A Holy Grail tool

[bonneyman]

Someone started a thread over at GJ asking folks what their "Holy Grail" tool was. That one tool that you've always wanted and were always on the lookout for. I mentioned I always wanted one of those antique gasoline blow torches. Not to use - just to restore and polish up the brass parts for a display.A forum member said, "I've got one I'll send you free. Really. Just PM me".

I paid him the shipping, and received it last week. A 1921 patent Clayton & Lambert. Putting it in the queue of restore projects I have, looking forward to just making it shine. A total relaxation project, no rush to finish to put it to work, take my time and enjoy every moment. Just to put on a front shelf and gawk at it!

Here it is in it's as arrived shape. Stay tuned!

[bonneyman]

Has two decals on it. One fine, another damaged. I don't know how I'm going to save them, so I took some pictures and will try to find someone who can maybe make me some clear vinyl decals as replacements.

[slip knot]

Thats pretty cool. Do you have a big old soldering iron to go with it?

[stokester]

No-lead huh?  Should not be hard to find today.

Nice piece that will look great on a display.

My Holy Grail is something very specific to ball-joint VWs, the "Time Pirate" from GP Tools.  The difficult part is not installing a new joint but removing the old one.  I've manage to do this but having a tool made for the task would be great.  I found that local front-end shops will not touch them.

Picture is from a DuckDuckGo internet search.

[hickory n Steel]

I have 2.

1 is the little Snapon KRA 149 " electronics " tool box

2 is the Blackhawk nuggies 1/4dr set, but in reality I would love to find the perfect candidate to create my own version as well as acquiring the Blackhawk if I can
Even that has proven very hard to do, because of the wrenches.
So far William's seems like the best candidate since I already have the right ratchet and they made some appropriate wrenches.
The only appropriate ratchets I know of are the Willians m50, thorsen 77m, Wright 2400, and Wright 2426.
I can't any appropriate wrenches from WRIGHT or Thorsen, so that leaves William's

[jabberwoki]

That's in amazing shape

There's good peeps out there for sure

[bonneyman]

Unfortunately, I don't have the appropriate soldering iron. Another thing to watch out for!

I'm gonna try a Utube method for cleaning up the brass. Apply a paste made of equal parts of flour, vinegar, and salt. Wrap it in Saran wrap and let sit for 24 hours. Then wipe off. Should get most of the surface crud.

[hickory n Steel]

I love brass and patina so I would personally leave the brass as is, but that's just me and brass does certainly look good when it's shiny.
I bet it will come out looking great.

[goodfellow]

Cool torch George. Many of the old timers in the garage I worked in back in the early 70's used gasoline torches to heat a BIG soldering iron to solder radiators, fuel tanks, and vacuum tanks.

[john k]

Nice old tool.  Tetra ethyl lead was introduced in gasoline about mid 30s,  so the label came after that.  My dad used his to solder nearly everything,  have contemplated polishing it.

[bonneyman]

I love brass and patina so I would personally leave the brass as is, but that's just me and brass does certainly look good when it's shiny.
I bet it will come out looking great.

I really want it to come out great. The guy gave it to me free, and - to save me some on shipping - hand carried it with him on vacation to Sedona, AZ and mailed it from there! I mean geez, he brought it with him on vacation from MA to AZ to help me out! So I really want it to shine so I can post it over there and make him proud he gifted it to me.

[bonneyman]

That's in amazing shape

There's good peeps out there for sure

Dude, I'm still bowled over when I think of that FACOM box you gifted me. That thing must have cost a mint to ship! 
I will never forget that!

[fatfillup]

George, surprised you couldn't find a blow torch, I see them often at sales and rarely to they bring much.  I have a few, never even tried to sell one.

As to the brass, make her shine, that will be cool.

I personally don't have the balls to light one, lighting gas except in an engine scares me

[wantedabiggergarage]

Did these only use gas?  My father told me they used "white gas", aka Kerosene, but I don't know how old he was the last time he saw his grandfather (a plumber) use one.

[goodfellow]

Did these only use gas?  My father told me they used "white gas", aka Kerosene, but I don't know how old he was the last time he saw his grandfather (a plumber) use one.

Many of these torches were fired with Naphtha -- also known as white gas. It's pure gasoline and most folks know it simply as Coleman fuel.