Restore or Refurbish

[Der Bugmeister]

The difference between theory and practice...

Theory - Restore collectibles if appropriate.  Keep users clean and functional

Reality - Don't have time for that.

 

[Rusty]

Living dangerous there.

[J.A.F.E.]

Maybe if you did not have those little tiny arms.

You making fun of my arms?

[Lookin4_67GalaxieConv]

Depends if it's a collectible tool or a user.

For me that line is blurry I really try to use them all. Some maybe very gingerly but I want the experience of using them. I have my primary users but mix in what I can. Some I doubt I'll ever use - I have yet to find a use for my 1 1/2 drive ratchet and have no sockets to fit it but I'd love to if I could.

Get some sockets and stop off at a farm or construction equipment dealer and look for stuff you can use it on.   

[J.A.F.E.]

Get some sockets and stop off at a farm or construction equipment dealer and look for stuff you can use it on.   

Have Ratchet Will Travel

Wire:JAFadin

[muddy]

Does brakleen count as refurbishment?

[strik9]

Recreating missing bits of broken wrenches, weld fill in rust pits (the alien has that Snapper) and resizing spread and filed out old wrenches....  Yup, I did all that.  More were left untouched after purchase and some straight to work after wire wheel magic.

  Worn 3/8" became spare 10mm and cheapo stuff was made into ROE combos to complete my set. 

  But no true pristine classics were ever sacrificed to the gods of rust.

[Uncle Buck]

I usually dump dirty sockets in the parts washer and let them soak.

So what would running a wire wheel over them and oiling it down count as? refurbished or just cleaned? I still haven't gotten around to the evaporust stuff.

This would be the closest thing to what I do when needed. I was raised with the wire wheel and cannot imagine not using it when cleaning rusty stuff.

[CRTDI]

I try to retain original finishes as much as possible. Also depends on what the item is, an old cast iron farm wrench that’s rusted might just get a wipe down to remove the dust and then a coating of oil.
However, an old cad finished ratchet that’s rusted over might get an Evap-o bath. I will use a hand held wire brush for some stubborn stuff, but never ever have I used a powered wire wheel for “refurbishing ” a hand tool.  I’m just to scared I that I’ll ruin it.

[skfarmer]

since  being named a collector, i prefer to polish all things ot a mirror finish.   

[hickory n Steel]

I do not restore, I refurbish.
I remove the rust with a soft wire wheel which preserves patina, give it oil where it needs it, then put it to use. If I wanted a brand new looking tool I'd buy a brand new tool, but I like 'em honest with patina.
Many many YouTube videos showcase what they're calling a restoration when it's not, most often they're removing the patina and polishing up a tool that never came polished to begin with.
They think everything has to be brand new looking.

[strik9]

I have an old German Bugle nrand hammer I polished to mirror finish.  Also a new Truper that came highly finished that is geyting the bejeezus beaten out of it without any concern of finish.
   
    My new vise of a decade ago looks like I dragged it behind a truck the entire time.  It works fine.

  I have weld filled rust pocks in wrenches as well as replaced broken parts of old DOE to make them pretty.  I have left new high end tools out in thr rain where I was working all day. 

I have old tools I bought used that were "work polished" back to patina with a cement floor the last few years.

  There is no one way to do it.  Some are destined to die after much use and some must be made new.

[J.A.F.E.]

There is a guy at the swaps that is (trying) to sell a set of Plomb Pebbles that was chromed and polished. They look nice but odd at the same time. As my friend Tonya from Alabama says it just ain't right.