Ep 1. Strong Arm

In the season 3 premiere of American Restoration, titled "Strong Arm," we are introduced to Rick Dale, the owner of Rick's Restorations in Las Vegas, Nevada. Rick is an expert in restoring vintage and classic items, from cars to jukeboxes to vending machines. In this episode, he takes on a project that is particularly unusual – a vintage prosthetic arm.

The arm, which was made in the late 1800s or early 1900s, is made of wood and metal and has a unique mechanism that allows the fingers to open and close. The owner of the arm, a man named Brian, inherited it from his great-grandfather, who lost his arm in a farming accident. Brian wants Rick to restore the arm to its former glory so that he can display it in his home.

Rick begins by disassembling the arm and assessing its condition. He notes that there is a lot of rust on the metal parts and that the wooden arm is warped and cracked in several places. He also discovers that some of the internal mechanisms are missing or broken.

To start the restoration process, Rick brings in a team of experts to help him. He enlists the help of his painter, Tyler, to sandblast the metal parts and remove the rust. He also brings in his welder, Ron, to repair the broken parts of the internal mechanism. Finally, he asks his carpenter, Brettly, to make a new wooden arm to replace the original one.

As the team works on the arm, they encounter several challenges. For example, the metal parts are difficult to remove from the arm because they are rusted and frozen in place. Rick and his team use a variety of tools, including blowtorches and hammers, to try to loosen the parts without damaging them.

Another challenge is restoring the internal mechanism that allows the fingers to open and close. Rick and Ron have to carefully examine the various parts and figure out how they fit together.

Despite these challenges, the team is able to make progress on the restoration. Tyler strips the old paint from the metal parts and paints them a shiny silver color, while Brettly creates a new wooden arm that looks just like the original.

Once the restoration is complete, Rick presents the arm to Brian, who is overwhelmed with emotion. He is amazed at how good the arm looks and how smoothly it moves. He thanks Rick and his team for their hard work and says that he will cherish the arm for years to come.

In addition to the prosthetic arm project, this episode also features several other restorations. For example, Rick and his team restore a vintage gas pump and a 1950s soda fountain. These projects provide a glimpse into the range of items that Rick's Restorations can restore, from the ordinary to the extraordinary.

Overall, "Strong Arm" is a fascinating and entertaining episode of American Restoration. It is a testament to Rick's skill and expertise as a restorer, as well as his team's dedication and hard work. Whether you are a fan of vintage items or just enjoy watching skilled craftsmen at work, this episode is sure to impress.