Mary Ostler

Started the metal mock up. I don’t expect this lock will be used in the skid chest. I will be using it to figure out what I need to do to make a nice lock, and avoid all the nasty mistakes.

I started with making a wooden template were all the metal parts were arranged in there proper place.
I am using aluminum because it is easy to cut on the wood bandsaw.

Have the wooden mock up next to some metal plate I had kicking around the shop. Everything is going to be held together with peened over nails. I have wooden doweling around the metal plates nail to hold the plates apart the same thickness of the wood. This way I can look to see if there are any problem areas.

Removed the metal parts and nails from the wooden mock up. Taping it to the metal plate, I nailed through the template and straight through the metal plate. This way the holes are exactly lined up just like the working template.

The first two metal pieces attached to the metal plate. The bottom spacer is attached by one nail recessed into the spacer, and in a second play that also goes through the latch bar pivot. Washer made out of scrap steel plate. I forgot to put a shim between the spacer and the latch bar. When I peened over the nail head, it tightened the whole thing right up. Spend a good hour wiggling the piece so that is is loose.