Update on my 'dorff issue

[John Kasaian]

Previously cussed and discussed here
http://www.largeformatphotography.in...in-the-50s-60s

I thought it worth providing a follow up:
After lightly sanding the base of my 'dorff with 400, 600 then 1000 grit paper I put it aside in a bag and waited 3 months to see if any more black ooze would manifest. I took a look today and it appears not. That left me with refinishing the base. After a previous unsuccessful hunt for real lacquer and lacquer thinner (no joy!) I settled on Deft semi gloss brushing lacquer and Crown Lacquer thinner-oid. After masking with Frog tape and opening all the windows, I took one last deep breath of fresh air and started the adventure. The First piss-coat was 50/50 lacquer and thinner, and dang! It sure matched up pretty! FWIW I used a Arroworthy Tradesman white China bristle, 1-1/2" slant brush.
After it dries I hit it with 0000 steel wool, tack cloth and another piss-coat. A third coat (or maybe fourth if I'm having too much fun) will be straight up lacquer.

She may not have the originality to garner an invitation to the Smithsonian, nor the high tech armor coating to survive a lunar landing, but at least it will suffice for my needs this Summer.

I'll report on my progress here as the project continues.

[John Kasaian]

I gave it the 0000 steel wool, tacked it clean and applied a second piss-coat. A few bubbles---not sure if it's me or the brush, which isn't behaving well at all (loosing bristles, etc.....) It's not the cheapest China bristle, nor is most the most expensive. The color matched up really well without any added pigment. My 'dorff is a mid-50's vintage so maybe they didn't use pigments at the point?

[John Kasaian]

Semi gloss isn't doing it---switching to gloss. May 1000 grit sand paper in between coats this time to vanquish those !@#$&* bubbles

[cowanw]

In what way not doing it?

[John Kasaian]

Matching the luster of the original finish. The camera is over 60 years old and still glossy---more glossy than a new semi-gloss finish anyway.

[John Kasaian]

I'll finish up tomorrow. She's smooth as glass and ready for the final coat. I've got a new brush as well.

[John Kasaian]

OK this morning I ran a tack cloth over her and put on a coat of Deft Gloss brushing lacquer. The new brush didn't hold up very well at all, but I was able to quickly collect the few stray White China bristles it shed(shakes head.) It looks good so far, but I'll have to wait until it dries to determine if I need to sand and do another coat.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

[Drew Wiley]

John, a real Mountain Man would have used a brush made with real porcupine quills.

[John Kasaian]

John, a real Mountain Man would have used a brush made with real porcupine quills.

It would probably hold up a lot better!
The 'dorff turned out pretty nice and switching to gloss really blends in with the rest of the camera.
Now I need to wax it.
Since Butcher's wax is the suspected problem, any suggestions on which brand wax I should use?
I did a search and "wax" and "wax for wood cameras" came out blank.

[mdarnton]

Renaissance Wax is compounded to not have the type of problem you experienced, and is used in museum preservation for that reason. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaissance_Wax
Wax is in general slightly controversial, as the article above outlines, but of the various choices, this is probably the best.

Do you really need wax?