rgerbitz Report post Posted March 14, 2009 I picked these tools up at an auction a couple of weeks ago they are in decent shape with just a little rust. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on how to clean up these tools. Mainly how to get the rust off without having to grind it off. Thanks Rob Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bruce johnson Report post Posted March 14, 2009 Rob, Sometimes what looks like rust will come off with a little WD40 and fine steel wool. I use a soft wire wheel if need be and follow that up with the loose sewn cloth wheels. Looks like you've got some goodies there. Any maker's names on them? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ryano Report post Posted March 14, 2009 I use a product called EVAPO-RUST. You can buy it at Harbor Freight. Put your tools in a plastic coffee can and pour the Evapo-rust in and let them soak over night. Very effortless and works great. It will not hurt the finish at all. Gal is around 20 bucks and qts. around 8 bucks. Auto Zone also carries it here in my town. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rgerbitz Report post Posted March 14, 2009 Hey thanks guys. Yeah Bruce, I am still new to leather work and the tools, but I think I made out O.K. on this deal. There are about 5 Gomph tools, some C.F. and M.F. Osborne, C. Rosecrans(?) and some unmarked tools. Gave $55 for the lot. Need a little cleaning and sharping but most are in decent shape. Thanks for the input, Rob Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bruce johnson Report post Posted March 15, 2009 Rob Yeah, you came out alright. Some of those tools could bring $55 or better by themselves. Here's a link to a site that has the history on some of the companies who made them - Old Tool makers . By the way. It is HF Osborne and CS Osborne. Seems like I have run onto a fair amount of draw gauges lately and got some good buys, but rarely any hand tools still useable. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rgerbitz Report post Posted March 15, 2009 Thanks Bruce that is good to know. I will probably be looking to sell some of them because there are doubles, and some I'm not sure if I will use. Am going to try and get them all cleaned up and sharp first to see which I want to keep. Rob Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hidepounder Report post Posted March 15, 2009 (edited) Rob, Congratulations! You did VERY well! I buy the old tools also. Like Bruce, I have a couple of buffing wheels set up, they have different grades of polishing compound. 99.9% of the tools I buy, polish like new just using the buffing wheels. I use the fine green rouge as a final polish and I use it on the handles as well. I learned this from Bob Douglas who does it professionally. They will polish nicely. Good tools...great buy...I'm envious! Bob Edited March 15, 2009 by hidepounder Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hidepounder Report post Posted March 15, 2009 Bruce, Thanks for posting the link of old tool makers! That's neat to have. As I browsed quickly through it I discovered the name of William Dodd. Several years ago I sold an old CS Osborne round knife on ebay and threw in a Dodd half round knife that didn't have a handle. I had acquired it somewhere back in the late sixties with a box of old tools. The blade was in perfect condition but I didn't want to spend the money to have a handle made! 150 years old! Just another example of how ignorant I am!!!!! Gotta go.....I'm going to be sick!...but thanks for the site. Bob Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bruce johnson Report post Posted March 15, 2009 Bob, Every once in a while I get lucky. My favorite draw gauge is a Sauerbier. I read somewhere Henry Sauerbier made swords during the civil war. Recently I got a Latta pattern draw gauge with the frame having the 1881 patent date and a CSO bar in it with the Harrison address. Probably a put together deal, and was a good bargaining point. A week later we are in Clovis at an antique store. In the first case I look at, there is the front frame of an HFO Latta (no handle) with the cherriest HFO bar I have seen. I couldn't get my $15 paid fast enough. I get it home and took the blade out. The HFO imprint is clearly visible on the blade when I get it out of the frame. The bar and the handle match now. I stuck a Buchman blade in it, and that HFO blade is a keeper not a user. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gtwister09 Report post Posted March 15, 2009 (edited) Rob, Almost all of my Gomph and Osborne tools have had rust removed (close to 80). I generally only use EVAPO-RUST for hard or extreme rust. I would add the Strongarm Spray is much better than WD-40 for light rust removal. I would try to remove as much of this rust before putting it on the polishing wheel to keep the rust out of the polishing wheels....some rust in it can't be helped...not to mention that the metal removal also packs into the polishing wheels. Bob is correct about woodworkers using polishing compounds to make wood pop. I use green the most for polishing even on the handles. Another one that is used a lot for final polishing is the ZAM polishing compound which is a more refined version of green polishing compund. On the opposite end of the sprectrum are the coarse ones like Black Emery and Brown Tripoli. I rarely use these on older tools unless there is a fair amount of rust pitting. I don't like using a wire brush on these tools. If I do use one it will be a brass brush so that there is less scratching. You have to use a little caution in polishing tools because they have a tendency to catch with some of the tools. The handles require a light touch when polishing also. Press to hard and it will make a mess on some handles. Another option for handles is to use something like the Beall Bowl Buffs (2") to polish with. Clamping the tool and then using the bowl buffs is something I did with my son to keep the tools from flying around the garage. Adding Carnauba wax after polishing adds more shine to the handles. As Bob and Bruce said they are great tools and I also gather them up as well. Regards, Ben Edited March 15, 2009 by gtwister09 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hidepounder Report post Posted March 15, 2009 (edited) Bruce, I know what you mean...those little treasures one finds from time to time are really gratifying. When you find one you feel like you just won the Lotto! I picked up a CSO twist handle draw gauge on ebay a short while back (I just like those for some reason). It was misrepresented and I got it for about $50 + shipping. It was in terrific condition...just looked bad because of the unsitely patina that was on on it. Douglas sells those gauges for $150 to $200 a piece! BTW, I have a Buchman head knife that I really love. It is very thin and stays SHARP! Rob really bought his tools right! That was one of those great finds! Ben, thanks for Evapo-Rust....hadn't heard of that. Bob Edited March 15, 2009 by hidepounder Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tkleather1 Report post Posted March 15, 2009 man where do you guys find all these great old tools I look andlook and I cant ever find any leather tools. I am thinking about trading some of my Snap On tools for some leather tools. LOL Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gtwister09 Report post Posted March 15, 2009 (edited) man where do you guys find all these great old tools I look andlook and I cant ever find any leather tools. I am thinking about trading some of my Snap On tools for some leather tools. LOL I have lots of those Snap On tools as well and the cost is about the same.... As you already know quality tools cost. I picked up a little here and a little there. Most of mine have been through eBay over the past 10 years and a few trades here and there. Some came from leatherworkers leaving the business like Bob Dellis. Regards, Ben Edited March 15, 2009 by gtwister09 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rgerbitz Report post Posted March 15, 2009 Man, in the begining of this thread I was feeling pretty good about my buy. But now I am really regretting not buying the other 6 boxes of tools that were there. They all had about the same number of tools in them and none went for more than $90. This was at an estate auction. Rob Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gtwister09 Report post Posted March 15, 2009 Man, in the begining of this thread I was feeling pretty good about my buy. But now I am really regretting not buying the other 6 boxes of tools that were there. They all had about the same number of tools in them and none went for more than $90.This was at an estate auction. Rob Rob, It would have most likely been a good buy.... Regards, Ben Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
