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The wood trapezoid plate on the chest’s entrance, with the escutcheon gap in its center.
Final winter, a buddy gifted me an outdated cedar hope chest. The piece was made by her late father-in-law, an novice woodworker. Since she and her husband had been getting ready to promote their residence and transfer to a smaller place, she hoped to provide the chest a loving residence.
She stated the chest was in good situation aside from the lock, whose key was lacking. After the important thing was misplaced, that they had pried the lid open however sadly misplaced the catch plate, which retains the lock’s latches within the locked place.
The shallow mortise the place the outdated catch plate was once.
This summer time, I had an opportunity to significantly look at the lock and determine on a plan of action. Ought to I discover an an identical alternative, create a brand new key, or purchase a brand new lock and carve out a spot for it within the current half-mortise within the chest’s entrance?
The disassembled outdated lock.
After eradicating the lock, I came upon it was made by Yale and had the serial/mannequin quantity #28. My first thought was to search for an an identical alternative. I searched on-line, together with on eBay, however discovered nothing. Both this lock had been out of manufacturing for many years, or I lacked the proper specs and mannequin quantity. Subsequent, I contemplated going to an area locksmith retailer to see if they might broach the lock and create a alternative key. Once I lived in Cambridge, Massachusetts, greater than a decade in the past, I used to be pleasant with the proprietor of an area locksmithing retailer who was an knowledgeable in reproducing keys even for essentially the most obscure locks. However since I wasn’t positive if I might discover a native locksmithing knowledgeable, nor did I understand how a lot it could price, I made a decision to go for a complete alternative with a lock as shut as attainable to the unique one.
I measured the scale of the outdated lock’s faceplate and began the search. Whereas many websites, together with Woodcraft and Lee Valley, didn’t carry a lock of that measurement, an obscure showroom/{hardware} firm, Classic {Hardware} and Lighting, in Washington state, did carry a detailed sufficient lock. The retailer’s web site appeared prefer it was from circa 2004. It doesn’t can help you create an account, observe your order, or monitor the transport. Nonetheless, I made a decision to take the chance and order the lock. The lock arrived after per week, and I lastly started the restoration.
The brand new lock upon arrival.
First, I inspected the brand new lock. Most of its components had been fabricated from brass. The faceplate was pressed and bent at a proper angle however wasn’t good, so I needed to pull one nook again to 90 levels utilizing a small adjustable wrench. After inspecting the catch plate, I seen that it, too, was not good, so I needed to reform its form on a small anvil. Now, I turned to the trunk’s half-mortise to see what kind of modifications I must undertake to make sure a profitable set up.
Bending the lock’s faceplate to a 90-degree angle.
The brand new lock and catch plate after changes.
Keep tuned for half two, the place I’ll talk about how I used a router to enlarge the half-mortise.
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