Billings No. 97 Bicycle Wrench

[@bobhart1155]

Beautiful job on that wrench, Scout. Back in the day that would have made a great salesman's sample giveaway for valued customers of Billings to showcase their wares. A real keeper!

[@patjohnson3100]

I remember when you got that cute interesting wrench. It just screamed "clean me up." You did a beautiful job. It never looked better. About led bulbs, we have some led candles. You are right. Led lights are amazing. I have especially noticed the changes and advances in automotive applications. The variety is amazing. Just beware of the cheap Chinesium products.

[@johngodwin1902]

You make using a flap disc look easy. After butchering and gouging my first couple of projects, I have much admiration of your side grinder skills. Not to worry though, no collectable or expensive tools have been harmed 😆

[@OldSneelock]

Second choice is outstanding. Those little wrenches are handy to have in your travel bag. Never know when you need one. Even though they are small, with a cheater you can work on rather large items. I just found out I'm watching your video and commenting at the same time you are watching mine and commenting.

[@jimronchetto8592]

Thanks for taking the orange paint and the blueing out. In my opinion, that lettering is so nice that it would be a shame to not highlight it in black as you did for the finished product. Great job as always, John!

[@burtsegal3612]

I'm currently in doing leather work after years. Talk about sitting on it. We're up to the third or fourth time being the charm.

[@richardross7219]

Our minds need time to digest problems and find a solution. I've had problems that needed a couple of years to solve. At least one solution came out very well after acouple of years mulling it over. Fortunately, I had the time. Good Luck, Rick

[@merlinsatrom6678]

Impressive how you choose so wisely about the end product! Very nice!

[@jackthompson2132]

I really don’t like redoing a tool but I’m sure everyone has done it. The wrench turned out awesome John!! Thank You for sharing!!

[@ScoutCrafter]

Jack- Me neither! 😂👍

[@andyc972]

Thanks John, lovely little wrench there, tbh I liked it either way but it's you that has to be happy with the result so all good. When you were first contemplating the finish, I was thinking perhaps he's going to jewel it, we haven't been that in a while, but the satin finish was spot on !

[@ScoutCrafter]

Andy- This wrench is screaming for good old fashioned engraving! 😃👍

[@GuntersGarage]

Great little pocket wrench. I love those little guys. The final version is fantastic!!

[@peterw2845]

Great job !! 28 seconds and only 2 likes , first time ever. That aside imagine the design of the stamp - a concave stamp or some sort of magic going on to make it look so good

[@westhighlandsshop]

Really nice! Both versions looked great but agree the "2nd attempt" was the right way to go. Thanks for sharing

[@patrickrhin9152]

Hey !John vraiment je préfère le nettoyage et polissage, que le nettoyage et bleuing. Très beau travail, et je trouve cela plus naturel.❤

[@lrbrad4d]

Nice restoration. I would've done black in the middle with white lettering, but you did great. I like it! 👍🍻

[@357magdad]

Second time is the charm! Awesome little wrench!

[@13thworker45]

You did an exceptional restoration. I like the finished product. It looks like an expensive wrench. Love it! Thank You

[@lugwrench9832]

Evidently, after the 2nd go-round, the bricklayers were quite happy.

[@stevenmccall2127]

Either way beautiful job. Black and orange is one of my personal favorite color combinations, but your final choice was on the money. This was 100% owner preference as the final product come out stunning.

[@AricBolf]

Last summer, i restored a kids bike. Red frame with white handlebars and forks, and black accents like the seat post, cranks, and pedals. But it doesn’t look quite right, just like your project. The problem is the color is out of balance. So next spring, i need to take the cranks back off the bike, and spray the chain disc white. That will pull the white handlebars and forks back and balance it out. Your second try with the black lettering on your wrench was spot on.

[@ScoutCrafter]

Aric- You’re 100% right- When I restored my ‘51 Pontiac and had the body painted Red it looked like tomato soup! 🫣 It was only after spraying the top White and adding the chrome and white walls did the color look right. 😃👍

[@mikebrunosgarage5338]

It's still a beauty! I believe that it happens to all of us as well. Have a great weekend and see you next time

[@lotsatrains]

Very nice job 👍 great to see it done up both ways which were both fantastic but the customer always needs to be satisfied and you are your own customer on this job 🤩

[@LoStivale]

Glad you went with the second option. Looks great.

[@larrydemaar409]

That is a nice looking wrench, your second time looks more original, well done.

[@greghomestead8366]

I didn't even know you could remove blue-ing. Learn something knew every day. I love how it came out!! Have a Jesus filled day everyone Greg in Michigan

[@ScoutCrafter]

Greg- Fiber wheel buffs it right off. 😃👍

[@larrynelson734]

Hi John. I really love that little wrench. Great job. Love the finale look. Have a great weekend. 👍👍❤🙏...

[@EricSpratt]

Thanksgiving was great but… there’s always that one relative that shows up sick coughing and hacking; spewing their pathogens all over for the rest of us to catch. The wrench looks great. Very simple yet classy look. Good taste.

[@ScoutCrafter]

Eric- Why do people do that? I can’t stand people coming over when they are sick. I even get perturbed when I’m shopping and someone is coughing repeatedly. 🫣 Everyone should stay home when sick! 😂👍

[@Chevyv8man1]

Hey John, If you ant to really clean a part faster and cleaner, I do what you did with the evapo-rust but I put it into my sonic cleaner with just water in it and turn it on (must be filled with liquid or you'll destroy the sonic cleaner). The sonic cleaner vibrations combine with the evapo-rust really does a nice job and the liquid doesn't mix. Give it a shot some time, I think you'll like it.

[@ScoutCrafter]

Great tip!!! Thanks!

[@tonyn3123]

I like your revision. Bluing is nice in some instances, but just letter fill with bluing or paint is my preference on tools. Thanks.

[@rogermcdonald1607]

John, that wrench was worth the $8 you payed. I have a few of those wrenches but none has the quality of lettering as yours! Very nice !👍🇺🇸

[@bigvicsworkshop]

#norustnovember The font on this is fantastic! Outstanding before and after Mr. John!

[@ney4na449]

Outstanding! Don't beat yourself up for the re-do. After all, our lady friends are big on the new "Do" (hair) (and it's in your best interest to notice it). Any who... in my case, I subscribe to, "I don't have time to do it right (or to my satisfaction), but I have time to do it twice". Great video, and remember, we are all thankful for you.

[@jimthesoundman8641]

I've got a bicycle wrench but it still has all its chrome on it. I never knew what it was called.

[@ScoutCrafter]

Jim- many early Billings wrenches were Nickel plated and had tendencies to flake off. If you find one in good original condition you are super lucky! It’s great finding an original example that is presentable. 😃👍

[@dandecl5843]

Thoughts: the body on the Billings is a great candidate for Jewelng. Also have you ever tried powder coating. Harbor Freight sells a inexpensive spray gun for it. With your nighttime Poormans flea mkt walks. You must come across some tossed small ovens to use to bake the powder on the metal. Building one would make a great episode.

[@ScoutCrafter]

Yes- Powder coating looks interesting and not difficult! 😃👍

[@mikewatson4644]

I had the same thought! Some of the projects, including this one, would look really nice powder coated!! Thanks for the video

[@alexstools]

I really like that little wrench and how you finished it. These are the exact projects that I like! However I spent half the show wondering: did I miss the story on those giant siccors in the background? Wish you a pleasant weekend too!

[@ScoutCrafter]

No Alex -I’ll talk about the scissors on Monday! 😂👍

[@oldguyknots]

I liked the blued with the orange. But also liked your second and final finish. Nice job on both

[@williamlouis5011]

The wrench looks great! I also think it would be a great candidate for jeweling!

[@truthreigns7]

great video as always

[@saigaking]

I can tell just by looking at the wrench it’s great steel and it was so straight Happy thanksgiving to you John god bless take care 🇺🇸🇳🇿🇮🇱🪖🗽🦅🐕45-47

[@bigfootscave445]

That came out really nice, sometimes the 2nd or the 3rd time is the charm 😊😊

[@arielon13]

i aproove the result! lovely wrench, nice work!

[@johnkelley9877]

I think it looks better the second time around on the finishing. The accented black stamped lettering and satin finish look really nice. Thanks for sharing this.

[@toolscarriagesmodellbauand7246]

What a great restoration. I like the black lettering very much. Looking great.

[@PennsylvaniaMike]

That is a very cool candle. Thats a nice little wrench and a great restoration. I like the final finish.

[@troyb1733]

Loved both versions.

[@57WillysCJ]

There for a bit I thought you were going to jewel it. Looks good as is.

[@drivesalot0063]

That turned out great, Scout! The stain and black fits it perfectly. Well done! 😀👍

[@rawbacon]

If we're lucky like with a wooden ladder and a wheelbarrow I restored we can just add more paint and the other paint just gets considered the primer and more protection.........It's frustrating when you actually have to remove a finish or something which I had happen with a shotgun I was restoring and wasn't satisfied with and started over on.

[@beerdrinker6452]

You are an artist. Nice video.

[@bigpete4227]

It has something of the zippo lighter about it. Very cool.

[@billchiasson2019]

Very cool project!! I like the second finish as well! Amazing job John!!

[@markrandall1456]

The bluing and ScourCrafter red would have been nice. Orange is good for tools you use outside so you can see them in the grass. Thanks for the fun.

[@GWP323]

What kind of maniac only finishes a tool once?..lol

[@joeschulz7997]

That's a nice-looking wrench with classic lines. Good video 😄👍🏻🇺🇲

[@toolscouter]

That’s a beautiful little wrench. Thanks so much for sharing and happy Thanksgiving.

[@MrPhil1969]

I like how it turned out both ways. I think it would be hard for me to pick one or the other. I had to laugh at the picture of the bricklayers though. When you went looking for that picture did you put into Google "no F's given bricklayers"? 😂

[@ScoutCrafter]

😂😂😂. We had a gut in my town who built his own archway in front of his house- All crooked and messed up. I would look for it everytime I passed! 😂😂😂

[@MrPhil1969]

@ScoutCrafter and I guarantee he was proud of that archway because he did it himself

[@chrisedwards2054]

I agree with the change good job. Nice wrench.

[@michaellindsay8934]

It does look better with the black lettering. Thanks John

[@joseffroula7415]

Beautiful job on the 97! I do like the second version better. Did you remove the orange paint, or just add the black? The finish is perfect!!!

[@ScoutCrafter]

I removed the orange so it would still be deep. 😃👍

[@americobomba2398]

Amazing! Happy belated thanksgiving!! Always great to see your restorations!!! Thank you

[@mraamohamed]

Great little wrnch, would love to find on here, I have a question on the jaws how could you add some nurling or grooves to better gripping?

[@ScoutCrafter]

A small needle file going from both angles. 😃👍

[@Absaalookemensch]

Looks great and worth far more than $8.

[@barryrankin587]

I love your added photos, the guys building the wall had me laughing so hard it took me ten minutes to write this comment. 😂😂😂😂

[@icfreelynow]

I always learn something new from John, today I Iearned that there is an R in Jaw 😊

[@ScoutCrafter]

😂😂😂😂👍

[@madamecampsalot6384]

I like the final finish best!

[@troon5488]

Now I see where magdad gets his “choose your own ending” ideas from…🤔

[@terrystewart2070]

Second time around for the win John!

[@hubertjudeaux7749]

like always pretty job we said black friday not shinning one take care

[@stevesager4032]

I have a question what your two favorite pocket knives mine have to be the buck 110 and the buck 112 but the best Swiss Army knife in my opinion is the Swiss champ

[@ScoutCrafter]

Steve- As you know for knife collectors it’s really hard to pick a favorite- however- My all time favorite pocket knife is the WW2 US Navy Colonial pocket knife. (You MUST get one) as for regular carry I absolutely love my Buck 482 (Bucklite) it’s light, fun to carry and comfortable. Pocket knives are like potato chips- you can’t just have one! 🫣😂👍

[@farmhand3724]

Wow, I think the second version is the best!

[@lotsabirds]

Have a fabulous weekend!

[@Reggyontheroad]

Gotcha boom👍👍🔩🔩

[@larryborkstrom3580]

Hope all had a Great thanksgiving and I like the wrench better after redone on ot

[@tonylenge424]

Second times a charm!

[@ko2fjb]

Another great restoration. Where do you get your fiber wheels?

[@ScoutCrafter]

Fred- www.amazon.com/Uxcell-a15122800ux0618-Abrasive-Polishing-Buffing/dp/B01DKABIOI?pd_rd_w=Cay5a&content-id=amzn1.sym.eac124a3-d70d-4ac7-8958-aa481eb5efde&pf_rd_p=eac124a3-d70d-4ac7-8958-aa481eb5efde&pf_rd_r=SGVGYYYNP8J948JY9590&pd_rd_wg=METrZ&pd_rd_r=fddb86f9-51cc-4b74-ad9e-3fed76a76fd7&pd_rd_i=B01DKABIOI&psc=1&ref_=pd_bap_m_grid_dv_rp_0_1_t

[@ScottCornish-f4w]

Good call, 2nd version better :) - looks great!

[@paulsworkshop4179]

Definitely like the redone wrench. What’s up with giant scissors?

[@ScoutCrafter]

😂 Monday-

[@tomdale1313]

"Snoop" abides, thxs for sharing...

[@johnroberts7280]

Second time 👍

[@williammccreary5562]

Happy Thanksgiving

[@penndino]

Hi John! I notice you use corded angle grinders, just wandered if you ever use cordless tools around the shop??ps another nice vid regards from the UK!

[@ScoutCrafter]

Being that I’m in the same small area of my shop corded tools have a slight advantage in power and Run time. I only have battery drills and I use them upstairs and for outside work. 😃👍

[@nebraskarancher9099]

Bob is still your Uncle!

[@learningsevenresearchgoals1127]

Wow I can’t believe what’s happening in Syria right now.

[@pitaeata8493]

how do you remove the blueing? grinding?

[@ScoutCrafter]

Fiber wheel rubs it right off. 😃👍

[@mustafaozyetis3748]

[@danjrx]

I have a bumper sticker for you! How do I send it to you?

[@ScoutCrafter]

Hi Dan- [e-mail]

[@user-xv3zp8gl7j]

Museum quality