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Lets redo another safe!

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Oldfast

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OldddffAASSTT the Spin Master Extraordinaire and American Lock Slayer
OldddffAASSTT the Spin Master Extraordinaire and American Lock Slayer

Posts: 4412

Joined: Thu Mar 31, 2011 9:16 am

Location: Michigan

Post Tue Apr 17, 2018 10:03 pm

Re: Lets redo another safe!

What.... a.... journey!

In fact, I decided to start from the very
beginning and enjoy it all over again.

Got a good chuckle (again) from this...
00247 wrote:.... My uncle tagged along on this junk run. I had mentioned to him that there was also a 1937 McCormick Deering Farmall F12 for sale so we ended up with a full trailer after he bought it. The load drew a lot of attention on the way home with one semi driver darn near dislocating a disk while rubbernecking and giving a thumbs up while I was stopped by an intersection checking the load. I appreciated his enthusiasm!

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And naturally, one of the biggest moments you'll always remember about this project, I'm sure... was the potentially disastrous lockout, lol. Man alive, given the scenario, I can soooo see myself doing that! Only difference is that I may not have figured out what the solution was, as you were able to do. lol

I still haven't entirely wrapped my head around the gold leaf...
00247 wrote:.... Once the size (varnish based adhesive) is brushed on and allowed to dry to the proper tack, the gold is applied and brushed into place. Once brushed in and all the waste loose gold is cleaned up the pinstripes are painted with 1shot black sign paint with a pinstripe brush. At this point it won't win any beauty awards. You can see the gold has also been put on the mask for the lettering on the base of the safe.

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I think it's the delicate application that's throwing me. Seems like it could easily be scratched right off. Is it essentially like paint, just a drastically different application? You mention an adhesive. When it's all said and done, I assume it's just as durable as paint would be?

Oh, after adjusting some security settings on my laptop, I was able to view both vids you posted. Good stuff! There's something about watching those gear trains that reach the deepest recesses of my brain, lol. It's like a euphoric mesmerizing thing. I love the couple of 'tweaks' you made to the lock. No doubt it's running as good as it possibly can.

If I were to go to war with this safe, I'd approach it with confidence (as I always try to do)... but honestly, I would have some serious doubts buried deep down, lol. Some of the old locks of this type are no joke. And the recessed dial I'm sure wouldn't help my cause either. You've certainly brought a beautiful monster back to life here.

So, was there any portion of this whole process that you would maybe call 'your favorite'? Or maybe your least favorite part? Where it became more of a grind and that 'labor or love' mentality takes over to push you through?
" Enjoy the journey AS MUCH as the destination."
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Jet

Newbie

Posts: 1

Joined: Tue Apr 17, 2018 10:06 pm

Post Tue Apr 17, 2018 11:19 pm

Re: Lets redo another safe!

Wow! This was absolutely astonishing to read and see! Do you mind my asking if you intend to keep it, sell it, or donate it to a museum of some sort?
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00247

User avatar

Familiar Face

Posts: 153

Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2015 11:04 pm

Location: Wisconsin

Post Thu Apr 19, 2018 9:05 pm

Re: Lets redo another safe!

Oldfast wrote:So, was there any portion of this whole process that you would maybe call 'your favorite'? Or maybe your least favorite part? Where it became more of a grind and that 'labor or love' mentality takes over to push you through?


The best part is always "the chase". Whether it is a safe, a car, or whatever, finding it, the trip to see it, wheel and deal on it, then bring it home. Just like a new woman the chase is the best part. Once you get her it's like... now what?

I love the search for information and learning about a new project and without the internet I doubt it could get done. The people you interact with on a journey like this is great. On this project a number of complete strangers had a hand in the completion of the project. If it wasn't for fellow member 74TR6, who I found on lockpicking101, I would probably still be locked out of this safe. Doug MacQueen from antique-locks.com has had input on all of my projects. You too Oldfast, your articles on friction fence locks have helped me more than you could ever know. There has been a number of people who have shared knowledge or parts from Ebay auctions who have contributed to my projects. Help from the Chrome Shop, Paul's Chrome, graphic artists, and local sign shops, all have a big part in getting a project like this completed. When hope was fading on recreating the front cover on the door, a call to Anthony at Jax Chemical in New York saved the day. A hearty thank you goes out to all.

The worst part? Starting the body work. I've been doing body work for over 40 years and that initial sanding starts out as a hopeless endeavor. Once things start shaping up It's not so bad. Painting is always a challenge, old Murphy is always lurking just over my shoulder.

This National was a challenging project but it is an impressive safe to look at. It took over seven months to complete and is way over budget. When the final parts are in just the plating costs will exceed $2200. Hours in this project? I never kept track but I'll bet it is approaching 400.

Oldfast, if your ever on this side of Lake Michigan, you are invited to come by and try to manipulate this lock. How you can do a fiction fence lock I don't understand. And if you can do this one with it's recessed dial, lumpy drive wheel (seems to be designed this way plus extra wear), and uneven dialing resistance, there will be a crisp Ben Franklin handed over with a firm handshake. I will provide the beer, food, and bullshit.

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It is time... stand up for a constitutional America. Without it, we have shed blood in vain.
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Oldfast

User avatar

OldddffAASSTT the Spin Master Extraordinaire and American Lock Slayer
OldddffAASSTT the Spin Master Extraordinaire and American Lock Slayer

Posts: 4412

Joined: Thu Mar 31, 2011 9:16 am

Location: Michigan

Post Sat Apr 21, 2018 8:21 pm

Re: Lets redo another safe!

Thanks for looking back on this and giving us 'behind the scenes thoughts' about this project. Very interesting.

00247 wrote:...Oldfast, if your ever on this side of Lake Michigan, you are invited to come by and try to manipulate this lock. How you can do a fiction fence lock I don't understand. And if you can do this one with it's recessed dial, lumpy drive wheel (seems to be designed this way plus extra wear), and uneven dialing resistance, there will be a crisp Ben Franklin handed over with a firm handshake. I will provide the beer, food, and bullshit.

And thanks so much for this. What a kind offer! The SS Badger (people/car ferry) runs out of Ludington and lands in Manitowoc. About a 4 hr trip. For the past several years now I've been thinking that it would be a neat little getaway for me. So who knows(!)... maybe one of these years.
" Enjoy the journey AS MUCH as the destination."
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00247

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Familiar Face

Posts: 153

Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2015 11:04 pm

Location: Wisconsin

Post Mon Jun 04, 2018 10:10 pm

Re: Lets redo another safe!

Here is an update on the National safe. While waiting for the rear door cover to come back with new copper plating I tackled repairing the 5 damaged door lug ring bolts. The bolts have a ¾” shank with a 1-1/8” head and five of them had edges beat up pretty bad from careless closing of the safe and rotating the door when it was not positioned correctly. On a test bolt, I ground off a corner and welded it up with the mig welder and put it in the lathe. Mig welds are quite hard so machining it took some effort. I took the bolts over to my brother to have him tig weld them. The tig weld is about the same hardness as the bolt and easier to machine.

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Then they go in the lathe to have the domed top brought back to shape. I had an extra wide piece of tool steel so I ground it to the shape of the head.

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Once the dome is done each flat side of the head needs to be corrected. Luckily, one of my boring bar holders is ¾” so it held the bolt solid. I used a fly cutter in the mill head to cut the flats. It took a fair amount of dicking around to index each flat properly. Once cut, the bolt was massaged on a diamond hone and finished with 3M EXL wheels. Then it is ready for new nickel plating.

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The door cover still hadn't showed up so I worked on a 1930’s Mills slot machine that was in poor condition. The wood cabinet was water damaged and the paint on the metal castings was not much better. The intricate aluminum casting required all painting to be done by hand, a tedious project that took a lot of hours.

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Once the door cover showed up and I got over the cost of plating it :shock: , the same process was used on it as was used on the inner door although this pattern was more complicated. Darkening the copper was uneventful this time now that I know the process. The safe is still waiting for the plating of the bolts which will be a while.

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It is time... stand up for a constitutional America. Without it, we have shed blood in vain.
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Squelchtone

Active Member

Posts: 361

Joined: Fri Jun 03, 2011 1:16 pm

Location: Massachusetts USA

Post Tue Jun 05, 2018 7:41 am

Re: Lets redo another safe!

wow, just read this entire thread, amazing work. I redid a Protectall safe a few years ago and never posted the photos, now I'm afraid to post my hillbilly rattle can safe restoration...

00247, you're a talented man, thank you for sharing with us,
Squelchtone
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Oldfast

User avatar

OldddffAASSTT the Spin Master Extraordinaire and American Lock Slayer
OldddffAASSTT the Spin Master Extraordinaire and American Lock Slayer

Posts: 4412

Joined: Thu Mar 31, 2011 9:16 am

Location: Michigan

Post Mon Sep 24, 2018 9:27 pm

Re: Lets redo another safe!

My old friend!! :D How be you over yonder in the "Toilet Paper Capital" of the world?!
(Well, I have no idea if you're actually in Green Bay; I just really wanted to say that, lol)

I sure do miss the exquisite lock-porn you present us with. Any new upcoming projects?
How's you're body been treating you? Hope you've had a good and relaxing summer.
" Enjoy the journey AS MUCH as the destination."
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00247

User avatar

Familiar Face

Posts: 153

Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2015 11:04 pm

Location: Wisconsin

Post Mon Oct 01, 2018 9:40 pm

Re: Lets redo another safe!

Hey Oldfast! Thanks for digging me out of the bowels of old keypicking threads. I'm still kicking over here in God's country, eating Wisconsin cheese and drinking Spotted Cow beer.

Haven't done anymore safe projects since I finished the National safe though several are waiting their turn. I went off on another tangent when a vintage motorcycle I had been after for many years finally came up for sale late this spring. This1973 Kawasaki H1 500 triple was bought new by a friend back in high school days and I always admired the bike. It was a local legend that was rode hard and spent much of its time on just the rear wheel.

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I have been undertaking a full nut and bolt restoration of it and oh boy, what a challenge. Every piece of this beaten S.O.B has needed attention. It is coming together slowly with the chassis painted and partially assembled, motor rebuilt, seat rebuilt, fresh new chrome, wheels restored with new rims and spokes, and tons of hard to find N.O.S parts located. Parts have come from all over the US and from Canada. I still have the body parts to paint.

The final door bolts for the National were sent in two stages for new chrome with motorcycle parts. I couldn't send them all at once as a couple had to hold the door together. With them now in place and two new eyelet covers on the time lock, (I had made extras when I did the Moslers) the National is completed. I also built a low steel stand so that it can be easily moved with a pallet jack. It has been just over a year from purchase to final completion. The next safe project will probably be an early 1900's Diebold. Just a plain square one that will be done custom retro style as a gift for a good friend to display in his business.

12 freshly chromed bolts and two new eyelet covers.

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The new stand. All the safes are getting these to simplify moving them.

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It is time... stand up for a constitutional America. Without it, we have shed blood in vain.
<<

Oldfast

User avatar

OldddffAASSTT the Spin Master Extraordinaire and American Lock Slayer
OldddffAASSTT the Spin Master Extraordinaire and American Lock Slayer

Posts: 4412

Joined: Thu Mar 31, 2011 9:16 am

Location: Michigan

Post Tue Oct 02, 2018 6:20 pm

Re: Lets redo another safe!

Well, maybe a few feet of snow will help stifle your interest in
the bike for a bit and you can get back to some safe work. :rofl:

So nice to see you indeed! Great to hear you're doing well :D
" Enjoy the journey AS MUCH as the destination."
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Rusty Gold 123

Newbie

Posts: 1

Joined: Sat Jun 22, 2019 10:01 am

Post Sat Jun 22, 2019 10:08 am

Re: Lets redo another safe!

I am very impressed with your restoration work on this safe project. I wanted to ask you about some of the things you encountered on this restoration project. Do you have a contact number that I may get in touch with you?
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bitbuster

Prolific Poster

Posts: 918

Joined: Tue Aug 17, 2010 2:03 pm

Location: NW Wis

Post Sat Jun 22, 2019 11:14 am

Re: Lets redo another safe!

Rusty Gold 123 wrote:I am very impressed with your restoration work on this safe project. I wanted to ask you about some of the things you encountered on this restoration project. Do you have a contact number that I may get in touch with you?

Click his username and send him a PM
'Gunter glieben glauten globen' Def Leppard, Rock of Ages, 1983
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00247

User avatar

Familiar Face

Posts: 153

Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2015 11:04 pm

Location: Wisconsin

Post Sat Jun 22, 2019 12:29 pm

Re: Lets redo another safe!

Yes, as bitbuster said, you can PM me or click on the user name and you can also email.

For those that wonder... another safe will be starting soon. The motorcycle project has been done for a while. Still mopping up some tuning issues.

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It is time... stand up for a constitutional America. Without it, we have shed blood in vain.
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