How to remove tarnish (?) from exterior door and handle
I’ll admit I don’t know if this is actually “tarnish” or even what kind of material I’m dealing with. Still, I’d like to know how to restore it, ideally without removing the hardware.
Titan (made by Kwikset) is not high quality hardware, and what you are seeing is the finish deteriorating. You could contact the company and see if they will stand behind it and send you a new entry set. Send them the photos. Can't hurt to try.
But no, you won't clean that off... the finish is long gone.
Your hardware is clear coat over plating. The clear coat that protected the shiny metal underneath is long gone and flaked away allowing the brass underneath to tarnish. Replacement is the easiest. If you want to save what you have you need to decide how you want it to look. You can remove the pieces and strip off the remaining clear coat. Then you can try using a metal polish to bring back the shine. Then clear coat to protect the finish. Or, you can just leave it with a patina (tarnished brass) or paint it.
I see time and again properties where, you turn the deadbolt, hear it hitting the jamb, and can see it's not extending completely when it's supposed to lock.
On the inside it is easy enough to insert a screwdriver and walk the bolt back completely so it's unlocked.
What about the outside? My question is whether this is a security risk. Can the bolt also be walked back somehow by inserting something thing to shift the bolt over to open position?
If not that, can the bolt be shifted back with a strong magnet? Thanks in advance!
Lately when I have unlocked the door knob, the door knob sticks and I can't open the door. It's as if I didn't unlock the door. I can jiggle the knob and eventually it will open. This seems to have just started the last couple of weeks. It doesn't do it all the time. We have been having very cold temps the last two weeks, single digits and below zero. Could this have something to do with it the door knob sticking?
01-26-21, 06:28 PM
