Antique Vertical Steam Engine - Part 1 [Restoration]

This restoration is on a 1920s Orr & Sembower vertical steam engine. It was apparently found in a river in Kansas, USA before being shipped to me. This steam engine is one of the worst condition items to ever come across my workbench. I have not worked on a steam engine before, so this will be a fun learning experience.
In Part 1, I completely disassemble what is remaining of the steam engine and start to work on remaking all the missing parts. At some point, it was stripped for bronze or brass scrap metal, so almost all of those parts will need to be replaced. This includes the bronze shoes on the crosshead, as well as all the steam fittings and fasteners.
After rust removal, I can see the steam engine used to be black and that there is significant wear in all of the babbitt bearings, so they will need to be re-poured. The piston and piston rings are damaged and will both need to be replaced. The main shaft is too deteriorated to be salvaged and the eccentric has an improperly fit repair.
At this point, if this steam engine can be brought back to life, I will be very impressed.
Wrenches and screwdrivers are now for sale at www.handtoolrescue.com
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Podcast (with Jimmy DiResta and Andrew Alexander) - anchor.fm/fitzall

[@W.O.P.R]

Anyone else find this channel completely soothing while drifting off to sleep?

[@MrVolksbeetle]

Gratuitous camera cuts for "The Walk" to the blasting cabinet is Oscar worthy.

[@R.Daneel]

And the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor goes to HTR, meaning our new Best Actor is Media Blasting Unit #12!

[@user-yh6dr9jn4x]

Клоун разводным ключём всё открутил.

[@MrVolksbeetle]

@@R.Daneel I acknowledge your opinion and point. For me, Socially Distant Garbage On The Floor deserves a nod and consideration for this most esteemed award.

[@Stevarooni]

Epic Walking! Bested only by _Lord of the Rings_

[@MrVolksbeetle]

@@Stevarooni That’s hilarious!

[@leskobrandon6950]

This is the best restoration channel on the KZbin.

[@DBRising]

This is THE restoration channel.

[@ShamblerDK]

Considering it was found in a river, those nuts and bolts play along surprisingly well. Also, that chocolate wrench in the beginning totally got me :-p

[@huutran1544]

07b

[@quixototalis]

Next restoration: just a handful of rust flakes that will become an entire locomotive.

[@TheBoshy]

Mmm Rust Flakes, I eat mine in a big bowl with degreaser, and glass of "nutella"

[@spiderprint]

*japanned locomotive

[@User0000000000000004]

Rust flakes? Gay.

[@Razerin]

Watch me turn this paper into a mill

[@Sundog0811]

That's not possible. He would at least have to start with a pile of rust the size of a locomotive. Don't be ridiculous. Think before you hit send. Unbelievable. I won't be able to sleep tonight now.

[@bvalt1]

I just love the sillyness, even while doing complex restorations of historically significant artifacts, this talented man does not forget to not take himself so seriously and make us all laugh at his silly shtick!! Love it, thank you for bring some levity to our lives!!

[@tvbot6496]

Gamer moment

[@innominatedude]

Utterly to the contrary here. I was almost about to hit like, but he bit in to a fake wrench, so I changed my mind and will in no wise subscribe either. Pity because he has such fascinating finds, but I can't abide the extraneous nonsense.

[@morissobakin1294]

@@innominatedude ------ You're obviously a very gloomy type. It's dangerous for a health.

[@josephiudice8287]

@@innominatedude ROFL...you sir or madam need to go purchase a sense of humor. His goofiness is why I come back.

[@oldfarthacks]

@@innominatedude It is the fun that makes these more interesting. He doesn't present himself as a God, and that is good.

[@wolfmachatch2855]

I take my hat off to you machinist guys, restoring these ancient machines. To remake worn or broken parts, to know where parts (and especially nuts and bolts) go, when reassembling , to know how the thing works, and to produce a super good looking and working new machine is something I find oddly satisfying

[@Bbeaucha88]

Some people get a little heavy handed with body filler on these types of restorations but it's nice to see that Hand Tool Rescue is more subtle.

[@oobaka1967]

It does explain the current filler shortage in Saskatchewan.

[@Babushkabongwatr]

@@oobaka1967 a fellow Canadian? Wow. I never thought that there'd be restoration people in Saskatchewan of all places considering they're all in like Switzerland or Sweden and even Belgium

Gun restoration a very old found in the junkyard | Rusty Vintage Pepperbox

[@defrozendonut8715]

@@Babushkabongwatr I restore clocks in Florida

[@djay6651]

As a native Kansan, it's good to see the long tradition of putting moving parts back together with various types of wire, usually baling wire.

[@RocketSkates99]

Would have loved for him to inspect the wire, give it a rub with some wire wool, and remake a new wire out of bronze

[@djay6651]

And given the relative decent shape of the cast iron, that piece may have not been in the river that long. It was likely stolen, stripped of any copper/brass/bronze and dumped in the river to cover it up. Scrap metal theft has been a big issue here for about a decade, a byproduct of meth addiction.

[@classydays43]

That spool of MIG wire the apprentice messed up sure comes in handy.

[@Littlewolfe906]

As a fellow Kansan, I approve of this message

[@smithlonny8924]

Your skill and knowledge are astounding for a man so young. I really enjoy a your antics and the non speaking just adds to it.

[@thealicemonster9217]

Your comedy is so funny! Part of the reason you are my fav Restorer on YT. Other reason is you're just so good and knowledgeable.

[@tiaguinh0_843]

Now I can rest in peace. I lived that life to see Hand Tool Rescue restore a steam engine. I feel complete. Congratulations on your work from everyone in Brazil.

[@kostis2849]

Waaaaaait until Part 2!!!!!

[@Timmy6216]

I have your wrench in the three sizes and I use them all the time the little one is a constant companion in my back pocket. I love watching you do this stuff because the town my dad lives in his got machines like this all over the place and I often think about restoring something for my own use and my own shop and this gives me hope and also inspiration to see how some of this stuff goes together

[@yourselfdotcom]

As an 80s child your intro still makes me laugh every time and its been quite a few now. 🤣 love it

[@hberg321]

Having watched Keith Appleton work on model steam engines for a while I have a small inkling of how deeply insane this project is. I hope you are able to get it running again! Watching that steam chest cover come off was like watching a horror movie when someone opens a door in that you just know the killer is behind. The state of the valve did not disappoint.

[@JasperJanssen]

It’s basically exactly the same as a Stuart 10V… only 5 times as big in all dimensions, so probably 25 times as powerful?

[@tomastoth3839]

this guy is something else... something we should protect and preserve...

[@joshuaentwistle960]

I'm worried about long term brain damage from too much use of the sand blaster...

[@Joannesyoga]

and restore?

[@ProSimex84]

All efforts to preserve hand tool rescue have so far been thwarted by the limits of medical science

[@exerminator2000]

Six million dollar handyman

[@WillowEpp]

So you're saying we should dunk him in Evaporust and then give him a good Japanning?

[@tinysim]

The journey to the sandblaster was epic.

[@gordonwiley2006]

I made it a minute in and I feel like I'm losing my mind with the wrench bit. Well done you beautiful bastard.

[@averyanderson8402]

Your sand blasting entry was EPIC. I thought I was watching an action movie. I just had to squint my eyes. lol.

[@StanislavG.]

I got a feeling from the video that this restoration was more challenging than most. You're the man, Eric!

[@IR-nq4qv]

15:23 You need a smaller shop or move the sandblaster closer to your work station, if it was any further away, you'd need to pack a lunch LOL Good job bro👍👍

[@azskyking6542]

I'm dying to see a "making of" video. I'd love to see how you research the tool, figure out how to disassemble it and keep track of the parts as you take it apart.

[@whaddabunchashit]

Isn't that what we're watching now?

[@azskyking6542]

@@whaddabunchashit We're watching the sausage going into the casing. I want to see how the sausage is MADE. He has to have a detailed method of researching and keeping track of all the parts.

[@mwskyrim5516]

@@azskyking6542 i love you that is phrased. i think i may start using that and it’s all thanks to you for introducing me to the best way to word that specifically point.

[@azskyking6542]

@@mwskyrim5516 Thanks

[@shatteredreality1987]

​@@azskyking6542 Awesome comment, I may plagiarize

[@larkinj2319]

I really like your attention to detail and that you share your techniques. The results are excellent. You are a true craftsman. Plus I love this episode’s sandblaster dramatic montage.

[@svenhurdurburdursson8765]

This is the only thing that is worth notifications on my phone. Love what you’re doing. Keep up the fantastic work, dude!

[@Laz_Arus]

I'm eagerly awaiting part II, when Eric takes on the persona of Victor Frankenstein and re-makes 'Life'. Hopefully, at the end we can all shout ... "it's alive, it's alive"! 🔩⚙🛠

Gun restoration a very old found in the junkyard | Rusty Vintage Pepperbox

[@kerrypatton4975]

I kept waiting for “this asbestos probably contains asbestos.”

[@InstrucTube]

This comment probably contains asbestos...

[@kerrypatton4975]

@@InstrucTube LOL!! It DOES!! 😂🤣

[@waynerainey2606]

His dirty ass beard contains asbestos.

[@deaconblue949]

When you said that your oven isn't large enough for japanning my heart skipped a beat... Say it isn't so! We must find an antique commercial oven for you to restore and use for the large items😜

[@PhilYou]

😄 This guy makes me laugh each time I watch. He puts such a funny face.👍 I also like his choice of objects to be restored. Thanks

[@lukeolinger6000]

Excellent use of the old shaft for "masking off" the section that didn't need to be painted.

[@Ranger_Kevin]

So this is the thing that Keith Rucker was making those bronze shoes for. Nice.

[@donsundberg5730]

Sure looks like it. We don't always know how long the production time is for a given video. Apparently, Hand Tool Rescue has had a longer production time so far. Looks like a cool project.

[@Ranger_Kevin]

@@donsundberg5730 Understandable... restoring an engine in that condition will take a lot of time.

[@HandToolRescue]

I started this in February 2021...

[@joetrivers4093]

@@HandToolRescue Short sleeves in February? Must be global warming.

[@TrevorAndersen]

Thank God! For weeks I’ve been stuck watching rip off channels restoring new hammers they let rust.

[@edwinleach7401]

I love steam engines. Years ago(in the 50's - 60's) we had an Annual Threshers Reunion. Old steam engines from many states all came together to have a fun filled week. This was in Northern Illinois, USA. I think they still have the reunion going to this day. Our church had a huge covered wooden building where we cooked and sold fried chicken dinners. They were awesome. Every day people were lined up waiting patiently to get in for their turn for a delicious meal. We also had the 4-H fair where kids all brought their animals for judging and all hoping for the blue ribbon. Good old memories.

[@Xeddyhime]

I like how right in the opening shot, that thing is literally held together with bailing wire. Off to a great start! :D

[@CTmoog]

We all need a giant bucket of rust converter on our shops! =) Awesome video man!

[@kevingade5615]

I thought for minute it was bottomless, still got that thought in the back of my head.

[@stephane7012]

@@kevingade5615 Me too. It should be the Mary Poppins's bucket.

[@TheDistur]

And he's going to need a bigger bucket 😂

[@naomi-g]

That's not rust converter- it's Evapo Rust!

[@OmegaGamingNetwork]

It is the best thing ever having and isn't as expensive as you imagine if you use a little patience and shopping. Large containers like that can be found all over facebook marketplace and craigslist for $25-$55 depending on area and size. The expensive part is the Evaporust But if you patiently watch sales on amazon and other carriers, you can regularly buy the gallon jugs for under $15. Buy a few every sale and it doesn't take long to have a huge amount of it without breaking the wallet. Sure if you buy it all at once it is obscene, just spread it out.

[@vicscalone2239]

You are the DaVinci of restorations ! Fantastic work and funny too.

[@David0lyle]

Watching you remove bolts from an antique machine with an antique wrench satisfies a nameless something in my soul.

[@GatGabit]

Wait? Unnecessarily prominent adjustable wrenches is in this?!? I love that guy!

[@ronwalsh]

It is amazing how overbuilt steam engines are. Try leaving a modern engine out in a river, and it will be junk in no time. Great find, and a great video.

[@yeagerxp]

cast iron does not rust as easily as modern steel

[@jacobthecoincollector9962]

Well,it’s made in the 20’s,and stuff back then was all well built,and workers had proud of their job. Unlike today,just a bunch of made in China junk.things need to change to make America great again.😔

[@yeagerxp]

@@jacobthecoincollector9962 there is America and there is the United States. The United States is the regular peons, America is the ones with the power. Make America great again is the slogan used by those in power to keep the peons down and fool them into thinking that they care about them, they don't give a damn, they just want their quick Return On Investment and the HELL with the people

[@johannesmajamaki2626]

@@jacobthecoincollector9962 besides being well built, engineering just hadn't come as far then. We don't overbuild things anymore, in part, because we've gotten so good at building things "just right" so they work for their intended usage while being as efficiently built as possible. Man does it not have the same charm, though.

[@Adamsadventures83]

With steam pressures you're gonna want overbuilt...

[@RichsRidesandRestorations]

I spent years working on old steam rollers and traction engines, so really looking forward to seeing you finish this project!

[@timgiraud7591]

I really like that there is no annoying narration… kudos

[@ezrawilliams900]

Very few people I actually get excited for new videos from, but HTR is at the top of that short list! Hi from England 🇬🇧

[@RRCRestoration]

Awesome bit of kit! Cant wait to see it all steamed up :)

[@hangarrat101]

Always makes me smile when I see one channel I subscribe to commenting on another!

[@BenBlackEquinoxEngelhard]

GAH! Did you just tell me 13 minutes in that I don't get to see it run?!?! 🤬 Curse You Comments! Why do I scroll down...

[@naturalorang3]

If you follow him on Instagram you would have already seen it running :)

[@BenBlackEquinoxEngelhard]

@@naturalorang3 YT is as close as I get to social media.

[@amorag59]

@@naturalorang3 See it running on his story, which is only up for 24 hours? lol

[@davanders2006]

If they gave out awards for open video credits, you would win the awarded without a doubt. I just wish you made more than one video a month. Watching you rebuild old worn out machines to be like new again and you humor in the video's, I love to watch you work on tools I never have seen before. Thanks for sharing.

[@chopperdodger]

Great! Another restoration video I can't stop watching till it's done..

[@Santiak.]

One day, he's going to pull out something that we weren't meant to see from that vat of rust remover, like the head of the long lost 5th teletubby. Mark my words. Mark them I say!

[@matthewstrickland1773]

The part where you were walking to the sand blaster, absolutely perfect.

[@matthiasmartin1975]

What a cool project! Stoked to see this one completed and running.

[@MarkH10]

When you took that thing out of the things with the rusty thing, that's the best part.

[@shawnj3473]

"Found this in a river. Can you fix it?" is not something I would jump into working on. You're brave.

[@moehoward01]

_"My lathe is dying."_ Maybe you can find someone who's good at restoring stuff!

[@cacaokingdom3122]

Quite frankly that was in amazing condition for having been found in the river!

[@rocketpoweredkeith]

I’m so seriously impressed with the edit as you approach the blast cabinet. That’s all.

[@Jarlerus]

15:23 When you find that perfect montage track, but just don't have enough footage xD

[@Flymochairman1]

Aye, it's a bit bigger than Quinn's Steam Engine Kit! That's some task and what's still to be done. Loved the Sand-Blaster Approach'N'Dunk routine. Great video and thanks having us along. Cheers!

[@paulcampbell5202]

The US company "PM Research" make a very nice set of castings to build an engine about 1/2 the size of this one (it is 19 inches tall completed) and is rated at a true 1/4 hp.

[@BoggWeasel]

I can't help having flashbacks to the "Red Green" show, with much better results of course....good stuff 👍👍👍👍👍

[@Eric1SanDiego1]

Love the intro to your videos. "Featuring Hand Tool Rescue, various other stuff, and also Hand Tool Rescue!" Wow, you're featured TWICE! Great intro music, too.

[@ChrisLee-UK]

Nice, looking forward to the next instalment, those spoiler clips at the end look awesome! Keep at it Brother 👊🏼

[@uTube486]

A classic "Bottle" engine. The lower end looks like a bottle. Not sure about being from the 20's, more likely from 1895~1905. Also, note the thrust bearing on one end of crankshaft; could be used marine(?).

[@elrond12eleven]

certainly not. Thrust bearing is essential on any babbit-beared shaft to stop its axial movements.

[@paulcampbell5202]

Yes, a very nice bottle engine. Given it does not appear to have a maker's plate or name cast into it anywhere, I assume it is VERY old. However, I think it must have had some work done on it in the past as there are hexagonal nuts on it, and truly old engines would have used the more primitive (hand made) square nuts (and bolt heads). I think it was made to drive machinery rather than a boat as it does not have reversing gear (typically Stephenson's), with which a marine engine would have been fitted.

[@uTube486]

@@elrond12eleven Well, I have two vertical engines. One 9X12 (1895) w/ no thrust bearing, and one 4X7 (189?) marine w/ a thrust bearing. Could be true, but I've not seen many non marine engines w/ them.

[@justinvzu01]

@@paulcampbell5202 12:30 when he takes the screw out of what I assume is a weird piston head, you can see a square nut, so you're totally on the money.

[@allangibson2408]

@@paulcampbell5202 The nuts were never hand made - the earlier Whitworth nuts were machined - 5/8 from 1” square stock and 1/2” from 1” round stock (giving a 0.707” face to face dimension). Hex heads came during WW1 to save metal and later they dropped one size as a further metal saving measure.

[@bobferranti5222]

I am always in awe of the fantastically strange items you find to restore and the amazing results in the end. Keep up the great work!

[@theharbinger2573]

You have the most amazing luck with rusted fasteners.

[@UncleTogie]

You two-part loving goober... the suspense is killing me! Oh, and I vote for resurrecting Mr Rogers as far as life-creation goes.

[@colephares4973]

"Why do I do this myself?" Because the Bridgebort demands it.

[@jeremiefaucher-goulet3365]

15:23 I love the sandblasting march... First because it looks epic with that music, but secondly because it gives new views of the workshop.

[@denegillespie5767]

I love all of this but what particularly fascinates is Babbit malarkey. Brilliant engineering

[@ArtazaevAlik]

Очень ждал нового выпуска! Спасибо за твоё творчество!

[@user-fh3lq2yj6y]

один нюанс, у него есть специальный девайс для выкручивания шпилек, это отличная вещь, только двумя гайками проще, быстрее и дешевле! А так топ контент, как и всегда!

[@klim1554]

Взаимно

[@youtubeuser5402]

He deserves an Oscar for the intro and an Emmy for engineering

[@TheBoatPirate]

well its very obvious to me that you do THAT to yourself because you love us and we love what you do!

[@janneortju961]

Been on a binge on these ever so clever restoration videos. These remind me of a saying we have here: "Excessive precision is just lack of technical knowledge." By this I mean that it's wonderful that you don't overdo your restorations and let the age of these things show through.

[@FabriDragon]

I only use premium bailing wire to hold my steam engine together.

[@Slugbunny]

HTR: "the worst I've seen" Ebay ad: "oil and she's ready to start, some rust"

[@rustygoldworkshop4672]

It’s truly amazing to watch you do the things that you do and it comes out awesome thank you for all you do. Always love the head bump at sand blaster and little skits

[@rickprice7919]

I do not know what drives you, but I do like what you do.

[@JamLeGull]

Considering how long it would have been in the bottom of the river, that thing was in remarkable shape. Lathe restoration next video?

[@lezarathustra]

Nietzsche on the Übermensch: I say unto you, one must still have chaos in oneself to be able to give birth to a dancing star. I say unto you, you still have chaos in yourselves. The Übermensch: 0:06

[@GVBiggs524]

You never cease to amaze me with your expertise and ingenuity.

[@willhall3440]

I can feel this will be one of the coolest restorations on this channel to date!

[@VorpalGun]

Given that it was found in a river I'm surprised that it wasn't just one solid lump of rust! Maybe it was down in the mud at the bottom and that formed an anaerobic environment protecting the metal?

[@crackedemerald4930]

It was the river in flint Michigan, it removed all the rust

[@1978garfield]

@@crackedemerald4930 If it had soaked in Flint water the pits would have been filled in with lead.

[@evan12697]

@@1978garfield the babbitt bearings however would've been in perfect shape

[@tolyn8060]

Ждём вторую часть!.

[@hobbyoverload]

Wonderful to see another great restoration coming from your hands!

[@Watchvideos3]

Oh my goodness. I actually laughed out loud continuously at that pre-sandblasting bit. That was really funny.

[@MrSprucieboy]

you can almost hear the sigh of pain at 18.05 when he realized.......

[@cavemaneca]

That's honestly not in that bad of condition considering. Looking forward to the next part! (Also, seems like your lathe needs a brake added...)

[@evan12697]

If anyone sees this and knows where to get a brake for old Logan's, tell us lol

[@theoneandonlyowl3764]

A nice little Saturday afternoon project before dinner time ;) Good luck!

[@waxtrax_]

this whole channel is such a gem

[@Nordern]

15:00😂 You absolute tease

[@saltycadet5904]

I sure didn't expect to see you here lol

[@somanyteapots]

Hand Tool Rescue: Me: Also: please show us restoring your lathe. You can do a ragtime / Buster Keaton montage of you hand-scraping the ways...

[@MilitantPacifista]

That intro sparks joy...

[@lourias]

I am glad that you specified why you were using body fill.

[@schoktra]

HTR: "Why do I do this to myself?" Literally everyone else ever: Because you love it, and better yet, WE love it." On a different note... wtf was that thing you removed that double thread side bolt with? I've never seen anything like that before in my life!

[@broncobum]

stud remover.

[@trashflood7883]

Stud remover, also good for exhaust studs.

[@pfadiva]

@@broncobum I never knew one existed but now I have to have one! That will definitely save me from boogering things up with Vise Grips.

[@shanerountree3623]

came here to essentially say the same thing, "Why? Because it's FUN!"

[@nommy8599]

I was a little worried about the direction of force (working to also bend rather than just turn the part) because of how far it lifted the leaver. Wouldn't it be significantly better if the stud remover was shaped more like a large nut so there was minimal bend forces, and only rotational and shear forces applied?

[@ShinyPeeko]

Why was Evaporust not in the intro for something that had literally been at the bottom of a lake?

[@sumplais]

Indeed! Of all the restorations that need Evaporust as a sponser...alas.

[@dianekretser362]

I just love watching you. You are so funny. Is there anything you can't do? I loved watching you do your metal work.

[@raymondmenard5444]

Love watching you work and your humour cracks me up every time. Great work so far, so interesting seeing the babbit melting/shaping part. Can't wait to see part 2 now. Thank's for sharing man.

[@coolbean145]

"only small amounts of filler" - I want you to be my bartender.

[@RogueCove]

Wouldn't mind having him as a soda jerk

[@User0000000000000004]

Oh my god, I haven't heard that sound for about 20 years now! I worked at Best Buy as a merchandiser when I was a teenager and I'll ALWAYS recognize the sound of a Big Joe platform being raised!

[@betasolk]

This is completely insane!! Awesome work, waiting for the 2nd part!

[@peterjohnson9438]

Oh my, I'm amazed at how modern those parts look; that's almost like working on my old Mazda, except HTR has to deal with less rust!

[@grilnam9945]

I don’t know if Eric has a significant other but if I were them I’d be so tempted to throw some random nut bolts and other junk into those evaporust baskets, with the other bits

[@Joannesyoga]

v funny

[@1978garfield]

I think his SO is featured in the flame thrower restoration video. Her line is "I'm going to kill him!" She says this after witnessing him testing out his Little Giant flame thrower.

[@grilnam9945]

@@1978garfield many thanks I may have subscribed after that so will search for it now

[@grilnam9945]

@@1978garfield you were correct thanks for that,

[@Archiemonty]

Heh HTR getting about as "steam"ed as his latest project 😊

[@hoktwwpoznaniu6094]

Świetna robota! Jestem pod wielkim wrażeniem umiejętności i wiedzy :)

[@rhenry7949]

Best sandblaster approach yet.