Rusty 1940s Ear Tagger Restoration | Random Restoration

Welcome! Today I'll be restoring this old rusty 1940s cast iron "Security Sealer" which was mostly used as an ear tagger for animals. I started the restoration on this rusty hand tool about eight and a half months ago and decided to finally finish the restoration before moving onto more interesting (mostly hardware related) projects.
I started this tool restoration by spraying it down with some penetrating fluid. It may not look like it in some shots, but this tool was very rusty in many areas. After the quick removal of a large sticker I was able to remove all the screws and bolts with relative ease. After disassembly it was time for a quick bit of paint stripping. I really couldn't tell what the original color was, but it seemed to either be a dark green or grey.
Next up in the tool restoration it was time for rust removal. I soaked all the parts in the rust remover for a day before removing them. Them I left them sitting in an old sour cream container for many months to slowly start rusting again - This thing really wanted to live life as a rusty tool haha. After returning to the project I soaked them again in the rust remover for a day before finally wire wheeling all the parts.
Now rust free and shiny I decided to clean up the large parts - I wanted to leave the original rough casting, but there were a few areas that required a bit of metal filing. After those touch ups it was time for painting. I used a black primer followed by a gloss navy blue paint. It is much darker in person compared to most shots in the video, and I think it fits the piece well, though maybe you'll disagree with my lacking sense of style haha.
Then it was time to restore the small parts. I started with sanding some of the small parts. This didn't take much time, but I noticed the threads on both the bolt and nut for the handle were damaged, so I re-threaded them both. Then it was good ol' bluing steel time. I only had to blue one screw, as the three springs that had been blued from the factory wore in shockingly perfect condition after all these years.
Finally the sealer was reassembled. I then looked around online and found the original patent for the sealer, which describes itself as a compression die for metal seals. These were used for animal ears, and alternatively attaching a seal to a skin or fur. Anyway, it was nice to get this restoration finally finished, as I have some pretty cool projects I really want to get to - The next two should be pretty cool, well in my opinion at least haha.
Time Stamps:
0:00 Welcome!
0:25 Disassembly
2:48 Paint Stripping
3:33 Rust Remover
3:49 Wire Wheeling
4:56 Test Fit
5:34 Filing Defects
6:34 Painting
7:27 Sanding Small Parts
8:17 Tapping New Threads
9:10 Bluing
9:51 Reassembly
12:26 Before and After
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Thanks for watching the video Rusty 1940s Ear Tagger Restoration | Random Restoration

[@randomrestoration6858]

Hi all! So long story short, I started this project last July and decided I better finish it before moving onto other projects haha. The next few projects should be pretty interesting, so stay tuned!

[@oneshotme]

Looking forward to watching them

[@randomrestoration6858]

@@oneshotme Thanks a lot! I'll admit, I'm pretty stoked for the next video - All I can say it that this thing was so rusty it's a real surprise it was salvageable haha

[@samanthadean1083]

Awesome job!!! Better late than never!!! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@randomrestoration6858]

Thanks a lot! Hahaha no worries - As always, thank you very much for watching, Samantha!

[@brycecrousore1985]

When the weekend kicks off with a new video from Random Restoration, you know it's going to be a good one!

[@randomrestoration6858]

Thank you as always, Bryce! I'm glad to have gotten this odd little tool restored so I can move onto larger, more interesting restorations. Thanks a lot for watching!

[@drunkdunc8738]

This restoration takes the cup for a riveting subject matter 🤔🍻🍻

[@randomrestoration6858]

Uh oh the master of puns is back hahaha. On the topic of cups, this thing even claims on the side to have a built in cup, though you wouldn't be able to hold a satisfactory amount of beer in it haha. Thanks as always for watching!

[@drunkdunc8738]

@@randomrestoration6858 😆you drink one for every sheep you tag , a large flock quenches the thirst 🍻

[@randomrestoration6858]

@@drunkdunc8738 Now that's an idea I can get behind hahaha

[@vinceianni4026]

Hi Random beautiful restoration good job well done

[@randomrestoration6858]

Howdy, Vince! Tanks for stopping by, and as always thanks a lot for watching!

[@Austeration]

Nice to see something a little different from you to break things up. 👍 fantastic job. Loved all the close up shots. Another work of art from you. Great video.

[@randomrestoration6858]

Thanks a lot, man! I figure I better switch things up a bit up at least once a year hahaha. Thanks for watching!

[@cathybenson5119]

How about I tag your ear, mate. That way your wife will be able to see you better. Lol. Nah, just kidding mate. 😂 it turned out great. Have a good one mate. 👍

[@Austeration]

@@cathybenson5119 who's ear?

[@mskayla7747]

I'd call the more of a rescue than a restoration, because you left it pretty much as you found it. Sometimes that's all the piece really needs. Nice result.

[@randomrestoration6858]

Haha yeah I definitely agree with you there, this was a pretty shabby looking piece but it still was functional before I started. Thanks a lot for watching!

[@briansdiecastthailandstoth6747]

Wow looks great...

[@randomrestoration6858]

Thank you very much, Brian!

[@chrysanthepaxinos2839]

Cool to see this old tool come back to life, but it must have taken two people to tag an ear! I liked the blue.

[@randomrestoration6858]

Haha yeah this wouldn't be a particularly easy tool to use one handed, so I suspect you're correct. Thanks a lot for watching, Chrysanthe!

[@tomswindler64]

Got the notification,I said more door hardware videos,but no you blindsided me ,with resto of ear tag applicator.I’ll let you slide this time.really good video,keep it up,but you gotta forewarn me ,in the future.👍👍👍😎😎😎

[@randomrestoration6858]

Hahaha yeah I have a bunch of hardware related videos coming up next but decided to be a bit of a trickster with this one 😆 As always, thanks for watching, Tom!

[@k.george8722]

Hi there! This one was so different than many of your previous. When things like this were made, it seems many companies didn't have quality control lol. You do a great job.

[@randomrestoration6858]

Yeah I bought this some time ago, got it disassembled and decided I had to finish it or it would stay forever disassembled haha. My upcoming videos will be back to hardware related projects . I'm pretty excited for the next two projects, and they're coming along beautifully! Hahaha yeah this thing was rough! The fact that they totally mis-drilled that hole and decided not to swap it out with a better one is pretty impressive haha. As always, thank you very much for watching!

[@ArtisticEndeavors]

Very nice! ✌🏻🎨☕️

[@randomrestoration6858]

Much appreciated, Susannah!

[@garyrourke8201]

Loved the final colour. The fact that you always have the right tool to do the job always amazes (those unique screw heads you showed at 2:20). Brilliant.

[@randomrestoration6858]

Thanks, I thought the color matched this piece pretty well - I didn't want to go too crazy with like a lime green or something haha. Yeah that's the first time I've ever had to use those I think - They were pretty buried in my tool box but I found them eventually haha. Thank you for watching, Gary!

[@KentRedford213]

I enjoy the ornate door paraphernalia, don't get me wrong, but it's good to see something else like this for a change. 👍 I finally subscribed because if it.

[@randomrestoration6858]

Thanks a lot, Kent! Haha yeah it's nice to work on something a bit different from time to time!

[@caractax.3110]

Outch, but beautiful ...

[@randomrestoration6858]

Haha thanks a lot for watching!

[@masterlcpl3736]

looks like i missed a few videos in my absence and got some catchin up to do. wish you uploaded more often though. i love your vids man

[@randomrestoration6858]

Hahaha I think there are just a couple you've missed I think but no worries! I appreciate it, I wish I had more time for videos but I'm hoping to do some pretty sweet projects with the extra time I have between videos. As always thanks a lot for watching!

[@rustrestoration1469]

Nice restoration ;)

[@randomrestoration6858]

Hey man, thanks a lot!

[@yeagerxp]

Very good restoration 👍👍👍Thanks for sharing

[@randomrestoration6858]

Thank you very much, I appreciate it!

[@Fruity_lexia]

Nice work! And something a bit different.

[@randomrestoration6858]

Thanks a lot! Haha yeah I figured since I started this project so long ago I better finish it before moving onto anything new. Thanks a lot for watching!

[@oneshotme]

You didn't test it?? I thought we'd get see you with a new ear ring LOL It looks great and a fine job restoring it Enjoyed your video and I gave it a Thumbs Up

[@randomrestoration6858]

Hahaha If I could have found an original ear tag to use you better believe I'd be walking around with a sweet new ear ring hahaha. Thanks a lot, I appreciate the continued support!

[@DaleDix]

I think they use them for some of the weird people on tiktok. Rings everywhere

[@randomrestoration6858]

Hahaha you may very well be onto something there, Dale! It never said in the patent you couldn't use it on a person haha. Thanks a lot for watching!

[@TapscottJ]

Nice, one of the more unusual objects I’ve seen restored, but a city guy like me doesn’t see that many items used to tag animals. I have seen my friend who’s an ornithologist band birds though, but that’s literally with bands (or as they say “that’s a different animal altogether). I was thinking of your channel because the horrible made in China mortise lock on my entry door broke, and the horrible made in China replacement I bought didn’t line up with the latch, needed to do drilling and chiseling. Not being a pro my any means, I’m just glad the door and handle open and close properly now.

[@randomrestoration6858]

Thank you, Mathew! Haha yeah when I bought it I didn't really know what it was for until I looked up the patent, but it is quite an interesting piece indeed. Yeah there are a number of really low quality mortise locks you can buy now, many of which are far less functional than lock from 120 years ago somehow. It sucks the new one didn't line up at all, but sounds like you got there in the end haha. Now that this project is done I should be beck to my usual hardware related restorations, so stay tuned! Thanks a lot for watching!

[@StealthDonut1]

I couldn't help but notice that the goats were very silent today, given the type of equipment you were working on. Also, I love the smell of WD-40. Is it wrong to want to huff it? Asking for a friend.

[@randomrestoration6858]

Hahaha yeah they must have known something was up! Hey if it wasn't bad for you I'm sure no one would even question why you were in the corner huffing it again haha. Thanks a lot for watching!

[@Tim-57]

Hey RR Glad you took her out of retirement, now you will be able to open a body piercing business😜 Take care

[@randomrestoration6858]

Hahaha I reckon I’d get plenty of repeat customers if I used this on them. Thanks as always for watching, Tim!

[@Tim-57]

@@randomrestoration6858 😄

[@janvanherck1547]

It's a pity your table broke down, but isn't it normal when you drop (1'24") such heavy stuff on it? Anyway job well done!

[@randomrestoration6858]

Hahaha well the table has actually always been broken since I started doing videos - The bottom has a huge crack down it (though it surprisingly hasn't gotten worse after all this time) which is why the round parts like to roll away off camera 😆 One day I'll get a new table haha. Thanks a lot for watching!

[@janvanherck1547]

​@@randomrestoration6858 It's always a pleasure to watch your video's. Tey always make me smile, so thanks for that.😁

[@francksalvatore5746]

👍👍👍💞

[@randomrestoration6858]

Thank you, Franck!

[@ThomasGoeson]

Great job on the restoration, my friend! But, man oh man... That thing does not look like it was designed well and was definitely manufactured poorly.

[@randomrestoration6858]

Thanks a lot! Hahaha yeah it was a pretty rough casting and it’s incredible the hole was drilled so off center. Thanks a lot for watching!

[@georgeshelton6281]

I was thinking of having 25c quarters that are naturally cooler metallic purple, without the use of harsh science chemicals. Purple gold get it? 💜 😄 😀 🤔 😆 😅 💜

[@randomrestoration6858]

Haha oh yeah I gotcha, George! You've been on a video watching spree I see - Thanks again for watching!

[@doriWyo]

I just acquired a Pony Express bag lock, from someone on ebay. It's in working condition, but has a coating of rust. I don't know if it's restorable. What would you suggest?

[@randomrestoration6858]

Very cool, Dori! A nice soak in some rust remover would likely do it some favors if it's pretty rusty - I personally use Evapo Rust, but there are many other options out there from other companies, though beware because some of the alternatives to Evapo Rust are pretty harsh chemicals! After that a solid spray down through the keyhole with lubricant such as "Houdini lock lube" and it should operate pretty smoothly I'd imagine.

[@doriWyo]

Thank you!

[@doriWyo]

Rinse off the Evapo-rust with water, or just let it dry on?

[@randomrestoration6858]

@@doriWyo You bet! If you use Evapo Rust I’d recommend just wiping it down with a paper towel and not rinsing it since it leaves a protective film on the surface that will help prevent it from rusting.

[@doriWyo]

Is good old WD-40 a good choice?

[@dieteh]

Sorry about your table leg

[@randomrestoration6858]

Hahaha thanks!