Restoration of Dirty Muddy Mess — You Won't Guess What It Is

Hi! Restoration of Dirty Muddy Mess — You Won't Guess What It Is. So, a dirty, old, dusty find from a garage. Of course, I bought it. This item was found in an open garage where moisture could get inside. There were many interesting things there, and one of them was this. Well, what can I say — just a dirty piece of something. But I will restore it, and you’ll see that it is actually a very useful tool. Let’s begin. First of all, I removed this dirty cloth and tried to disassemble the object into parts. Once I opened it, it became clear that the leather was completely dried out, the wood had rotted, and all the rivets and surfaces were simply falling apart. Next, I started disassembling everything piece by piece. I set aside the trash separately and kept the parts that could still be restored. The old leather and rotten wood were discarded, but I kept the original shape. It turned out to be an old pair of bellows. What surprised me was that particle board had been used instead of solid wood. To begin the restoration, I first mixed vinegar, salt, and flour and placed the brass parts into this mixture. The next step was cleaning the rivets. For this, I used citric acid and vinegar. I slightly heated the mixture and stirred it with a spoon. After that, I neutralized the acid using baking soda and warm water, then lubricated everything with WD-40. Finally, I rinsed the parts with a regular solvent. Once the rivets — or rather, the buttons — were dry, I further cleaned them using a cloth and sandpaper and straightened them with a hammer. After the buttons were ready, I moved on to cleaning the brass parts. I used water, liquid soap, and fine steel wool with a cleaning powder. Once the brass was clean, I applied light blackening and copper plating. The second brass part — the nozzle of the bellows — was straightened, cleaned, and re-soldered using a tin-lead solder with a silver component. After cleaning and straightening everything, I moved on to cutting the upper and lower parts of the form from dry pine wood. I shaped them by hand and began leveling them using coarse sandpaper. Once everything was aligned, I carved the air channel. Then I made an intake valve that allows air to enter but prevents it from escaping. This channel was sealed with leather. The upper and lower parts were joined together using leather and small nails. The brass outlet nozzle was glued in place and also secured with small nails. To cover the bellows with leather, I first made a paper template, then transferred it onto the leather and cut it out. I fixed it with buttons, added glue, and, of course, painted the surface. Finally, I tested the bellows for you. If you are interested in purchasing my work, please contact me through my social media — all links can be found in the video description and on the main page of my YouTube channel. And of course, please share this video — it’s very important, because your activity helps promote the channel. Sincerely, Alex. Thanks for attention! Good luck and health to everyone! With best wishes, Alex! Please subscribe to my channel: @ScrewsAndTools 🍖 My New Cooking channel! @screwsandtoolscooking Patreon:   / screwsandtools   Paypal: paypal.me/screwsandtools Facebook:   / scresandtools   Instagram:   / screwsandtools   ko-fi.com/screwsandtools #screwsandtools #restoration