Start restoring
Find a rusty old tool, take it back to clean steel and make it work like new again. Here's the video that hooks everyone, and everything you need for your first restored hammer.
Space neededA bench and a bucket
First projectA hammer in a weekend
Skill levelBeginner-friendly
Good forFlea market hunters
The video that hooks everyone
Restoring a rusted antique bread slicer
An old guillotine-style bread slicer, thick with rust and grime, gets the full restoration treatment. Press play and see why it hooks people.
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Tool list
What you need to start
Everything you need for your first project, and nothing you don't. It's everything you need to bring back an old hammer.
Starter kit
01An old hammerGarage sales and flea markets are full of them. Rusty is fine; cracked is not.
02White vinegar + baking sodaA vinegar soak loosens rust. Baking soda water stops the vinegar afterward.
03Plastic tub with a lidBig enough to cover the hammer head with vinegar.
04Brass brushScrubs off loosened rust without scratching the steel much.
05Drill + wire cup brushCleans the steel fast once the soak has done its work.
06Vise or clampsHolds the head still so both hands stay on the drill.
07New handle + wedgeSold together, sized to the head. Hickory is the classic choice.
08Hand saw + wood raspCut off the old handle, then shave the new one to fit.
09Oil, linseed oil + glassesLight oil for the steel, boiled linseed oil for the wood, safety glasses for you.
The manual tells you what to look for when you buy each one.
- 1Leaving it in vinegar too longOnce the rust is gone, vinegar starts eating the steel and leaves it dull gray. Check every few hours.
- 2Letting it air dryWet bare steel can rust again within minutes. Dry it right away with a towel, then oil it.
- 3Holding small parts by handA wire brush can grab a part and throw it. Clamp the part and keep both hands on the drill.
