Tool Talk
Blacksmith and Metal Working Forum => Blacksmith and Metalworking Forum => Topic started by: lspoto on August 09, 2015, 10:53:49 AM
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Hi, All:
I'm new to this forum and I am hoping you can help me. I was at a flea market this morning and picked-up a box of old tools for my husband (who restores old cars) that look related to some kind of metal working. I'm stumped! I Google searched antique tools but came up empty. Can anyone identify what these are?
Thanks!
Lspoto
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Maybe lead working tools for use with a blowtorch. Old time auto body repairs were often done with lead.
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If the ends are copper then they could be specialized soldering irons, for soldering seams on metal.
Most auto body solder it put on directly from the bar or there were some lead sprayers!
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Almost certainly soldering irons of some sort...
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Ain't body lead working tools, oldgoaly is 2/3 of the way to right. The sprayers arrived in the 50s, and were either a nightmare or a dream depending on the day of the week and the amount of recycle in the pot.
Regardless of how the lead, actually 50/50 solder (some guys who were really good also used wheel weights) and once it was stuck to the steel the crap was reworked using a soft flame on the torch and a white pine paddle to push the lead around. The paddle rested in a bread pan with wool carpet lining the bottom, and the carpet was saturated with No Corode soldering paste. White pine would tell you fast if the lead was too hot because it charred at specific temperature. If the paddle charred you were fixin to be sweeping the floor and starting over because the lead was about to slide.
Big PITA was guys using floor sweepings recast. Alloy solder changes after melt and solidifying just like brass does. Remel;t is a pure bitch.