Bob,
Since all that I read on this great site, it seems you win the vote on the most knowledgable and professional lock maker alive today. I am trying to improve my lock preparation and thought I, as well as others novice builders on this site might learn some new techniques from you. You mentioned the fine and fancy detailing done at your bench with an assortment of files of different cuts and shapes, grinding and polishing. Can you offer some suggestions on good steps with files or polishing grits to take a cast lock plate or other cast part from an as cast condition to one finished and acceptable to leave bright or grayed or aged. Thanks and wish you were still producing as it would be great to have one of your fine locks on one of my flinters.
elkhorne
Elkhorne,
I don't claim the title of most knowledgeable on anything.I saw a modern double barrel,cased flintlock rifle
at the CLA show two years ago that had a pair of locks of really exquisite craftsmanship.The hours that went into
just the locks had to be stunning.I think Jim Chambers knows who the maker is and maybe he'll see this and say something.
I can't really address the cast parts questions. I use expanding rubber wheels,3" x 1" with different grits of abrasive CLOTH,
not paper.I buy this in rolls and make my own abrasive bands. My favorite is aluminum oxide,preferred is any American make
if available.I made a modification to a bench grinder,an old American Rockwell that makes it into a grinding,polishing station
by making shafts that replace the nuts that hold the grinder wheels on. The left side has left hand threads but I have the tools
to do that job.On a Chinese made grinder,I have no idea about the threads.
Getting on to files,I still have some old American made ones and some Swiss and British made ones.I have these in cuts that range from
very coarse to #8 which has,according to the maker,Baiter (Biter)233 teeth per in.These odd files are an accumulation of over 50 years and
purchased at random in flea markets.I have also several sets of fine German files that were a gift from a German Black Powder Club
in Koln (Kern) in 1980.Files are a very personal tool and if you see some you can use,get them if possible.I do use a tapping fluid with
fine cut files from time to time that helps with a nice finish.
Cast tumblers and other cast internal parts are really out of my area of expertise.I hear all kinds of things,good and not so good but
not too much is published about problems,at least here on this forum.Same for sears,flys and mainsprings.I don't use them or want them
as can be seen in the "4 pin" lock shown on this forum. Only the hammer is cast,the rest is me and my filing.
I'm sorry I can't be more specific about this type of work but all of us have different approaches to areas of work and some work,some don't.
Bob Roller
