Реставрация старых массивных тисков (250 кг)

Restoration: Massive Vise | 250kg (550lb) With 25cm (10inch) Jaws
This time I am restoring a real treasure! Very rare and massive vise found in north Italy.
It’s huge! 25cm (10inch) wide jaws and weights just shy of 250kg (550lb). Mostly made of cast iron with exceptions of nuts, bolts and linkages that are all wrought iron.
As far as I know this beauty come from an italian foundry workshop that shut down a long time ago, possibly the «Lucchini» foundry of «Lovere». I did my best to track it down more precisely but haven’t had any official confirmation about the provenience yet. Anyway, I think it’s safe to say this vise is from the 19th century.
Being this such a rare piece I avoided to grind any part of it to preserve the condition as much as possible. Still wanted to get rid of all the oxidation and protect the finish so I used these processes:
To remove rust:
- Wire wheel on the angle grinder
- Muriatic acid (very harmful, be careful. Also, the fumes produced will make any steel around to rust badly)
Surface finish:
- Cold Blue
- Rust converter (for the parts that I wasn’t able to derust completely)
Both finishes require oil or grease to be effective against rust.
I’ve used the rust converter on another leg vise that I left outside, uncovered since then and it has no sign of rust.
Index of operation and materials:
1:19 Removing rust with wire wheel on angle grinder
1:48 Cleaning with acetone to remove grease residue
1:57 Cleaning with 99% alcohol for extra safety
2:12 Cold Blue solution (bought)
2:32 Thin oil (came with the cold blue as a kit)
The process described above was repeated exactly the same for all other parts treated with cold blue.
3:24 Rust converter for these spot that I wasn’t able to reach well
4:26 Bolts released with the help of penetrating oil and heat
4:50 Muriatic Acid removes rust and grease but can have an hard time with paint, can also be diluted with water but will take more time to clean.
5:14 Neutralizing the acid with solution of water and sodium bicarbonate
6:05 Final clean of all parts with brass wire wheel
6:23 Small parts can be dipped in cold blue if needed
7:38 Regular grease
Again, same processes for all other parts
12:00 Wooden base cleaned with brass wire wheel.
12:15 Bottom part sealed with spray finish (dries fast)
12:43 Top part finished with brush on poly and steel border treated with rust converter
13:59 Making the jaws out of mild steel. Drilling blind holes for M10 bolts (blackened off camera)
14:27 Tapping. Care with blind holes!
14:50 Removing mill scales with flap disk