Antique Vertical Steam Engine - Part 2 [Restoration]

Check out how Keith Rucker at VintageMachinery.org completely remade the bronze shoes for the crosshead:
• Machining Bronze Shoes...
• Machining Bronze Shoes...
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 2, I remake all the missing and broken parts as well as slowly reassemble the entire tool.
I decided to make a few sensual upgrades as well.
The missing bronze shoes on the crosshead were complicated enough to remake that I decided to call for help to @VintageMachinery and @windyhillfoundry5940.
My machining equipment and personal skill were pushed to the maximum for this restoration, but I think it all turned out well enough to function. Making a new piston and piston rings was particularly challenging but was very rewarding.
I really want to run this steam engine on actual steam instead of my air compressor, but I do not have a steam boiler. Maybe I'll restore one in the future for this use. The steam engine seemed to run just fine on 14CFM @ 90 PSI and lower.
Wrenches and screwdrivers are now for sale at www.handtoolrescue.com
Help secure more tools for future videos (if you want):
/ handtoolrescue
Instagram:
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Facebook Group - Share your restorations
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Reddit - Share your restorations
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Podcast (with Jimmy DiResta and Andrew Alexander) - anchor.fm/fitzall

[@HandToolRescue]

Check out how Keith Rucker completely remade the bronze shoes for the crosshead: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZ-7e3R5mLaHd7c kzbin.info/www/bejne/l3e5pJuhdruSo8U

[@RedDogForge]

keiths a great guy :)

[@InconsistentManner]

makes those beautiful brass slides... can't make spacers to use instead of the washers...

[@ProfaneGod]

Maybe you could do a restoration on your lathe too

[@RossTFarnsworth]

@@ProfaneGod That was what I was thinking...

[@scottvolage1752]

Keith has a excellent channel and I found yours from watching his. Always fun and something to leaner from the way they did it way back when.

[@mymechanics]

Congrats on your new freshly restored engine for your lathe 😉

[@JoshJenkinsMCMXXX]

What a burn!

[@maggs131]

Hey he made a lot of new ones with it lol 🤣👍

[@grimnir27]

Why would he need an engine if he already has a pedal lathe?

[@benjaminstubbs7845]

You both are really awesome but you have the crown for restoration.

[@maggs131]

@@benjaminstubbs7845 my mechanics definitely has an edge in precision but I've never seen him tackle a monster 2 man chainsaw or 1000+lb forging hammer. It would be very interesting no doubt if he did. Yes I'm tossing it out as a challenge

[@AllThingsMech]

Its rare for me to actually, audibly laugh out loud watching anything on the internet...but the Marv shot spliced in at 1:21 completely did me in. *That was hilariously perfect.*

[@kodiakwood4924]

I spit chips out my mouth laughing out loud at that.

[@mysticalfitzy9844]

Legit was the perfectly cut scream.

[@prophet5696]

i woke my sleeping dog upstairs with my outburst

[@jbiemans77]

Same here. I almost never comment but had to come and complement it.

[@rushthezeppelin]

It's amazing I haven't seen that movie in probably over two decades but immedietely recognized it as being from Home Alone lol.

[@timtaylor1365]

Thank you for saving this engine and educating us on engineering restoration.

[@JM-nb2tt]

It's the projects that brought me here, it's the humor that keeps me coming back!

[@pacomef.5113]

27:16 Hand Tool: "I made this off camera, for fun!" Viewers: "He forgot to put the camera on..."

[@atles8379]

Or went out to use a lathe that didn't ache and complain that much.....

[@ManicWokkie]

"I am going to use threadlocker in case I need to remove this later" Killed me! Fantastic work love watching your work.

[@jedmedin5852]

And not just any thread locker! Red Loctite!

[@thePond11]

@@jedmedin5852 Loctite's high temp thread locker is also red.

[@D-Vinko]

@@thePond11 This is why he mentioned it. He knows

[@droppedpasta]

HTR: “‘Surface Finish’? Yeah, the surface is finished.”

[@cantstopthefunk22]

Channels like these are such gems. All I need or want is to watch and learn how things are made, assembled, restored, machined etc... no fluff, no filler, just.. content. IT'S PERFECT

[@DickvanZanten]

Hear, hear! Ditto for me!

[@fieromike1]

😤“Immediately start putting the wrong studs on”😂 That’s how I start every project!🤪

[@thunderstruck1078]

Every single time?

[@mikehannigan848]

@@thunderstruck1078 and then some.

[@thunderstruck1078]

@@fieromike1 If you're making the same mistake every single time you're not learning 😉

[@quixototalis]

The tension/horror sound when putting the rings on was spot on.

[@Stevarooni]

Riiiiiii [let's look at it again] iiiiiiiiiise!

[@MrLucas217]

I just want you to know how much I absolutely love your intro and the weird things you add in. It's neat to watch how all this stuff is fixed and you make it fun. You a real cool dude.

[@HandToolRescue]

Thank you!

[@Quickened1]

As an ex USN old school boiler tech, I can fully appreciate what you've accomplished here. Pretty amazing you got the timing spot on the first time!

[@jasepoag8930]

So much milling. Makes me miss This Old Tony.

[@HakkaDakka]

What happened to him I wonder?

[@mrcamelpmw]

@@HakkaDakka death in the family, father in law, it's on his KZbin home page

[@TheKrogon]

@@mrcamelpmw ah, that sucks. thanks for letting us know

[@michaelskinner896]

@@mrcamelpmw Terrible thing to happen. But I'm beginning to wonder if he's coming back though, as he hasn't made a video in half a year.

[@y0taman]

Hope all is ok with him

[@bobbyvarnell9350]

That sound is going to play in my head every time I install a set of rings from now on.

[@johannesmajamaki2626]

Did it not before?

[@garyhardman8369]

Massive smile on my face when I saw it run. Brilliant co-operation with Mr Rucker.

[@TheZachatree]

Over the last three years I’ve gotten into watching these restoration videos and they are all pretty much formatted the same way which is part of the appeal, but your dry, sarcastic and subtitle comedy makes your videos the best of them all. I always find my self chuckling at something every video.

[@steair]

Time for a "Antique Hand Tool Rescue Lathe [restoration]" video 🤣 BTW, amazing work on the engine! Brilliant as always.

[@Alex_whatever]

He still has a power forging hammer to restore!

[@steair]

@@Alex_whatever so the real question is: do you need a power hammer to restore a lathe or a lathe to restore a power hammer? 🤣

[@Mishn0]

@@steair Yes.

[@davesmith9325]

Or the other option is to set fire to this one* and find then restore something with more promise, can achieve a quality level matching his bridgebort (tm) ? Eg something like a Colchester? *or donate it to rollingmetal, which seems a sucker for completely crap lathes ?

[@kvsteve]

Bonus points for it not walking off the bench when you fired it up! Nice job.

[@thunderstruck1078]

This was the second time he fired it. He used a satellite controlled robotic drone from Utah the first time.

[@dayron6637]

I’d be more worried about backyard mechanics rebuilding snowmobile clutches.

[@minhaestrosnider6037]

Let’s be real, the time and effort to research, build and edit this video is unreal. It’s not just about the views for you. You have a true passion for your craft, and the talent to go with it! Get this man to 1 million subs!

[@jski76]

I have a fondness of the way things used to be and I really enjoy watching all of these old tools and machines come back to life.

[@UnsungPride]

The Marv tool was amazing. Had to rewind a few times cause it was that great! Keep up the great work!

[@jam2190]

Damn right, was gonna say something about that as well!! Sounds exactly the same

[@eric.is.online]

Yeah, that one sent me 🤣

[@sulthanryanalfandralatif603]

I seen marv meme today, like 12 times now. Edit : and atleast that good

[@nefariousyawn]

I live under a rock. Can someone provide a time stamp?

[@Shad0wBoxxer]

Omfg lolol

[@channelsixtysix066]

Brilliant. And Keith's appearance was a treat.

[@subinsebastien]

Indeed

[@Gogsnik]

34:44 - it's the little bits of fun like this which make the channel extra special for me, always appreciate seeing them :D

[@DD-DD-DD]

Your theme song is pure friggen evil - every time I hear it, it's stuck in my head for hours after...

[@maggs131]

Keith is such a good sport. When he picked up that old timey phone I nearly died 🤣👍

[@Bbeaucha88]

Using loctite is the #1 way to identify parts that will need to be removed in the future for repairs.

[@luxordeathbed]

I have been watching your channel for a few years. You sir are a character and never fail to make me laugh with your little humor inserts.

[@munched55]

And nothing on the workbench was shaking while the engine was running. Amazing.

[@cavemaneca]

At the end of the last video I was wondering just how much was left that needed to be done. There were so many parts you had to build in this video! The end result is a beautiful machine.

[@clydebalcom3679]

Keith does excellent work. As for you. You're on a level unmatched. So enjoy the videos.

[@kevinreardon2558]

Beautiful. If I was a collector, I'd buy it. I also love the gratuitous plugging for your wrenches. I've bought all three (that are realistic) and now use them more then I do an adjustable croissant, I mean crescent.

[@1123pawel]

"Only use this clamping method if you want to die" Count me in!

[@TheWhiteDragon3]

*Don't mind if I do!*

[@aussiebloke609]

Love how Keith's...ahem..."phone"...is still corded. As well as his actual antique phone. :-)

[@StoriesbyIrish]

Everyone else: "Congrats on the restore!" Me: *Loosing it after seeing skele-Marv*

[@pnwRC.]

I LOVE how Keith explains how he makes things on his channel! I'll most likely NEVER have the ability to machine parts. With that said, it's interesting to me to know how & why he does what he does as he goes through the process of making parts!

[@xander7462]

I keep expecting Larry and Balki to pop up during the theme song. Love it.

[@bigfontbrandon]

Eric's comedic prowess is absolutely fantastic!

[@IrishScott71]

Eric, thank you for providing Keith's episodes to complement this series... great job... truly enjoyed watching

[@garandman8114]

Beautiful work. It is a privilege to watch you breathe new life into old iron.

[@dhgodzilla1]

You should restore a "Hysteria" curing device from the 1800s lol

[@officialbazzargaming]

He did! Antique ball motor.

[@jkurl15]

Ahhhh I see Hand Tool Rescue has learned the ancient karate chopping method for getting parts to seat. Very fine technique you have.

[@baconfarts3211]

Old tools are awesome, especially when you bring them back to life!

[@BBQandStreetCars]

The suspense of installing those piston rings was real. The music made me feel like I was there 🤣👍 I love ur videos

[@chrisdunn1276]

Love the work, now all you need to do is get a boiler to go with. Btw with experience/ knowledge from being a mechanic on full size steam locomotives, once you get that running on steam you get alot more power due to the expansion of the steam, and the whistle won't almost kill the engine, :)

[@billyboots3730]

and it will have the proper tone of a true steam whistle!

[@russelljones3221]

was about to say he now needs a boiler

[@dayron6637]

I too vote for boiler

[@firstnamelastname6635]

Love the audio tension added when seating piston ring. Great work! Nail biting!

[@jcows12]

Saw this video before but watching again. It's cool seeing the engineering that was being used 100 yrs ago.

[@alaric_]

"That belongs in a museum!" - Indiana Jones, 1938 Most fitting movie quote ever.

[@mossmonaco9061]

Remarkable result considering your lathe is ready to retire. Thank you Eric.

[@MayContainJoe]

Now he has a steam-powered lathe.

[@sirmiyu]

the quality of the restoration, the time invested, the insanity level to do it, the humor, such an awesome work!

[@Beastman44]

I love the phone call and tense situation with the rings haha

[@Pile_of_carbon]

That is a beautiful machine! There's something deeply satisfying about steam engines that modern engines can't quite top.

[@donmend0]

20 seconds laugher because of the Marv reference, thanks for that!

[@willjosephson]

Next up: Lathe restoration! Introducing your second channel, Machine Tool Rescue!

[@FranklinDelanoDonut]

The smile at the end of the intro gets me every time.

[@glenbrisebois8239]

Awesome restoration! Loved the extras like the little oiler bulbs and the whistle.

[@squelchstuff]

The sounds of wailing made me weep. I also had to chew some wool as a distraction. Brilliantly done, and thank you... I think.

[@Saavik256]

Every time I think you couldn't outdo yourself, you go and outdo yourself! What an amazing restoration!

[@Skankhunter420]

I remember one time my little brother wanted a drum set for Christmas just to piss people off too. Great work man! You're amazing!

[@jamesfield5346]

I just want to tell you... I appreciate your sense of humor in the vids... thabk you for always giving me a laugh.

[@patjohnson3100]

Absolutely remarkable restoration. That engine was basically scrap when you started. Looked to me like it had few components left . Thank you for bringing this rare and probably almost unknown engine back to life. You demonstrated great skill and understanding. You should reward yourself with a very capable newer metal lathe.

[@TruculentGoose]

I loved the tense moment of fitting the piston rings

[@anna-lisagirling7424]

What a fantastic skill set!I hope there are thousands of machinists like you who can be ready to build out and repair old analog tech like this in the event of a catastrophe and all the sophistcated electronic stuff penetrating every thing we do is too hard to service, etc. I just worry that these old skills are falling off the planet. . . .This was one of your best projects, ever!

[@jakesmerth1919]

Dude doesn't get enough credit for these masterpieces of theatre.

[@stunnedatsunset7649]

This series was just plain FANTASTIC!

[@mystic_tacos]

That... was AWESOME!!!!!!!! One of, if not the number one favorite I've seen you do! I don't know why, but it was just entrancing!

[@MegatonMauler]

I'd imagine there's a few people watching this and thinking that it's pretty weak to be stopped by hand, but consider that it was intended to run on a steam boiler with hhuuggee volume and not 90psi shop air. Awesome restore, keep bringing these awesome old relics back!

[@woodsjail.]

Really great to see you trying new things! Been watching for a while and I can tell you put a lot of time into this. The machining, the editing, and the memories! Thanks everything you do.

[@BCM1959]

200 hours? More? Just the job is probably that much.

[@Tarman85]

Haha the intro gets me every damn time.. And dude, that tool totally sounded like Marv. 🤣

[@dustingooding4870]

FANTASTIC! Well done!! you are an excellent tradesman! I love to see vintage machines come back to life and in working order! Love it!

[@SilverBricks17]

That “steam whistle” had my dog all messed up😂 looked at me like wtf was that

[@roccovanelli241]

Dude your incredible. The homemade piston rings alone makes you a legend in my book.

[@lottiecooper609]

A true Craftsman, who does this anymore? Oh, I know the wolfster does!!! Most people would shove it in a corner, or throw it out!!! Well done my friend!!!

[@andrewrobotbuilder]

Great job Eric! That mahogany looks fantastic!

[@Wulferious]

It's amazing how much my mood improves whenever you come out with a new video. Still my favourite shop goof. Don't ever change, man. Don't ever change.

[@terryluxton774]

Absolutely incredible, this must have taken you months. I’m so impressed & I absolutely love the humour you put into your videos. Well done 👏 👏👏

[@busman2000]

The skit with Keith was priceless.

[@Kim-the-Dane-1952]

Looks absolutely great. I can't wait to see it run on live steam. Remember to be a little careful not to run it too long on compressed air unless you also inject some steam oil.

[@LukeKroeker]

Gorgeous! A ton of work, but so satisfying to see working and such a pretty engine!

[@thisolesignguy2733]

Hahaha I didn't expect to get a cameo from Keith Rucker! But seeing as you're rebuilding a steam engine, there's noone else I would trust more!

[@monkehbitch]

Excellent work. Seeing abused and forgotten machines coming back to life in your talented hands just shows, there is faith in humanity. Well done, beers for you.

[@herbertorendorff6323]

You did a damn fine job on that vertical steam engine sir

[@evilbrat5376]

Personally - you did an outstanding rebuild on this engine. Like your neat "Phone" to Keith Rucker.

[@johanjanssens4530]

Those black phones ought be used more often.

[@iamtheomega]

now you have to make the boiler....that was fascinating, thx to whoever sent it to you also. probably the best step by step of steam engine assembly/makeup on youtube so far.

[@leeklemetti1887]

Another wonderful steam engine rebuild. Good machining work on all the parts. Thanks to Keith Rucker too.

[@mercuryrising9174]

All this brass you used made me think how badass it would be to make a solid brass adjustable wrench!! Ide buy one for sure..

[@TDIMAXDIESEL]

Wow, that's a superb restoration project ! I did a steam engine model in my machining course in 99' Thanks for sharing ! Quebec city 🙂🇨🇦

[@pilgrimm23]

that is art in industrial design. I bow to your skill sir. And, as much as you complain of your lathe, you make it SING!

[@scottcates]

Pre-shimming the crosshead shoes is genius.

[@bigdmister]

Amazing work Eric. I look forward to everyone of your videos and keep them coming. Thanks🇨🇦

[@awldune]

I was thinking this project was right up Keith's alley and then like magic he appeared! Lathe restoration when?

[@vwbusguy]

Maybe keith can hand scrape the bed

[@adamideus9222]

That home alone lost in New York reference was hilarious

[@darthrevan2063]

It’s alive!!!! When I first saw the rusted pile it started out as I figured it was junk. Amazing restoration

[@pvawterpvawter]

love some of the new stuff you are doing in your videos. Laughed out loud multiple times. (Home alone 2, Phone call, and multiple others). Thanks for all the effort it does not go unnoticed.

[@Beltfed45]

That turned out fantastic! Great work man!!

[@joejacobsen6822]

That thing is bad ass. Solid work. Oh, I also stopped and watched both of Keith's videos before continuing.

[@nadavertiu]

I can't get tired of seeing this intro. a lot of nostalgia, thank you. already improved my routine day.

[@dazza-h]

Another awesome video!!! Your vids keep me and my 3 year old whirlwind of destruction quiet for ages !! Keep up the great work, myself and jacob love your content 👍😁

[@xtender5]

HTR: Lathe, y u cry? Lathe: Because you've hurt my feelings. HTR: [Gets mad. Karate chops valve housing.]

[@jonfoster1566]

About restoring your old lathe, how about the other Keith? Keith Fenner Turnwright Machineworks.

[@DamnYankeeWorkshop]

Excellent video as always! I am fascinated at how things were designed back in the day- to be easily produced, adjusted as they predictably wore down, and replaced when further adjustment no longer did the trick. Not only was this fun to watch, it was educational too.