1890s Branford Mortise Lock Restoration | Random Restoration

Welcome! In today's video I'll be restoring an 1890s entry mortise lock set which was manufactured by Branford Lock Works. Branford called this the "Oriental" design in their catalogs. This antique cast iron and bronze lockset was not very rusty but quite crusty and in need of a refurbishment. Though there wasn't the usual 20 layers of paint on this set, Branford seemingly used japanning in the recessed areas of their ornamental hardware, making it very difficult to paint strip.
The first thing I did with this restoration is disassembling the lock, including grinding the solid rivets holding the faceplate off. Then I went ahead and straightened the faceplate, reattached the faceplate and made a couple keys. Once the keys were made I moved on to paint stripping. I gently scuffed up the japanned iron lock case and applied some rather questionable looking paint stripper. After paint stripping I tossed all the steel and iron parts in the rust remover overnight to get rid of any unwanted rust, and to loosen up any stubborn paint that may have been missed in the paint stripping process.
Next up I wire wheeled the lock case and small parts. After these were all cleaned up I went ahead and painted the lock case, cold blued the small parts and polished/cleaned/lacquered the switch, latch bolt and deadbolt. Finally I sanded the now straightened lock faceplate up to 1,000 grit. Then it was time for a quick polish and lacquering. A week later I went ahead and sprayed multiple thin coats of semi gloss black paint over the faceplate and removed the excess paint from the raised areas with a lint free paper towel and paint thinner. Now I reassembled the entire lock and lubricated it with a lock lubricant which doesn't attract dust and will add to the rust protection.
Finally I went ahead and wire wheeled all the knobs, backplates and strike, sanded them all through 1,000 grit, polished them, lacquered them and painted the recessed areas of them. Afterwards I installed the whole set into a display which I made off camera. I do plan on installing this set at some point and restored three matching hinges off camera, but in the meantime it'll stay installed in the fully functional display. I ended up restoring and recording several other projects alongside this one which I'll get around to editing eventually haha.
Time Stamps:
0:00 Welcome!
0:35 Disassembly
2:20 Making Keys
3:05 Paint Stripping
4:51 Wire Wheeling
5:25 Painting
6:09 Bluing/Polishing
7:03 Restoring Faceplate
7:48 Reassembling Lock
9:35 Wire Wheeling MKII
9:57 Restoring Knobs
11:45 Restoring Backplates
13:46 Before and After
14:40 A Quick Test
15:41 Thanks for Watching!
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1890s Branford Mortise Lock Restoration | Random Restoration

[@randomrestoration6858]

Ho ho ho travelers, it's been a while eh? Long story short, I've been extraordinarily busy restoring a large number locksets over the past year (alongside work) but finally had some time to get a new video done up - Hopefully the next one won't take another ten months but no promises haha. On a different note, I've been tempted to do a in depth commentated walkthrough of a restoration where I go over exactly how I restore a lockset start to finish, including the products I use, where I find reliable spring steel, keys, methods I use off camera to actually restore a lockset, install them, etc. I figure it could help out people looking to solve their lock woes in the future, but is it something that anyone would be interested in seeing on the channel is the question haha‽ Anyway, sorry for the extended delay but thanks for watching!

[@markchristopher9515]

I'd like to see it as a series with an emphasis on sourcing and finishes as yours are unique and gorgeous

[@chrisdye5068]

Started to think all the locks and knobs had gone extinct. So glad your back.

[@Phil197]

Yes , I would love to see a narrated tutorial , I have a few locks but only two ornate eastlake types .I would really like to make the keys. Thanks

[@thecrystalcrow]

I would LOVE to see an in-depth lockset restoration!

[@drunkdunc8738]

Sounds great , lock it in 🍻

[@timhoover1416]

It's a shame that cool looking old hardware like this is not still being made.

[@randomrestoration6858]

Absolutely, aside from some lower quality reproductions there’s nothing quite like it. Luckily Branford made this design for a couple decades so they aren’t too difficult to find but it still sucks to see such a lack of any modern day equivalent. Thank you for watching and have a nice weekend!

[@mrknittle532]

WOOHOO!!! What a pleasant gift this Friday morning. I'm sitting here drinking coffee and putting a gold patina on items for my Art Nouveau bathroom that I'm redoing, and you post a video!!! What a perfect morning!! Glad you're back!

[@randomrestoration6858]

Awesome, sounds like a solid day so far, good luck on the remodeling and have a great weekend!

[@kylec5211]

These videos always make me want to buy a really old house and install this intricate hardware on every door

[@randomrestoration6858]

Hahaha it is tempting, right? The hardest part is choosing which sets to install, they’re all so gorgeous! Thanks as always for watching!

[@denizberlin9441]

Thank you for this gift. This makes me happy, having a hard time healthwise.

[@randomrestoration6858]

Gadzooks, so sorry to hear that but glad you found joy in the video! Take care and have a nice weekend!

[@ellomon2005]

I honestly hope that someday my home will feature beautiful items like this. The house I grew up in had these style locks on many of the doors and it's such a shame to know they may never be appreciated. I appreciate them, and you, for restoring them to glory.

[@randomrestoration6858]

Much appreciated! Hopefully someday you’ll be able to collect everything you want and get it installed to your liking - Luckily this specific design by Branford is pretty common so with enough luck you might be able to find a house worth of sets! Thank you for watching and have a nice weekend!

[@brycecrousore1985]

What a beautiful outcome! Another 10-star restoration.

[@Fruity_lexia]

Fantastic to see you back! I do so love these beautiful bits of hardware.

[@randomrestoration6858]

Much obliged, glad to have another video out after all this time! Once I’m less busy I hope to get back to a more regular schedule but it may be a while before that happens. Thanks as always for watching!

[@GWN_Garage]

He's back! The master knob polisher 😁 Great to see you again. Life can get busy, glad you're in good health ☺️

[@randomrestoration6858]

Hahaha now that’s quite the title, I’ll make sure to put it on my résumé. Take care and have a nice weekend!

[@CourtneyClark01]

Beautiful. I love that you left the color of the bare metal be the star and showcase the gorgeous detail of this piece.

[@randomrestoration6858]

I appreciate it! I have two other locks that I’ve finished recording on that have a plain bronze finish and one that has the gold tinted finish. Now it’s just a matter of finding time to edit them down haha. Thanks a lot for watching!

[@craig7343]

Great to see you back doing a brilliant job once again. Your attention to detail is just amazing. 👍👌👌

[@randomrestoration6858]

Thank you, Craig! I have a few more projects already recorded but no time for a few months to edit them but there will be more eventually haha. Thanks as always for watching and have yourself a nice weekend!

[@craig7343]

Not a problem look forward to seeing what you do next as always. You have a great one to. 👍

[@American_Jeeper]

Excellent result, as usual. You do really great work, don't be a stranger.

[@randomrestoration6858]

Thank you very much! Not the rarest set I’ve done but definitely still a gorgeous design. Thanks for watching and have a nice weekend!

[@markchristopher9515]

What a day. Our friend returns! Beautiful work as we've missed. Thanks

[@randomrestoration6858]

Hard to believe it’s almost been a year, eh?! I appreciate it, Mark, hopefully the next video won’t be another ten months but no promises haha. Thanks as always for watching and have a great weekend!

[@Niak38240]

Thank you very nice work, I really love that kind of Northg American products from the 19th century !

[@randomrestoration6858]

Much appreciated! Right, such gorgeous hardware and extraordinarily reliable. Thanks a lot for watching!

[@jodylarson5317]

you have been missed!! so glad to see your stuff again ❤

[@randomrestoration6858]

Thank you so much, it feels nice finally getting another project/video out after all this time and with enough luck the next one won’t take another ten months haha. Thanks as always for watching!

[@jodylarson5317]

@@randomrestoration6858 hahaha, well i keep watching for the perfect copper tinted laquer :D but really i LOVE these restorations the most

[@georgebrown8312]

Splendid job you did restoring the old mortise locket, knobs, and all. It looks much better and it works like a charm too. Excellent work as usual.

[@randomrestoration6858]

Thanks much, George! Such a gorgeous set and is mechanically still in great shape after all these years luckily. Thanks again and have a nice weekend!

[@larrykelly2838]

Beautiful restoration, the lock set looks so nice.

[@randomrestoration6858]

Thank you very much, always been a fan of this design and restored the hinges for it off camera. Now just if I had a door to put them on haha

[@TapscottJ]

Welcome back!!! One of my good friends is a locksmith by trade, and I turned him to your channel about 2 years ago. We’ve been waiting for new videos! Love when you find a catalog so cool. Here’s hoping for many videos in the upcoming months! 😊

[@randomrestoration6858]

Thanks much! Awesome, I’ve definitely been slacking on the video front but have a few projects already recorded - Hopefully it won’t be another ten months before the next one haha. Thanks as always for watching!

[@MsCgordo]

Yeeaaa you’re back! Beautiful work as always.

[@randomrestoration6858]

Quite the delay this time but feels great finally getting another video out! I appreciate the kind words!

[@vanislescotty]

Wow, another outstanding restoration. I like the engravings after you initially restore them and lacquer it, but then when you add the black paint, it just pops and the details come alive.

[@randomrestoration6858]

Thanks much! It definitely takes a few hours more to get those black recessed areas but really is worth it in the end. Thanks as always for watching!

[@ElizabethFranquiEsq]

Soooo glad you're back with another video!!! You have been missed! I love your work.

[@randomrestoration6858]

Thank you so much! I hope to get back to at least somewhat frequent uploads eventually but until then it’ll probably be jumbo waits between videos. Have a great weekend!

[@grahampickering1560]

Great to see you back! You've been well missed 👍

[@aaroncastellanos3421]

Hell yeah and I just started to rewatch your videos again because it's been a while! What a treat!!

[@randomrestoration6858]

Gadzooks, well I appreciate the support! I have a few more projects that I’ve already recorded but I won’t have time to edit them for a few more months I’d estimate but there will be more eventually haha. Thanks as always for watching and have a great weekend!

[@aaroncastellanos3421]

@@randomrestoration6858 I restored a corbin Ceylon entry lock set for my front screen door because I was inspired by your video. It's beautiful and everyone loves it. Do you have an Instagram with more pictures?

[@user-cn8pi8qd3b]

Absolutely beautiful

[@randomrestoration6858]

Such a gorgeous old set, glad it cleaned up so well!

[@christopherprince3250]

Fantastic job, love seeing this fabulous old hardware brought back to life. Great too see new post. Thanks,

[@randomrestoration6858]

Much appreciated, Christopher! I have a few more sets that I’ve already restored/recorded so hopefully the next video won’t be ten months from now but we’ll see haha. Thanks a lot for watching!

[@samanthadean1083]

I was just thinking that you haven’t had any videos recently, and then you post!!! Did you read my mind? 😱 Just kidding, this came out amazing!!! Great job!!! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻❤️❤️❤️

[@randomrestoration6858]

Haha out here reading minds as per usual, just had to wait until enough people had the same thoughts. Much appreciated, Samantha, it’s definitely been a long time since the last video and maybe the next one won’t take quite as long but no promises hahaha. Enjoy your weekend!

[@heathermacmillan962]

Great to see you back 😁💙

[@randomrestoration6858]

Thanks a bunch, Heather - It’s great finally getting another video out after all this time!

[@drunkdunc8738]

👍Nice job but don’t forget to put a spider back in each keyhole to prevent fly peekers 😬🍻

[@randomrestoration6858]

Oh no need to fear, I once legit had one of these entry locks half full of dead flies, someone obviously forgot to replace the spiders with new ones hahaha

[@MASI_forging]

Beautiful restoration 👏👏

[@randomrestoration6858]

Much appreciated!

[@rudybriskar5267]

Stunning! Great job!

[@randomrestoration6858]

I appreciate it, Rudy - Thanks for watching!

[@tomswindler64]

Glad to see you back,I know you said you would be off grid for awhile,but,got worried there.beautiful workmanship as always,hopefully you were able to come with some inventory for future projects.great video as always.just continue doing what you do best.be safe 😎😎😎👍👍👍

[@randomrestoration6858]

Hey I appreciate it, Tom! I was definitely gone longer than expected but I’ve been too busy to edit until just a few weeks back - I think the next video will still be months out but hopefully not quite as long of a delay as this one was haha. Oh yeah I’ve already recorded a few more restorations and have plenty of cool locksets I look forward to doing in the future! Thanks for the comment and have a nice weekend!

[@doriWyo]

I've missed you!

[@randomrestoration6858]

It’s been forever, eh? I greatly appreciate it, hopefully the next video won’t be so delayed but time will tell haha. Have a great weekend!

[@OliverSatomi]

Could you show us your collection of locks in one video? They are beautiful and you are very talented.

[@randomrestoration6858]

I do intend to at some point - I’m working on a couple dozen different locksets currently which I haven’t had time to record but would love to show them off once all done! I appreciate the kind words, thanks a lot for watching!

[@T_B]

A new video!!!! SWEEET!

[@randomrestoration6858]

Hard to believe it’s almost been a year! Thanks as always for watching!

[@butangviber]

Really beautiful work.

[@randomrestoration6858]

Thank you very much!

[@doriWyo]

Gorgeous!

[@randomrestoration6858]

Thank you, Dori! Such a gorgeous design and luckily it’s a more common set so is easier to find!

[@stanleydenning]

That lock is in pretty good condition, being 134 years old. I was a renovator of old buildings, not too long ago. Retired now. I restored several old mortice lokes. None were as ornate as this one. Most were only 100 years old and were in worse condition than this. Well done. Oh, and by the way. Spray paint is not appropriate. Japanning is what was used. But who wants to do all that? Right?

[@randomrestoration6858]

Yeah this one is mechanically in great shape after all these years with really no slop in the knobs which is a surprise for being an entry set! Very nice, I’ll be renovating an 1890s house at some point in the semi near future and can’t wait to spend months paint stripping all 20 layers of paint off all the doors and trim haha. I did end up japanning a lock in a previous video but greatly prefer using spray paint, mainly so that the locks are easier to restore in the future. Since newer non methylene chloride formula paint strippers are the norm they don’t have any effect on japanning and the only option is sandblasting or scraping it all off with paint scrapers/screwdrivers/knives which is what I’ve ended up doing with a couple dozen locks earlier this year. Not a fun process but I got it done haha. The hope is that if I have to paint strip them in the future I can easily remove it with either paint stripper or boiling it off in a crockpot, followed by re-soaking it in the rust remover overnight. Thanks a lot for watching and enjoy your weekend!

[@henriknordeng]

Beautiful work. I would love to have one of thoose beautiful locks at home

[@randomrestoration6858]

I appreciate it! I’m currently working on restoring a house worth for myself and gadzooks it’s been quite the process haha. Thanks a lot for watching!

[@davidlewis492]

Very nice well done pal.

[@randomrestoration6858]

Thank you kindly!

[@garyjones2582]

RR it's been awhile, hope all is well with you and your family.. Restoration turned out beautiful as always..You should branch out a little bit and start doing some door knockers...lol.. RR, you take care my friend and God Bless...

[@randomrestoration6858]

I appreciate it, Gary! It sure has been, hard to believe it’s almost been a year already since the last video but happy to finally have had the time to edit one down! I have a few different door related items I’ll get around to restringing within the next 75 years or so haha. Thanks for tuning in and enjoy your weekend!

[@Gun5hip]

It's so beautifuuuuul uhhhh

[@randomrestoration6858]

Right, such nicely designed set! Thanks for watching!

[@paulsweeney5642]

Welcome back

[@randomrestoration6858]

Thank you very much, Paul, it’s great to finally have another video out after all these months!

[@Tim-57]

Hey RR! So great to watch you again. These turned out beautiful. I have one request; please leave your text up a little bit longer, on your next video. I hope you and yours are well. Take care😊

[@randomrestoration6858]

Hey, thanks a lot, Tim! Hard to believe it’s been as long as it has but it feels great getting another video out after all this time. Haha sorry about that, I use an editing program called Shotcut and the major downside is I have to estimate how long to leave text on screen before even adding the text, so it’s common for me to add lots more text than initially anticipated and end up with way too short of segments. It’s one of those thing that I should change programs to something higher quality but I’m so used to using it now after all these years haha. Much appreciated and same to you! Thanks as always for watching!

[@Tim-57]

@@randomrestoration6858 You are welcome. It was great seeing another one of your projects! I get it and I understand staying with what you know. Stay safe, see you when you have time🙂

[@rosemarshall1219]

Funny I was thinking about your channel yesterday. And surprise 🎉

[@randomrestoration6858]

Haha so weird how often that sorta stuff happens! Thanks for thinking of the channel and have a great weekend!

[@rosemarshall1219]

@@randomrestoration6858 you’re welcome.yeah it is kinda crazy😅

[@johnvaluk1401]

These turn out so beautiful. Yes an in depth video would be nice. Is there a market for these once they are restored? I have a few sets myself I got out of an old house before it was destroyed.

[@randomrestoration6858]

Thanks for the feedback, it just seems like something that would be helpful to those that have an old house and lots of decrepit hardware in need of refurbishment haha. While restoring them does increase their value I’d estimate an average lockset takes 40-80 hours to restore so it really isn’t worth the time. That said, you can still fetch a great price for unrestored hardware, especially if it’s been paint stripped and is in decent shape. Thanks a lot for watching and have a nice weekend!

[@sharkboydkb]

Extremely wonderful restoration! Quick question though… On other restorations you’ve used a colored lacquer. Am I’m allowed to know what brand of lacquer that is?

[@randomrestoration6858]

Thanks a lot! In my earlier hardware restorations I was using a lacquer I was making myself, but due to lack of time I went for a store bought lacquer in a can. It’s what I’ve used for a bit over a year and seems to hold up well so far haha. The lacquer I use is a gloss “lacquer for brass” by Mohawk. This hardware is all bronze but the lacquer is compatible with brass/bronze/copper. It’s rather janky but I spray it out of the can into my airbrush cup and then add in a gold tint. The tint I use is “Nikolas Gold Tint Lacquer Dye” which I add five or so drops of into the airbrush cup with a medicine dropper pipette before shaking it up to mix in the tint. I then do several sprays before starting to apply the tinted lacquer to the hardware. After it’s tinted to the right amount I apply a few coats of untinted lacquer. It’s a bit of an involved process and the lacquer is cellulose nitrate so is quite toxic, highly flammable and really needs to be sprayed in an appropriate environment with the right safety equipment. Hope this helps and thank you for watching!

[@nated1971]

Must have missed Rusty Shackleford

[@randomrestoration6858]

Everyone misses the legend himself haha

[@shanenix1549]

The whole time I watched the video I seen a Rose color in the brass it should have been that color to match the wood

[@randomrestoration6858]

Haha yeah one of the knobs specifically was a lovely rose colored bronze but the rest of the hardware was a bit more of a yellow bronze in person, though that’s pretty common with this style mod hardware. Since this video I’ve changed the color of stain and it fits this hardware way better than the one I chose for this video and previous projects. It’s amazing how much you almost have to stain the wood to pair well with the hardware, you’d think it’d be the other way around haha. Thanks a lot for watching and have a nice weekend!

[@shanenix1549]

@@randomrestoration6858 Still an amazing video I would love to see the end results of the other

[@suzil7687]

Your captions arent on The screen long enough.

[@T_B]

I made a comment about that, too. Wayyyy too fast.

[@randomrestoration6858]

Sorry ‘bout that, I blame my low quality video editor, but on the plus side I bought it for the low price of free haha. Thanks for watching!

[@T_B]

I watch videos at 1.75 times speed and never have problems. Your comments flash the screen so fast that even at .5x speed, they're hard to read. I have to tap play/pause/play/pause....and hope to get lucky to see them.

[@randomrestoration6858]

Hahaha that’s the way to go - I usually go for 2x speed watching other restoration videos, I mean I can watch twice as much in the same time so might as well haha. Yeah some of the text is intentionally very fast but is never relevant to the restoration and is usually bonkers. Thanks for watching!