Rusty Combination Square Restoration

I found this vintage rusty combination square and figured I could fix it up and restore it pretty easily. It was about as quick and easy as I expected and the video ended up being pretty short and sweet as well.
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Products used in video:
Duplocolor Cherry-Red Enamel Spray Paint: amzn.to/2IZPUvw
Spray Max 1k Trim Black Spray Paint: amzn.to/2JeskNe
Evaporust Rust Remover: amzn.to/2DM18St
3M Wet or Dry Sandpaper: amzn.to/2Y2MzlF

[@AntonioPerez-hv1lp]

Even the black color it was looked amazingly:)

[@kjamison5951]

Nice! Straightforward, no nonsense.

[@kape9004]

Nice. Very nice.

[@Laluan]

Yes. Yes I thought you were going to leave the whole thing black. You got me...

[@Flecha57]

I almost had a heart attack when I you painted the ruler black... It didn't made sense to me, until later. : )) That was brilliant. I have one of those, it was from my dad. Now I'm motivated to restore it. Thanks, man.

[@scroungasworkshop4663]

And mine👍

[@briansworkshop01]

Nice job 👍👍👍👍

[@SpadeCaller]

Complete agreement. I flipped when I saw you spray paint it black. You win.

[@tinydancer7426]

I have 2 of these, both inherited. One slightly smaller than the other. Neither of them have the pin markers.

[@genem9725]

Bead blasters are wicked cool.

[@mantaship]

I am not sure what I was expecting, but I really liked this one. I want to see if putting some white inside the level's cavity would make it more easily seen. Now I gotta go find and old square at the flea market...

[@gergemall]

Simply amazing and beautiful work. Very inspiring. Bluing solution is a great idea ❤.

[@TRGRESTORATIONS]

Nice one! That blasting cabinet is bigger than my first apartment!!

[@Madmun357]

Actually yes... I did think you were going to leave the whole ruler black. You got me! Excellent!

[@shedmanx3640]

That looks fantastic. I just finished one my dad gave me when I was a boy, well over 50 years ago. I thought about the black paint trick but mine was that badly pitted the ruler would have had a case of measles. My metal scribe has gone missing over the years too. Great job, I really enjoyed it.

[@williamfindspeople4341]

The only thing missing was the pin marker that fits in the hole below the level bubble.

[@cesaralvarez5982]

You may be able to find replacement pins at Lee Valley, or make your own, it can't be too hard to do.

[@mykstreja8648]

Good catch there.

[@dnthasslehoff]

Scribe

[@regbowes1127]

The pin or scribe in mine will not stay in the hole. Did I lose something?

[@Acaidia]

@@regbowes1127 the cap bolt?

[@MrJruta]

It’s like a little work of art! Beautiful

[@lightning4871]

Came out great. Good job.

[@TheThriftyWoodworker]

I got one of these today at a garage sale. $1 Now I know how to refinish the ruler. Great job.

[@tommyhill199]

Steady hand with a spray can. Also, this was well edited. Giving it that seamless flow that many attempt but very few can replicate. Keep it up. I'll stay tuned.

[@joeeeyyyyyy]

Facts

[@gergemall]

Me too

[@marcula21]

Easy one. But great nonetheless. Love that you blued those parts. Keep on doing your thing!

[@davidahart2476]

Great video, I loved how the sandblaster cleaned up the ruler, my combination square is in pretty good shape except for the ruler, I need to find someone with a sandblaster.

[@tonoalvarado1436]

¡Perfecto...! Saludos desde Honduras.👍👍👍👍👏👏👏👏✌

[@andrzejporeda7281]

Przepiękne jest to odrestaurowane ta suv miarka pozdrawiam serdecznie 👍👍👍👍👍

[@mykstreja8648]

Nicely done. Good scare tactics, too.

[@robsochlayer2352]

Cool restoration man !

[@michaelpugh4894]

Beautiful restoration.

[@MrGarycharters]

Dam, I have one of these! Really need to restore now!

[@mezianeachraf6690]

wow nice

[@garymucher9590]

Nice refurbishing effort. Did you check to see if the level was install parallel with the longer flat side of the square? You could use some epoxy to make the level closer to the top of the opening and keep it secure. And you really need to clear cover the parts to keep them from rusting quickly. Thumbs Up!

[@RestorationStation]

I actually ended up putting a bit of epoxy putty just as you said to level it after I rendered out the video

[@skinnyweather]

Nice! Is that a Twix brand combo square? Why aren't there two of them? :)

[@scroungasworkshop4663]

Odd that the cast body has nothing on it. Nice restoration, so glad you sanded the black paint off. Cheers Stuart 🇦🇺

[@billstortz5046]

nice workmanship! How long did you leave the paint to dry!

[@albertoreyes2414]

Ostias... Tío... Excelente trabajo..

[@bmilhoan]

Did you do anything special to make sure the 90 and 45 are accurate? I watch so many of videos and I get contradicting information about if those squares can be accurate. I love mine and want to do the same thing you've done. Thanks for your help!

[@woozhi9218]

I think you should get both the blade and base straight and flat and make them adjustable put the base on a straight surface and draw a line with the blade and flip it and draw again and adjust till they line how flat and straight is the base and blade and surface you are using andhow delicate you are affects the square and one last thought rough quare better then no suqare

[@manolostern1779]

Amor por las herramientas. 😁

[@Keymagination]

Size and quality of blasting chamber is beyond awesome. One can use it as a shelter during nuclear blast!

[@RestorationStation]

Indiana Jones Crystal skull style

[@Keymagination]

@@RestorationStation Honestly I had this on mind despite how dumb this scene was!

[@scottflanagan7927]

Nice job it looks great.

[@Stevegetslucky]

Looks really great. I was worried when you sprayed the ruler black, lol.

[@BobChristenson51]

Where did you get the replacement level vial?

[@RestorationStation]

An extra camera tripod attachment I had. I don't often use the bubble level on the tripod anyway since my camera has a built in leveling feature anyway. It's hard to find one that fits! Most speed level vials are too big.

[@matsandresson4758]

Try Aliexpress.com

[@raziel3726]

Craftsman!!

[@drucker03]

Why did you apply the red paint first and then partially removed it? Was the masking tape out of stock?

[@theropesofrenovation9352]

For a sec at the beginning my brain was thinking slide ruler. OMG Remember those? Um... Maybe not. Anyway, YES I thought you were going to leave the ruler black.. I thought "Why in the hell is he spraying so much paint!" Now I see. Great job!

[@RichieCat4223]

Did you how to use a slide rule ? It's really a rule, not a ruler.

[@theropesofrenovation9352]

@@RichieCat4223 No. I did not. My dad was a mathematician. He had a lot of them. I wish I had kept some of them!

[@muddbear6410]

Around 3:40 I'm guessing he's spraying water, but what is he using to take off the black paint? Is it just fine grit sand paper? Can you do that with water or does it have to be a special kind of sand paper? That's my guess cuz I've never seen black sand paper before

[@glennmoreland6457]

The machined surfaces should've been cleaned with a scotchbrite pad... The vial needs setting properly...

[@RestorationStation]

I ended up putting a bit of epoxy putty on each end of the level and testing it on a level surface through trial and error. I had a shot of it sitting on the counter to prove it was indeed level, but it was totally out of focus and I ended up cutting the shot out. Looking back I should have just waited a couple more days to re-record that scene and keep it in the video.

[@glennmoreland6457]

@@RestorationStation Epoxy putty is ok but they used linseed putty originally (the same stuff you use to fix glass into wooden frames)... Whenever you've got a finely ground surface your better using a bit of scotchbrite... 👍🇬🇧👍🇬🇧

[@Pajksel_]

Nice work ! :D

[@howardfulford9406]

Good work !

[@gargamel7398]

Hermoso trabajo!

[@jfsauer42]

pretty result, but is it accurate?

[@runedyrting8476]

Nice!

[@RichieCat4223]

No rust preventer oil when finished ?

[@ironwooddesigns9532]

Please also link the bluing solution and the replacement glass. Nicely done!

[@DrPronghorn]

Sweet.

[@marcinzeton2724]

Very Nice 💪

[@yeagerxp]

Very good restoration 👍👍👍. Now you can keep a levele head. 🤣🤣🤣

[@marcoescobar634]

Excelente!!!

[@GrandsonofKong]

Brilliant idea on the ruler to highlight the markings. Question: Where did you get the new spirit level vial?? I've got two where they are also broken.

[@RestorationStation]

I stole it from an extra tripod attachment I didn't need. Unfortunately it's hard to find perfect fit

[@TheParkAttendant]

🎉

[@philipbrailey]

I thought that rust would be there forever. 👍

[@MrShobar]

You failed to demonstrate the most essential test for a square: Is it actually square? No special tools or apparatus are needed to show this, since squares are ""self-proving". If not square, no paint or sandblasting will bring this back.

[@dalekify]

It wasn't a serious restoration. He just knocked of the rust and painted it. I'd rather it look rough and be accurate than look shiny and be useless. After sanding all the edges like that, it must be a mile out. It's disappointing . Maybe it's for woodwork or something that doesn't matter.

[@donniebrown2896]

These were made for the average diy around the house guy. A true Craftsman would use either a speed square or a framing square, I have these and two each of the others. And yes two different sizes of each device.

[@КошмарКошмар-й2б]

Hi bro 👋👋👋👋very good restoration 👍👍👍👍

[@bonniehollingsworth1996]

Powder coater would be so nice.

[@DaemonsBane]

Your spray budget must be insane

[@RestorationStation]

Spray Max ain't cheap. I got a discounted hookup though

[@sephalon1]

I'm going to be honest here: I panicked when you painted the straight-edge black. But it all turned out okay in the end.

[@HBSuccess]

Good job. I hate seeing good things end up in the dump, and no I don’t care if it cost 3x as much as a new one to restore (new probably from China anyway). Still worth doing IMO just for the good Karma.

[@GrinderCB]

I can do everything to restore my combo square except the sandblasting. Would rust remover followed by sanding be enough prior to the painting?

[@RestorationStation]

For sure. Paint stripper might help as well

[@wetdedstuocm]

Very Nice. Where did you get the vial ? I have been looking all over for them

[@theajthomas]

The last time I was this thrown by a plot twist was the 6th Sense. Painting it black!?!?! Ahhhhhhhh!

[@jusb1066]

The vial would be set into plaster, so it can be adjusted for level then sets into position

[@RestorationStation]

That would explain the white powdery stuff in either side of the shattered glass vial

[@jugbrewer]

how come none of these videos show them getting the square to actually be square? if it got that rusted it definitely isn't accurate without precise tuning

[@markharris5771]

You got it looking, but I’m glad it wasn’t a Starrett.

[@lukehattingh8735]

Nice, but you missed replacing the little scibe pin.

[@bradcollins2669]

What if you don't have a sand blaster what else can you use to get the rust off the ruler?

[@scroungasworkshop4663]

Brad Collins, evaporust works well or a wire wheel or even electrolysis.

[@bradcollins2669]

@@scroungasworkshop4663 Thank you

[@markjeffels3327]

I have one from the 70's and yours is missing the scribe! Good job though!

[@jesseramos1561]

I have the exact copy in mint condition.but sadly no pin either. .

[@АндрейНикитенко-ф4с]

The diameter of the level cylinder is too small. And you forgot to make the lost steel needle. It's good that you made the scale on the ruler black. Of course I like your work.

[@rogerpatrongonzalez5800]

👏👍👏👍👏👍👏👍👏👍👏👍👏👍🥃🥃🥃

[@lyndelbeckwith1706]

A square? What's next? A rusty bolt restoration?

[@stormkhan4250]

Any reason why you didn't sand down and flatten the working surfaces 1st then mask them off for spray painting? Would have saved on spraying those surfaces and prevent accidentally scratching the new paint.

[@zemariapriori9140]

fiquei curioso que você lixou e não saiu os números as marcações

[@SoubixL]

3:46 yes I did lol

[@chrisinelpaso]

One thing is for sure - you know how to paint with a spray can.

[@rogueviper4471]

You need a new scribe for that. But good job anyway.

[@davidhill8565]

I’d paint the handle blue instead of red. It was originally painted orange.

[@robertsnell2834]

I would have just bought a new one

[@donniebrown2896]

But it would be missing something "made in the USA".

[@maldwynparker5351]

Bubble was way to small