Recently bought a Black Hawk model 1903-A corn sheller at a flea market. Not particularly rare since they were widely sold as late as the 50s. Better ones on Ebay for less. Well, more when you include shipping... Actually want a working corn sheller so drilled out all the corroded bolts and plan to have the cast parts sand blasted. Only light surface rust in contrast to the hardware. Guessing some kind of galvanic corrosion?
Unless someone here has a better idea, plan to 'season' it like a skillet. Three or four rounds of vegetable oil / bake at 350 degrees F while the wife is baking potatoes should be enough. Do not want to paint it and will keep it in doors.
Have sourced most of the replacement hardware except the spring and wooden handle. May end up making a handle though will keep looking for something with a 5/16 through hole. No luck with a spring locally, found some on-line that will work but sold in sets of ten:( Not tried McMaster or MSC yet since I do not have an account with either. Which one is easiest to buy from as an individual?
Should I mask off the tapered spindle and bore? Already has some wear, thinking that smooth lightly rusted surfaces will wear less than rough freshly blasted ones. Has an oil hole but may try Vaseline since it is food safe and less likely to drip or sling out.
Trivia I found researching my new acquisition. Do not try to eat an entire mincemeat pie! Apparently it is what killed the inventor A H Patch.