1870s Ornate Inclinometer [Restoration]
This restoration is on an 1870s Davis Level & Tool Co. level/inclinometer. I found this tool years ago, but was intimidated by the amount of work required to restore it, its value, and its age.
The level was clearly dropped at some point as almost all edges had some form of damage. The far edges were missing large chunks of cast iron, there was a large crack on one side of the level, and the ornate floral casting portions had multiple cranks within it. Surprisingly, the glass vial was completely intact. The entire level was also coating with silver paint, for some reason.
Due to its age and value, I felt like repairing the broken casting with bronze would be a complete eye sore and not appropriate for beautiful of a tool. So I decide to torch weld the cracks used 100% cast iron filler rod. This is an incredibly difficult task, but the only way to ensure the repairs are not visually noticeable.
I also decided to use japanning to keep the restoration as authentic as possible. I experimented with spraying japanning out of a pressurized can, which actually worked decently, but definitely needs to be perfected.
Furthermore, I decided to use my 1870s metal planer to flatten the welded repairs to replicate the original marks made by a metal planer during its original production.
This restoration took me longer to complete than some of my more complicated tool restorations, but I am really happy with how it turned out.
Wrenches are now for sale at www.handtoolrescue.com
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Podcast (with Jimmy DiResta and Andrew Alexander) - anchor.fm/fitzall
The level of perfection on this level restoration was on another level!
I was kinda hoping that when he was looking at the damaged screws he would say "I make new ones" :(
I took a very level-headed approach to this restoration.
@@HandToolRescue well I'm glad to see it all leveled out in the end
you're so Punny
@@garrettzell5517 I'm inclined to agree.
*You should do a compilation video of all the times you slammed your head into the sandblast cabinet.*
One of those ultra-cut videos that just sounds like a box falling down the stairs? I'm in!
And "7 Nation Army" as a soundtrack
Thats my favourite part😁
Yeah but make it so that it goes with We Will Rock You by Queen!
@@pyro323 I think Sandstorm by Darude is more fitting.
Crazy to think that that little bubble has been trapped in there for 150 years.
Someones gotta let it out! Poor thing 😢
I thought it was a drop of mercury?
@@planejet42 Let it out now, and it will not know what to do?
@@hdezn26 That’s true. I’ve been on this planet for 24 years and I still don’t know what I’m doing
@@planejet42 Well I've been here almost 400 and still wonder too.
Anyone familiar with cast iron knows its a 50/50 chance to hope for a flawless repair job. This was indeed a valiant effort to restore a functional piece of antiquated wall art. Kudos for having the balz for even trying to cast weld on such a delicate piece , great video👍👍
I understand your hesitation concerning this tool. This "level" borders on being an art piece. Made in 1867, They made beautiful cast iron back then, detail, detail, detail, Wonderful. I'd have used a bit of "Brasso" on the brass parts and made it shine like new, but I didn't restore it. Someone else asked to see more about the planer. Maybe do a rebuild video on it too. ;-)
cleaning brass takes away a lot of the value
@@steveholland1163 true
The difficulty with restoring brass well is that if you remove enough material to get a flawless mirror, you'll remove detail and engravings too. And if you use soft materials (buffer wheels and cloths) you'll round off every corner. It looks even worse if you mirror polish the easy, accessible flat surfaces, but leave other parts of the item closer to "as found".
@@paulwomack5866 Hand lapping on a flat surface with 600 -1000 grit should be sufficient. That way you don't have to worry about rounding.
The way that torch flame splays about the surface is epic.
As a mechanic, watching you break all those rusty screws loose without breaking them is both awe inspiring and heart racing.
I think this is a whole other "level" of restoration :)
😂
Good word joke 😂
:))
😂
:dddd
I would love to see some more about that Metal Planer. That is an amazing looking tool. Maybe a short clip showing it in all its glory.
Looks like an early shaper. They were used for facing before mills became common and affordable
@@SkigBiggler Looks even more like a metal planer! Because it is a metal planer and not a shaper. lol
It's basically a lathe tool on a mill bed. They were the cheap(ish) and home available facing tool when mills were simply infeasible for even the rich to own.
It needs a new paint job, but otherwise, not much else. That could be enough for a video?
@@HandToolRescue If you need to take it apart, you will be probably filming it any way. So might as well have us see it too. If you are not going to take it apart, but paint in situ, probably not
Isn't it amazing how this kind of content is available free to watch basically anywhere in the world? I'm blown away on a daily basis by the things we get to watch passionate people do!
Except it's not really free to watch. You bought the device you're watching it on as well as you likely purchased the data you're using to browse youtube. You pay for that access. You don't pay youtube but you still pay for that access. It isn't just free unless you've truly got a free phone and public Wi-Fi access only. In that case, most people can't just sit and browse youtube for hours on public wifi. So... 🤔
Beautiful restoration. Worth all of the effort!!
Thanks for making videos where there is no talking and not having annoying music to listen to. You shouldn't be overly concerned about lead paint. Remember the Romans drank their water that came from lead pipes and they weren't exactly idiots. Keep up your fine restoration work. It is appreciated.
13:15 the rotary tool sounds exactly like Marv getting electrocuted in home alone 2
I didn't understand the reference at first (has it really been close to 30 years?), but one second after I clicked the timestamp I started laughing out loud. Love it! :D :D
I was just thinking that!
I thought it sounded familiar.
xD oh my word. I also wasn't sure what you meant... haha
Thank you! I so needed a new one of your videos. You literally make watching any other restoration channel VERY difficult because none are as good or funny as you. I only recently discovered you, but I binged all your videos within 3 weeks. You are one of my top 10 favorite channels of all time. There's nothing I could offer in the way of constructive criticism. You're already perfect. Maybe increase how often you upload, is all I can think of. I LOVE your channel!!!
Wow, thank you!
Please don’t inform us that you only watch 11 channels!
A beautiful work of art over a bygone era. Thank you Carsten Sweden
You have restored a work of art with your work and artistry - such a thing of beauty - your vision and love of such tools is a true gift. Thank you for sharing another great rescue.
The cast iron "welding" was awesome! Never seen that done before. You, sir, are a master!!
The "fun" part of welding cast iron with cast iron is that around half the material just disappears...
Gas welding, like leading is a dying art. It's great to see it's uses preserved here and I look forward to your more in-depth video on the process.
Wow. I'm utterly impressed at how perfectly level that workbench is!
Wow. That is beautiful. I really like the vintage tools like this.
I can't say it enough man you do the greatest work restoring things keep up the amazing work because I really enjoy your videos.
The spray Japanning turned out really good! I was afraid it might spot or look globy (if that's a word), but it turned out really well. Never would have thought a level would be such a challenge, but after watching it's clear why it was so tough. Beautiful restoration, as usual!
Great job! Love the antiques tools that you restore.
The attention to the details is amazing. Congrats!
Hand operated plainer? Never seen one before. Need video of that.
I graduated from vocational high school in 1949 and used a surface planer in the machine shop, driven by an overhead belt. I had the 1/4" tool bit too low and snapped it off with the first pass.
I don’t think that planer is hand operated. Maybe the first few short strokes were by hand but the long strokes are too smooth to be hand driven. Probably some type of motor, not shown?
So glad to see the signature head bonk back! Also it always amazes me at the level of patience you have. I absolutely hate working with cast iron but it's such a lost art and is very beautiful. I was also impressed at how little indicator movement you had that's impressive for such an old tool, great job!
Hand tool rescue indeed! Great job Eric!
I think officially this is about the most beautiful thing you have restored in all your vids!
In these times, tools were also pieces of art... Beautiful result.
Welding cast iron, huh? Looked more like whittling hot goo with a very hot torch. Impressive. Is there even a "puddle" to work with? Gotta say, I always love the japanning videos... they're like watching alchemy. Happy New Year!
Perfect combination of patience and skill to make a treasure of an old level. You should try Flitz to polish brass. Not as abrasive as steel wool but will polish brass like gold. Hard to believe you welded that delicate cast iron. Absolutely impressive!
Flitz is pretty amazing stuff. I recently discovered I still had quite a bit left of a tube of it that I must have purchased 20+ years ago, and just for kicks, tried it on the outer surface of the aluminum carburetor fuel bowl of my aging Toro lawnmower - which now has a ridiculous amount of gleam. I also used it to clean up my much-loved, very frequently-used Bahco Ergo secateurs (bypass pruners). The rotating handle portion has an imbedded brass ferule that pivots around a steel shaft, that reduces hand strain/callousing, but with so much use in the elements, gets looking pretty grungy and isn't as smooth acting. After some initial wire brush cleaning of the parts, I used Flitz as a final step before oiling. That brass literally is shinier than I've ever seen it before, as is the steel shaft the handle rotates around, and even the fixed portion of the head, yet didn't even take much effort or that much actual polish to take it to that level of luster. 😆
Beautiful tool! glad you restored it, bravo! 👍
Hand tool Rescue: "repairing this by welding cast iron, with cast iron rod." The rest of us: "side eyeing JB cold weld guiltily..."
I actually didnt know you can get hot cast iron on cast iron action. . . Thought it was a brass on cast iron affair this whole time. . . Cat mind blown...
@snipe69 he was using regular pieces of cast iron rod, not meant to be welded with. In order to make the welding possible at all, he kept dipping the end of the rod in some borax to use as a flux
I've seen friends of mine use piston rings to weld cast iron as they are made of cast iron. Biggest thing is controlling the heat. Always preheat the cast iron part and wrap in an insulated weld blanket so it doesn't cool down to fast ...
Duct tape...
I'm guilty as charged. I'll buy more J-B Weld. You just reminded me I'm out. Lol
That is Beautiful! Cant wait to see what those hand wheels you got cast at windy hill go on!
You've made an absolutely superb job of that restoration, particularly the welding. Well done. Beauty and functionality combined.
Restoring old tools (from the smallest to largest machines), bringing them back from the scrap pile to their original, operational condition is not only a great skill, but it preserves our history of the industrial revolution. Thank you!
Did Garbage on the Floor get cut from this season?! Darn. Oh well. Great stuff as always.
Yeah, rubbish had to be let go. Tough climate, tough 2020.
It had to do with to many characters in set during the pandemic. Hope some of them come back
Also the 3 screws that were original to the dial mechanism were recessed. Yes i notice even the little stuff...
Yep, what happened to the three screws! We need the truth! :D
He talks about it in the narriated version
@@hoganhogan952 Cool. So we now are all in the know... ;^)
They were toast and I don't have the tooling to make such small fasteners currently. When I do, I'll make new ones.
@@HandToolRescue were they metric? drop me a message, we might work something out, for metric I should have all the tooling
Stunningly beautiful! Great work!
The camera shots of the torch work were magnificent.
I just want you to know, my brain, when reading "I'm going to attempt to torch weld cast iron using cast iron" said to me "That sounds awful, I can't wait!" I'll not spoil it for anyone, but I'm really looking forward to the rest of this video. EDIT: Not gonna lie man, I'm impressed. That level was about a step and a half from being trash, and you fixed it up like new. Very nice.
Bring back "Garbage on the floor"! Best character ever...
You and This Old Tony are by far my favorite channels! Such great stuff!!
Stunningly beautiful job Eric . The superior level of quality and durability of all things made in the late 1800's never ceases to amaze me . That piece is a functional work of art . An ornate Victorian carved wooden case would complement that nicely.
I think you have one of the best intros on KZhead
Well hello there. I see you are trying to get 2021 on the level. 😲🤣
Your joke is bad and you should feel bad :)
no he is trying to get an angle on it
Perfect ! Well done for using the old planer !!!
The reassembly of the center section was one of the most satisfying things I've ever seen.
That would have been a very expensive tool back in the day. I’m so glad you were able to save it as it was so close to being in unrepairable. I hate that heat resistant tape as I had the same problem with it when powder coating so I went back to using masking tape and it handles the heat quite well. I have noticed that the guys using the green polymide (Kapton) tape have more success but I’ll stick to masking tape. Cheers Stuart 🇦🇺
This thing was so fiddley I was waiting to hear, "G'day and welcome back to clickspring"...
I think Chris would have some useful tips for working on that central mechanism. Very much "his turf"
Excellent restoration, as the perfection of this level when it was manufactured. Simply beautiful!
Genuinely beautiful restoration!
Had to be an expensive purchase if the plaster came from Paris.
Part of that climate accord thingy
Nah... it just capitulated quickly
Mate, I can’t say much more than others have already. That was outstanding and you have a standing ovation here. My dad used to torch weld cast iron and braise parts to perfection when he was alive. I haven’t seen anyone since he died 28 years ago to match his level until today. Amazing and I wish I had inherited his skill with a torch. I can arc weld cast iron, but with a torch I’m only good for setting the shed on fire. That is now a piece of art. You should be proud. 👏👏👏👏🇦🇺
Masterpiece. Both original and restoration. Respect!
This might just be my favorite restoration I've seen
So much for getting to work early this morning: "Yeah, I'm gonna be about 27 minutes late. Something came up..."
It's on the level though.
I was supposed to take a shower but this toilet became very comfortable after seeing he posted a video 😂😂
I'm going to start calling levels "inclinometer" just to fuck with my helpers.
“Can you hand me the .914 meter inclinometer, please?” *_LOL_*
Awesome 😂🤣
Only if it can measure inclines
@@vincedibona4687 Oh would you fetch me the...
Yay, finally a HTR video. Excellent restoration of a unique and beautiful piece. Thank you. I've missed you.
Wow, that tool is a piece of art, well done👌
Волшебно,мечтал бы заниматься этим всю жизнь ! Работа бога !
Водки лучше выпей.
Just a little pointer. I saw you using oil as a lubricant on the cast iron surfaces. Because cast iron is a very porous metal, it has a tendency to wick away that oil. Graphite can be a better option as it is a dry lubricant that plugs the pores in the cast iron and keeps it slick. Hopefully this helps.
That is an amazing shot of the metal planer slowly zooming in! Well done sir!
Saving mechanical history one piece at a time. Fantastic work. Well done 👍
Inclinometer, cool a level that one can adjust. I've always wanted one, it is amazing how even 'master builders' do not know how to check their level. Yes, yes, let's see the planer, I have a Pratt & Whitney 1'X1'X2'
Bard Madsen Tallinn about not checking the level me and a coworker in this company we work for got a job in an old summer cabin built in the 40s. (We where "Just going to rip up the floors and replace with new joists and insulation" but the owner wanted it to tear down all walls inside and insulate and also crawl up in the tiny attic and insulate there too) let's just say it ends up being a renovation and it would actually have been better to knock it down and start over considering the size of it and the amount of work we had to do to "fix it" Anyway moral of the story is that nothing was remotely close to being level. Not walls ceiling or floor. Ceiling height is ca 6,5 feet (210 M) and the walls leaned a good inch or a inch and a half on that distance 😂😂
@@2strokepower803 - Yeah, I've seen some lulu's. Many construction crews haven't a clue to the cascading effect they produce from their inaccuracies. I have a great eye for it and it is extremely difficult to fix out of square, plumb, and level. One time I forgot my four foot level maybe 50 miles from home and while getting ready to leave the homeowner confronted me, even the customers want the job to go fast... You know speed, quality, and price. So this customer tells me he's been a master builder all his life and gets me to use his ole faithful level to set up forms for an elaborate fountain that was water leveled, but needed fine tuning. It took just a minute for me to see this level was way off. Let's just say things did not go well that day because there was no getting around not telling him the truth.
Bard Madsen haha what a story. Under my learning in college (3 years carpenter class) and under those 3 years a part of that was being out working under a real company just to see and Learn how's it done in the real world instead of the books. Anyway I got to work with a brick layer for 2 weeks and we renovated some old chimneys by knocking them down until we were right under the roof and then rebuilt it. While we were building it up again using levels and so he told a story he heard from an old timer how they did back in the day. They had wooden levels and they had done a chimney crooked and someone had confronted them asking why it's leaning. The bricklayers had just placed the level on it showing that it was plumb. (The thing is that they had before that taken a planer and planed the level so that it read good even though it wasn't 😅😂) :) Don't know if it's true but it was a little funny when I heard him tell that
@@2strokepower803 - Yeah, masons are a riot. I worked with some on the east coast and they were crazy, learned a lot though. The best story I heard was from the boss telling of a past crew. One guy was black and he asks his white co-worker how old he is and the guy replys back 32. 32! damn! You look like 55 what the hell you been eating boy, I want to know so I don't eat none. I'm curious, what do they teach about skewed and out of square foundations? That must be a real problem, I know cause I have tiled a number of houses that had some serious geometry screw ups. Now that I think about it, I have seen some houses where the carpentry is hanging way over the concrete and thinking that is going to be very challenging to hide, it was beyond fixing.
Flame looked like something out of a late 80’s horror movie
You already suspect as much - you do the most professional restorations of any one I have found on the internet. There are so many folks doing terrible work, and still they get high praise from viewers who simply don't know better. We live in an age where folks living in cities know very little about like outside of their homes and work places. Thanks for sharing this bit of the real world with us.
Well done man, and your humour get me every time.
It could seldom be said that a restoration is less than perfect but when a video of a restoration process is carried out and edited in such a way as to bring out more of the piece under restoration, it's nothing less than beautiful. The re-build was, somewhat, Zen-like Sat in silence and in awe. I know how tricky welding cast iron anything can be but a measuring instrument, something else. Thank you.
Обожаю красивые вещи, имеющие прикладное назначение! За покраску руки отбить
Согласен. На покраске коробило и хотелось развидеть. А вообще трудно себе представить чтобы сейчас ктото смог производить такие строительные уровни. Это как бы нерационально, не выгодно, избыточно и пр. Что говорит о некой деградации. Я удивлен изысканности вида такого простого инструмента. Сейчас такое немыслимо.
Patience won this race✌🏼 Excellent job!
Sure worth the wait. You do amazing work. Really like the japanning and cast iron work. True craftsmanship.
I can't believe they recast Garbage On The Floor this season
but they added zombies
Let's hope there's a spinoff in the works...
Welding cast iron? Sounds like a job for Keith Rucker!!
I live a restoration like this one. Beyond being old and beautifully ornate, you are left with a useful, practical tool that is as functional as it's modern counterparts.
Can't help but comment again on this, man it is just stunning! Really out did yourself with the attention to detail!
And he did his Level Best to restore this level to level again.
i watch these and .75 speed and feel like a VIP that gets to watch the original video not sped up,
Staggeringly beautiful work!
It is wonderful to see how you restored that tool to its "like new" condition after a century and a half of use and wear. I hope it will serve well until 2170 before needing another loving restoration by an artisan like you.
21:45 "and that's why I don't have any fingerprints, officer"
5:57 At least your arm will never rust!
Beautiful Cast Iron Restoration, you are an Artist
Stunning! The brass shined up beautifully! And no injuries with the sand blaster!😄😄
This is the kind of level you own if you live in a period Parisian townhouse. Also your bathroom scales are wrought-iron. 😁
Gotta wonder how it must feel to be that ONE person who dislikes a video that thousands have enjoyed.
and if you don't like it, don't watch it. but there are the people that love to be a Debbie Downer.
This is truly a very beautiful piece of equipment.
Wow what a feat of engineering and attention to fine detailing for both the inventor and restorer to such a fine tool.The level of craftsmanship and skill involved is truly an incredible gift.I come from a family with generations in the ironworking field and trade,they would be proud.Thank you!!
You should run for Prime Minister, I bet Trudeau cant torch weld cast.
Trudeau has experience with facial japaning
Duhh-annnggg! It's like a large piece of intricate jewelry being worked on by Monty Python, except they magically know how to torch weld cast iron.
Beautiful restoration on a beautiful piece,out did yourself,love the use of the antique planner.informative video 😎😎😎👍👍👍
Thanks so much! 😊
Great post. It's good to see you back again. !!!!!
It's almost like a cast iron 3D printer
All I could hear in my head when he was loading it in the oven was... "Carefulling"
This is so awesome. More of the metal planer, please. You have done an amazing job and you have made every effort to stay true to the original process of manufacture. I know where I saw the flame effect. It was in an old sci-fi movie. So that's how they did it.
That is amazing work! You take restoration to the level of art. Plus I always learn something from your videos. Thanks!
Says the plaster: “I’ve never been to Paris....”
I got plastered in Paris once. :)) (Not even kidding, found some great 8% beer, drank too much of it xD)
This generative design stuff is getting too fancy looking for my taste.
Love this tool. Great job again!
You put this channel to another Level.