“Restoring” a 19th century Yankee No.0 plug slicer.

[RustiePyles CPG]

I’ve restored/repaired quite a few of these, @georged has one of them I believe. These are not the usual anvil type “tobacco cutter” that does more smashing than cutting. This is a bypass type plug/flake slicer designed to make very fine flake from plug. They were made from 1870’s to the 1910s. They do not come up for sale often and chances are if they do I buy em. I work with the most advanced automated robotic slicers made today for the meat/cheese industry at my 9-5, so I like these things a lot. I can make em cut better than they did when they were new by tweaking a few things and sharpening them the right way. Here is my latest one, it will most likely be for sale when it’s finished.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

Soaking and disassembling.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

Cleaning, lapping, truing, sharpening the blade.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

Paint and rust removal. Paint prep and paint.

 

[UB 40]

Paint and rust removal. Paint prep and paint. View attachment 199838View attachment 199839View attachment 199840View attachment 199841View attachment 199842View attachment 199843

What kind of paint do use to n that one?

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

Self etching primer base, topcoat is automotive acrylic lacquer. Both sprayed with an HVLP gun.

 

[condorlover1]

Perfect for the amateur mohel.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

Perfect for the amateur mohel.

Especially one working for tips.

 

[condorlover1]

If you sew all the skins together you could get a very nice wallet, however if you stroke it carefully it will turn into an overnight bag!

 

[TheIronMonkey]

Here is my latest one, it will most likely be for sale when it’s finished.

View attachment 199826

With minimal skin in the game, restoring it yourself, you cut out the middleman—nice way to get ahead.

 

[condorlover1]

With minimal skin in the game, restoring it yourself, you cut out the middleman—nice way to get ahead.

Very good. If that wasn't contrived to be amusing then that has to be the wittiest response on here in ages!

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

Making a collection tray.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

 

[jmill208]

Really cool! Nice work.

 

[hawky454]

Dang, I should have sent mine to you! Haha. I just did the best with what I had, a flexible cutting board and some scissors. I pieced it to gather after sharpening the blade, it works fine but you are doing some fine work there. I honestly still use my knife the majority of the time but if I had something like yours I’d be using it all the time.

 

[orlandofurioso]

Incredible job; I envy your tools and skills

 

[orlandofurioso]

Correction ; admire of course.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

Dang, I should have sent mine to you! Haha. I just did the best with what I had, a flexible cutting board and some scissors. I pieced it to gather after sharpening the blade, it works fine but you are doing some fine work there. I honestly still use my knife the majority of the time but if I had something like yours I’d be using it all the time.

I’ve done a few of the anvil type plug smashers. I’ve even made new blades and anvils for them. But they can be problematic to restore, sometimes requiring a little brazing.

This one is gonna be for sale when it’s finished. I don’t need two of these and I already have I use pretty regularly. I’m not keeping this one because like my other it does not have the word “Yankee” embossed on the handle, I suspect it’s older than mine. North Bros. Mfg. made these for about 30 years around the turn of the century.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

Correction ; admire of course.

Are they really that different? Thank you.