Victor Safe Restoration - Part 7: Paint and Reassembly of the Bottom

[@wadehicks9270]

Mr Rucker one more thing while I'm thinking about it. Just went out to my old building to confirm this. However I have an old Briggs & Stratton lawn mower that it's engine has an updraft carburetor on it. I tried getting a cab kit for it and the gentleman at the small engine shop said it dated back to 1950 lol. That's another project. I did however actually get it to fire up and run for just a few seconds and it don't sound anything like the engines do today. Sorry to keep on about all this I just like my old things. You have a great day Sir.

[@ian-c.01]

Nice to see more work completed on this project. It was this project that first got me interested in your channel, I have now worked my way through most of your vids and find your restorations most interesting, hope to see more in future.

[@raincoast2396]

Good to see the safe project back on line! Since your successful casting of the dial, been waiting to see how you machine the graduations. I like your shop helper. Good to have a "mouser" around. Cheers.

[@bcbloc02]

Looking good! My only experience with old safes is actually a vault. Our town has an old 1800's bank and the vault door is much like a giant version of your safe. It is a gloss black, probably lacquer with gold and red pin stripping. it shows nicks and scuffs from the 130years of use but it definitely still shines and must have really been impressive back in its day. It is well over a foot thick and has at least a dozen 4" locking lugs. It surprises me that after being opened and closed at close to everyday for 130years that the hinges haven't sagged so you can't get it shut with all that weight on it. I guess they built things right back then! lol

[@wadehicks9270]

I collect old school things. I have an old Philco AM radio that's all tube built in 1936, I'll be restoring myself when I can get all the various components I'll need. It's got a glass dial face. Only thing I'll need to send out will be the speaker to have it re-coned, I was hoping when I got it there wouldn't be much Id need to do other than change the caps and maybe a few bad tubes. Didn't work out that way lol also own 2 old MAYTAG ringer washers. One was built in I believe 1947 the other 1965. The 65 model works great Im going to wash a load of clothes in it after I change the transmission oil lol The 47 needs a ringer head but transmission and the motor an body is in great shape. What I want to get next is one that has a gasoline engine. We had one when I was kid and that thing was some kinda loud, straight pipe was all it had lol but it got the job done. Enjoy the videos Sir God Bless.

[@garyc5483]

Project safe coming along nicely. I agree with the idea of keeping it as original as possible. The screw driver is known as a steelback here in the UK. I have a few odd ones I inherited from my father.A couple of oval handles and a round handled one. No names or markings on them but excellent quality. regards from the UK

[@1stage]

So much to love in this video... KITTY! at 11:20, progress on the safe, all good stuff. I didn't even mind that it was only 12 minutes! Like pierre mentions below, I can't wait to see the finished paint job. I love antique pinstriping and flourishes. Thanks for taking up part of your Thanksgiving break to give us an update, Keith!

[@chipwright6193]

That will be a very nice safe when you are done. I have a very similar safe that a previous employer sold to me for next to nothing. Mine is about 50 in. tall with no major damage. It has an inner door and also shelving with a lock box just like yours. Mine is a little bigger so the lock box with the little shelves are in the center with larger cavities on both sides. They disabled the lock (without damaging it) and used it to store machinist tools in. Mine has a bunch of patent dates printed on it from around 1909- 1913. Some day I want to give mine the same treatment.

[@stephen7334]

Aww, sweet tortie kitty, Keith! I hadn't seen her before on your videos. Love a good shop cat!

[@Phantomthecat]

Yeah, nice cat. She should be in more of your videos Keith. :)

[@DavidKirtley]

Wow, that screwdriver handle is Perfect!!! (For those that are not into the joke, that type of handle was marketed as "Perfect Handle")

[@jusb1066]

that is better than the 'perfect' pattern i have seen, the ones i have seen have handles too small in relation to the head and Keith's had a hexagon for more leverage too

[@DavidKirtley]

There were lots of copies and variations. The original perfect pattern handle was by H.D. Smith & Co. from Plantsville CT around 1900.

[@joshonthetube]

David Kirtley Interesting- that's where I grew up.

[@art1muz13]

I've been waiting for you to do the safe and I must say It certainly was worth the wait. Thank-you for sharing it is very much appreciated, Arthur from SO.-CAL.

[@art1muz13]

***** thanx anyhow, You Think you've got worries?..... Tommorrow2/20/2015 I go before a judge for a "cert of pardon and rehab" for something I was involved in 42 or so years ago.Please pray it goes positive and well .I did this with-out a lawyer because they charge so much. anyway .

[@mack255]

Its your safe so do it the way you want to. It does not matter what other people think just keep up the good work. I hate people who always have to put someone down for something . Like my dad use to say IF YOU DON'T HAVE SOMETHING GOOD TO SAY SAY NOTHING!

[@shawnmrfixitlee6478]

Great progress in on your Victor safe .. Looks great now ! Looking forward to seeing it done ..

[@dillydallydollcomachineand8246]

Great job Mr. Keith looking forward to the internal wood work . My Best As Always, Tighe

[@smtnh]

Nice update Keith; fine work as always. Thanks, sean.

[@Larry1942Will]

I saw your Crescent jointer in the background. I've got a 16" that looks very much like it. Safe took a lot of time, nice job.

[@HardwayRanch]

Any hack can have a shop dog but only a master of his craft is worthy of a shop cat.

[@pierresgarage2687]

Hi Keith, Like the idea of the satin finish, sometimes when I want to hide the not so good surface finish, I use a small 4" foam roller with rounded edges, find it simulates the more antique finishes closer than spray, the rounded edges don't leave roller marks. Starting to look good, if you could film the pin striping artist that would be a great add on, they amaze me with their dexterity.... Cheers, Pierre

[@jusb1066]

***** hope it doesnt creep under the edges, might have to seal it first using black spray over the tape?

[@KnolltopFarms]

jusb1066 If you use American's PG27 autobody grade masking tape you won't have any creep under, just make sure to pull the tape as soon as the pin striping flashes as it sticks allot better than that blue "painter's" tape. They also sell "hardline" tape at the auto paint stores for stripping and patters like flames that is great for laying out perfect straight lines and seals really well...if it wasn't for all of the toxic fumes and dust I'd still be painting cars, I just loved seeing people faces when they would walk right past their own cars without recognizing them, it was great!

[@alepadavano227]

Nice,as always,really liked the English short haired tortoise calico. Sorry couldn't resist commenting on her.

[@alepadavano227]

***** mine,the big Orange Beast, envoys chewing on paint brushes knocking paint bottles about. This morning all of my liquitex paints and TUBES were on the floor along with,all of my drafting gear. A careful and thorough job that took time to complete. Nevertheless howls,aside

[@alepadavano227]

Alphonsus Padavano big fingers small keyboards don't work well together. I was trying to say that once adopted,either by a sweet calico or a howling crazy. Our l lives are fuller because they come into o ur lives.

[@12345NoNamesLeft]

Re wheel orientation When the safes get bigger, they get wider, but not deeper so they still fit through the door. The wheels are oriented so you can push them across the floor and through the door.

[@charlesmarlin6632]

Great video to show the value of your wireless mics! :-) Thank You for the Victor Safe update video!!

[@Vsshooter]

Garrett Wade does have the reproduction screw drivers. It was nice meeting with you in Brookfield at the General Store. The safe looks great. I have a similar safe a tad bit big with out the wheels. It is a bear to move.

[@cgis123]

Good to see more on the safe. Over here current value would be well over $10,000.00. So you might need to buy a safe to put your safe in. hahaha

[@jeffmoss26]

Looks great! I've shared these videos with the folks on the lockpicking/collecting forum.

[@JunkMikesWorld]

Glad to see some more progress. By the way it was also nice to see your shop buddy ;) I am sure she wonders who you are talking to LOL

[@rickl.orchids]

love the look your giving the old safe....should have slipped a note under the bottom plate, telling about the safe, the family history, the restore and yourself.....

[@222varminter]

Thumbs up for the workshop cat!!! ^^

[@222varminter]

***** purrrrr-fect! Thank you ;)

[@davidwatsonii9469]

I LIKE THE SCREWDRIVER, WE MADE SOME LIKE THAT WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL MACHINE SHOP

[@BleuJurassic]

love your accent and the videos nice to see the cat too

[@andymandyandsheba4571]

going to look mint that Keith when sorted

[@outsidescrewball]

Enjoyed Keith!!

[@mainesailah]

Looks great Keith. That new wireless mic works awesome too. When you are speeding through some of the parts at 2x speed or whatever you might want to turn it down sounds like you are panting;)

[@RosaStringWorks]

It really seems odd to me that the wheels are installed to roll sideways rather than front to back. Is there a reason for that? Otherwise... cool.

[@Vickwick58]

We have an old safe like that in our office and I believe the wheels are sideways so that when the big heavy door swings open the safe doesn't roll towards you. Ours is sort of up against a wall, and when the door swings open it gets even closer to the wall. I wouldn't want that whole safe coming after me.

[@Blazer02LS]

They are mounted sideways for a few reasons. One is that the transverse mounting allows the safe to be moved into position without shifting the contents out of the shelves. Another is that the wheels make is safer to open/close the door. With the wheel axis 90 degrees to the door the weight of the door doesn't rock the safe over onto it's face, also if the safe is enclosed the wheels make it somewhat more difficult to remove from the enclosure.

[@duobob]

Most or all antique things were painted by brush instead of by spray. Do you take that into account in how you finish your restorations? More a question than a comment to someone deeply involved in restorations. You are of course free to finish them any way you see best. I really do appreciate your telling us in your videos about the choices made when restoring your projects and the reasons behind them.

[@jusb1066]

i have found myself if the paint is just right, brushing paint can look very good indeed, last thing i brush painted was on a very hot day indoors, the paint was also pretty warm, it really helped get a nice thin coat without it feeling like glue, (some paints and varnish on wood benefit from adding a little boiled linseed) .i too use spray primer on metal, but brushing has a technique to it, and have used a foam roller to apply varnish and paint, it came out very well indeed, dries faster between coats and more evenly, theres certainly more ways to restore than just spraying paint

[@jmanatee]

Thank you for the safe update.

[@marcosbarreto9336]

Rapid breathing equals a steam train. Great jobb

[@not2fast4u2c]

I like your paint choice Satin or matte finish looks good on old things with black or any paint glossy can be too shiny Nice to see you have a Shop Cat I always say It's better to have a cat than to have a Rat in the building

[@kenwolfe6093]

Hi Keith, Would they have used washers with the square head bolts used on the wheel brackets? Thanks for the new video.

[@atoiler1389]

What primer and what paint did you use? How did you apply it, with a paint sprayer or just a can of spray paint? What paint did you you use for clear coat? How did you apply it?

[@ericking57]

Hi Keith Should the wheels run front to back, not side to side. I have an old safe in my office and the wheels run front to back. Thanks for the great video's

[@arkansas1313]

Safe is looking good! ....13

[@cpcoark]

A nice touch would have been to put a file under the bottom plate showing your restoration work. That way it would become a time capsule for future generations.

[@cpcoark]

Good. I was just thinking that any records that were under the bottom plate would only be found when someone else was doing a restoration. Of course, records kept in the safe would be safe from fire but subject to lost.

[@AmateurRedneckWorkshop]

You were flailing away like a man possessed by a demon tightening those screws and putting on the wheels. You might want to cut back on the energy drinks and the coffee. Thanks for sharing.

[@rjlundeen]

Kitty! I've got one that likes to help also. Great job.

[@garyramsey4925]

Awesome Keith, really dig this project. Are you using 2K primers and paint? You spray with a spray gun, or out of a can? Those caster repairs you made are virtually not detectable now that it is painted... Looking forward to the next one... Gary

[@leeh.4453]

Why no washers on the square head caster bolts? Wouldn't that save the paint from being scratched by tightening the bolts? Also, why do you think the bottom tin wasn't cut to the size needed to cover the opening? The voids look like they'll be welcoming doors on a home for 8-legged critters. Not criticizing, just curious. It's a cool project.

[@swarfrat311]

Keith, So who's your assistant in the fur coat? Your safe looks like it's coming along. When it is completed are you planning on storing your video equipment in it? At least a thief couldn't grab it and run! Thanks for the video! I like your screwdriver handles, by the way! Have a good one! Dave

[@Silverping]

Keith, how did you remove the inner door? I have one and doesn’t seem to come off as easy as main door. Thanks

[@stevenacarter77]

hay Keith you need a set of 8point sockets they work on square bolts

[@VintageMachinery]

I have a set - and I think I was using them.

[@yosho3458]

That patch in the bottom looks like dry wall mud. I have a old safe that needs fixing. Do you think drywall mud with rate enough for fire resistance.

[@vajake1]

I've been thinking about that old safe. Wondering if you had been working on it. Great job so far!

[@jusb1066]

***** the last few things i have brush painted i decided no filler, surface was power wire brushed and then initial primer was can sprayed, , brushing goes on real easy on that as you try for thin pain and not to fill anything. you dont mind seeing damage or wear marks in steel, so much better than seeing paint which can look like a blind man with the yard brush did it

[@Rich206L]

Keith, I was wondering why the wheels on the safe are set so the safe can only move sideways, is this the way it was originally? I would think that in order to put it in a closet or under a counter, having it able to move front to back makes more sense to me. Can the wheels even be mounted that way if you wanted too? What are your feelings? Anyway, another great video that I've been waiting a long time to see, so hurry with the next. Nice cat too! Rich

[@Edgelita6]

***** Now that you mention it, it does make sense. How much do you think that thing weighs?

[@GettinAuld]

Nice kitty kitty

[@battmann678]

I hate to tell you this but the cat was my favorite part...

[@indianajones7470]

Hi I like the restoration that you have done to the safe, but ......I honestly dont like the screwed on panel at the bottom - I understand that you are keeping it to the original condition but surely that panel is a weak point in the construction of the safe and totally contradicts the whole security element especially someone could flip the safe unscrew the panel and attack the vulnerable area to gain access. Personally I would have welded a new thicker plate on the bottom as I would prefer to sacrifice the originality in favour of the security elements - but each to their own Nevertheless thanks for an interesting and enjoyable insight into your workmanship and restoration project

[@jntmjt]

Your safe is looking really good. I actually have the same safe that I am restoring. Is your friend going to be able to reproduce the decals? If so, I'd be interested in purchasing a set of the decals for mine, if they work out for you. Can you help me out there? Thanks!

[@timothysmith5769]

I highly doubt that bottom sheet metal is from the original manufacture of the safe. It just isn't of the same quality.

[@HorsleyLandy88]

why would you put wheels on a safe

[@1BigBen]

well it is from the 1900s and that is how it was made. however my guess would be that in the morning it was roll out from a back office and put under the counter and back into the office after closing

[@jusb1066]

Featuring your new co-star there Keith?

[@bigun447]

We have Josie's Twin named Boots. She rules the whole place and the other cats and the dog give her a wide space. Here is an idea about the safe. Mount in in your truck. JUST KIDDING!

[@kg2nc]

Hi Keith you know what type of paint would look real nice on that safe Rust-Oleum® Universal® Forged Hammered Spray Paint. Check out the youtube video on how it looks and how to apply it. The paint looks like if you hit the paint with a ball pin hammer. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gp7No2p5e66Ln5Y

[@jusb1066]

i hope it not like the uk version "hammerite" which is like painting thick glue, runs constantly when you dont look, , takes weeks to harden and then chips off so easily like glass, (spray version clogs the nozzle, covers terrible, dries slow, runs and still chips badly) i have given up on their products, but have used a product called rustins "small job gloss paint" and it paints really nice indeed, evens out perfectly and dries overnight

[@kg2nc]

jusb1066 They have different brands and the one I'm talking about its call Hammerite hammer paint it and drys fast and its hard in 24hrs.

[@kg2nc]

***** I understand to restore like it was. You really have done a nice job on it with the recasting of the wheel holders. I've never done casting but I've learned so much from you just looking at your video's. Thanks Keith.

[@garyc5483]

jusb1066 I don't know how you prepare or use the Hammerite brand paint. I have used it for the last 40 years and have never had a problem with it. To be honest its not so easy for brushing but for spraying its great. If you brush you need to be quick and the more even coating the better and don't try to dab it on. When spraying the more you thin it and the thinner the coating you get and the finer the finish (much smaller roses). I once sprayed a Vauxhall Cresta with it and it looked like a silver metallic and was still good 20 years later. As for hardening I have never know it to take more than an hour or so even in the cold weather. I have brush painted and sprayed machinery / vehicles / steelwork and furniture. As I say I have used many 100's of gallons and never had a problem.

[@kg2nc]

Gary C I agree with you. Some people don't follow instructions and get a bad effect and they blame it on the paint.

[@deanerichardson8930]

You definitely need to watch the coffee intake, or do we just call you SPEEDY from now on?

[@sheep1ewe]

To be honest, i like those old screws Way better than the cross screws... (philips, pozi, etc, i dont know the genereal name of those in English) I seriously hate cross screws when using machines they are complete useless and they are extremly ugly to look at, at my opinion in fact so ugly that i often refuse to use them at all becas they will ruin the whole look of things i made or restore. I wonder why they still are so common when we hawe way better heads today, like insex, torx, etc. But, still, even the good ones still does not look right for puposes like this. I often hunting the whole town where i live to get the right types of screw heads and every shopkeeper stares at me as i am mad, (and pehaps i am... :D ) "-nobody use those types today, You know." is a standard answer here, especially if one wants them in brass or nicelplated brass. I bunker lot of them every time i find them sheap in fleamakets, etc :D

[@sheep1ewe]

***** Perhaps i over reacted a bit there, but with hand tools (a regular, non electric srew driver...) those works good and i think they was a solution wich once in time filled a gap before insex/torx, etc where common standards and electric tools where not in wide use. But when used with electric tools they will often goes round and the bits will not last that long (at least here in my country they still developing lots of solutions one can find in the hardware store, diamond powder, "super Titanium-ultraFlex steel", etc...:D ), an old fasion screw like those we are talking about here more often the screvhead it self will break before that happen, if it´s not rusted complete stuck... Guess i must stop now, think i can talk screws for ouers... :D However, i love all Your videos and a friend just got an old safe wich reminds a bit of this one, but with a big wooden cabinet in it´s stand. Think we will sawe and restore it even if it´s not fulfill modern demands it´s decorative and a pice of history we want to show our visitors in the factory in the future. But for the moment i promised him to finish that old cropper he saved from the scrapyard some months ago... Then we hawe a pair of old shaping machines wating next in the queue... And i still realy love and enjoy every minute of my job! :D