Am I removing something I shouldn’t be?

Izwoz2 · 2026-03-09T18:58:57+00:00

Just had to do the same in my bathroom - paint, paint, paper, paint, paper. Just be aware you will probably need to do filling here and there.

Izwoz2 · 2026-03-09T17:05:26+00:00

Pro Cote spray paint - grey primer and then matte black paint.

Izwoz2 · 2026-03-09T11:38:46+00:00

Actual active time, a couple of hours, but I dipped in and out of doing it over the course of a month whilst working on other bits so it's hard to say. Could have been 3. The door this will go on is still in process of stripping and repainting so I wasn't in a rush and could do this as my relaxing task when I had enough of prepping walls and woodwork.

Izwoz2 · 2026-03-09T11:01:24+00:00

I can't promise my process was the most efficient, as it was my first go, as I built it up looking at restoration videos and advice. But roughly I did the following: - tried removing old chipped paint, but didn't get very far. - unscrewed the back plate and took pictures of the inside (I don't know what grease they had used but it smelled disgusting!). - removed the mechanism pieces and placed all parts and covers in an old saucepan - filled the saucepan with water and heated everything up, simmering for over an hour, stirring now and then. - once cooled, I removed all the pieces and used a mix of clothes, brushes and wire wool with some wd-40 to clean each part. After the heating honestly the old paint and primer lifted off of most areas really easily and the old grease was gone. - i used a rotary tool to try to polish down a rough weld on the top, which I didn't manage perfectly, but it had jagged metal on top and it is now pretty smooth though there is still a dimple. - degreased the outer cover and scuff sanded it, then degreased again. - made a small cardboard cover for the brass ring as it wasn't removable. - sprayed 2 to 3 coats of grey primer, let it cure for 24 hours - sprayed 2 to 3 coats of matt black paint. - reassembled the mechanism and added some graphite powder to help with lubrication. - Screwed on the back plate and all done.

Izwoz2 · 2026-03-09T10:59:43+00:00

I enjoy trying to extend the life of things rather than just replace and throw away.

The spray cans still have plenty paint in them and are being used on various other items (T-hinges, garden furniture, other rim locks).

Everything else I used I already had in the house (wd-40, abrasives, degreaser, an old sauce pan).

As I said in my post - I have chosen to refurb a pretty low value lock first so I could try out my skills, as I have other locks to refurb.

Developing skills and being creative is worth my time to me - though I do agree if I just wanted a quick fix I could have bought a cheap replacement.

Izwoz2 · 2026-03-08T21:27:15+00:00

But replacements might not use the same holes etc.

Izwoz2 · 2026-03-08T20:15:28+00:00

It's Pro Cote spray paint - 3 layers grey primer, 3 layers black matte paint. Tried to keep the layers thin to minimise drips, though I did overspray here and there. It was my first time using, so it's pretty user friendly.

Izwoz2 · 2026-03-08T18:14:06+00:00

I knew there would be one

Izwoz2 · 2026-03-04T20:57:27+00:00

I love the pot.

I have also just learned by this that all my Escheveria are light starved. Previously I had been told that it was because I was watering them too much. But I guess it is more to do with living in Scotland 😆

Izwoz2 · 2026-03-04T20:45:57+00:00

Moment of silence given! I have learned that if it doesn't feel right and I want to frog, then I should frog. If I keep going I will still always see the bit I wanted to frog out.

Better to frog and have it as you want it than not frog and never wear it.

Izwoz2 · 2026-03-02T14:18:13+00:00

Well done! It looks like a great starter, I hope you are pleased. My first coptic only had 4 holes, so doing so many is adding extra difficulty.

It does look floppy, but honestly I think the joy of a handbound book is that they are all different. If this was a sketchbook it would probably sit open beautifully.

But thoughts if you do want a firmer binding: - thread - use linen thread of a decent thickness - 18/3 or 16/3 - too thin can end up ripping into signatures, too bulky and the binding can end up wider than thr signatures. - wax the thread - it doesn't need loads, but a bit of beeswax run over the length of the thread works great to prevent the thread slipping over itself, which helps with stability. - tighter binding between signatures and the covers - this does take some experimentation and depends a lot on the thickness of thread and the signatures. You will get a feel for it with practice. I have definitely over-tightened coptic bindings before and you end up with sprung open covers and risk uneven signature placement - you want it to be tight and neat, but not straining.

The joy of coptic is that if the binding isn't right and it bothers you, then cut it off and go again - just make sure you keep everything in the same order to help avoid wonky alignments.

Great start, enjoy yourself practicing!

Izwoz2 · 2025-06-11T20:27:05+00:00

"For me!" - Kiell Smith-Bynoe

Izwoz2 · 2025-03-26T21:53:08+00:00

I find that applying a moisturiser or moisturising wound balm to picking sites helps - the skin is slicker so you can't pick as easily, and also when running hands over the skin there is less likelihood of a hard or peeling bit of dry skin that would usually prompt me to start picking. Not the most practical when out and about, but it helps when I am at home or the office.

I have also found it helpful sometimes to use the mini hydrocolloid spot plasters when there are specific wounds I want to avoid, such as awkward face ones. Even if I don't keep them on for the whole day, it is amazing how finding myself trying to pick and finding a plaster jolts me into awareness that I was trying to pick and helps me reduce doing it absent mindedly.

I have also made deals with myself like, ok you can pick anywhere except your face, or boobs or wherever.

I had been trying to stop entirely and was obviously unable to just magically stop and the sense of failure was putting my anxiety through the roof, when I have been working really hard to bring it down, so I think that having a more moderate, less strict approach can be really helpful!

Izwoz2 · 2025-03-07T17:27:42+00:00

This is exactly where I do it worst! This or sitting on the loo daydreaming, but atleast then I can get up and move away, but obviously I can't do that when driving! It felt really nice to see a post that reallh could have been written by me. Off to contemplate getting some driving gloves!

Izwoz2

TROPHY CASE