How to Fix Antique Glass Door Knobs
- (aka the problem) - Your knob spins or falls off in your hand. ...
- Take both knobs off the spindle. This can be accomplished by unscrewing both set screws, unscrewing your knobs from the spindle. ...
- Acquire a new spindle. The easiest way to do that at Hippo is to bring in your knobs. ...
- Attach one knob to the end of the spindle. ...
- Put the spindle through the door. Assuming your door, latching mechanism, and plates are still attached (if not, attach them now), put one or two washers on ...
- Attach the second knob. Now, place one or two washers on the end of the spindle poking through the door. ...
How do you fix a loose door knob?
To check, take out your set screw and look through the hole. If you see a corner, twist the knob a little further. Otherwise, tighten down the set screw and check to see if your knob still spins. If not, then you're already done! Victory lap! Scenario B) Your door knob's glass has come loose from the collar.
Can old doorknobs be repaired?
When vintage doorknobs stop working, knowing how to troubleshoot common problems can make them good as new again. To repair old doorknobs and locks, start by learning a few key parts. My old house has lots of stuck doorknob mechanisms on both interior and exterior doors.
How do you get paint off of glass door knobs?
To remove paint from glass door knobs, heat a mixture of equal parts vinegar and water. Bring the mixture to a boil and then remove from the heat. Carefully dip the end of a soft rag into the vinegar mixture. Rub the rag on the glass doorknob until the paint comes off.
How do you restore an old door?
Apply a coat of primer to the areas that were repaired and give the entire door a new coat of paint. When the paint has dried, completely install your new knob set, faceplate and strike plate. The other restored old doors look just as good.
Can you restore old door knobs?
If you have tarnished hardware on your doors or if you upcycle brass hardware, including doorknobs, door knockers and more, you can restore the brass hardware to its former glory by using soft cloths and household items or commercial cleaners.
How do you fix a old door knob that won't turn?
Jiggle the Door Knob and Lubricate. Occasionally the problem could be a minor issue that can be solved by just jiggling the doorknob to get the stuck part loose. ... Check the Latch and Doorknob Assembly. ... Check the Plates. ... Check the Tubular Latch. ... Check the Latch Body. ... Check the Rotating Lugs. ... Re-Attach the Knob. ... Make Adjustments.More items...•
How do you make an old door knob work?
0:030:36How To Tighten Old Doorknobs - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe chef that comes through the door handle they'll tighten it up. Easy. For more information onMoreThe chef that comes through the door handle they'll tighten it up. Easy. For more information on fixing and replacing old doorknobs check out my blog the honest Carpenter calm.
How do you restore a door knob?
A mixture of vinegar and salt with 0000 steel wool should do the trick. Note that steel wool is best for solid brass, not plated. An old t-shirt or shop rag will be ideal for plated brass. If your door knobs are heavily tarnished, they'll need to soak in ammonia for a short time.
What causes a door knob to not turn?
If nothing happens when you turn the knob, it's usually because the set screw holding the knob to the rod has worked itself loose. If the bolt moves, but not enough to allow the door to open, the mechanism probably needs lubrication.
How do you fix an antique door latch?
No worries, I'll show you how you can fix a vintage door knobby using a commonrubber band instead.Remove the door handle. ... Remove the antique mortise lock from the door. ... Unscrew the cover. ... Install rubber band. ... Replace the coverand test the handle. ... Reinstall the mortise lock and door handle.
How do you fix a stripped door knob?
0:042:14How to fix a broken door handle (stripped screw holes) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipHere i am applying quick drying wood glue to the dowels. And it's a good idea to add some inside theMoreHere i am applying quick drying wood glue to the dowels. And it's a good idea to add some inside the hulls as well this particular door is made of mdf. So it's going to soak up a lot of glue.
How do you fix an old door knob spring?
5:2912:32Removal and spring repair for vintage Sargent door latch and lockYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBut you just hook that on there. And then you make sure it's the stump. Inside front of the piece.MoreBut you just hook that on there. And then you make sure it's the stump. Inside front of the piece. Both at the same. Time. Then you push it against the back of the latch.
How do you fix a spindle on a door knob?
2:315:20How To Replace a Spindle on a Lockset - FSB - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou may need to tap it out with a screwdriver. And hammer insert your replacement spindle into theMoreYou may need to tap it out with a screwdriver. And hammer insert your replacement spindle into the latch hub you might notice that your spindle has small metal snubs on it these are stops.
How do you restore rusted hardware?
0:141:50How To Remove Rust From Screws And Bolts - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd I'm going to use apple cider vinegar you use regular vinegar but I've heard that apple ciderMoreAnd I'm going to use apple cider vinegar you use regular vinegar but I've heard that apple cider vinegar works a little bit better. So that's what it's using it's not really much more expensive.
How do I restore rusty hardware?
3:416:21How To Remove Rust From Antique Furniture Hardware - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou can paint any way you want to blue it you can get some cold bluing that's used for guns. AndMoreYou can paint any way you want to blue it you can get some cold bluing that's used for guns. And blew the hardware. Or just wipe it down with like some gun oil and stuff to help keep it from rusting.
What do you soak old hardware in?
Soak the hardware in a bucket of warm water, vinegar, and a drop of mild dish soap and soak for 30 minutes.
How do you make a door knob shiny?
0:262:06Best Way to Clean and Shine Brass Hardware to a Brilliant FinishYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNothing wrong with a little elbow grease now. Now I've got it pretty clean in fact I've got it veryMoreNothing wrong with a little elbow grease now. Now I've got it pretty clean in fact I've got it very clean a little mark over here I want to get. Now what we do is we take a a dry cloth.
How do you restore an oil rubbed bronze door handle?
0:181:22Restoring oil rub bronze - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOil you just take a soft cloth i use actually an old sock. And you put the vegetable oil on the sockMoreOil you just take a soft cloth i use actually an old sock. And you put the vegetable oil on the sock. And then you just slowly you don't want to put a bunch of oil on but you just slowly rub.
How do I restore my exterior door hardware?
0:2512:04Front Door Hardware/Handle Restoration - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipState using this Rosco Liam Metallica bright reflective finish and this one is gold one so basicallyMoreState using this Rosco Liam Metallica bright reflective finish and this one is gold one so basically it just you have to spray on the pad. And let it dry and then once dry you can just restore.
How do you refinish old brass door hardware?
Mix ½ cup of baking soda with 1 cup of white vinegar to create a paste (you can also add 2 tbsp of table salt if your piece is badly tarnished). The paste will fizz for a few seconds. Once the paste has stopped fizzing, rub on to your brass hardware in circular motions with a toothbrush.
How are door knobs held together?
The doorknob assembly is held together by a long, skinny metal piece called a spindle. The spindle is threaded and the doorknobs are screwed on. The spindle also contains flat grooves, which allow the set screw to “grab on” to the spindle. Heavy use of a doorknob with loose set screws can damage the spindle over time.
What is vintage doorknob?
Vintage hardware such as doorknobs, locks and hinges add character and charm to any home, whether it’s old or new. Antique and vintage doorknobs are collectible items; highly sought after for period homes, historic buildings and admired by collectors for artistic design and craftsmanship. With many years of use, vintage doorknobs can start to slip when turned. Eventually, this can lead to the doorknob just spinning without opening the latch that secures the door. However, with a little cleaning and repair work, vintage doorknobs can often be restored to function properly without having to be replaced.
How to tell if a door is right or left?
Finding the right parts will also depend on knowing the hand of the door. When you face the door, the side that contains the hinges will determine whether it is a right or left hand. In other words, if the hinges are on your right side and you push the door away from you to open it, the door is a right-hand door.
Can you paint a door without the hardware?
It is not uncommon to find old doors that were once painted without the hardware being removed or covered beforehand. In order to remove the hardware from the door, it may be necessary to use a utility knife to score the paint around metal plates and lock mechanisms that may have become sealed to the door.
Can vintage door knobs be replaced?
Eventually, this can lead to the doorknob just spinning without opening the latch that secures the door. However, with a little cleaning and repair work , vintage doorknobs can often be restored to function properly without having to be replaced.
It's a minor problem, but fixing it will improve your quality of life every day
A sticky door knob might not be the most pressing update your home needs, but fixing it can improve your quality of life every day. As hardware ages, knobs can come loose or develop other problems that prevent the latch from engaging or disengaging when you turn them.
Where to start
The most useful tool in door knob repair and installation is a flathead screwdriver. ( You might need a Phillips head driver if your hardware is newer.) Depending on the type of problem, there are a few different things you can try, from tightening up loose screws to replacing parts— but first you’ll need to determine the source of your trouble.
Inspect your hardware
Start by inspecting the latch hardware. Locate the set screws that are at the base of the knob, near where it joins to the door. It’s usually a relatively small flathead screw. Check to see if the set screw on either side of your door is tight. If it’s loose, try tightening it up. Test your knob to see it works better.
Rotate your spindle
Now that the knob is clear, take a look at the spindle, or the four-sided shaft that goes through the door when the handle is in place. If there are wear marks on it, you might be able to rotate the knob to the other side of the shaft to fix the knob.
Replace your set screws
Perhaps one ( or both) of your set screws is worn down to the point that that it does n’t hold the knob on the shaft securely. These should be pretty easy to replace. There are lots of suppliers online that sell replacement doorknob set screws, also known as grub screws. You may also be able to find them at your local hardware store.
Replace your spindle
If your knob’s spindle is rounded due to wear over time, it won’t fit snugly in the square hole known as a hub, and it won’t be able to turn the latch. If that’s the part that’s giving you trouble, it’s not hard to replace. You can also get these at pretty much any hardware store or online.
Check your latch plate
If you’ve tried these tricks and you’re still not getting results, take a look at the latch plate on the doorframe. If it’s loose, try tightening it up. You can also try shutting the door to see if the latch bolts, or if the part of the latch that protrudes from the door lines up with the latch plate vertically.
How to keep old knob from spinning?
So, to answer your question, all you have to do to keep your old knob from spinning is securely fasten it to the shaft coming through the door from the other side. To help things, look closely at the shaft in the picture above. You’ll see that it is actually square, and that the corners have threads cut into them.
What happens if you don't grab the door?
If it still doesn’t want to grab, the shaft in the door may be worn down. If this is the case, you’ll probably have to remove it and get another one. Likewise, the knobs themselves can go bad over time. What usually happens is that the bulb on the end detaches from a casing in the neck.
How do I mount a door knob?
To mount the door knob, you spin it clockwise onto the shaft, just like you’re turning a nut onto a bolt. You want to keep spinning it until it’s almost touching the plate on the door. But, be sure to leave a little slack at the end–about 1/16″. This will help the knob turn more easily.
Do both sides of a door work the same?
Also, it’s important to note that both sides of the door work in the same way. The knob on the far side mounts to the shaft in identical fashion. So, it’s possible to have the same problem on both sides of the door. But, it’s fixed in exactly the same way. That’s pretty much it.
Can you tighten loose door knobs?
And fortunately the answer is, yes –these loose door knobs tend to be very easy to tighten! (I’m including a short video of the process, as well as a more detailed explanation below.) (Tools and materials are linked below strictly for informational purposes–no marketing revenue is generated through these links.)
Can a bulb come off?
The bulb won’t come off, but it will spin and spin, making it pretty impossible to get the neck to turn. (This is how unwary party-goers often get trapped in bathrooms, resulting in claustrophobic freak-outs and embarrassing rescue operations!)
Restore Old Doors
Over the years we replaced a few doors on the main floor with off-the-shelf, 6-panel doors and we had a few old, flat slab doors remaining that needed to be swapped out as well. Most of the doors downstairs are from a 20-30 year old renovation so they were ugly, boring and of poor-quality. They had to go.
Remove the Old Hardware
To get started on the restoration of this old door we need to remove the old lockset. This one came out pretty easy but as you can see, I had break away layers of paint and wrestle a couple stripped screws out. It’s okay to pry some of the stripped screws out like a nail, we’re going to patch that all up in the process.
Remove the Heavily Damaged Areas
Next we’re going to identify and mark the damaged area that needs to be removed. The key to this step is staying parallel and square with the existing edges. This will make it easier to create our patch later. Using an oscillating saw, remove the damaged area.
Drill Bore Holes
In order to fit a new, modern style knob set into this door we need to layout the position of the new lock and cut a new main bore hole and make any adjustments to latch hole. Using a door lock installation jig a great idea here to save time and ensure accuracy.
Make a Patch
Now, it’s time to measure and cut our wood patch. I used a piece of pine cut from a regular 2×4 because pine is easy to work with. The downside with pine is that it’s soft and may damage again easily but with a patch this small and a quality paint to cover it, I wasn’t too concerned.
Fill and Sand
Now we can finish the fit by adding wood filler to all the gaps around your patch. This is a good time fill any other gaps, screw holes or cracks on other areas of the door like the one we saw above. Sand down any high spots around your patch and rough areas on the entire door.
Restore Old Doors
Restoring old doors creates so many great design opportunities and they are fun to hunt for, too. You can update the hardware like we did here or close up all the holes and install the door using sliding barn door hardware. You could even clean one up and just lean it against the wall as decor.
Step 1: Remove the Hardware
For an in depth look at how to remove this type of hardware, and how to clean its innards, I suggest this instructable: https://www.instructables.com/id/Cleaning-and-Repairing-an-Antique-Mortise-Door-Loc/ The short version is: 1) Use the knife to carefully cut the paint along the edge of the escutcheon plates.
Step 2: Remove the Paint
There's always scraping the paint off, but if there is a chance that the finish under the paint is in good shape, you don't want to risk damaging it. The best way to get the paint off is with a slow cooker. 1) Place your hardware in a disposable metal container.
Step 3: Clean the Metal
1) Rinse the soap and any remnants of paint off the metal. 2) Polish off any loose rust or corrosion. 3) Give the metal a good wash with soap and water and dry thoroughly
Step 4: Paint!
Follow the directions on the spray paint and paint your hardware. Less is more. Start with thin coats and work your way up as needed.
Step 5: Re-install and Enjoy
Reinstall your hardware (it will probably be easier without the paint gumming up the screws), and enjoy your shiny new door knobs!
What to do when you remove hardware?
If removing the hardware isn't possible, make sure the door's paint or finish is adequately sealed off with masking tape to protect it from whatever cleaner you're using. 2. Lubricate: When you have removed the hardware for cleaning, this is a good chance for lubrication.
What to do if magnet doesn't stick?
Try the simplest solution from Consumer Reports and use a little lemon juice on any spots or tarnishing. Clean old brass screws by leaving them overnight in lemon juice and buffing them dry before putting them back in. ...
Do antique doorknobs work?
Beautiful antique doorknobs, locks, strikes and hinges can give an old house a special flair, but the bottom line is that they have to work. Especially with exterior doors, it's critical that the lock and hardware be in excellent working condition.
Do Victorians say good door hardware should be seen and not heard?
Like the Victorians said about children, good door hardware should be seen and not heard. If the doors don't seem to be lining up well within their jambs, if the locks are alternately too loose or too tight, or the hinges are starting to strip off the frame, you may have thought about abandoning your classics for new door hardware.
