Spindle Kits Redux

Posted on July 08, 2018 | 2 Comments

Since the spindle kit is one our best selling items, we felt it merited a blog post to explain the increase in our price from $10 to $20. Our wholesale costs rose dramatically these past few months due to (we've been told) the price of steel. We'd like to offer a few options:

1) Our original threaded/tapped spindle kit which is great for saving lovely old doorknobs on a threaded spindle. See our blog post all about how to fix antique doorknobs here. These are still our favorite option, but the cost is higher.

2) We have started carrying a less expensive reproduction straight tapped spindle kit. These will function the exact same as our threaded/tapped spindles once your knobs are mounted. Getting them on, however, might be more difficult depending on your set. These spindles do not have any threads so if you're using them with a threaded doorknob where the threads are damaged, you may have to file out the remaining threads to get this spindle to work.

3) Threaded spindles (thread 16, thread 18, and thread 20) which work if your threads are still in good shape however you will need to know the thread size in your knob. Our wholesale on these spindles has not gone up so the prices remain much lower.

Thanks for your patience while we've gotten this sorted out. Please keep us posted on how best to help you our with your projects.

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2 Responses

Morgan

August 05, 2018

Hi Marcia,
Sounds like the screw is either not coming out but spinning (which is very weird) and may need to be drilled OR the screw is unscrewed but needs to be pulled out. You should be able to test the latter by trying to pinch it with needle nose pliers. I would also definitely drill only as a last resort. Normally if the screw is moving, you won’t need to drill. Also double check there isn’t a second set screw – some sets did have 2. Best of luck!

Marcia Morrison

August 05, 2018

I’m probably going to be ordering one or more of your spindle kits, but I’ve got a problem to solve first. We’ve got an 1890’s house in Salem MA, and I think it’s got most of the original doorknob and door mechanisms. Quite a few of them are loose, ie, need a shorter spindle &/or some spacer washers. So I got some doorknob spacer washers. But now I can’t get the doorknobs off to put the washers on. I found a flat-bladed screwdriver that fit the slot on the old set screw. I turned it to the left, the screw turned, but it doesn’t appear to be backing out. It’s pretty well countersunk, so I can’t grab hold of it to try to lift it out. I’ve tried to turn the doorknob to unscrew it from the spindle, to no avail. I can’t turn the knob far enough around so the set screw is facing down & might just fall out. The doorknob mechanism is working okay, aside from the doorknobs being kind of loose. I’m at a loss as to what to try next. I hate the idea of just drilling through the screw to get it out, seems like a lot could go wrong that way. What do you think is going on here?

About Us

Hippo Hardware is an eclectic building salvage store specializing in hardware, lighting, architecture and plumbing from 1860-1960. We offer assorted collectibles, trinkets, whatnots, and whoziwhatsits depending on what we get in. The spirit of Hippo Hardware is to rejoice in the individual, the unique, and the original.

Hippo Hardware was officially established in 1976 after the founders Steven Miller and Stephen Oppenheim decided to turn a life of swashbuckling adventures into a second life of swashbuckling adventures. We live in the local, even for our customers far away. That means you will probably hear a story about burying a Porsche in a state park while you are asking about a faucet or meet Fred the shop dog while you're paying for a light fixture. We strongly support community projects, teachers, artists, adventurers, dreamers, and one-man-bands.

If you're looking for a hard to find hardware pattern or can't find the match to your lamp shade, we'd be happy to tell you if we have it, seen it, or know where you could get it.

To make sure you get what you need, we offer the following services:

Lighting and Lamp Repair - We have a fully UL certified lighting repair shop. We can repair and rewire most vintage or antique fixtures. You may want to call or e-mail if it's newer, but we can sometimes fix those too. Shop prices are $80/hour plus parts.

Customizing - We do our best to make sure it looks just right. Our lighting shop can customize length, finishes, plating, and configuration. Our plumbing department will coordinate refinishing with local companies. The hardware department is able to darken, refinish, clean, and rebuild. Our services can vary depending on staff so please contact us with your project details.

Returns - Accepted for any reason within 2 weeks of purchase. That means if it doesn't fit, if your sweetheart doesn't like it, if it doesn't match your paint scheme. Receipt required. Returned to you the way you paid and items MUST be in original packaging and condition. Defective or damaged items will not be eligible for a refund.
If your items were shipped: Shipping refunded only in the case of defective items. Hippo does not refund original OR return shipping cost.
Online shopping - Conveniently browse our online section of items! Please note: our online section is much smaller than our store selection, we do offer returns for online purchases but do not refund original shipping or provide return shipping. We ship on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

Trade in - Bring in what you have and we will offer you in store credit or cash. Email pictures first if you'd like to talk about it before you get here.
Mortise lock repair - Hippo is the only hardware store in Portland that offers full mortise lock repair--including French Door mortises and closet mortises! Our repair shop can diagnose and repair your mortise lock or perhaps we have a replacement if a repair is not an option. Shop prices are $80/hour. Please call our store and ask for Colin to speak about your repair!

Hippo Hardware has three glorious floors and 30,000 sq feet of building salvage to explore. Our inventory, and staff, is divided into four departments: Hardware, Lighting, Plumbing, and Architecture. We do our best to highlight our inventory full of unique items and reproductions on our website, but most of our stock is not online yet. Please contact us if you're looking for something you don't see here.

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