Antque Falcon padlock. Patina vs. Grime

[Comrade627]

Gents, here's an antique Falcon padlock I recieved from Gordon a few days ago. Did it look antique? Of course. It was also dirty.
Not to say he neglected it, I'm actually glad it was that way because I love bringing locks back to life (seriously thanks, PM me if you have more that need detailed).

The point I want to make is that there's a difference between grime and patina.

Grime is gunk picked up from the ages. Everything gets it.
Patina is character.

Cleaning the grime off of and out of an old lock can bring it right back to life, and extend its life. Just don't clean so hard you buff out the dings. If you notice, I left all but 2 links of the chain alone. I did this to show that the lock had been through time, a little piece that remains untouched. Just a bit of flavor, no real purpose other than that.

Blahblahblah, here's the eyecandy.




Follower thanks to Squelchtone.








Bonus!

[GWiens2001]

That was patina on the lock. Already cleaned the dirt off the outside of the lock long ago. Think the inside as well. But glad you have made the lock the way you want it to look.

Gordon

[Comrade627]

That was patina on the lock. Already cleaned the dirt off the outside of the lock long ago. Think the inside as well. But glad you have made the lock the way you want it to look.

Gordon

It came off as a thick sludge type stuff for me, as if it had been caked on over time.

[MBI]

If I get a used lock, something that's currently manufactured, not rare or antique I kind of like having them polished up like that. Especially if I'm going to be using it for picking practice because it keeps my pocket cleaner when I carry it around with me.

For older locks, anything antique, out of production or which just has accumulated character with age, I like to leave them as-is. I never polish them. I might lube them, wipe them down with a lightly oiled then a dry cloth, but otherwise let them show the patina of age. I get very annoyed when I buy old locks on eBay and the seller goes and polishes them up or hits them with a wire brush wheel. If I'm buying a lock, what I receive had better look like the pics in the auction, not "improved" afterward by the seller. It seriously damages the collector value, and at least in my opinion, the look of an old lock. But, to each his own.

[Squelchtone]

mmmm shiny. I dont care for patina unless the lock is from the 1800's.. I prefer to see the lock the way it looked back if I were a time traveler to the 1920's or 1950's. I redid a 1960's Folger Adam once and I ended up wet sanding the plug with 1000 just to make it as smooth as possible when turning the key. plus it gave it this wonderful clearcoat looking finish.

say, I've been looking around for my LAB plug follower.. I think it may have fallen into that package of bristles I mailed to you.

[Comrade627]

mmmm shiny. I dont care for patina unless the lock is from the 1800's.. I prefer to see the lock the way it looked back if I were a time traveler to the 1920's or 1950's. I redid a 1960's Folger Adam once and I ended up wet sanding the plug with 1000 just to make it as smooth as possible when turning the key. plus it gave it this wonderful clearcoat looking finish.

say, I've been looking around for my LAB plug follower.. I think it may have fallen into that package of bristles I mailed to you.

That's generally my endgoal when I refurb the locks. I want them to look like they did back in the day, with the addition of the knicks and dings from being around for a while.

I think the follower did fall into the package btw, and holy crap does an actual follower make a difference.

[nick08037]

Hello Comrade627,
Looks like you have your own Lock SPA, a place where tired locks go to be rejuvenated.
-Nick

[Comrade627]

Hello Comrade627,
Looks like you have your own Lock SPA, a place where tired locks go to be rejuvenated.
-Nick

I suppose that's the case.

[averagejoe]

Patina
noun
1. a film or incrustation, usually green, produced by oxidation on the surface of old bronze and often esteemed as being of ornamental value.
2. a similar film or coloring appearing gradually on some other substance.
3. a surface calcification of implements, usually indicating great age.


You call dings etc patina, those are what I would call "character". You cleaned all of the patina off. What did you use to clean it that caused it to come off as a sludge?

[Comrade627]

Patina
noun
1. a film or incrustation, usually green, produced by oxidation on the surface of old bronze and often esteemed as being of ornamental value.
2. a similar film or coloring appearing gradually on some other substance.
3. a surface calcification of implements, usually indicating great age.


You call dings etc patina, those are what I would call "character". You cleaned all of the patina off. What did you use to clean it that caused it to come off as a sludge?

Hmm. Potato potato.
Dawn and a toothbrush mostly good Sir.

[Robotnik]

I'm not looking to tell someone what they do with something they own. As far as I'm concerned, if it's yours, do with it what you will.

As far as locks I own, I'll start with an anecdote. I spent years working in heavy manufacturing, and as a result my hands and arms are very scarred from various burns, lacerations and punctures. While they're not factory-fresh, I wouldn't do anything to remove these marks, even if I could; it's part of what I am by this point.

I approach my locks the same way. If they've developed their wear honestly and over time, I may clean them up nonabrasively to remove surface dirt and grime, but the deep-set marks, gouges, oxidation and the like I see as a visual representation of that lock's past life, one I'm not too inclined to erase. Wire wheels and sandpaper to me take too much fine detail off, like a coin that's been cleaned too often. Like I said, I prefer wear to proceed organically.

If shiny is someone's thing, God bless. We all like what we like; there isn't really a right or wrong answer here. I'm gonna buy what I'm gonna buy, and someone else is gonna do the same.