My door knobs and door hinges in my home are old but made very well.?

Question

I have tried using a brass cleaner on them but that really did not do anything, is there something out there that I don't know about that would work to make them look new again? Or should I just bite the bullet and get them replaced?

Answer 1

You didn't say if they have a decorative or historic value; but yesterdays "builder's grade is typically better than anything you get now from the flood of cheap hardware from China.

It's not unusual for old hardware to only have a thin brass plating that may have long ago worn off.

Going back to the first statement, if has an antique value - leave it alone.

If it's just a an old builder's grade set, you may just want to freshen it up with a good spray paint job.

If you really want something last looks good but (and cost some $$$'s), start looking on the restoration hardware sites for replacements.

I would add that I would not rely on old hardware for an exterior door. Most old sets are easily defeated by basic tools or a moderate kick.

Answer 2

In the olden days(last week) doors were fitted into the opening by a carpenter. Or somebody that knew how to chisel and cut and measure and screw. Basically any homebody can do it. What I do not understand is whether the door has external hinges, Usually 3 pins on an outside door(which normally is heavy) Glass is heavy. And the outside door is normally solid wood. Much different than an inside door which is held up by two hinges and the hinge pins can be popped out by a long say 3" finishing nail up pushed upward through the bottom of the hinge pin It will rise a fair amount and before you take out the bottom one you get the top one loose too. Now keeping the door in the exact position (I hold my doors open remove the bottom pin You might need to use a hammer and a flat blade screwdriver to lift the pin all the way out. Still keep the door level with the floor and pull the top pin out with your fingers. Drop the pin. Now place yourself on the edge of the door where the door handles are , one knee on each side of the door and pull it away (or persuade it with tapping from the hammer) and the door is free of the hinges and is in your hands. Do it on any inside door. These are the featherweights because they only needed 2 hinges to hold them up. Putting it back on is basically the reverse of removing it. First get hinges close together and then use one hand closest to the hinge to pinch the hinge to gether so that it aligns on the top and on the bottom but mainly on the top and put a pin halfway in. Then do the bottom hinge and sometimes the hammer has to be used on the hinge itself that is on the door to move it 1/100th's" up or down so the hinges slip together so you can put in that pin halfway or all the way and do tap in the top and it is back on. Yes it is as simple as screwing in 3 hinges (just don't make the screws tight so it has a bit of movement until the door is actually hung on all 3 hinge pins. Only when the pins are all the way in place, then you tighten the screws that hold the hinge plates. However that is an outside door and glass is heavier than you think. That is why 3 hinges. Seeing as you are a virgin, take off and put on several doors inside the house to get the general idea of how to do it and what to expect. The outside doors are going to take more muscle. Mostly I wear leather shoes(not runners) because this weight can be carried by your toes of one foot as you are trying to align the pins.

Answer 3

I don't know as I would want to do either. Why make something old look new? If its working and you have no other complaints about them, leave them as is. But if your bent on replacing them, I'd centainly look into selling them to someone who will appreciate their intrinsic value. Unless of course, by old you mean put in 20 years ago and not 50 to 100 as I'm thinking.

Answer 4

if they function well, why replace them? trust me on this...you are the only person that notices it, so leave it alone, you could be opening a real pandora's box by attempting to replace good hardware with pretty hardware.

Answer 5

Kool-aid, try removing the brass and letting it sit in kool-aid, no sugar needed.

Answer 6

Try using some tarn-ex. You can buy it at most convient stores.It might bring the life back to them.