Repainting Combination Lock Dials?

[Doug White]

The target shooting program I work with has a large collection of WWII
vintage safes for firearm & ammo storage. The lock dials on several are in
pretty bad shape, and are nearly illegible.

I can clean the grime off, mask them & hit them with black spray paint.
I'm assuming there is some sort of wipe-on paint that is used to do the
dial markings. It's either that or a lot of tedium with a fine paint
brush. In either case, I need to find something that won't simultaneously
attack the spray paint base coat.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Doug White

[Jay Hennigan]

Use a gloss black epoxy based paint for the dial. A couple of thin
coats so as not to fill in the markings. It might be prudent to use
chemical stripper first to remove the old paint. Let it dry thoroughly.

After the paint thoroughly dries, then use some white or yellow
silk-screen ink on a rag to fill in the markings. This is kind of like
a thick oil-based paint designed to be laid over other paint. Wipe off
the excess with another rag after a minute or two. If there are smears
left, before it thoroughly dries you can rub it lightly with a paper
towel or rag dipped in mineral spirits.

Another option might be to strip the paint completely to bare metal
(likely brass but could be cast alloy) and then use black silk-screen
ink to fill in the numbers.

Of course the paint job is easier to do if the dial is removed from the
safe, and this avoids the risk of paint getting behind the dial and
gluing it in place. But, unless you really know what you're doing it is
a very bad idea to attempt taking apart such locks.

It might be a good idea to have a safe technician service the locks and
boltwork anyway. They're over 60 years old and probably could use some
attention. A failure in the locked position could be very inconvenient
and costly. A failure in the unlocked position could lead to someone
getting killed.

[Stormin Mormon]

I'd see if there are any hobby shops near you. Describe what
you want to do, and see if they have any ideas. Maybe paint
and brushes suitable for model planes, trains, or
automobiles.

As another person suggested, it's time to have the locks
overhauled by a safe and vault tech.

Also call some local locksmiths, and see who does safe and
vault work. Might be possible to retrofit a new dial to the
existing mechanism. I'm not enough of a safe and vault man,
but I know two who I can call, in my own area.

Please write back and tell us what happens.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.


"Doug White" <gwh...@alum.mit.edu> wrote in message
news:Xns9F9E4DE82FC2B...@69.16.186.7...

[Doug White]

m...@notanywhere.net wrote in news:v7i6c7t1q359n6hv2gio4l4olcp6es72eg@
4ax.com:

> On Tue, 15 Nov 2011 18:36:47 -0500, "Stormin Mormon"
> <cayoung61**spamblock##@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> Lockmasters, maybe
>
>
> there USED TO BE available, a 'lacquer' stick, you rubbed onto the
> lines like a crayon, it filled in the depressions and made the lines
> either white or black (only 2 colors available) buff/clean off excess
> with clean cloth
>
> I bought mine back in the early 90's and still got and use them on
> occasion.

I checked Lockmasters, but struck out. However, a little digging on
"lacquer sticks" gave me a number of leads. McMaster Carr sells them, so
I'll toss one into my next order. They are specifically for filling in
engraving.

That & some epoxy spray paint & we should be all set. The locks have
been serviced periodically, but only to the extent of a light clean &
lube, I suspect. I just have to make sure I mask off the dial carefully
so no paint gets into the mechanism. I'll probably use a gel paint
stripper first to get down to bare metal.

Thanks!

Doug White