As always, a skillful and respectful restoration. Would not have tried fixing the tubes myself, but now, thanks to you, I know how. Thanks!
@CatalystRestorations2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Bryson! Until now these old spirit levels seemed like a weird puzzle box to me - I couldn't figure out how to fully disassemble them! Didn't take long to learn that they're pretty much all made the same.
@BGRestore2 жыл бұрын
Love the new washers/bevels! It really adds a new dimension to the aesthetic! Keep up the great work, looking forward to the next one 👌
@CatalystRestorations2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching!! 🙂👍
@pfadiva Жыл бұрын
It's usually plaster of Paris that embeds the vials, so I would think a soak in water would be the absolute safest way to remove them. (Unless the level was previously restored and something else was used.) That technique is known as "brassing". Nice job.
@CatalystRestorations Жыл бұрын
Great call Becky, I'll remember that for the next level! 😊👍
@DrMrSmooth2 жыл бұрын
Nice video mate 👌
@CatalystRestorations2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching!! 🙂
@carrestore Жыл бұрын
Excellent restoration
@CatalystRestorations Жыл бұрын
Thank you!!
@MarkMeadows902 жыл бұрын
My grandfather had an old wooden leveler tool many years ago that kind of resembles that. My dad has it in his possession now. He may look into restoring it in the near future since he's retired for several years now. He's been tinkering around with old tools restoring and refurbishing. I may show him this video so he can get some ideas what to do with that old leveling tool. Thanks again for quality content my friend.
@CatalystRestorations2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the kind words Mark! I'd recommend showing your dad this video (of course! 😂) and maybe a few others to get the gist of how these restorations go - the process is mostly the same for them all!
@theropesofrenovation93522 жыл бұрын
Wood and brass. Just the best combo.
@CatalystRestorations2 жыл бұрын
Truly a timeless combo! Thanks for watching!
@Closechannel2316 ай бұрын
As always thank you for do the update and all you do to inform us.
@CatalystRestorations6 ай бұрын
Thank you for the kind words, Larry!
@markarnold1592 жыл бұрын
Very Cool resto... Love the Brassing Technique... Gonna try that!!!! Thanks again!!!!!
@CatalystRestorations2 жыл бұрын
Thanks! It's super easy to do and actually a lot of fun to play around with!
@CaptainBDSC2 жыл бұрын
Did you test it before gluing the glass in? I suppose you did, or got super lucky! 🙂
@CatalystRestorations2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for being a subscriber of 7 months now! (KZbin recently rolled out this feature, love it!) Haha, yes, I did a full calibration carefully tweaking the vial positions before the final screw tightening and encapsulating in glass. It didn't make for great content though, so I cut it for time with the hope that viewers understand I did it.
@wireworks6162 жыл бұрын
Great job. 👍👍👍👍👍
@CatalystRestorations2 жыл бұрын
Thanks! And thank you for watching!
@peterbeley30672 жыл бұрын
enjoyed this video very much
@CatalystRestorations2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching, Peter!
@alexanderalbach4682 жыл бұрын
Superb work
@CatalystRestorations2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for watching!! 😁👍
@jamescraig5421 Жыл бұрын
SPOT ON👍
@CatalystRestorations Жыл бұрын
Thanks James! Personally I think this is an underrated video!
@AndreOliveira-dv6sm2 жыл бұрын
Good job !
@CatalystRestorations2 жыл бұрын
Thank you!!
@jamescraig5421 Жыл бұрын
Just keep up the Bloody good work up 👍.
@murlimewes3685 Жыл бұрын
That's how you brass plate steel?? That's amazing. Beautiful work. Love this channel. I subscribed and have been happily binging all your videos :D
@CatalystRestorations Жыл бұрын
That's one (easy) way to do it at home at least!! Welcome aboard and thanks for subscribing! Enjoy binging it all! 😁👍
@Austeration2 жыл бұрын
Nice upgrade 👍 turned out great, Well done
@CatalystRestorations2 жыл бұрын
Thanks!!!
@oneshotme2 жыл бұрын
Looks great and a wonderful job restoring it!! Enjoyed your video and I gave it a Thumbs Up for the support of your channel
@CatalystRestorations2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching! 😁👍
@oneshotme2 жыл бұрын
@@CatalystRestorations You're welcome!!!
@lolcec812 жыл бұрын
Комментарий в поддержку канала и ролика, а также труда мастера.
@CatalystRestorations2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for watching!! 👍
@metallurgymike15682 жыл бұрын
I love the hot steel brass brushing technique. Way cool. Also my heart skipped a beat when you lost the vial holder 😱
@CatalystRestorations2 жыл бұрын
You and me both 😨. I don't know how I didn't scream on camera, haha.
@AaronBelknap Жыл бұрын
Love wood and brass! Very nice job!
@CatalystRestorations Жыл бұрын
Thanks! It's a timeless look!
@Extreme-Graphics Жыл бұрын
Loved the video!!! Amazing you were able to restore those viles! However, my grandfather had 4 of those old wooden levels and virtually all of them had that "Cross-Hatch" squared areas that you sanded off for gripping purposes. Loved the Lego Dude! Loved the look of the stained finish!
@CatalystRestorations Жыл бұрын
Yup, you're right on that cross-hatching - that seemed to be the consensus in the comments!
@t.shrefler76252 жыл бұрын
That is so beautiful. I don't think I could use it.
@CatalystRestorations2 жыл бұрын
Exactly how I felt, Timothy! This one kind of broke my rule of "restore it to use it". It's perfectly level and works great, but I've got cheaper modern levels that work just as well. I'd rather enjoy looking at it daily on my shelf.
@t.shrefler76252 жыл бұрын
@@CatalystRestorations well sir. Look forward to seeing your restorations. Beautiful piece. You can use her on light restorations.
@stanleycarlock5624 Жыл бұрын
Very nice result. I'm not sure why you decided not to redo the cross-hatching that you sanded out.
@CatalystRestorations Жыл бұрын
Internally debated it, but the hatching is not original - someone added it later to improve the grip - so I kept it looking original.
@andrewclarkehomeimprovement Жыл бұрын
The glass kept breaking because it was on corrugated cardboard which won't support it. A flat board with a couple of sheets of paper on
@CatalystRestorations Жыл бұрын
Definitely learned my lesson! It was my first time ever cutting glass!
@andrewclarkehomeimprovement Жыл бұрын
@@CatalystRestorations ah, ok, no worries. It worked out anyway which is the main thing and the resto is a super job. Another tool save from the scrap bin 👍
@CatalystRestorations Жыл бұрын
@@andrewclarkehomeimprovement Thanks! That's always the goal!
@rgaborjr2 жыл бұрын
Was that checkering on the sides maybe a practice round for a future gunsmith? Sad to see it get sanded smooth but understand why it had to happen. Great job!
@CatalystRestorations2 жыл бұрын
Maybe! Would you be able to explain how/why those markings would suggest a gunsmith? I'm unfamiliar with it.
@rgaborjr2 жыл бұрын
@@CatalystRestorations You’d have to google gunsmith checkering for a good explanation. It’s a wooden carved feature of gun stocks. For grip.
@CatalystRestorations2 жыл бұрын
@@rgaborjr Interesting, thanks for the tip! It does kind of look like that. Wish I could ask the previous owner!
@fredfreer75 Жыл бұрын
@@CatalystRestorations On a lot of older wooden tools the pattern was put in for grip. It was the same on both sides in the same spots. I have several old wooden tools each over 100 years old with grip on them like that.
@CatalystRestorations Жыл бұрын
@@fredfreer75 I think you solved the mystery!
@richard2mitchell Жыл бұрын
When scoring glass you apply even pressure and make one cut you do not go back and forth.
@CatalystRestorations Жыл бұрын
Thanks for the tip! That was my first time cutting glass - I learned so much from it!
@tailsdblack463 Жыл бұрын
Ok to help you date this from what i can see is once upon a time simplistic desgin making this thing at the time cheaper for starters, lets assume this is a Stanley wooden level, older or more expensive units had their brand stamped directly into the wood on the top or one of either side or stamped onto some brasswork, either being near the bubble glass itself on on a stand alone piece of brass hammered onto the top of the level, newer Stanley levels from what ive seen they inked onto the wood, if so you sanded it all away, now it cannot be from the 1850s cause it really does not show it age wise at the start of the video, from what knowledge i have my best guess is its around 1890-1899 possibly into the 1900s, hope it helps!.
@CatalystRestorations Жыл бұрын
Thanks for the analysis!!
@michael.h.bradley1865 Жыл бұрын
the sawcut crosshatching at both ends was there to give a better grip, (with cold hands?). why remove it?
@CatalystRestorations Жыл бұрын
Nobody could provide that explanation for me at the time I was working on this project, but I've since learned that was the case. That being said, it didn't come from the factory like that so removing the crosshatching is closer to original condition.
@Luis-wx2jn Жыл бұрын
@@CatalystRestorations Thanks for the question and for the explanation. Greetings from Galicia (Spain).
@jamesfield5346 Жыл бұрын
Does the extreme heat extract or melt some of the brass bristles to coat the steel washers?
@CatalystRestorations Жыл бұрын
The heat actually melts the brass bristles (or at least the brass coating on steel bristles on cheaper brushes that aren't pure brass) at around 1700°F and it coats the steel!
@lindathrall5133 Жыл бұрын
AFTER THIS LEVEL GETS HIS BEAUTY TREATMENT THEN PUT HIM IN AN OLD LEVEL'S HOME WHERE HE CAN BE HAPPY
@CatalystRestorations Жыл бұрын
WHY ARE WE YELLING
@lindathrall5133 Жыл бұрын
@@CatalystRestorations IT'S NOT YELLING I'M VISUALLY IMPAIRED I LOST THE BOTTOM PART OF MY VISION
@CatalystRestorations Жыл бұрын
@@lindathrall5133 DON'T WORRY I WAS JUST JOKING AROUND - THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING!!
@lindathrall5133 Жыл бұрын
@@CatalystRestorations I JUST WANTED TO SEE IF YOU NOTICED HOW I LOVE LEVELS I HAVE LOVED LEVELS EVER SINCE I WAS SMALL I'M NOW A PROUD OWNER OF A FEW LEVELS WHICH ARE MY LIFELINES
@CatalystRestorations Жыл бұрын
@@lindathrall5133 THIS WAS THE FIRST LEVEL I EVER RESTORED - I NEED TO FIND ANOTHER ONE BECAUSE IT WAS SO FUN.
@konradbak2 жыл бұрын
I dont like super glue action. But rest - nicely done.
@CatalystRestorations2 жыл бұрын
Thanks! This restoration kind of broke most of my "rules" on how I perform restorations. I generally restore them to working condition but not in a way they couldn't be easily re-restored again in the future. This one is probably going to be a display piece for that reason (and also because I just love looking at it so much!).
@tboneharley1996 Жыл бұрын
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
@Nyllsor2 жыл бұрын
N1!
@CatalystRestorations2 жыл бұрын
Thanks!
@keithdm14668 ай бұрын
Could have been better, the counterbores for the brass washers were not in line, (see @19.50), does not look good, you didn't fill all the splits & holes, (see @20.08). Much better to do all filling and any re-work on holes before sanding. Too much careless work.
@CatalystRestorations8 ай бұрын
thanks for the thorough feedback, Keith
@jt9498 Жыл бұрын
Beautiful restoration! I happen to have an old level like the one you just restored. Still works great. I was wondering.....those plastic (nylon?) spatulas you used. Where can I get those? Seems to me they'd come in very handy! :)
@CatalystRestorations Жыл бұрын
They are extremely useful! The one I used in this video is part of a set of different-sized ones - they're called spatula palette knives!
@lewisatlas42842 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the first rate vid. Really enjoyed it.
@CatalystRestorations2 жыл бұрын
You're welcome Lewis! Thank you for watching! 😊
@jozsefizsak2 жыл бұрын
This will be very useful for restoring my horrible old wooden Stanley level for which I paid nothing, apparently reflecting its true market value just a few years ago. I was taught how to cut glass by a proper expert so I know you're doing it wrong. Interestingly, my results are not significantly better than yours, which suggests that cutting glass is hard. Or possibly I'm an idiot. Who can say. I know I never put down a swath of oil before cutting, which probably made a difference. Henceforth, I'll delegate.
@CatalystRestorations2 жыл бұрын
Best of luck with your Stanley level! I never did quite get the technique down for the glass cutting, but this was my first ever attempt at it with about 10 minutes of practice. Supposedly you do want to use cutting oil, but for this quick job I just skipped it. If I do need more precise cutting in the future I'm probably going to go the route you would - delegating it to my friend who makes stained glass! She'd love a good challenge!
@yeagerxp2 жыл бұрын
Excellent restoration 👍👍👍Thank you for sharing. Be safe 🇨🇦
@CatalystRestorations2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for watching! Stay safe my northern friend! 🇺🇸
@RestorationAustralia2 жыл бұрын
Very cool, well done. 👍🏻
@CatalystRestorations2 жыл бұрын
Thanks!! 👍
@jamesfield5346 Жыл бұрын
Really great work extracting the vials...my heavy hands surely would have broke them, lol
@CatalystRestorations Жыл бұрын
Lol, it was harrowing every time I held them. I was terrified I'd surely drop one at some point like I seem to drop everything else 🙄
@mskayla77472 жыл бұрын
Very nice. Though I did wonder why you didn't use channel locks/needle nose pliers to hold onto the vial holders when wire wheeling them. 😊
@CatalystRestorations2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for looking out for me 😬. Sometimes I feel like I can get away with my fingers and other times...I am proven very wrong 😅.
@johnmaximusconstantine274311 ай бұрын
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences, tips and even misses (are very funny but teaches how to solve lil problems everyone encounters during works). Wish you a long prosper life along wih tour channel too! 😊
@CatalystRestorations11 ай бұрын
Thank you so much for the kind words and for watching! Hope you learned a thing or two 😉
@LittleRestorers2 жыл бұрын
The part where the vial holder got sucked into the wire wheel gave me a massive fright 😱- What a great job you did there. This is perfection 👏👏👩🔧
@CatalystRestorations2 жыл бұрын
You and me both!! I thought for sure I instantly burned out the grinder. Thanks for watching and the kind words 🙂
@dwasifarkaralahishipoor2223 Жыл бұрын
I can't resist making a suggestion. If you had sanded the scalloped groove first, then followed up with a sanding block on the flat area (or, even better, a pass through a planer), the sharp outline of the groove would have been preserved.
@CatalystRestorations Жыл бұрын
I always love viewer suggestions, so thank you! It's hard to tell on this level because it was pretty well-worn, but it seemed like the groove was originally gently sloped rounded edges, so I tried to keep that here. But I think I have to agree with you that it would actually look sharper with a well-defined edge!
@paulleary17757 ай бұрын
Excellent instructive video, thank you!
@CatalystRestorations7 ай бұрын
You're welcome, thanks for watching Paul!
@НиколайДавиденко-э2ф Жыл бұрын
А как вы выставили индикаторы горизонт и вертикаль? Вы это за кадром юстировки провели, или вы везунчик?
@CatalystRestorations Жыл бұрын
I'd like to say I'm just lucky, but off camera I used another level when setting the putty to ensure this level was really level!
@1958PI Жыл бұрын
you grinded off the checkering! why?
@CatalystRestorations Жыл бұрын
I plead ignorance on not knowing what they were for and nobody being able to tell me until recently! Technically they're not original either, but they did look pretty nice.
@B.knight2 жыл бұрын
Mmmmm forbidden nutella 😂
@CatalystRestorations2 жыл бұрын
Fewer calories than the real thing but ironically probably not healthier for you.