rustyshadesrestoration Well, I certainly don't find you boring! I love a rusted up item like that being brought back to life. We can learn a lot by how previous generations made things. They made better pencil sharpeners than we do for the most part. More fun to use too.

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

I agree. Things were made to last, not like now, made to last 1-3 years especially to encourage consumerism.

[@collinpribula3270]

Aawweessoommee!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🥰🥰🥰💓💓💕💞💛💛💗💗😍😍💖💖❤️ But definitely unused item.

[@eduardoszaz8050]

Aonde você arruma estas coisas, pra restaurar, é incrível , pois são muito antigas.

[@susancurrie2627]

I would have definitely painted this a light tan color. It’s for cracking nuts, and I think it would look better if it were that color to go with the color of nuts. It’s about aesthetics for me. The dark green color really doesn’t make me want to use it.

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

But it makes me want to use it and I do it quite often 😅

[@jamestaylor635]

Great job! I eat four or five different kinds of nuts every day, but they come already shelled.😊

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you! Which ones are your favourite?

[@culturemyworld2362]

I could think of a few practicable ways to use it in my workshop, but not as a nutcracker!

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

That's right, can be useful for some projects.

[@stevenseverance3692]

Perhaps You could have "Jazzed It Up"a bit/and given it sorta a "Beauty Make Over". Just a Thought 🤔! However alas another true "Restoration". Sincerely Yours 🤠 Mr Severance, "The Cake 😋 🍰🎂 🥳🎉 🎊 Man".

[@abazrtaha4870]

Good

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Glad you like it!

[@rosellabill]

is it ever stuck. This is what you were trying to say in English. Great job and thanks for the video.

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Maybe 😅. I'm not a native and I'm exposed to mistakes. Thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Cheers! 🙂

[@jessgreenwood262]

Ah nut knackered sweet, ha ha.

[@harri395]

I love watching your videos. Do you sell the items you restore?

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you 🙂 Not all. If you are interested, you can email me or on Instagram.

[@k.5765]

Изобретение совсем не бесполезное. С минимумом физических усилий расколоть орех, ничего не разлетается. Очень интересно, сможет ли агрегат расколоть макадемию?

[@itsyeeoledskoolfurry3208]

"beautiful nuts" ... Now THERE'S a short phrase you would NEVER here uttered ANYWHERE ever again!! L.M.A.O. 😅😂🤣

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

😂😂😂

[@reginaflorentino6567]

Mais eficiente que muito mais modernos,eu mesma já quebrei vários de alumínio. 👍

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

That's right ✅️

[@petricabistricean1806]

Super tare 🍯🍯🍯🍯👍👍👍

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Merci 🙂

[@karlogumminase781]

This is very nice and a great job ! .. I think it would be real fun to place it on a table beside a bowl of nuts .. it's definitely an eyecatcher .. have you tested a Macadamia nut ?

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you Karlo! No, I didn't try Macadamia nuts yet, but I guess that can do the job, it is pretty massive.

[@eduardoszaz8050]

Particularmente gosto muito do Verde oliva.

[@freddystpierre9106]

Ya it is but ,it is beautiful

[@romainvilleneuve]

it a pretty wheel antique tool

[@Gawrosz]

Ja myślę, że chcę go mieć😊

[@x84pav84x]

На самом деле впервые вижу, такой агрегат, обычно я раскалываю орехи ударом ладони или сжимая их, между ладонями, это хорошая тренировка. Работа весьма неплохая, заслуживает одобрения, цвет хороший. Только не надо сильно прижимать орех, чтобы не раздавливать его, а то получается мешанина, из обломков скорлупы и ядра. Достаточно чуть чуть сжать, чтобы орех треснул, потом можно извлекать вкусное содержимое. И ерунду говорят те, кто считает, что это приспособление бесполезное, если у кого мало сил то вполне подойдёт.

[@youhavenothingifyoudonthav9895]

I Know Why you won't see meany of these around. They Worked ! 😂

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Hahah, kinda true..

[@medicbabe2ID]

I love everything about it. Beautiful color, like my old tractor, and as another commented, great autumn vibe! 🍂 🍁

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

I'm glad you enjoyed the video and the Nutcracker. Have a good one!