Grandpa gave me them once I achieved Eagle Scout. Would like to try to get them restored to workable condition. The blades are rusted in and nothing unfolds.

Don’t mind the bathroom photos lol

I recently purchased an old explosive ordinance box. I’d like to preserve the markings (seemingly stamped/stenciled with paint) while making the box a bit more fresh. How would you go about this?

En la casa de mi abuela encontré un cuchillo medio extraño, mide como 40 cm aprox. Y tiene una ranura medio extraña en la parte de abajo justo a un aro en su mango. Quiero ver si alguien sabe del tema para poder ver q es o cuando fue fabricado, y si se puede consejos para arreglarlo un poco, como se debe ver en las imágenes tiene un poco de óxido en su funda y en la parte sin filo de la hoja tiene unas cuantas abolladuras. Dejo a la vista varios números y letras q encontré, seguramente sean útiles para verificar la procedencia.

My mom purchased this for me when I was about 5 (23) and at the time it was covered in a several r thick coats of white paint that completely obscured the metal work. And then it set in a barn for the last 13 or so years. Now I’m stripping the paint and trying to salvage what I can. It’s pretty damaged. But I’m enjoying the process. I got the paint off and have it drying out after a good scrub. Then I’ll patch holes/wood glue and eventually paint it (taping the metal work this time) I’m going to try and refinished the metal but I’m not hopeful. Tomorrow we sand! And see where the wood is at.

I've been restoring antique coffee grinders and now a Danish bread slicer. The one thing in common these have (30 and 40s) are a metal rod that is hammered (mushroomed) on both ends to hold a metal rod/dowel in place.

For the life of me, I cannot find out how to get a replacement for these. I've been using just a long screw and cut a thread into the opposing side of the metal.

Does anyone know what these are called, or how to source new ones? Again, they're literally just a metal rod that's hammered on both ends.

I bought this sign at an auction and I am wondering if anything can be done for the broken pieces. I am planning to unscrew the frame and clean out each panel. Looks like the material is some sort of somewhat fragile plastic? First project taken on for me so any advice is helpful. (What cleaning product to use, plastic replacement etc.) i looked up the company that created it and couldnt find anything other than some previous lawsuits and financial reports from 1961.

Basically as the title says. Fairly light scratches on my new marble kitchen bench. Our stone mason said try 220 grit sandpaper with water, didn’t do anything. Try another grit or any other alternatives? Thanks in advance.

TL;DR -- tips for uniform stain / color absorption in old and new oak on secretary desk.

I'm currently in the midst of restoring my great grandma's child's oak secretary desk (~100+ years old). I have it apart and have it down to the bare wood. This is the driest oak I have ever encountered. For context, I'm proficient in building and restoring furniture, but my experience is limited to building out of new wood and restoring veneered mid century furniture, so I've got the basics down. I've just never dealt with this old of wood. It seriously feels as light or lighter than pine. But there's no doubt it's oak.

Unfortunately, the legs are shot. Between warping and sanding, they're unusable in the restore, so I'm in the process of recreating the pieces out of "new" oak. Effectively, I'll have the old/original carcass sitting on top of a new base/legs. I'm going to (gel) stain and lacquer (given it'll be used by kids) and plan to do so in a darker color -- something like a walnut (grandma and great-grandma's favorite). The styling is also along the lines of craftsman, so it seems appropriate to go that route.

Ultimately, if all else fails I'm comfortable using toners to match, but I would prefer to be able to pick a stain color (Old Masters, or potentially General Finishes) and rock with it across the whole piece. But given my inexperience with the old oak, I was wondering if there was something I could treat either the new or the old oak with that would bring one in line with the other in terms of stain/color absorption? For example, something like wood conditioner on one or the other or both?

I don't have access to a humidor or a kiln to modify the moisture content in either. I've had to wet single sides of the old oak and let it dry wet side down to address some cupping.

Much appreciation if anyone has any advice.