Tap handle refurb

I grabbed this old Vermont #6 tap handle at a flea market a while back. It is a nice piece and the only one in my arsenal that can fit 9/16-1" taps. This sucker is 15 inches long.

Last time I reached for it it was very hard to adjust. I hit it with some penetrating oil and that probably would have been enough but I went ahead and broke it down

All pieces into the tumbler

And out after an evening

Any remaining electroplating is gone at this point so into the zinc plating kit here at the shop to redo it. The jaws and set screw went into the blackening solution

I am sure this tool is good for another 75 years or so.

Berkley!

Now I need a tumbler.

I'm impressed you found the set screw again after it hit the media.

Stick one of these in the media and swirl it around for a bit. It will come out with anything ferrous on it

We upgraded to the caswell plating 5 gallon kit last year and a real power supply. I am liking it quite a bit. The eastwood tin zinc kit will do in a pinch and is cost effective but this sucker can really lay down a layer of zinc

That's really cool. A few months ago, I discovered an early Snap-On 1/2" ratchet that belonged to my grandfather. It has to be close to 80 years old. I took it apart, cleaned, lubed and reassembled it. Now I use it every chance I get. There's something very satisfying about using vintage tools.

Very cool and another example of your workmanship - although I have to admit I was sort of thinking bar hardware...