Cleaning a Little Duke Mechanism

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Cleaning a Little Duke Mechanism

Postby Rick-okc » Sat Sep 30, 2017 2:29 pm

Guys,

I have a really dirty, rough looking Little Duke mechanism I'm going to start working on (pictures below).
I'd appreciate advice on the best way to clean this thing.
I have a bead blaster and was thinking about completely dismantling the whole thing and bead blasting the parts.
I want to be careful NOT to remove and of the original protective plating, if it's still there, so I was thinking of setting the pressure at 40-50 PSI. After bead blasting I may lightly hit the parts with a fine brass wire wheel on the grinder.
Am I messing things up? How would you guys handle this?

Rick

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Re: Cleaning a Little Duke Mechanism

Postby Richard13 » Sat Sep 30, 2017 5:26 pm

Nice find, good luck with this project. Looks like it needs to come apart and do one piece at a time. Hey isn't that a Johnny Cash song? Zink plating is ez to do at home if you want to try that. Makes everything look fresh. It's original now but once it's apart and blasted do it the way you want it. Some guys leave the metal in the "white" and clear coat.
Looking for survivor machines especially vendor fronts or original side vendors with or without
a machine. 1920's-30's goosenecks, round escalators. I enjoy hand painting the castings.
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Re: Cleaning a Little Duke Mechanism

Postby Rick-okc » Sat Sep 30, 2017 6:51 pm

Thanks Richard. I'll have to look into the home zinc plating.
Got any recommendations?

Rick
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Re: Cleaning a Little Duke Mechanism

Postby Richard13 » Sat Sep 30, 2017 7:29 pm

Looking for survivor machines especially vendor fronts or original side vendors with or without
a machine. 1920's-30's goosenecks, round escalators. I enjoy hand painting the castings.
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Location: Tempe Arizona

Re: Cleaning a Little Duke Mechanism

Postby Rick-okc » Sat Sep 30, 2017 8:49 pm

Thanks again Richard.
I was looking at Caswell and was shocked at their price.
Then I saw the one you mention at Eastwood.
Big difference in price!
I realize the one at Caswell is much more complete.
So, I'm understanding you've used the kit from Eastwood and it worked well for you?

Rick
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Re: Cleaning a Little Duke Mechanism

Postby Richard13 » Sun Oct 01, 2017 7:54 am

Yes I did but I needed more power and think I used a car battery to cook things faster. Needed several size and shaped plastic containers to accommodate the different size and shaped parts to conserve the limited solution.
Looking for survivor machines especially vendor fronts or original side vendors with or without
a machine. 1920's-30's goosenecks, round escalators. I enjoy hand painting the castings.
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Joined: Fri Apr 08, 2016 12:32 pm
Location: Tempe Arizona

Re: Cleaning a Little Duke Mechanism

Postby oldslotman » Sun Oct 01, 2017 8:10 am

PB blaster and mineral spirits and Scotch scrubbing pads. won't look new but will be clean and remove some of the rust.
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