While back I got some very good advice about coloring the lock I'm working on. Thought I'd bring you up to date on the finished item. After I got started it occurred to me that the plate would work for both the engraving and coloring process. Probably the best info was that the first plate was too thin and I had to have some stand off for the lock plate so the charcoal packing would cover both sides of the plate. So I used a piece of 1/2" plate and welded on the tabs that would clamp the lock plate. Then I machined of the tabs so they are absolutly flat across the three tabs I put the middle hold down screw where it would pass through the tumbler hole in a lock and added two more tapped holes at the tip that can be arranged to secure either a small or large Kentland (& probably just about any other lock plate I suppose). In addition to using the plate for coloring the plate provides a nice clamp to hole the lock for edngraving without having to try to dream up some kind of fixture.
