Restoring Old Hand Tools [38]

[@geraldspratley4637]

The legacy of handed down tools is something special. You know your grandparents and parents held these tools.

[@DudeGuy-zt9eg]

Yes sir, something about halfway beat up tools that’s just so cool, hate all the new plastic and machines steel tools, nothing like handmade tools or wooden handles and all that :)

[@prescotts.3235]

My grandpa's tools were recently passed down to me and now I've been inspired to restore them all. Thx

[@jmakes3745]

No problem, glad you found the video useful :)

[@massimoserra4787]

I think it's great feeling working with this particular old hand tools. Your grandfather would be proud of you. Nice job, well done.

[@jmakes3745]

Yeah, its really satisfying seeing things being brought back to life - i'm sure he would, thank you!

[@harveysmith100]

There is something so special about inherited tools, we have something deep inside us that feels the need to cherish them. Good job. Treat yourself to a bench grinder then buy a wire wheel for it, you won't regret it, one of the most useful things a workshop can have.

[@jmakes3745]

Thanks Harvey! I completely agree, it feels like you're preserving a piece of history, and all the memories/associations that come with that object. I'll look into a bench grinder, thanks for the suggestion

[@retiredtvbear9383]

And when you buy that bench grinder, get a top quality set of safety goggles. Cleaning steel parts can cause wires from the wire wheel to break off and fly into your face as well as other parts of your body.

[@MrSongwriter2]

Angle grinder with twist wire wheel may be cheaper and more versatile, also look into more gentle methods like mild phosphoric acid or electrolysis for rust removal

[@qzetu]

This video reminds me of my early days when I first started building my tool collection. I set out to restore old American tools awhile ago and now have a huge selection of quality tools that I just love. The reason I went that route is because new tools are not as good quality and tools like Matco and snap on are way over priced. I probably have 500 hours in restoring my tools. I ate enough patina and rust to kill a small dog. At this point I no longer look for common small hand tools because at some point a man has enough hammers and screw drivers. I have become a lot more picky at what I buy and restore now. For you new guys, I want to tell you that you can build a very good collection of tools at minimal cost if you're willing to get down and dirty. You don't need thousands of dollars. I started out with a wire brush and some WD-40 and went to work.

[@jmakes3745]

Great story mate, I completely agree, they don't make tools like they use to :)

[@matsandresson4758]

Modern tools do nöt have the quality they used to have.Better to refurbish old products.Skål.

[@timeflysintheshop]

You should make a video of your collection, or at least your favorites and post it on the tube. 😁

[@qzetu]

@@timeflysintheshop believe it or not, my favorite tool is a craftsman flat head screwdriver. I'm a full time handyman and use It every single day. I just broke the tip on my spare flat head klein screwdriver, go figure. Anyway, I'll do that sometime. I have a lot of tools.

[@FirstnameLastname-uh4rk]

Nice to see a young person restoring hand tools. Those tools are much better made, with much better materials, than a lot of the crap stuff sold today. If you know the history of the tool, then that makes the restoration even better.

[@jmakes3745]

Thanks Harry, and you're definitely right - they are in a completely different league in both materials and the quality of fit and finish

[@markharris5771]

A brilliant video, really well produced getting across the tools value to you and your choice of music was excellent. It was wonderful how you saved the original handle for the hammer. Your grandparents will be very proud.

[@jmakes3745]

Thanks Mark!

[@theropesofrenovation]

Your grandparents would be proud. I'm proud a youngster cares enough at such a young age to think about doing this.

[@jmakes3745]

Thank you mate, appreciate that!

[@neillgj]

Such a very lovely video. New life to old and faithful friends. Thank you.

[@jmakes3745]

Completely agree, glad you liked the video, thanks for watching :)

[@shantellamend8986]

I did it too. This is what I used Stodoys designs for

[@markwatters6875]

Great work on preserving family and tool history. All the best from Australia

[@RoomiesGarage]

It's awesome that you kept the original character of the tool. Your video was very inspirational, thanks!

[@jmakes3745]

Thanks mate, really appreciate that :)

[@cablebill8892]

This was the video that got me interested in restoration a few years back. I just happened to see this again and I have to say thank you! This is such a fun hobby and nothing feels better than being able to breathe new life into a family member's old item. My current project is my grandfather's old griffin shinemaster shoe shine box. Thank you!

[@jmakes3745]

Comments like this are why I put out videos, its great to hear you're enjoying the hobby and I hope restoring the shoe shine box goes/ is going well!

[@2862Gunny]

I am new to your channel, but this first video made me click subscribe. Anyone who puts that much effort into heirloom tools deserves a good look.

[@jmakes3745]

Thank you so much mate! Glad you enjoyed the video & I look forward to having you as a subscriber :)

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Hi! That's a great video! I really liked the creativity and the lighting! That's cool to have some tools from grandparents like that. I don't have any, but one day, maybe my grandchildren & great grandchildren will have some of mine. :-)

[@jmakes3745]

Thanks James! Yeh I really like the sentimental aspect of having old tools & imo they look and work a lot better than new ones :)

[@barstad-9591]

King's Fine Woodworking Sai will definitely have and cherish some of your tools. 😊

[@heru-deshet359]

You so lovingly restored these gems that it brought a tear to my eye. Great job.

[@jmakes3745]

Heru- deshet really great to hear you enjoyed the video - thank you!

[@joeyisamazing1091]

I really like how you didn’t over do everything and go to a mirror polish and gold plated handle for the happier like some youtubers do. Good job

[@jmakes3745]

Thanks Joey :)

[@judge9amr]

@jmakes love the fact that you are restoring those old tools, and residing them again. There is something satisfying about it. Old tools can be really beautiful once given a new life. I recently moved to the UK and still waiting on all my old tools to get here from South Africa. In the mean time I'll have to start going to car boot sales to see what gems I can find. Anyway love your vids, great inspiration. Thanx

[@jmakes3745]

Thanks a lot for comment Andrew! Really happy to hear you enjoyed the video & your right restoring and fixes things is one of the most satisfying things you can do! Hopefully you can find some good suff at Car Boot Sales, i've found a few good tools at them - just make sure you get there early!

[@DirtyShedCreations]

Really enjoy the ‘tone’ of your videos - they’re like the TV series ‘The Dectectorist’ , very soothing, interesting and thoughtful. Acquired a load of my Greatgrandfather’s tools, think we may restore a few, hopefully as thoughtfully as you have done here. Might make a good video. Well done!

[@jmakes3745]

Never heard of that series but I'll have to go and check it out! Thank you though, really appreciate your kind words and definitely do go and restore your family's old tools and make a video about it! Its really great to be able to continue on the legacy, and as they saying goes they don't make things like they use to!

[@STL_Ammo_Man]

Made me tear up. I miss my dad. 4 years and a week. Thanks.

[@jmakes3745]

Really sorry to hear that mate - just remember to smile because it happened and not cry because its gone and i'm really happy to hear you found some solace in this video :)

[@MrZayne8]

I love the act of rebuilding, restoring and remembering. Nice work and the music is on point. subscribed

[@jmakes3745]

Thanks MrZayne! Really good to hear you enjoyed the video & I 100% agree its better to restore than to buy new :)

[@bruceberry1363]

Thank you, really enjoyed seeing you care for those tools.

[@jmakes3745]

No problem, thank you for watching!

[@discworldhero]

A fine video. I'm currently doing the same for a box full of my grandfathers tools that have been sat in a shed for the last 20 years. Incredibly satisfying task. Thanks for this great content :)

[@jmakes3745]

Thats great, I hope you can give the tools a new lease of life :)

[@pattifrederick3765]

I,m g!ad i found this channel i can see you appreciate older items,,so unlike the now generation.

[@Ibaneddie76]

Great video, nice tools and good job cleaning them up. Nothing like old school steal.

[@Landruman2002]

Nice to see you back in the shop again! It's been quite a while!

[@HalcyonDaze33]

I love your spirit. I have some of my late grandfather's tools too. Using them brings back good memories. Keep it going man.

[@jmakes3745]

Definitely, thanks James :)

[@michaelpugh4894]

Nice clean up and beautiful restoration.

[@ChuckInOregon]

Well done, simple and comprehensive. The disposable economy has done away with simple repairs and restorations.

[@jmakes3745]

100% agree - thank you!

[@retiredtvbear9383]

I'd much rather own a tool that was made 60 years ago than one made in the last 20. Most of what they build today is junk that won't last. The old stuff was built to last a lifetime if you took care of it.

[@mtmchenry]

Like seeing new life given to old tools. Hope to see more in the future.

[@jmakes3745]

100% agree, there is something really satisfying about making something work again! If you like restoration videos, i've got a whole series on restoring tools on my channel you can check out :)

[@robertrios4885]

Grandpaw has a big smile on his face! ...... you did good.

[@DudeGuy-zt9eg]

Great video man, I’ve started to do the same thing with my great grandparents tools, left a whole garage full of stuff, means a lot doing this. Great video👍🏽

[@Pj-wl7lc]

Awesome video! As a gunsmith and tool refinisher may I offer some advise? Your wire wheel in your drill works press works well. If you need a,finer,wheel they sell .002 wire wheels on brownells. Amazing for removing rust. Electrolysis and parts tumblers work well too. The part where you put the screwdriver in the vise made me cringe. To avoid maring may I suggest using aluminum angle pieces for,vise jaws. Love,your work and videos. I'm glad I'm not the only one who enjoys refinishing and repairing tools. All the best

[@jmakes3745]

Thanks so much for the advice Peter, really great to hear tips and tricks from a professional! If i'm honest with you I didn't really realise there were so many different types of wire wheel so I'll definitely check out the .002. You're right about the vise jaws, normally I swap out the steel jaws for wood ones, but I was just lazy when I did this. I'll definitely look into aluminum, although hopefully i'll be getting another vice so then I'll be able to have one set up with wood, and the other setup with steel jaws. Thanks again for the advice & tips!

[@Pj-wl7lc]

Jmakes, please contact me,at [e-mail]. I,would,like,to exchange projects, ideas,and tips. Hope,to,hear from,you

[@Baneslayer]

I felt like I was watching myself in this video..... Same type of shop... I did the exact same thing with all my old grandpa's tools..... I cherish them and keep them in a safe place for use on special projects and to pass down to my son.... I have a "retired tools" chest.

[@fergusonto-2032]

I have some of my Grandfathers old tools , I had a new handle put in a claw hammer head of his & it’s my go to hammer that I use most often even tho I have a really nice craftsman hammer , excellent video , Thankyou for sharing & May God Bless

[@jmakes3745]

Thank you for watching Michael and yes there is something really special about a tool with a story and history behind it :)

[@randymagnum6680]

Those old shears are fantastic

[@jmakes3745]

you're not wrong about that, they're really useful as well

[@blainerueckwald]

Good on you for restoring these tools to a useful condition and avoiding the temptation to make them shiny like so many so called restoration videos do.

[@cassiofonte8172]

Long time no see such beauty in a single video. Inspiring work!

[@jmakes3745]

Thanks Cassio, I really appreciate that! :)

[@holytwinkie]

Some of my most treasured possessions are my Grandfather's old tools. I happened upon this looking for ideas how to properly replace the handle on his old Dunlap claw hammer. The thing is probably 70-80 years old from my estimate. I may use your technique with the spline insertion as it seemed pretty effective. Looking forward viewing more of your videos.

[@jamesalsup9135]

What a wonderful thing you did!

[@jmakes3745]

Thank you James!

[@ryanwooldridge7546]

Very therapeutic video, great job 👍

[@jmakes3745]

thank you ryan!

[@noahgautschi]

Cool video 👍 ...nice to see how you restore the old tools

[@jmakes3745]

Thanks!

[@rayc.8555]

Great vid and I like the music. I have been doing the same to my dads tools that he left me. It's a great feeling and I know he appreciates it.

[@kittykat999a]

Wonderful video. Thanks for sharing. Some leather for soft jaws in your vise would be good, got an old thick leather belt hanging around?

[@jmakes3745]

Thanks Gene, goodobservation - i've got a wooden insert for the vice which acts as a softjaw but i just forgot to use it :/

[@michaelevans1658]

Nice video that little belt sander is very handy.

[@jmakes3745]

Thanks Michael, yeh the belt sander comes in handy for some many different things :)

[@TheWoodYogi]

Well done for giving these tools a second chance. I hope someone does the same again in the far future :) ॐ

[@jmakes3745]

The Wood Yogi thank you& I hope so to!

[@redlaserfox3988]

Those hand shears tho... damn A thing of beauty and function 🖤 Thanks for the vid fren

[@jmakes3745]

Haha definitely + thanks for watching!

[@csozoli]

i am restoring my grandfather's tools the same way :) vinegar and wireweel. i've alredy restore maybe a hundred of them but there are more than a hundred left so i dont know why i'm not in the shop... :) great job mate!!!

[@jmakes3745]

Haha, sounds like you've got your work cut out but good on you for restoring so many!

[@1pcfred]

One beauty of old tools is they're patient when it comes to you getting around to cleaning them up. I just picked up a few yesterday and I don't want to have all of the fun cleaning them up at once. So I'm spreading it out to when I'm in the mood.

[@rykhaviland3591]

Another great video! Well done, you! The music and lighting worked perfectly to set the mood for the task - simple, unrefined, peaceful. Never mind the great work you did on the restorations. I'll just go on and on about the video quality! :-)

[@jmakes3745]

Thanks so much Ryk! Can't tell you how much I appreciate the praise and support on every video :)

[@davequinn4701]

Wonderful vid enjoyed it and its a credit to you. Keep up the good work.

[@jmakes3745]

Thanks Dave! Good to hear your enjoying the content :)

[@jss302]

I can really tell how much you love your family❤️

[@theabsurd9416]

Wonderful, quality video as always. Keep it up.

[@jmakes3745]

Thank you mate, really appreciate that!

[@fabiandaroca]

Beautiful Job!!!

[@jmakes3745]

Thanks Fabian!

[@HansZarkovPhD]

I recieved some antique tools from my neighbor who was afraid that his kids would throw them out when he dies. I have restored tham and use them daily on woodworking projects. I take them over as I finish them so he can see what they should look like. The best one is a mahogany brace n bit from the late 1890's. I have completely restored it and use it frequently.

[@jmakes3745]

I think this sums up the beauty of old tools - its a great feeling to be able to carry on someones legacy through using their tools - great story Scott, thanks for sharing!

[@TheGilberto50]

Thanks for the demo.. Keep up the videos.

[@jmakes3745]

Thanks mate, and I will try to!

[@peccant]

I thoroughly enjoyed this. :D

[@jmakes3745]

Glad to hear it & thanks for watching!

[@kendehaas668]

Keep up the good work. I enjoyed your video.

[@jmakes3745]

Thanks so much Ken, much appreciated! Sorry for not posting as often, I'm working on a few things & hopefully they will be up soon :)

[@manumaestri]

Amazing vídeo, i love the chill vibes, cheers from Argentina!

[@jmakes3745]

Cheers Manuel!! Glad you liked it :)

[@gasperajdnik5627]

Prity col video bro 👍😎

[@lukaaaaaaaAAAAĀĀĀĀĀ-b7n]

This music was so beautiful and so melancholic that it had me all up in the feels😣😣

[@jmakes3745]

Thanks Luka!

[@ituxcoza]

Perfect music choice, good edit and beautiful tools. You earned my sub!

[@bbram000]

Such a therapeutic video

[@jmakes3745]

thanks, glad you enjoyed it :)

[@retiredtvbear9383]

Glad to see you cleaning up the old tools. FYI, if you spray everything with DW-40, it will inhibit the rust, but it will also attract dirt and dust, and make the tools messy to use. Go buy a can of Johnson's paste wax. apply a coat and let it dry, then buff off. Do this a couple of times a year, and you will inhibit the rust and not have a mess of a tool to use. If you need better protection than that try CRC Corrosion Inhibitor.

[@jmakes3745]

Great tip, since filming this I now use paste wax to finish metal & 4 in 1 oil to lubricate all moving parts, you're right they definitely work a lot better than WD-40!

[@dystom6968]

@@jmakes3745 I apply a little boiled [less sticky] linseed oil with a cloth & leave warm place a couple of days - lovely finish good for wood parts and hands. I am restoring my late father's tools in his house - repaired aircraft in fields during the war. I wish you could show me how to put together such a lovely video.

[@serighthess7858]

Nicely done!

[@jmakes3745]

Thanks Seright!

[@edinstead]

Vinegar changes the colour. I would have left a lot more patina on these. A blue scotchbrite pad and some 3 in 1 oil and done. Doesn't that wire wheel leave marks?

[@lauremeaney7883]

nice to see you giving such love to those old tools... but I gotta say... dude! do you still have all your fingers?!!

[@cristiancristian3667]

This video got something special!

[@jmakes3745]

Cristian Cristian thanks Cristian, I appreciate it!

[@stormkhan4250]

I really like it when someone takes the time and effort to restore and bring back old tools to a serviceable life. I like doing that too and am in the process of doing so with a bunch of my fathers tools. Just a question...you oiled the hammer handle just before putting glue on the insert spline...will the oil interfere with the glue and how well it might stick?

[@DirtandRust]

Very enjoyable video...cool intro:]

[@jmakes3745]

Thanks so much mate, glad you liked it - i've got a lot of other stop motion videos on my channel if youre interested :)

[@dallaswoiken7533]

Good job on your grama and grampa tools 👍👍👍

[@idriesismail1790]

If you have any questions about this website

[@short-shorts1325]

Awesome video thanks.

[@jmakes3745]

No problem, thank you for watching!

[@wayneshanks148]

Awesome love to see a woman do that kind of stuff

[@OliverLee390]

You're pretty good at editing, I wish I were that good!

[@jmakes3745]

Thanks so much mate, I wouldn't say I'm good by a long shot & I'm still learning stuff everyday but if I could offer two pieces of advice to get better i'd say 1) practice making as many videos as possible & 2) watch lots of videos and analyse how they're put together, and then try and incorporate their methods into your own work :)

[@xXookeeooXx]

Good job.

[@DirtyShedCreations]

Oh, have subscribed!

[@jmakes3745]

Thank you mate, really appreciate it!

[@AJB2K3]

Are you in the UK as so many of those tools are identicle to mine! Except the junior hacksaw as I have never seen one like it

[@alexanderscalzi9361]

1:10 this video was brought to you by... Ryobi; use a drill for what needs to be drilled.

[@johnyoung4747]

When I encounter a loose hammer head with a wooden handle I submerge it in antifreeze for a day or two. It seems to work and the glycol doesn't readily dry out and shrink the wood again.

[@jmakes3745]

Nice tip! Never heard of anything like this... will have to give it a try some time, although I'm not sure it worked with this one, as the handle only went up half of the head so it really needed re-mounting anyway

[@qzetu]

The better way to do it is to submerge it in linseed oil. The wood will literally absorb the oil and will probably tighten up around the head where it has become dry and shrunk. The oil will also protect the handle by sealing the wood. Antifreeze is probably not a good solution because it is poisonous.

[@dystom6968]

@@qzetu I was going to say the same, also a thin film on the metal parts leave in sun/warm place a couple of days; surely no need to glue the wedge.

[@benjaminterblanche4860]

Baie mooi

[@codybrookehanson2346]

Done in loving memory.

[@jmakes3745]

Definitely!

[@Liamautomechanic]

good vid.

[@alainelskens353]

Very nice video, I like it, but take care of yourself, for some, jobs, you need to wear gloves and glasses. Safety first, all the time. Nice music too.

[@dieterreteid6365]

Hey, nice video. But there are some major mistakes you made, restoring your old tools. First of all 4:30 : Flathead Screwdrivers are not supposed to be sharp!!! It gives them less grip on the srew and makes them wear off again quicker. And second: I myself like to keep old tools as original as possible, when I "restore" aka clean them. But sometimes you just have to let go, just like you should have done with the handle of the hammer. With that many wormholes and the crack you caused on the top end of it, the handle is basically bound to fail and break on you at one point, possible injuring you or damaging something in your workshop. Instead I would recommend you to eather take a handle of another old hammer (you can get those dirtcheap at any fleemarket or garagesale), or to make one out of new wood, which you can then age by staining it or etching it with vinegar and other substances. Keep it up, bye

[@jmakes3745]

Thanks for the comment Dieter but I if I was you i'd work on not sounding so patronising in your comments but instead providing constructive criticism, and consider how different people use tools differently. If you look at 4:30 you can see that i'm not only re-grinding, but i'm also grinding the tip so that it isn't sharp, but instead had a good head to grip with. With the hammer, I guess you could go to the effort of sourcing and shaping a new handle if you intended to use the hammer every day with some heavy abuse but tbh i'm just using it occasionally for small jobs & in the months i've been using it its still as sturdy as the day I finished this video. If it starts to loosen I can then go and replace it.

[@jmakes3745]

kingshinigami1989 Fair enough Kingshinigami. Re reading it, he did have some good points but I guess it’s all about the first impression created and responding to that. Sorry to have lost you :)

[@rjamsbury1]

@@jmakes3745 tend to agree with your interpretation - they could have said 'I'd do it differently...' rather than 'you made mistakes...'. For what it's worth, I'd have kept the original handle too - it has a lot of history :-)

[@AJB2K3]

Do you know why the blue handled one was bent? It's the standard tin opener. Every family tool collection thats spans a few generations will have a few of them.

[@grahamparr4710]

Sawing wood with hacksaw ?

[@jmakes3745]

Using whatever tool is to hand - definitely not as good as a tenon/dovetail saw etc but it works!

[@theworldsokayestmichigande851]

Is that a Clarke drill press

[@jmakes3745]

No, its a Osaki PDB132 bench drill press - i got it second hand off gumtree :)

[@granthubick8684]

About 37 seconds of that plinky plunky was enough for me.

[@smidjepeter]

Good filming, but use the tool for its intended purpose 😉

[@pham7878]

If you no pain. they will quickly rust again!

[@jmakes3745]

I make sure that they've got a thin coat of oil/wax on at all times now!

[@billyb4223]

Get some soft jaws or make some with sheet metal folded over the jaws, you will mark your tools otherwise.

[@jmakes3745]

good suggestion, i normally use wooden soft jaws but they broke - i'll make some more soon :)

[@diygeneration5566]

*You have a pretty good set of antique tools. I do some restorations, too, sometimes. Come by and visit)*

[@marshalldillion2835]

The tools of a person is a part of him

[@stilldo4052]

Many ways to skin a cat - just that some ways aint right.

[@BOBXFILES2374a]

Great vid. BUT...wear leather gloves?? Wire brush + finger = Ouch!

[@jmakes3745]

I've always been taught that you should never wear gloves around rotating machinery as it increases the chance of your hands getting pulled in?

[@romeliapolly4171]

Woodprix scripts contain most of the woodworking plans you can find.

[@oliviabishop5451]

The music almost made me cry, I couldn't watch the video

[@christjulipds13]

Hmmm... I finally followed Ann's advice and took Woodprix. It's great for beginners and has some advanced stuff too.

[@kdtrimble]

I love old tool refurbishing. Great job. Unfortunately the music kills this video. :(

[@jmakes3745]

Thanks Kevin! Is there any particular reason why you didn't like the music, and another songs you'd prefer - always trying to improve the content :)

[@jmakes3745]

there's always a mute button though ;)

[@symonstraining]

I personally loved the music. Such a wholesome video. Great work.

[@jmakes3745]

Thanks Mike! Glad you liked it :)

[@aslob9321]

Kevin Zoid + I think the music is great!

[@Clarkson350]

Good work but for the love of god wear safety glasses

[@notatechie]

Sexiest video I've seen in a while. Meant in a good way. (You have to say that nowadays)