Cleaning up old window latches

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Cleaning up old window latches

kiwijunglist

2860 posts

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# 240332 2-Sep-2018 17:13

Hi

Not sure what all our old latches and door handles are made of, but they would probably be 1965 original latches.

Doors anyone know what kind of metal this would be? Is it stainless steel? Can i soak them in CLR or turps or something to make them look new again?

Attached are some photos of them. Click photo to make bigger.

Thanks

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

larknz

284 posts

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# 2082841 2-Sep-2018 17:27

They wont be stainless steel, they will probably be chrome plated steel or brass.

Gordy7

891 posts

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# 2082842 2-Sep-2018 17:31

One person supports this post

Maybe diecast alloy with chrome plating....

Take them off the woodwork and scrub them up with a pot scrubbing wire wool pad soaked with light oil, CRC or WD40.

Edit... Test a corner or edge of the metal work first to see what happens...

Gordy

DarthKermit

4995 posts

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# 2082847 2-Sep-2018 17:44

I'm pretty sure those kind of fittings are made of Zinc.

gabba

62 posts

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# 2082926 2-Sep-2018 23:20

Probably chromed metal. Try rubbing it with aluminium foil. our 1965 house has fittings similar to that and I did the whole house. The foil won't scratch the chrome and for 50 year old fittings they are now almost as good as new.

Cheers

neb

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# 2082952 3-Sep-2018 05:37

The second one looks chromed, the first one looks like some kind of zinc alloy. For that you could try toothpaste and an old toothbrush to get rid of the corrosion, but then it also looks quite pitted and I don't think you can fix that.

Goosey

1859 posts

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# 2082958 3-Sep-2018 07:05

Look into using tube of "Autosol". Avalible at all good car part stores.

Then all you need is elbow greese! (or you could cheat and use a buffer).

(Autosol is a rubbing compound commonly used on alloys, chrome etc).

neb

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# 2082962 3-Sep-2018 07:18

Goosey:
Look into using tube of "Autosol". Avalible at all good car part stores.

Autosol is pretty good stuff, but interesting for how basic it is, if you look at the MSDS it's just alumina, an abrasive commonly used in sandpaper, some type of wax or oil to protect the surface, and ammonia, a cleaning agent.

JohnDunlop

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

# 2083231 3-Sep-2018 14:10

DONT use steel wool.

Softer 'goldilocks' pads are great.

Meths softens modern waterbased paint

Paint stripper for older paint - leave to soak in.

Scrub hard with nylon brush.

John Dunlop

wellygary

4183 posts

Uber Geek

# 2083244 3-Sep-2018 14:23

neb: The second one looks chromed, the first one looks like some kind of zinc alloy. For that you could try toothpaste and an old toothbrush to get rid of the corrosion, but then it also looks quite pitted and I don't think you can fix that.

Yeah, on the first one you can see at the end of the handle where the chrome plating has been scratched/rubbed off.... you wont get that back to the same shine as the rest... but they certainly should come up looking a bit better than they are....