atkelar | Restoration Project #17 - Monkey Wrenches @atkelar | Uploaded September 2020 | Updated October 2024, 3 hours ago.
In an older video, I featured an old toolbox. The contents are not all that interesting: just some wonky pliers and wrenches and a few broken off files - along with some grime and rust. But there were two monkey wrenches in it too! I really like those for some reason... maybe this is my version of @HandToolRescue one? Maybe it's because my grandfather used it quite often and I remember that... nostalgia is certainly a driving force! I immediately knew, I needed to restore those to proper working condition! That means: remove any rust, lubricate the wheel, and somehow protect them from new rust. The latter part was a bit difficult, as the two jaws slide against each other and would scrape off any paint. But seeing chemical bluing on some restoration channels, I knew: that's it! The jaws were really worn out and there were lots of nicks in the surface... my grandfather used them as impromptu hammer too, I'm sure. The jaws were worn out and kinda rounded over, so holding on to anything was wishful thinking. I knew, I had to get them aligned again and provide a proper, parallel grip. Overall, I am rather pleased with the result: just the right mix of "original patina" and "rust proving". I probably could have filed/sanded/scraped a bit deeper and polish them up to chrome level shine... but why? I want to use them!
Chapters
0:00 Intro / Presentation: Before
1:15 Disassembly / Wire Brushing
2:11 Filing Surface
3:08 Poor Cat Knurling / Sanding
4:08 Bluing / Assembly
5:13 Use case / Presentation: After / Outro+Outtake
Donate a few bucks for some coffee (or some equipment upgrades): ko-fi.com/atkelar
Music:
My Train's A Comin'
Unicorn Heads
(YouTube Audio Library)
In an older video, I featured an old toolbox. The contents are not all that interesting: just some wonky pliers and wrenches and a few broken off files - along with some grime and rust. But there were two monkey wrenches in it too! I really like those for some reason... maybe this is my version of @HandToolRescue one? Maybe it's because my grandfather used it quite often and I remember that... nostalgia is certainly a driving force! I immediately knew, I needed to restore those to proper working condition! That means: remove any rust, lubricate the wheel, and somehow protect them from new rust. The latter part was a bit difficult, as the two jaws slide against each other and would scrape off any paint. But seeing chemical bluing on some restoration channels, I knew: that's it! The jaws were really worn out and there were lots of nicks in the surface... my grandfather used them as impromptu hammer too, I'm sure. The jaws were worn out and kinda rounded over, so holding on to anything was wishful thinking. I knew, I had to get them aligned again and provide a proper, parallel grip. Overall, I am rather pleased with the result: just the right mix of "original patina" and "rust proving". I probably could have filed/sanded/scraped a bit deeper and polish them up to chrome level shine... but why? I want to use them!
Chapters
0:00 Intro / Presentation: Before
1:15 Disassembly / Wire Brushing
2:11 Filing Surface
3:08 Poor Cat Knurling / Sanding
4:08 Bluing / Assembly
5:13 Use case / Presentation: After / Outro+Outtake
Donate a few bucks for some coffee (or some equipment upgrades): ko-fi.com/atkelar
Music:
My Train's A Comin'
Unicorn Heads
(YouTube Audio Library)
