How to clean and restore a lock???

[buzzojoe]

Hi Everyone!
I've been restoring a lot of gumball machines lately. Most of them take either the round "cylinder" lock that screws in the top, or a small padlock. But right now I'm restoring an Advance Big Mouth machine that has a square lock in the base like you find in a lot of trade stimulators or like you would find in an old wooden desk drawer. The whole machine was pretty rough and rusty, but I was able to restore the rest of the machine with sandblasting, polishing in the "walnut shell" vibrator, and powder coating. Now I'm down to only the lock remaining. How do you guys restore a lock like this? I'm afraid that if I sandblast it or put it in the ground walnut shell polisher it will get full of the media and will be ruined. I also have an ultrasonic cleaner that works with soapy water, but the lock is way too rusty and grungy for that to really do much good...
I understand that only a little bit of the lock will be showing when the machine is done. But I'd really rather not have that rusty, nasty lock in the machine if I can help it. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!!!

[terick2104]

I see those Advance locks for sale on Ebay quite often. Maybe you are just better off replacing the lock that you have.

[SLOT DYNASTY]

Not being all that familiar with the style lock that is on the Advance 'Big Mouth', but if it is the type that is approx. 1-1/2" square x 1/2" thick, and takes a flat mailbox lock type key, they are pretty simple to restore. Most have either 3 or
4 mounting holes, and the two halfs are put together with tiny countersunk flathead machine screws, that hopefully are not rusted, and froze to the housing. If so, put a dab of penetrating oil on each screwhead, and let sit over-night.
On the other hand, if the two housing halfs are put together with peened-over tabs, it is a little difficult to get apart, but can be done. This all depends on how much of a purist you are, in wanting to use the original lock, as apposed to
getting an original replacement. I am assuming you have the orig. key, and is why you want to save the orig. lock. If and when you get the lock apart, the keyway inside the barrel, and the actuating dogs, are usually made of brass, so will
not be rusty. As for the lock housing, it will now be safe to beadblast, and clearcoat, before reassembly. If it is not heavily rusted & pitted, I choose to use a (fine) power wire-brush instead. You sound like you are pretty handy, with all the restorations you have done, so I am confident you can tackle this final challenge. One final comment........make sure to keep the key actuating dogs in the order they are taken out, so the key works the lock properly after reassembly.
Also, make sure the key is working the lock smoothly before re-peening the tabs, if it is that style lock. Good luck, and let me know how it turns out. Bill

[buzzojoe]

Thanks Bill!
Yeah, It's the crimped together type. I think I'll pop it apart, and in the mean time I'll pick a nice one on Ebay also just in case.
I'm always just looking to learn (even after 30 years of messing with this stuff )!!

[fast_in_muskoka]

How about soaking it in evapourust ?