82-year-old "Dandy" Automatic Pencil Sharpener Restoration

[@jolaod84]

It's weird. Most of the time, there are much more followers than views. You are the only one I saw on the opposite side. I have the greatest respect and admiration for your work : science, mastercraft, art and meticulousness.

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thank you for the very kind words! The KZbin world is tricky. Larger channels dominate KZbin's algorithm and it's always been very difficult for smaller channels to break through. It might look like my videos have a high views to subscriber ratio, but the reality is that only ~40% of my videos have ever made it past that threshold. Maybe that's above average, I'm not sure. Most of my videos only ever receive about 30% the number of views compared to my subscriber count though.

[@kitchentroll5868]

These sharpeners were still fairly common in the 1970s, not so much these days. We had two (I think they were "Climax" models, not APSCOs) in the wood shop at the original (pre-1980) Winfield High School (Winfield WV) and six or seven (a mixed lot of models) in the various shops at the Putnam County Vo-Tech School (it goes by a fancier name these days) (Eleanor WV). When I was doing cabinetry work in Florida and Alabama in the early 1980s, I saw a "Dandy" in the shop, but it was in pretty poor shape. I never thought we'd get to a point that a mechanical pencil sharpener would be a rare sight, but here we are. Thanks for doing the good deed of bringing this needful thing back to life.

[@CatalystRestorations]

Mechanical sharpeners were still the norm in school for me through high school (the mid-2000's, I know I'm a youngin!) but I'd be surprised if I regularly found them in every classroom still today.

[@shmoonuf2566]

I enjoyed watching your techniques before going to bed. Forget the pimple popper channels! Excellent work! I can’t believe something was found before my time. But the green paint gave me a sense of childhood. Our refrigerator was that color. 👍

[@CatalystRestorations]

And I enjoyed reading this comment in bed! Thank you for watching! Glad you enjoyed a bit of warm, fuzzy nostalgia. 🤗

[@StealthDonut1]

That may be the coolest pencil sharpener I've ever seen. Well done, beautiful restoration!!

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thank you! It's definitely one of my favorites too!

[@caligulard]

It's cool to see that even if the outside changed a bit, the mechanism inside is still the same as what we used in the 90s and 2000s. The fancier ones had a wheel with holes of different sizes so you could sharpen all kinds of pencils. Great restoration!

[@CatalystRestorations]

Yup! One of my other pencil sharpener restorations from the 1920's also still has the same mechanism. Sometimes when you get it right you just stick with it! I've also got an older Boston sharpener (the kind that most schools had/have today) with the multiple input holes that I'll be featuring in a new restoration video soon!

[@caligulard]

@@CatalystRestorations Oh, cool! The Boston sharpener is just such an icon, I love it. My mom was a teacher so she got one for us to use at home too, I thought me and my brother were so cool for having our own 😂

[@CatalystRestorations]

@@caligulard that's because it IS cool! 😎

[@woundedmonk1884]

Finally, a channel that actually shows that you need to check for lead paint on antiques like this. I'm sure some other channels do it off camera, but because they don't show it, they give uninformed viewers who might be interested in trying to restore something themselves, the impression that they can just sand down any old thing they have lying around the house. Especially younger viewers who might not even know that lead paint was even a thing.

[@CatalystRestorations]

Yup! It only takes 10 seconds to show on screen but the lesson lasts a lifetime!

[@GuyMcPherson69]

What are you talking about? Other channels also did check the lead paint with a lead detector on screen.

[@norasheffield8036]

Nice. Works better than modern pencil sharpener for sure!

[@CatalystRestorations]

For sure! Thanks for watching!

[@lydiaflatt9859]

So glad you used the very best pencil ever to test! !

[@CatalystRestorations]

Agreed! You're the first person to mention the pencil! 💯✏️

[@michaelschutz5817]

Really a great pencil sharpener design and a material shot for the eternity. The restauration is a testament to expertise and dedication. A pleasure to watch in the process. And thanks for not adding annoying music to your videos - it makes it easier to concentrate while watching on what alone is important. Best regards from Germany!

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thanks for the kind words, Michael! Thanks for watching! 😊👍

[@jimatherton291]

Great results, and congratulations. I have collected a few of these through the years and several had pencil gripper jaws that were stiff and intractable. You gave me the courage to open up the spring loaded chassis where lots of shavings had settled. After cleaning them out and re-assembly, I get a much better result with the sharpened pencils.

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thanks Jim! Glad I could give you the courage to open it up!

[@jozsefizsak]

That's older by some years and a bit more complex than the ones I used but the main part of the mechanism has remained pretty much constant. It's very satisfying to see the old thing looking so good and working so well!

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thank you Jozsef! That main sharpener assembly design is a textbook example of 'if it ain't broke don't fix it'!

[@LittleRestorers]

Beautiful restoration. So many pieces to Nickel plate. I actually thought I missed the part where u made the new screws 🤣🤣👍

[@yeagerxp]

Excellent restoration 👍👍👍Thank you for sharing. Be safe🇨🇦

[@CatalystRestorations]

And thank you for watching! 👍👍👍

[@Bercuda]

This one is absolutely adorable to me.! And you restored it amazingly too.!

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thank you! The little drawer is pretty cute 😊

[@quantumleap359]

Nice job. Nothing like a sharp pencil to improve your enjoyment of writing.

[@CatalystRestorations]

Old school creative juices flowing!

[@apoplexion]

I love how you through subtle jabs at mymechanics

[@CatalystRestorations]

All in good fun, of course 😇

[@MarkMeadows90]

Hey, great job on this project! I personally like the nickel plated tag.

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thanks Mark! As frustrated as I was trying to nail down the original look, I do like how it turned out.

[@tedschmaltz4346]

Who knew a pencil sharpener had so many parts? Nice restoration.

[@CatalystRestorations]

So many parts and not a single plastic one! Try finding that in a pencil sharpener today!

[@debrabarnes2739]

I've seeing this restored. I have this exact Dandy sharpener! Thanks for showing me what it can be!

[@CatalystRestorations]

How cool Debra! At the very least you see how easy can be to give it a good clean without even having to worry about having the tools to do a complete disassembly!

[@georgebrown8312]

Awesome job restoring the "Dandy" pencil sharpener to working order. It also looks a lot better, too. Great work.

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thanks George! I think I did a pretty dandy job if I do say so myself 😂

[@beverlyledbetter4906]

Wow! Just like the ones I remember when I was in school.😁

[@shedmanx3640]

Well done restoration mate. Very opportune too as I have been trying to source one myself to restore.

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thanks! Good luck on your restoration, hope my vid helps! Post some pics on your instagram when you're finished, I'd love to see it!

[@robertmanley7556]

The first video I watched of yours was when you restored the 104 year old bolt cutters !! I subscribed right after that video been a fan of your work ever sense !! This was a fantastic job restoring this Pencil Sharpener it looks wonderful and works so much better than the stuff you buy now !! Top shelf work all the way !! 👍👍

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thanks again for subscribing and continuing to tune in! This pencil sharpener really is a beast - solid metal all the way! It'll probably easily continue to work for another 100 years at this point.

[@TheKatana333]

9:53 You are the first restoration creator who cares about the environment and acts according to local guidelines for the disposal of pollutants ... You have a like and a sub from me

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thank you! I care deeply about the environment and its future so I feel like the least I can do is share that on this platform so at the very least it makes others conscious of it. 🌎

[@craigsmith3645]

Really a pretty job overall! With minimal equipment. Bravo! I really enjoy your videos so far! Keep it up! Keep learning! Some advice from an old fart that used to do a lot of fixing & restoration: A couple things you missed, oil the crank shaft - that is what the button that's off center top, 3in1 oil. Should have put a tiny bit of lubriplate under the pencil grippers before assembly. The grinding gears are supposed to be lubricated with graphite - I know, ironic isn't that? You did a pretty good job matching the paint, maybe in the future you can use a pantone chart and mix and spray with an airbrush. I caution you on the universal use of the wire wheel, it can and will remove actual metal and possibly leave unwanted patterns in the metal surface. Also it can reduce the amount of metal causing things to fit loosely where other methods wouldn't - evaluate this before taking action, especially on CAST parts. (don't ask, take my word for it) For your rivets, make a tool from a round 1/2" steel rod, grinding a divot into one end in the shape of a rivet head & pound that, not your resto piece, you left hammer marks, minor, but on a future piece it could be a disaster! As far as the lettering, I've never found an easy way to do the shallow ones, just magnifying light and pinstripe paint and patience.

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thanks for taking the time to write out all these great tips Craig! I'll definitely use these!

[@ChrisEbbrsen]

Thank you! Enjoyed very much!

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thank YOU for watching!

[@JerzZDog]

I think maybe the doohickey that 'locks the blades' might actually be what stops the pencil moving forward once it is sharp. The point would hit that and prevent the spring from pushing it further. Might be adjustable for two different sharpnesses?

[@CatalystRestorations]

You are 100% correct. It's actually a tip point adjuster - I even found some old ads that mention that feature. Great eye and thanks for noticing!

[@theropesofrenovation9352]

Gosh, I remember those!!! Having to raise your hand to go sharpen you pencil!!!

[@CatalystRestorations]

The worst part was when they were attached to the wall and your knuckles would get all scraped up against the wall!

[@theropesofrenovation9352]

@@CatalystRestorations So true!!!

[@jamesfield5346]

Ever since I used evapo-rust I have never needed anything else. Works perfectly.

[@CatalystRestorations]

It's a miracle in a jug!

[@mikeraz7512]

If you created a curved sanding block that would fit the printed part, then you might be able to Japan it then sand it to remove the blacking. The block won't compress and get into the deeper parts.

[@CatalystRestorations]

Great suggestion Mike! I've been meaning to break into the japanning game soon, so this might be a good opportunity.

[@karencox3235]

@@CatalystRestorations 😆

[@johnmorris679]

Beautiful work.

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thank you, John! 😁

[@JohanlastZa]

We had these in the early primary school years for me. You had to get up and ask the teach to use the sharpener and if they had a bunch to sharpen, you just volunteered to sharpen their pencils too.

[@CatalystRestorations]

And you felt like a god for being the designated person to sharpened them all!

[@OaMaaM1775]

Great job, if you hav access to a vinyl cutter you could print and cut a stencil out for the lettering and then paint them on.

[@CatalystRestorations]

Need to get my hands on a cricut!

[@jamesfield5346]

Hahaha!!! I love how you added... "the paint" at the end... just had to clarify

[@CatalystRestorations]

🤣

[@ldemiguelrodrigo3204]

MUy bonita restauración. Tengo una pieza parecida y seguiré sus consejos. Felicidades.

[@CatalystRestorations]

Gracias! Buena suerte con su restauración. ¡No dudes en dejar un nuevo comentario si tienes alguna pregunta mientras lo restauras! (Hopefully Google translated that okay!)

[@loverestoration9045]

Great work,I could do with the sharpener in my workshop 😊

[@CatalystRestorations]

It works so well!

[@mikemuscatiello8787]

Excellent Restoration! You may want to try using a bluing agent and apply with a small brush. Light sanding will remove any over coat.

[@CatalystRestorations]

Is there a bluing agent that works on tin alloys? I'm confident the tag is made of a tin-based alloy (very soft, malleable, and lightweight and tin alloys would be period-correct for this) and all the bluing agents I know of only work on steels. 🙁

[@mikemuscatiello8787]

@@CatalystRestorations I don’t know if it would work on tin, you can try a test piece. If the impression is deep enough, maybe try paint instead of marker. It still looks good unpainted.

[@RestorationAustralia]

Nice looking object, well done. 😊

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thank you! 🤗

[@andrewgrace4410]

Lovely restoration

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thanks Andrew!!

[@jamesfield5346]

Oh and thank you for leaving the captions up for more the a second or two

[@CatalystRestorations]

You're very welcome! I always finish editing the video, wait a couple days, then re-watch the video after I've forgotten the captions and see which ones need to be longer! 🤗

[@butthedd0233]

Very well done.

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thank you! 😎

[@tecumseh22]

great job, youre one of my favorite youtube channels!

[@CatalystRestorations]

That really means a lot, thank you Tony!

[@tinkernaut8736]

Great restoration.

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thank you! ✏️✏️

[@brianna4263]

Works better than the ones made today

[@CatalystRestorations]

I don't know of any pencil sharpeners that are made completely of metal today!

[@Grianan66]

Absolutely beautiful! I love a good old model pencil sharpener and this video is how I found you. Now I'm off to binge some of your other videos (and yes, I subscribed! 😄 )

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thanks for subscribing and enjoy binging! Be sure to check out my other pencil sharpener restoration video where I restored one from the 1920's!

[@rosellabill]

Great work and that stat about subscribers watching Vs. Non Subscribers. What a contrast.

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thanks Bil, glad you enjoyed it! Pretty eye opening, right?!

[@rosellabill]

Yes. It is a very sophistacated sharpner. That will help you spell and I was not one of them. The instrument measures the length you sharpen. And that part you showed us locked the blade so you can take the shavings out safely was cool.

[@martinyancey2730]

Nice job. Use metal bluing to blacken your badge plate. Then put some wet dry paper on a metal or glass surface. Now keeping the plate in a constant contact (what amounts to a single line on a curved piece) pull the badge over the paper. Repeat with progressively higher grits of paper until the finish desired is achieved.

[@CatalystRestorations]

This sounds like a pretty good approach, but each letter has a rounded raised bevel around it - if I sand over it with a flat surface I will sand flat or completely sand away that nice rounded bevel.

[@markwiebe7594]

​@@CatalystRestorations I recommend using a finer tip brush with your method. That way there's no residue to clean up.

[@jeremiahgriffith8795]

I have one of these sitting in front of me that works as I watch...the tin lable plate has black throghout the letters with black across the top and sides...the letters atop are invert color, rounded at the bottom, and around seal. Our stop lock dont stop the sharpeners...and weve lost the wood dowl...our lable is fairly nice if you would like a picture! We can read it all, the seal at bottom says Apsco in black, Dandy manufactured by automatic pencil sharpener co. Rockford ILL.U.S.A., the background is a light green looking, or green grey.

[@CatalystRestorations]

I love this detailed description! Based on the research I did and photos I collected of ones in good shape for references as I restored this, it sounds like yours is actually in pretty good shape! The label is definitely the best part about it - just wish I could faithfully get the black lettering accomplished.

[@OrbvsTomarvm]

absolutely gorgeous.

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thanks Tommy!

[@lazy_termite]

those sharpeners are marvelous to use tbh the sad thing is, most modern models are made out of plastic...

[@CatalystRestorations]

Indeed. Not a single piece of plastic to be found in this one and can easily last for another 100 years.

[@PacificEdibleSeaweed]

Nice work.

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thanks, Jason!!

[@monicabilagot1378]

Trying to watch this as a fall asleep (for the ASMR okay!?) but I keep laughing at the on screen text 😂

[@CatalystRestorations]

If you didn't already see it I have a 'sleep' playlist on the channel that will just auto play all my videos back to back so you can slowly drift off without even having to worry about my videos stopping (the ultimate dream). And a thousand apologies for my humor causing you to lose out on sleep. It's really the ultimate compliment though, so thank you!

[@mskayla7747]

Excellent job.

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thank you! 🤗

[@GaryTruesdale]

really nice!

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thank Gary! ✏️✏️

[@jhutto1984]

An excellent job! We still have an old hand crank sharpener that belonged to my dad kicking around somewhere. :3 Only mildly disappointing thing was that you didn't try to clean up or replace the board it had been attached to, but otherwise a fantastic restoration! Here's hoping it gets mounted somewhere nice. :)

[@CatalystRestorations]

I was really torn on the board part! On the one hand it's not original, but in the other hand it's part of the history of the piece. I still kept it in case I ever want to finish it! Thanks for watching!

[@ChrisEbbrsen]

Gorgious!

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thanks!!

[@markneo1]

Excelente trabalho. 🤘🤘🤘🇧🇷

[@CatalystRestorations]

Obrigado! 🤘🤘

[@madmanmechanic8847]

Plating on the tag was a good call that would be very difficult to color the lettering it too shallow nice job my man love old stuff

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thanks dude!

[@Extreme-Graphics]

Great Restoration! I liked the green paint and I think the way you did the label panel was probably the best! I actually think the label looked better than if you would have filled in with black. In my opinion, having watched only this video so far, you check most of the boxes for a great Restoration Channel!!! So I Liked & Subscribed.

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thanks for watching and subscribing, JC!! Welcome aboard! What boxes do you have that you check off for restoration channels? I'm super interested!

[@Extreme-Graphics]

@@CatalystRestorations My things I believe are check marks for a Restoration Channel that will eventually have millions of subscribers: 1.) No Annoying Music 2.) No Talking 3.) 4.) Humor 5.) Real Restorations (No Fake Rust) 5.) Text on screen letting us know what's going on 6.) Interesting camera viewpoints. There are probably more, but I can't think of them now. One thing I think would do you good would be a "Mascot" of sorts. One channel has a Turtle Brush, One channel has a small stuffed kitty, Another channel has a Rubber Ducky, etc. etc. May seem stupid, but the subscribers LOVE the Interaction of these in the videos. Hope this helps.

[@CatalystRestorations]

@@Extreme-Graphics Thanks for the feedback!! Personally when I watch other restoration videos I also want to check all these same boxes! I do have a 'mascot' (of sorts) in my videos starting in about the last 10-12 videos which feature LEGO minifigures but maybe I can focus on just a few fan favorites!

[@Extreme-Graphics]

@@CatalystRestorations Oh wow! I didn't see the Lego Dudes yet. How cool that is! I think you should keep them. Do you move them around and stuff in the vids? I am a Very Talented Graphic Designer, so if you need ANY Help with any kind of graphics/design from me....I'll do it for FREE as a way of thanking you for all your hard work and the enjoyment I get from watching your videos. If you wanted to contact me regarding that, I'm not sure how to give you my email address. I don't want to do it here for the whole world to see.

[@CatalystRestorations]

@@Extreme-Graphics feel free to shoot me an email to my business email [e-mail]! 😊

[@GentilAntonioDainese]

Very good! I'm from Americana SP - Brasil.

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thank you! Greetings from the USA!!

[@martinyancey2730]

I think that little lever is actually for ejecting broken lead points that get stuck in the sharpener.

[@CatalystRestorations]

I think you're right!!

[@kevinchamberlain7928]

Imagine how many pens its sharpened!!!

[@CatalystRestorations]

Probably not many pens 😂, but probably more pencils than I've used in my lifetime!

[@elyseshaff6119]

"I make new one" lol. great steal :)

[@CatalystRestorations]

Shhh don't tell you-know-who 😏🤫

[@KetulJuthani]

That's an amazing restoration 👏👏

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thank you very much!!

[@mohamedkilany6684]

Great restoration, regarding the letters there are 2 auggestions , 1st one is using a tiny paint brush for bold big letters and a toothpick for the small ones, 2nd way if the letters arent engraved and are up like a bump you can try spray painting the whole part and the. Using scotch to clear the paint from the letters, another comment is that for flattening the rivets back you can ise a rubber head hammer instead of normal one it will take probably longer but will save you the need to clean after the biting that metal hammer leaves around the rivet

[@CatalystRestorations]

I may try using an ultra fine tip brush at least for the recesssed lettering! Thanks for the tips!

[@theropesofrenovation9352]

Beautiful!!!

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thank you!!

[@GilmerJohn]

"Modern" pencil sharpeners differ in two respects: 1) most now are electrically powered; & 2) the only have ONE cutter rather than the two. The first electric sharpener I got had two cutters but the motor failed and the replacements only had one cutter.

[@CatalystRestorations]

Could you imagine an electric motor inside this Dandy? It would be unstoppable!

[@Leeummm83]

For the lettering, I would try a super thin coating, such as oxidizing the surface then block sanding with a very fine sandpaper to avoid sanding inside the depressions. Then just clear coat over. The other method is to use panel line accent color as used in the model hobby. It’s very thin and will pull to edges and increase legibility.

[@Leeummm83]

Also, subscribed and liked. Always enjoy watching others’ methods of restoration :-)

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thanks for subscribing, welcome aboard!! Thanks for tip on panel line accent color, I'm going to look into that, sounds really promising!!!

[@jamescraig5421]

SPOT ON.👍

[@CatalystRestorations]

✏️✏️✏️!

[@JohannesBee]

Good job! The lead paint would have scared me off.

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thanks! It's always better to be overly cautious when it comes to lead and other heavy metals, especially if you're working in small indoor spaces. As long as you are taking precautions though it's still something you can do safely!

[@ИльяКраснодарский-ч9е]

Хорошая работа!!

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thank you! Спасибо!

[@derpydog1008]

I can smell that pencil sharpener through the video.

[@CatalystRestorations]

Brings back memories of school for me!

[@devisionhun]

Haha cool mymechanics reference 😂 He makes way too many new stuff that you can also buy.

[@CatalystRestorations]

I know if I was him I'd show off a bit too 😜

[@devisionhun]

I guess that’s true, but sometimes I feel like it’s so unnecessary… waste of time and material, when he machines down a tiny bolt from a chunk of steel rod. Even if the thread or length is not the same, I’d machine it from a similar bolt. (If I could use a lathe or had one 🤡)

[@CatalystRestorations]

@@devisionhun that's totally fair and I would do the same thing (if I had a lathe too 🤡)

[@davearthur514]

You should paint the whole sign black then use sandpaper to remove the excess

[@CatalystRestorations]

Great idea. Or even just acetone right up to the edges (since it'll be faster than sanding) and then carefully sand to the edges of each letter with like 2000 grit sandpaper. I'm going to have to try this!

[@oneshotme]

I'm part of the 2.7% that's subscribed 🤣😂🤣 On painting the letters I'm not sure if I seen you do it or not but did you try painting it and letting it dry then sanding it to revile the black letters? But make sure you have something long enough to reach to both ends and flat. It almost looks new again and you did an excellent job restoring it as well!!! Enjoyed your video and I gave it a Thumbs Up

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thanks for being a longtime subscriber and always leaving great comments! Each time I painted in the lettering I let it dry for a few days before attempting to clean it up. I did try a technique with regular sandpaper like you described. It sort of worked in some places but not others and I could never get it looking good enough that I was happy with it.

[@oneshotme]

@@CatalystRestorations You're very welcome!! Shocked it didn't work!! Did you try using a block of wood the went across the whole thing?? If so it might have worked better if you would have put it back on the sharpener so the whole thing was supported. Just a thought

[@CatalystRestorations]

I did try mostly what you described, but the problem I ran into with that was that all the edges around the lettering are actually rounded or "mounded" up a bit and doing a straight across sanding would sand away the "roundness" of the letters' edges, if that makes sense. Most machinery tags have much more blocker, basic lettering with uniform raised heights where you can paint the whole thing one color and then just flip it over and sand it down on a large, flat piece of sandpaper or sanding stone, like you suggested. I wish it was possible with this one!

[@carlmcgee1623]

Great job..Use an ink pad for the ink ?

[@CatalystRestorations]

Good idea! I'll look into that!

[@user-uo2ls6rl7m]

Love the restoration. Question though why didn't you oil the Pencil sharpener?

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thanks! Great question too! Pencil sharpeners generally do not need to be lubricated because the graphite powder residue from sharpening acts as all the lubrication needed!

[@FerretPirate]

I'm surprised that you didn't put a drop of lubricant on the mechanism.

[@CatalystRestorations]

After you sharpen a few pencils the graphite actually lubricates it all on its own!

[@FerretPirate]

@@CatalystRestorations Fair point. Pun not intended.

[@CatalystRestorations]

@@FerretPirate Hahaha! ✏️✏️

[@57lente]

Interesting design and good restoration. Why don't you use a little oil?

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thank you! Pencil sharpeners generally should never need to be oiled because the graphite dust created during sharpening is an excellent dry lubricant!

[@LFKGooner]

How many parts does that pencil ✏️ sharpener have? My word people used to make some cool robust stuff in the past.

[@CatalystRestorations]

It's right around 40 pieces by my count - all solid metal (except the wood handle knob). Truly they don't make them like they used to!

[@kevinsterner9104]

I can smell the shavings!

[@CatalystRestorations]

An oddly comforting smell!

[@SabertoothDeathmouse]

Fun fact. The "lead" in pencils has always been graphite, that's not a new thing. The misconception was when they discovered graphite it was named "black lead". So since like 1575 or so, the only lead in a pencil was in the paint around the wood.

[@CatalystRestorations]

I didn't know it's been that long!

[@MR.B00_]

Looks nice. Invest in powder coating. I still subscribed.

[@CatalystRestorations]

Powder coating is great! On this channel I only use tools and solutions that most people have in their own workshops so that everyone has the ability to restore their own things too.

[@EDDYGARAGEShop]

New subscriber! 💪🏼 Good job 🤜🏼🤛🏼

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thanks for subscribing, Eddy! 🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@tekurohamada7068]

I’m very curious on how would the process have looked like if you tested for lead in be beginning, just trying to create less dust or maybe do different procedures? Great video, really enjoyed it!

[@CatalystRestorations]

Yup, you're spot-on. I'd just take more precautions up-front to minimize the amount of dust created and I put up some plastic sheets around my workspace to better contain any dust that does get created, since my workspace is in the basement of my house I live in. Thanks for watching!! 😁👍

[@tekurohamada7068]

@@CatalystRestorations so happy you replied :D thanks!

[@catalystrestorationsshorts]

@@tekurohamada7068 you're welcome! 🤗

[@npfrestoration]

Very beautiful work!!!!! Subscription

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thanks for subscribing!! 😁👍

[@saintchyril]

I wonder what would happen if you sharpen the blades using triangle files?

[@CatalystRestorations]

Great question!

[@dericbarnwell1477]

CAN YOU DO AN ACID-ETCH WITH THE BLACK LETTERING

[@CatalystRestorations]

Hmmm...not a bad idea. Might have to take a crack at that. Although after nickel plating I'm not sure how well it'll etch. Definitely on a regular steel surface it'd be excellent I think!

[@jamesfield5346]

Why did you assemble everything before painting?

[@CatalystRestorations]

It varies from project to project of course, but for this one it was far simpler to reassemble the structure and then paint to avoid scratching/denting/knicking up the paint trying to get everything riveted/peened back together.

[@petergregory7199]

As someone who does a lot of drawing I do get the point of all this. I have a similar all metal device with a brass drawer for the shavings. It is a precision instrument that comes from Toledo in Spain and was v.costly. As to the lettering, you could possibly experiment with gold size which you could apply into the letters and then use Lettraset or similar with a clear varnish to seal it in. Lettraset have hundreds of Font designs in all sizes.

[@CatalystRestorations]

Wow, the Lettraset idea actually sounds really viable and might be the best solution anyone's suggested yet! I've done waterslide transfers before and looks like that is kind of similar, but I never thought to go with an approach of anything other than trying to paint it somehow (which clearly hasn't worked). Thank you for the awesome feedback, Peter!

[@claudiodefeo2937]

Bravissimo

[@CatalystRestorations]

Grazie!!!

[@jamesfield5346]

When drilling out rivets... do you use a drill bit the size of the post or the head of the rivet?

[@CatalystRestorations]

For me, I find it's generally best practice to use a drill bit that is the size of the post. That way, as long as you are drilling on the center of the rivet from either the head or the post end, if you do drill right through the rivet entirely without stopping and the bit continues on through into the rivet hole you won't accidentally end up making the rivet hole itself larger (if your goal is replacing them with new same-sized rivets). If you have a rounded head rivet I find a couple passes with a file and then a center punch helps keep your bit from wandering off center!

[@jamesfield5346]

@@CatalystRestorations thank you

[@saintchyril]

I make a new one....LoL joke... I understood the reference... 🤣🤣🤣

[@CatalystRestorations]

😅😅😅

[@joseantonioteixeiraazevedo5166]

Tente verificar se a peça, que monta entre as lâminas de corte, não seria o batente de final de curso para o alimentador do lápis! Ponta grossa e ponta fina. Só por curiosidade! Excelente trabalho! Do Brasil. Desculpe-me pela falta do inglês. Nada que o Google translator não resolva. Abraços.

[@CatalystRestorations]

Depois de fazer mais algumas pesquisas, acho que você está correto! Obrigada! Hopefully Google translate doesn't butcher that too much! 😁

[@سلمانكيّوش]

صديقي العزيز أتمنى عليك أمرين للفيديوات القادمة: أولًا أن تبطئ قليلًا عرض الكتابة باللغة الانجليزية ليتسنى لي قراءتها، لأن الانجليزية ليست لغتي الأم. والثاني أن تقول عن اسم البلد الذي صنع هذه الآلة الجميلة.. وشكرًا لك..

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thank you for the suggestion! This pencil sharpener was made in the United States of America. 🌟

[@سلمانكيّوش]

@@CatalystRestorations ♥️🌹

[@mftmachining]

Great job. But man, its only lead, not VX or sarin. Precautions not necessary in this amount.

[@CatalystRestorations]

Lead is cumulative in the body and I restore things containing lead regularly. There's no reason to not take precautions to limit your exposure at the very least.

[@samuelfellows6923]

he could do that outside, and not in the workshop - assuming it was adequately ventilated 😉 ✅ ⚠️

[@RadicalEdwardStudios]

I don't think the insert in the blade set is meant to lock the blade. That might be a contact issue. My understanding is that it's a tip stop. This is an auto feed sharpener. I have one, myself. The insert has two positions, marked by detents on the blade housing. They seem to be allowing it to move more or less deep into the blade set, allowing the tip to get slightly sharper, or not. Not 100% on that, but it definitely seems to behave that way, on mine.

[@CatalystRestorations]

You are 100% correct! It's been a while since I wrapped up this restoration, but in doing a bit more research after the fact it is indeed an adjustable stop that allowed the pencil tip length to be longer or shorter! 🌈 The more you know! 🌈

[@johnkashka803]

They definitely don't make them like this anymore!

[@CatalystRestorations]

They do not, John! Over 40 parts, zero of which are plastic and all but one is solid metal (the wood knob)!

[@xwd]

What happened to the wood base?

[@CatalystRestorations]

I still have it, but it's not original, someone just added it later, so I didn't include it as part of the restoration.

[@israelalfranca1624]

U get new subscriber.

[@CatalystRestorations]

Welcome aboard! Thanks for subscribing!

[@monicabilagot1378]

A cricut might work for the lettering!

[@CatalystRestorations]

I agree! It was one of my first thoughts! All I need is.....a cricut! My fiancée and I have wanted one for a while now, I know I don't have to convince her that we NEED to buy one! 😂