Traditional Japanning and Restoring 130-year-old Bolt Cutters

[@cordeliaroth4964]

So neat to learn the japanning process. My great grandfather owned a Boston area company back in the day, Nye's JapEnameLac - they did commercial japanning, enameling, and lacquering. I know he did have a contract with the Ford motor company in the 1920's, I believe for japanning the wheels. I have many of his old tools which I am hoping to restore.

[@CatalystRestorations]

That is so amazing, thank you for sharing!! It might be a long shot that you have anything else still from his company, but authentic japanning recipes from that time period would be a huge boon for the japanning community today. The downside though is that lots of those old recipes contained some rather toxic components like lead and cobalt 😅 compounds

[@andrewroth8551]

@Catalyst Restorations I didn't see your comment before now, sorry! My great-uncle took over the business when his father retired. He's still alive at 92, so I could ask him!

[@CatalystRestorations]

@@andrewroth8551 Wow! If you do get the chance to ask him, send me an email ([e-mail])! I'd love to hear about what he remembers!

[@stephenkent8903]

Catalyst Restorations those bolt cutters are STUNNING! Well done, my dad has a huge smile on his face! I noticed that the bolt cutters has a unique marking! Logo --> next to the H.K.P in the hand grips. I picked up a pair like that earlier this year. Then I picked up a pair that was just labeled Porter New Easy with no H.K.P in the hand grips with Patent date of 1880. This was a sample of Henry K. Porter's patent drawing when he was a partner in a Boston machine shop. H.K.Porter didn't exist yet! So that Logo--> mark dates it to just after the company started and it was showing customers what their logo was! Again well done!

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thank you for the kind words, Stephen! I'd love to find a pair of the super early non-HKP handled cutters in the wild!

[@stephenkent8903]

@@CatalystRestorations would you believe a indoor flea market vendor brought them into my work and asked if I would be interested in them? I said he'll yes!

[@LittleRestorers]

The japanning process looks quite time consuming but the end result is absolutely fantastic- Well done 👏

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thank you! It's definitely time consuming, that's for sure! Especially with multiple coats!

[@MarkMeadows90]

Another good restoration by the simple minded restorer (if that's what you want to be called by). Almost like what LADB Restorations do. They go for that vintage look. My grandfather had some bolt cutters that looked kinda like those many years ago.

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thanks Mark! Love LADB's style, so I consider that a big compliment!

[@evilrules2124]

The lego guy made my day 🤣 The japanning looked brilliant! It's nice that your videos are so clear and easy to understand, That's something I really appreciate. 😄

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thank you for the kind words! I try to set myself apart from other restoration channels by explaining everything as much as I possibly can so people can restore their own things! 😊

[@bryancunningham1095]

When you laid all the parts out after disassembling it reminded me of the crime show "Bones" where the forensic scientist lays all the bones out on the table.

[@CatalystRestorations]

Hahaha, I never considered that, but now I will never be able to unsee that anytime I lay out parts ever again!

[@jozsefizsak]

I could swear I've seen this before but very nice in any case.

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thanks! Might have been the one I restored last year! Same model, but that one was painted however I wanted. This one is authentic to the time period.

[@jozsefizsak]

@@CatalystRestorations Very good!

[@CalPil0t]

I had the same feeling, and looked back and saw that I viewed last year's too. I had just found a #4 version and was looking for restoration tips...

[@CatalystRestorations]

@@CalPil0t If you have any questions the videos can't answer, just let me know!

[@mskayla7747]

Nicely done.

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thank you! 🙂

[@jolaod84]

I agree with everyone said and I'll add your sense of humor 👍🏻

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thanks! More often than not I just make myself laugh with my jokes 😅

[@j.l.emerson592]

In certain professions, bolt cutters are called The Master Key... 😁

[@CatalystRestorations]

😂

[@MnACreations]

Nicely done!

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thanks, Mike!

[@oneshotme]

Perfect looking restoration and you did a great job restoring it!! Enjoyed your video and I gave it a Thumbs Up

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thanks as always for watching and liking! 😁👍

[@oneshotme]

@@CatalystRestorations And as always you are very welcome!!

[@tombirmingham7354]

nice, nice work.

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thanks for watching!!

[@RestorationAustralia]

Well done.👍

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thanks!!

[@rostilembe]

Thank you! 💙💛

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thank YOU for watching!

[@crusty_monkey9252]

How did you do the japanning for the handles? did you use a bigger oven? Asking cause I have the same pair and wanted to restore them right.

[@CatalystRestorations]

Same oven! I was able to hang them in there diagonally front to back and they just barely fit. Hardest part of the whole thing was just finding a toaster oven big enough in the first place!

[@kevinmorrice]

if only the surface of the metal wasnt so pitted from age, the japanning would look so much more beautiful, but it still looks great despite that

[@CatalystRestorations]

Believe it or not, most of the rough surface finish/holes is actually from the manufacturing process when they cast these. They would've used sand molds to cast these and when you're mass producing sand castings over 100 years ago that was just a typical acceptable surface finish.

[@kevinmorrice]

@@CatalystRestorations did not know that, interesting, so shoddy finishes were simply the old way of "get it done fast"

[@CatalystRestorations]

@@kevinmorrice pretty much. That being said, the overall quality of the tool is still pretty great compared to many modern tools!

[@kevinmorrice]

@@CatalystRestorations oh yeah, you cant beat the old stuff, i knew a guy in my hometown whose family has used the same axe for firewood for about 170 years, and there was a mechanic who used his grandfathers wrenches

[@Naplesfrank154]

You did a great job on the restoration however, I’m not a big fan of the japanning look on this whole tool. Maybe it’s because I’m too used to seeing them painted red with black handles, or maybe it’s the high gloss look that I’m not enthused with. You do beautiful work but this one I feel would have looked better uncoated or maybe natural or coated with bluing.

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thanks for the feedback! I wish you could travel back to the early 1900's and tell H.K. Porter to not Japan their tools! 😅

[@Naplesfrank154]

@@CatalystRestorations maybe the Japan coating was a little too heavy. If you sent it out for nitrating it would have looked really good. But as I mentioned earlier, I just don’t care for the glossyness of the Japanning.

[@CatalystRestorations]

@@Naplesfrank154 Nitriding would be gorgeous!

[@-HighTide]

I can't wrap my head around why the bumpers need so much slack I admit I'm also not too sharp on the triple lever action But hey, nice restoration. 😶‍🌫️

[@CatalystRestorations]

It's mostly because originally there was much more "meat" left on those blades so the original bumpers would've been longer than the ones that I have on there now. Thanks for watching!

[@jimamccracken5783]

Need restore I have a vintage pair also.

[@CatalystRestorations]

Good luck with your restoration Jim! They are really fun to restore and feel free to drop another comment here if you have any questions while you restore them!

[@lionelwade7824]

ᴘʀᴏᴍᴏsᴍ 💋

[@delorean_time]

Первый ЛАЙК.

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thanks for the like and subscribing! 😁👍