Fixing A Drawer Lock

[woofgang]

I have just bought an old desk. which came with a key. Two of the drawer locks work but the rest are seized solid. I don't really mind if I can't unjam them but i thought it would be interesting to try. Can anyone recommend websites books or videos to help please?
Many thanks

[woofgang]

derek, benzole is a close relative of petrol and paraffin, which i know were used for soaking mechanical bits and pieces in to dissolve grease based dirt. These locks aren't at all greasy, I suspect that they are just filthy and maybe also rusty. Poor old desk was pretty dirty when I got it and from the labels stuck to the drawers and the stuff inside, I suspect it was used in a garage, the car repair kind, not in someone's home. a couple of the drawers had been held together with parcel tape.

[stuey]

Derekpara, repair people used to soak clock movements in gasoline, naphtha gas, and various other "zenes". Some people still do. I soak the dismantled movement in full strength "Simple Green"' rinse in water; then soak in methyl-hydrate to get rid of the water; and then blow-dry with a hair dryer. I can't afford an ultra sonic cleaner:)

[woofgang]

lock update for those interested
I have now worked on the first three locks. 2 of them yielded to in situ soaking and much waggling! I removed the third and there is now some movement in the lock itself but the pin that fits into the barrel of the key has broken off and I suspect that this means that the key isn't engaging with the lock mechanism as it should. I decide to give it some more soaking but I suspect that one will need replacing. Its had a lot of wear, the brass keyhole is also missing and the hole in the wood is showing a lot of wear.

[alavahalf]

The pin that is missing gives the key a pivot point. You could always drill the old pin out and replace it with a bolt.

[woofgang]

sorry alavahalf, i wasn't clear, the pin is missing completely. I suspect the the keyhole fell out which meant that the key kept getting put in slightly squint which put strain on the pin The pin has snapped off flush with the backplate, it has even taken away the area of the backplate that it was attached to, leaving a small hole

[woofgang]

lightbulb moment, I was thinking doorbolt and you were saying nut and bolt! yes, i can do that and have got a million different sizes in the shed! thank you!

[alavahalf]

Sounds as though you are getting there... The section of keyhole that is missing can be "built up" using epoxy resin if you can get some that is more like putty than fluid, if you know what I mean.
It is then easy enough to either drill or file to fashion a new keyhole.

[woofgang]

you can buy new brass ones and i have got some of that magic putty stuff, you know mix part a to part b and its a filler and a glue