Writing Slope Dilema

[my63]

I respect your work even more knowing you're feeling your way here and sourcing things from wherever you can spot them! It's refreshing to see a project done in this way, rather than an expert using well honed techniques and a part/materials store he's already got in his workshop...points noted about the hinges, as it looks like I might have a similar issue when I get to that stage myself.

 

Do you think the hinges you have there might have the "knuckle" section too centrally between the wings of the hinge, and maybe for slopes you need hinges that have the knuckles displaced out one side? I've only just thought of this, and I realise that doesn't make much sense...I mean this:

 

-o- (knuckles exactly equally between the open flaps of hinge)

 

_o_ (knuckle position is displaced to be out one side of the hinge)

 

I have no idea if hinges come in types like this...but it was just a thought.

Thanks for the compliments

I think that you are right about the hinges i have ordered some new strap hinges so we will see when they arrive.

[my63]

This is just French polish on its own Very glossy

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7125/7739565158_9b8f7a9c3a_z.jpg

IMG_1736 by my0771, on Flickr

this is sanding sealer with wax on top

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7259/7702843204_a707910f33_z.jpg

IMG_1673_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

thoughts would be appreciated

 

Michael

[fuchsiaprincess]

Personally, I like the French polish. However, it depends on the overall finish of the box, and what sort of effect you are trying to achieve

[my63]

Personally, I like the French polish. However, it depends on the overall finish of the box, and what sort of effect you are trying to achieve

Thanks for your input Fuchsiaprincess.

I really like the high gloss finish but I also like the darke colour of the wax I have veneered another scrap of wood to try a mix of both it is hard to show how rich the colour is with the polish.

 

this is an oak box from the little boxes thread

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8427/7739559260_7e5e005bab_z.jpg

IMG_1731 by my0771, on Flickr

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8426/7739556586_a170b98110_z.jpg

IMG_1729 by my0771, on Flickr

Thanks again

Michael

[raging.dragon]

Older 18th century writing boxes were generally unfinished wood polished with wax. Veneer wasn't used until the Victorian era, and by then shellac or varnish would have been the most likely finishes. Varnish is more durable than shellac so that'd be my choice.

 

I'd skip the sanding sealer, sand the wood to 400 grit and apply several coats of thinned varnish. That should fill any pores in the grain and will also protect the wood. A good marine varnish will also protect the wood from bleaching by the ultra violet light. For final finish, either French polish or rub the dried varnish with OOOO steel wool for a satin finish.

 

Experimenting on scrap wood is always a good idea, as it allows you to see what the final finish looks like before deciding.

[Jennings]

I'd opt for a thin shellac coating with a bit of extra stain if you fancy it, then rubbed down and waxed. However i do like the sound of a more durable coating with the marine varnish in the mix. Are you coating the brass parts in anything or leaving them open to dull up naturally in the atmosphere?

 

Does anyone ever bother making leather cases for their slopes anymore? or does everyone use them as house-ornamentation more than anything these days?

[my63]

Thanks Raging dragon and jennings

I am trying to achieve a dark walnut colour the bare walnut with the sanding sealer gives me a nice colour although not as dark as I think I want.

sealer with wax is ok but very soft.

I will get some yatch varnish and thinner tomorrow and see what that is like.

The french polish is ok quite easy to work with once you have the hang of it however the polish I have gives a golden hue to everything I need clear or blond polish.

thanks fo the input.

 

The interior is complete and ready for finshing the outside is also ready for its finish although I will need to make some repairs to the hinge areas if the replacement hinges resolve the current issues. Fingers crossed.

I will show as much of the finishing process as possible.

Thanks again for looking and especially to those who have contributed along the way.

 

Regards

Michael

[raging.dragon]

One thing to keep in mind is that wood finishing products often have deceptive names, for example only a few brands of Danish Oil or Tongue Oil are actually oil finishes, most will be either a thinned (wipe on) varnish or an oil varnish mixture.

 

This is the first time I've never heard of French polish as a commercial product. I know it as a process or technique that involves applying thinned shellac with a cloth or pad to avoid brush marks in the finish. It was popular before sandpaper and other modern abrasives were availble to smooth and polish the finish. Similar techniques can also be used with thinned varnish - a wipe on varnish is just standard varnish thinned with an appropriate solvent (usually mineral spirits).

 

Water based polyurethane finishes are also available, and these tend to be colourless or close to it (i.e. Varethane Diamond); however, compared to oil finishes they are slightly less durable and obscure slightly more grain detail. They also use smaller quantities of volatile organic solvents and thus are friendlier to both the environment and your health. If you're curious, these water soluable finishes use surfactants to dissolve small drops of what is essentially polyurethane varnish in water.

[my63]

Thanks for the information this is the product easier than buying flakes but little control of the colour.

 

http://www.rustins.eu/Details.asp?ProductID=758

I might look for a clear varnish can apply over the shellac sealer and wax as that gives me a colour I am happy with.

Thanks

Michael

[Jennings]

Good luck with the search, and I think you're right to continue your trial and error testing on smaples of wood etc until you're happy. Would be a pain to end up with a finish that annoys you after all your hard wood and brass working.

 

One note of interest/caution though: since shellac, nitrocellulose and poly-based products all have different reactions to natural seasonal heating and cooling (think expansion and contraction), especially when moving between rooms in a house or if near windows and radiators, you might want to ensure that the products you use all work together in a way that's pleasing to you. Or at least are based on the same sort of compounds. I like the way shellac wears, cracks/checks, fades etc, so I tend not to bother varnishing over it with a poly product. Even if you do, it might not rub-wear as much as the varnish on top is tougher, but it'll still crack and check. That's why I tend to just stain the wood to give a basic colour tint I'm happy with, then polish with shellac over the top. That tends to make it slightly more golden etc as you describe. You might like a tougher varnish yourself, and they come in nice shades too. Nothing wrong with poly finishes. But I'd not bother with any shellac other than as a sealing coat if that's what's going on top.

[my63]

Thanks Jennings

The sanding sealer is shellac based and brings out the darker tones of the walnut.

The French polish adds a golden tone which I don't want.

I have not been able to look at varnish yet.

New hinges arrived today they look fantastic.

I will try the new hinges and finishes ASAP.

As I mentioned earlier in this post I am still recovering from an accident in 2004 and this project and the little boxes project are part of my physical therapy.

I sincerely thank those who have participated and assure you the projects will be finished.

Thanks

Michael

[my63]

Todays update

The new hinges look fantastic unfortunatley they are too large for this project.

On the plus side as I had filled the hole in preperation for the new hinges I had another try at fitting the origonals and hey presto they work fine.

I have no idea but I am not taking them off again.

Every thing for the inside is complete it all fits inside the box and the lid closes and locks.

I was at a fabric shop with my wife and got chatting to the owner telling him about this project and that I was looking for somthing special to finish it off.

He produced a huge piece of bright red leather at a price I could not refuse.

So everthing is falling into place which is just as well as I bought another box on Sunday.

Thanks

Michael

[my63]

Today I have started applying the finish to the walnut writing slope I have decided on sealer and wax.

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8426/7808001648_0486b6739e_z.jpg

IMG_1757 by my0771, on Flickr

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7260/7808000324_6a7bc5761c_z.jpg

IMG_1756 by my0771, on Flickr

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8434/7808002832_cb090b1a9a_z.jpg

IMG_1758 by my0771, on Flickr

First coat of shellac sanding sealer applied with rag.

I will take more pictures as the coats are applied the veneer was rubbed down with wet and dry and followed by 0000 wire wool then a damp cloth.

thanks for looking

Michael

[my63]

i dont know if there4 is any difference but here is the final coat of sealer

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8297/7808928876_366731fb0c_z.jpg

IMG_1756 by my0771, on Flickr

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8294/7808931820_b2babaaa3e_z.jpg

IMG_1758 by my0771, on Flickr

[Marlow]

This is truly heroic, inspirational work!

[raging.dragon]

That looks really good. You've done a great of refurbishing this once beaten up writing slope.

[my63]

Thank you Marlow and raging.dragon for your kind words.

Today has been spent waiting for finish to dry to pass the time I cut the felt for the base.

I used the time to start experimenting with the red leather I bought the other day and produced this.

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7254/7817671266_179fabb0df_z.jpg

IMG_1782 by my0771, on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8445/7817673004_1b396cb8ff_z.jpg

IMG_1783 by my0771, on Flickr

This is for another writing slope

I am really pleased with this result I think I will use some of this leather for the writing surface on the walnut slope.

Thanks for looking

Michael

[Rae]

That red leather is beautiful!

 

Great project; I'm really enjoying the progress. This is going to look gorgeous when it's finished.

Edited August 19, 2012 by Rae

[my63]

Oh

I think we have another dilemaa here the red leather box insert I posted yesterday are not intended for this box

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8445/7817673004_1b396cb8ff_z.jpg

IMG_1783 by my0771, on Flickr

 

The intended inserts are faux suede

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7122/7575191202_b26fa89b15_z.jpg

IMG_1541 by my0771, on Flickr

 

The dilema is do I recover the current inserts in leather (not easy) or leave them as they are.

 

When this box is finished it will be offered for sale in the classified section (if I can work out a price) so it does need to be finished.

Any help would be appreciated honestly.

Thanks

Michael

[my63]

I have decided to leave the inserts in the faux suede as origonaly intended as I would hae had to remake the whole thing.

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7265/7839197506_7de67bc2c4_z.jpg

IMG_1793 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Done and wrapped in film so I cant do any more damage :roflmho:

 

I have a handy hint for anyone who might be planning on working with wood and especially shellac dont let any moisture near the shellac.

What happens is you have a beautiful flat smooth surface that has milky white blotches under the surface.

The next thing to do is spend the next three hours with a piece of sandpaper rubbing it all off .

I know I am learning some important lessons here because my arm hurts.

Thanks for not laughing

Michael