Gizmortiser [Restoration]

This restoration is on a 1912 door lock mortising machine called the Champion Mortiser by J. Leukart Manufacturing Co. of Columbus, Ohio, USA. The original patent can be seen here: patentimages.s...
Mortising machines are among some of my favourite tools to restore as they all seem to have high levels of gizmosity. The amount of mechanically moving parts that all seem to do something and nothing at the same time makes this tool so mesmerizing to watch.
The restoration itself was fairly straight forward, except for a few broken castings and annihilated fasteners. Instead of replacing the fasteners, I decided to remake my own so they could match perfectly with the unique style of each one. I also truly thought this entire machine would be japanned, but apparently it was coated in some early form of enamel paint, which would not be too common for the time.
I'd like to thank CRC for sponsoring this video. You can check out the products from them used in this video in the links below:
www.evapo-rust.com
www.crcindustries.com/evapo-rust/
www.crcindustries.com/smartwasher/
Wrenches, screwdrivers, and socket drivers are now for sale at www.handtoolrescue.com
Help secure more tools for future videos (if you want):
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Podcast (with @jimmydiresta and Andrew Alexander) - anchor.fm/fitzall

[@tobus71]

Years on and you still do the best and most unusual restorations on utube.

[@bambambundy6]

That is no kidding. He must have large network to get ahold of some of this stuff.

[@powertoolsrepair]

I agree

[@jrmintz1]

Very cool. You are unquestionably the world's greatest expert in Gizmology!

[@d00dEEE]

A veritable Gizmaster.

[@SteveJaeger]

Is it pronounced giz-mology or jiz-mology?

[@KR-hg8be]

​@@d00dEEEthe gizmeister

[@iteerrex8166]

Which makes him a Gizmologist lol

[@ColdArbor]

the foremost expert in gismotology! @@iteerrex8166

[@cavemaneca]

The function of this tool is genius, i can't imagine how they come up with it.

[@maurinedoyle9964]

You never cease to amaze me

[@TheManLab7]

That is one amazing tool. Whoever came up with the idea must of made loads of money as it's such a brilliant idea.

[@dzymslizzy3641]

That's a pretty cool mortiser! We have a modern one--electric--and in a way, it's less efficient, as you have to keep moving the stock over, and boring multiple square holes which then must be finished off/cleaned out/blended together with a chisel!

[@CarlDi3trich]

What a beautiful old "tool" to work on! I bet you were looking forward to this one.

[@GameMastersWorkshop]

Awesome, and not half as terrifying as some of the contraptions he fixes!

[@enelgaragedemartincho]

That’s pretty cool

[@dariomangili8746]

another cool project

[@InstrucTube]

That seems like it works surprisingly well, considering just how high of a Gizmo Factor that thing is rocking. Ever figure that riveted section out?

[@trapjohnson]

Engineers really see the world differently, man.

[@sctb00]

"Mom, can I get a Domino?" "Screw Festool, we have a Domino at home!" *The Domino at home*

[@buival6993]

Вот это мясорубка. Браво тому кто это придумал и тому кто это оживил.

[@budwoodman1716]

The first Festool Domino Prototype.

[@mrgunn2726]

Only an 8.3 on the Gizmoicity scale? Great video!

[@alicekramden8640]

My goodness. Leonardo DaVinci couldn’t have invented a better tool for the task.

[@VasjaLar]

вот так придумали ручной станок для прорези замковых углублений, тех создателей давно нет, а двери режут до сих пор... кому-то это было нужно...

[@misterhat5823]

Evaporust is back? I guess he won't have to turn the barrel around anymore...

[@Ceboeck]

Wow

[@jakesmerth1919]

The fact that he doesn't do shady things like make a piece of equipment dirtier before working on it (looking at you, rug cleaning videos) or pull any other shenanigans is very underappreciated around here. He has legit skill and talent, he is legit creative. No clickbait titles or thumbnails. This guy is solid in my book.

[@Happyfacehotwheels]

He really is the best on KZbin. I tried watching others but they fake so much. The way I see it, it's not a restoration if they did the damage themselves just to make a crappy resto video.

[@FuccoTheClown]

i would die if he did a skit with him pretending to rustify something and got busted by the forbidden nutella

[@jp18449]

Agreed! No shitty music, no "hahaha look how hard I can hit this with my hammer". Just a man doing something he does well and sharing it with the internet.

[@BarafuAlbino]

Somehow it is not easy to find items that fit, that are neither trivial to repair (and basically require a power wash), nor so far gone that you will essentially be making a new item while looking at the remains of old one.

[@bayadere8308]

...or wandering aimlessly along the jungle path, only to come across an extremely rusted chainsaw which has somehow pitched up in a tree. (Also of course, being followed by an equally aimless, yet propitious, cameraman.)

[@scottwarner1733]

I have been following HTR for years (before I discovered Jimmy Diresta or Pask Makes). HTR never fails to deliver and is one of my top 3 channels on KZbin. I also appreciate the humor you bring to your work. It's a lot of fun to watch and I love your work!

[@HandToolRescue]

Thank you!

[@CaptainTwitchy]

I was his first subscriber, almost 15 years ago. He’s still using the same jar of Nutella

[@juanaq]

he got me with the head banging sandblasting. instant subscription.

[@SmokingMan26]

I would have never guessed it was for making pockets in doors for knob/locks. That is amazing

[@kindabluejazz]

Giz-mortiser. I guess you need to know what a mortise is though.

[@smartman123]

not every body no that​@@kindabluejazz

[@TheHatHareAcademy]

As a master locksmith, this is one of the coolest tools I have seen you restore. I have hand mortised my fair share of doors and when it comes to antique locking hardware, this would have been a game changer for some of my jobs. Great video! Love it!

[@diditbreak]

Hmmm.. As a master locksmith myself, I'd like to say that this would be better used as a reference tool which shows how much harder things were in the past. LOL!

[@shopshop144]

There are 'modern' versions of this type of mortiser made that come with either a router or an electric motor.

[@Dearthvader2]

​@@shopshop144if its not a hammer a drill and a chisel youre as fumb as they were back in the victorian age when this monstrosity was invented.

[@chrismayer3919]

I didn’t realize this mecha carved slots into doors for handle/lock systems. Gizmotiser; What an odd name for such a specialized device! 🤔

[@foxfire8284]

It's not just for doors.....I mean it's for cutting mortises...... who says it can ONLY cut mortises for locks?

[@jamesbarisitz4794]

The today price of a unit with all those castings would be outrageous! Great find and condition. Nice to find something like this that wasn't stored outside.

[@LittleGreyWolfForge]

for real. I just restored my bench vice, and someone had taken an angle grinder and a chisel to the screw cover.🤦

[@aaronshapiro2542]

Not only was this an amazing restoration of an incredible tool, It is making me feel a lot better about the price of the domino tennon tool I was looking at.

[@chrthiel]

I doubt it would have been cheap back then either

[@lawrencefine5020]

This is Fractal Vise level stuff You get the coolest, and the gizmoziest tools I ever seen on KZbin. I can watch this this thing mortise doors for hours and hours. The thinking it had to take to make a tool like this in 1912 is mind boggling. Fun stuff. Thanks HTR

[@keithagn]

Wow! All new equipment! Sand blaster, solvent washer, painting booth/area, Evaporust, new shop facilities... You deserve it!

[@perazeru9421]

that blowtorch welder was insane too

[@moneymanjoe9639]

Let's all appreciate the fact that there is no uncessary music, just a man renovating a tool. That's all you really need.

[@DownhillAllTheWay]

*YES!!* The "no music" on a KZbin channel is worth a lot!

[@bradcrossman5068]

I often wonder how this and other contraptions (gizmo's ) you restore were received back in the day. I keep imagining some salesman demonstrating and touting these gizmo's as the latest time and labour saving device while perspective buyers looked on in amazement and wonder and possibly fear. Oh the stories. Cheers from Sussex, NB.

[@krsanth-4142]

Aside from the amazing results of what you do, it's amazing that someone sat down and began thinking "if I put this here and if it turns this here, then this will....." All without a computer, other than maybe a slide rule.

[@TheLegendsmith]

Yeah. Slide rules got us to the moon, they're so powerful.

[@zephal]

@@TheLegendsmithalmost too powerful….

[@rc-daily]

Necessity is the mother to every invention

[@davidhelmuth6654]

I think this piece is pre slide rule! We got to the moon and built the SR-71 with a slide rule! 🤯😱

[@mile13]

​@@davidhelmuth6654slide rules have been around since the mid 1600s! 🤯

[@steveferguson1232]

This is an amazing tool. I knew Festool had to get their idea for the Domino from somewhere. Lol. Amazing job as always. Question have you ever been asked to restore a piece for a museum. If not they should

[@hamaljay]

You beat me to it. As soon as I saw what this thing I thought of a festool domino. I've seen somebody make one out of an angle grinder.

[@caodesignworks2407]

I was literally just about to go to bed and you have to drop a new vid? I guess I'll go to bed later, it's only 7am here

[@vthokie4lyfe]

Same!! LOL

[@Youspoonybard1]

7 AM no sleep gang!

[@ScanianDude]

Been working night and just needed to pee after sleeping 5 hours, must see this before sleeping again

[@talbertuhlir9370]

Florida? 7am here

[@caodesignworks2407]

@@talbertuhlir9370 Nah, Michigan

[@leadboots72]

Your advice on step 69 is unclear. My gizmortizer doesn't work after following your instructional video. Now my wife left me and my dog has cancer. Thanks a lot HTR, you ruined my life!

[@krazyredhead]

sounds like a you problem😅

[@chrisbradley20]

@@krazyredheadso true 😂

[@GeneralSulla]

A swift tap or two with a hammer should work well. It'll work on your Gizmortiser too!

[@associatedblacksheepandmisfits]

Please could you come collect yr wife ,she keeps digging up my daffodils 😡

[@fredk.2001]

You forgot to account for the gas clouds on uranus, and neglected to stand on your head. That's what gave poor doggo cancer...

[@radeakins]

As a former carpenter, I appreciate this tool.

[@1BigBen]

looks like the mordent days equivalent for a drills is smaller, but with more manual input when it comes to depth and side to side movements. but I bet you could DIY portable cnc with inside of the formfactor of this tool. but cost justification analysis, would be on personal basis but this were cool tool for its time

[@Julian_Hopf]

Ok jesus.

[@HealingBlight]

Yes, he makes great videos.

[@jp18449]

As a current nobody, I also appreciate this tool.

[@erickleinwolterink3524]

You're never a former carpenter! 😊 Once and always.

[@jasongarland3165]

It amazes me to think what the old timers came up with without the benefit of modern design technology. Machines like this that are both relatively simple and mechanical complex - somebody envisioned this machine in their head, sat down at a drafting table and drew it out, then developed casting patterns, machined it on far simpler machine tools, etc. Absolutely amazing.

[@Closechannel231]

And those tools were made to last a lifetime.

[@DownhillAllTheWay]

@peacenow42... but here we are - a bit of TLC, and this machine is still working!

[@bunberrier]

Think of it this way: such as this, and things like steam locomotives, arent obsolete. They are perfectly suited for a different human environment. Its possible through some world event or social dynamic that we may go back to steam locomotives and hand tools as being the best tech that we can support.

[@AWizardAndaMouse3432]

@peacenow42 even though you’re not talking to me, steam is powered by fire, as steam is also known as water vapor.

[@foxfire8284]

​@peacenow42uh..... before you comment, I think you should get a better understanding of how a steam engine works.

[@FromtheSoultotheFretboard]

Love your trade, my friend!! Your videos are one of the few I click "like" before I watch it. It was great to see another project from Ohio. Much love and respect for your channel!!

[@normanbuchanan9710]

I appreciate the naturalness of the work scene no ridiculous music drowning out the sound of the tools or dramatic innovations, just the man his tools and his project.

[@floridag8rfan]

When I first started watching his videos, the lack of narration was jarring. Now it's preferable. I wouldn't mind it, but since I'm mechanically minded and generally don't need things explained to me, talking over the whole thing isn't necessary. His hand gestures and occasional captions (and the very occasional howl of frustration) are plenty. Oh, and the thump as his forehead hits the window on the blast cabinet.

[@normanbuchanan9710]

@@floridag8rfan OH yes the forehead on the window is epic 😂.

[@sageDieuvids]

The man, the tools, his project, and one very horny cricket.

[@thomasvnl]

I just smile every time I see the HTR opening 🎉

[@HANKTHEDANKEST]

I didn't know CRC made a ONE THOUSAND LITRE jug of Evapo-Rust. I have never known such biting, acerbic envy as this. HTR is living the greaseball's dream, folks. You can't even BUY this stuff in the big bin in Canada yet, so the CRC people must really like our man here. Congrats on one million subs, duder. Women want him; men want to be him; *rust fears him.*

[@jtjjbannie]

That thing was way more complicated than I would have thought. I’d have gotten it apart and probably would have stayed that way 😁

[@jandrewmore]

Pretty sure that's half the reason he makes these videos.

[@L3monSqueezy]

​@@jandrewmoreI asked him that a really long time ago. He said that is why he started recording, it was so he could go back to remember how to put it all back together again.

[@mikegentry9082]

Even with the video to help........

[@861LJ]

I always look forward to your videos and the humor you inject into them! Interesting watching all the movements and gears on this. I guess routers took its place.

[@verdatum]

About damned time. I've been trying to figure out how to restore my mortiser for YEARS. At last, I have something to go on.

[@criomat]

it seems the strangest gizmos always come to you. great like ever.

[@grilnam9945]

Remember to put nipple clamps on Christmas list. 1:52

[@klmbuilders5385]

Well Shucks! When I added on to my 1920s home I mortised all the doors by hand with spade bits and chisels. Took an extraordinarily long time. While it was "fun" and fulfilling, this machine would have been the tool my grand-carpenters would have reached for! I'm happy you restored and demonstrated this beauty!

[@foxfire8284]

Eh. A brace and bit, chisel, and mallet are all you need to make a mortise. Heck you don't even need the brace and bit.

[@LouJustlou]

I was worried that the "Smart Washer" would wash away some of the gizmosity. Glad to see it is Gizmo safe. 😊 Great video thanks!

[@jacobmiller7175]

I am always left wondering how you organize all the screws, bolts, nuts, washers, pins, and keys? I know it's mostly video taped for reference during reassembly, and most pieces will only go back one way. However with all of your experience in disassembly and reassembly, what does your organization system look like? I am truly amazed, and quite baffled. Though I still can't manage to track down a 10 mil socket.

[@copperneck1]

I appreciate that when you dismantle something, you just take it apart normally . You don't treat every screw, pin, gear and whatnot like its a priceless artifact made out of glass. To me, that just makes it slow and boring. Keep up the good work!

[@TheCoffeehound]

I know exactly the thing you're talking about! Those channels drive me up the wall.

[@nortyfiner]

I remember some of my Navy shipmates doing that "everything is so fragile" crap on our gear. Me: "It's made of steel, not glass!"

[@foxfire8284]

Well, he does have to be careful to not break a part. Sometimes the bearings are difficult to find replacements of.... I don't know if that's true or not...@@nortyfiner

[@nortyfiner]

@@foxfire8284 Oh, certainly. When you're dealing with stuff that's a century old and is definitely not made anymore, by all means, exercise due caution.

[@kevinhoffman8214]

I always wondered , but the tool marks in the old doors say not everyone had this tool !

[@petercolquhoun2086]

And there goes Festool's patent on the Domino.

[@Highlordratick]

That is what I like about your show: none of the endless, want to be cute or showing off chitter chatter. You just get down to business and fix whatever you are working on. Nor do you try to see how many videos you can put out you choose quality over quantity. Keep up the good work.

[@gun10ck]

Wait, you own gloves?

[@microstorm]

Thank god you thudded your head against the sandblaster plexiglas (was worried for a minute when it wasn't you normal blaster). That has always brought a smile to my face in the older videos where you went all out ^^

[@suzil7687]

I remember the first time I saw him do that. I had to rewind 5x to be sure that’s what I saw. I look for it every time! Cracks me up!

[@microstorm]

@suzil7687 haha, yeah. Also the time he worked on the "flame thrower", him testing it out always leaves me in stitches!

[@jwoody8582]

Spray lubricant, no oil can? Parts washer? Green Evaporust bucket, no yellow drum? Ratcheting wrench! Something feels a bit off

[@cranefly23]

I find it incredible how many parts went into making a tool such as this. I wonder how many were actually sold. Great to see you restoring this one.

[@MC-tn9fz]

What a clever machine. You tackle the most complex restorations, on you tube. The production quality of this video is so much better than previous ones.

[@si1entdave]

Fascinated that you did the Evapo-Rust before the parts cleaner - I would have thought you would want to get the dried grease and grot off first so the Evapo-Rust can get to the metal.

[@haydenf1353]

Maybe he can’t get the solvents from the parts washer into the evapor-rust? Idk actually just a guess.

[@HandToolRescue]

I always Evapo-Rust first since any washing might remove some delicate features like pin-striping.

[@CatNolara]

@@HandToolRescue interesting. Then again, does it make sense to use the evaporust on parts that get sand blasted anyway?

[@si1entdave]

@@HandToolRescue Thank you! That makes perfect sense.

[@wktodd]

Nice job. I suspect the cutting tool is sub-optimal and may be a replacement . The original would surely have been sharpened to cut on the sides - something that typical twist-drills do not.

[@ionstorm66]

I wonder if a simple HSS center cutting end mill meant for aluminum would work.

[@bebel6874]

Incroyable, toujours aussi patient et talentueux. Et puis, cette petite dose d'humour qui ne gâte rien.

[@jeff1176]

Just goes to show that even way back then, there's a tool for that. Nice work Eric

[@garymucher4082]

I have to ask, where do you find these beyond accident machines? I've never seen such a machine and how it works... Pretty interesting for sure.

[@amicojeko]

The engineers that made this marvellous contraption would be very proud of you

[@darrinswanson]

I'm always impressed with your brazing

[@gutsngorrrr]

Lovely restoration of a very interesting old tool. I also noticed you have a few workshop upgrades.

[@panaphobic1]

it looks like a completely new shop to me.

[@haphazard1342]

@@panaphobic1 Yes, he moved. This is a new shop.

[@tjking321]

It looks like you are in a new spot. Unusually clean for my taste LMAO. Great work!

[@LucasBuilds]

no bullshit, no making things dirtier just to clean them, just Legit restorations of absolute goddamn Contraptions. unequivocal best restoration channel out there.

[@tsbrownie]

Question: How often do you have to watch your own video when putting things back together? ;)

[@waynetrain8033]

Whenever I watch you restore an old piece of equipment, I’m amazed with the fact that someone thought and built this long before computers, and high tech machines to make the parts 🤔

[@vadimbellous8313]

Yeah, and somehow how those tools were cheaper to produce then some of the garbage they come up with today

[@philipB31]

I always enjoy your projects, you produce brilliantly edited videos of each rebuild/resto., but I’m often amazed at how overly complicated or unnecessarily engineered objects find their way to your workbench. Regardless: thank you, as always, for sharing.

[@GuildOfCalamity]

The turntable scratch got me.

[@laurelhill3505]

Big rubber gloves? Next thing you are going to tell me is you no longer eat the forbidden Nutella!

[@MushookieMan]

I love these old mechanisms. They have all the stuff you learn about in engineering, cams, cam followers, acme screws, rack and pinion, all types of bearings including babbit metal, etc.

[@bhami]

I love your work! I'm curious: do you ever encounter unexpected left-handed threads? E.g. on my father's 1964 Dodge van, as I recall it, the wheel lugs on the right side (not the left side) were left-handed!

[@Mrthegeeman]

That's such a beautiful machine, one of your best ones!

[@Nemesis_Zer0]

All the engineering and time that went into this is amazing, to think, this is how they sharpened pencils 100 years ago, incredible.

[@Raisopod]

Honestly I was surprised at how functional it was before you started working on it. Normally the stuff you get is either completely seized up or broken in some manner that prevents it from moving, but this was pretty gizmunctional right at the start.

[@scottnyc6572]

What an incredible invention for the time!! This mortiser could be used not only for installing lock assemblies but would be great for just about any mortise joint especially for furniture.Great job on restoring it!! Thanks!!

[@celestialbeas9214]

This is so whimsical! although that seems like it would like to have an endmill in it instead of a drill bit. hmm

[@tomswindler64]

I’m amazed at how intricate this thing is.way ahead of its time. Great restoration of course.you put some work into it.great video as always.just continue doing what your doing and on to the next project.👍👍👍😎😎😎

[@bawdydog176]

Yay from Ohio! lol Going to have to go back and see if I missed a video. Intro changed, Evapo-rust barrel has been replaced, there's a parts washer, everything feels different. EDIT: Nope, doesn't look like it...

[@edl5074]

Nice work!!! it amazes me how incredibly detailed that was.

[@rpercifieldjr]

This is a very interesting and practical machine. Nicely done.

[@javbw]

Go Go Gadget Gizmortiser! 🕵🏻‍♂

[@badmonkey3669]

that is a really slick tool for the day it was made I like it

[@floridag8rfan]

This mechanism seemed to need far less restoration than the ones I've watched in the past, but watching you disassemble and reassemble it allowed me to see into the mind of the person that created it. It's truly amazing what is possible in the analog world with the right combination of gears and levers.

[@maggs131]

A hand cranked milling machine. This took one smart cookie to think of this and design it. Simply brilliant mechanical artwork. ❤ On a side not I love the shop upgrades especially the sandblasting apartment you've acquired. 😎👍

[@randogame4438]

"sandblasting apartment" I LOL'd at that. It is the biggest cabinet I've ever seen :)

[@sdavifcom]

Just noticed you went over the 1 million mark. Fully deserved. Congrats.

[@becausetrains]

Happy to see that CRC hooked you up! Your old batch of Evapo-Rust looked a little… done. How does the new formula compare?

[@davidepperson2376]

Outstanding!

[@damienbottura]

for the next introduction of the sandblaster, in triple jump or fosbury-flop. This could make my day!!!

[@danielmoss2394]

Best sound editing to date. Fantastic.

[@pitaeata8493]

you've got a great sense of humour; love the jokes. It's about time CRC sent you a tote of Evapo-rust. 5 more totes and you can dunk a whole car.

[@hurarrei]

Another awesome project 💪👍 Thank you!!👏

[@RobertCallahan-w8r]

Amazing job, absolutely beautiful

[@the_chicken_lord_]

This thing looks so overly engeneered and complicated but it's still an amazingly useful tool 🔧 👌 👍

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

Amazing restoration such a beautiful old gear driven hand crank drill press 31:39 @Hand Tool Rescue

[@Serenity_Dee]

At last, a sandblasting cabinet that you can sleep in!

[@1978garfield]

Amazing resto as always! Glad to see CRC on board as a sponsor, hope they hang around a while. They make so much good stuff, Weld Aid, Sta Lube and of course EvapoRust. Not to mention all the great products made under the CRC brand like everyone's favorite open wound detector, Brakleen!

[@aaronburnett1131]

Our forefathers made such amazing things. Without the blue hair…..

[@sidwallace6053]

It seems to have a ridiculous amount of parts for what this machine actually does,in my opinion,over the top but whoever invented it,patent it is a man of engineering skills unlike me