Japanning Alternatives *LINK*

Re: Japanning Alternatives

Angus Barclay, in New Zealand

>I reckon that a well-done black paint job is satisfactory for user planes with no value to collectors.

1 - remove rust and clean thoroughly

2 - use an etch primer

3 - use a quality enamel paint

It 'aint Japanning but it is easier to do and it achieves the same result, i.e. protecting the planes from further rust and dirt.

regards

Angus Barclay

Japanning Alternatives: wax, oil, sawdust

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>My user No. 8 has no visible japanning left at all; my user No. 78 has 100% japanning (plus some pretty little pink dots). I am unable to detect any difference between their performance due to the paint or lack thereof. I wax all visible surfaces when I first clean up a plane, and occasionally wax the operating surfaces after that.

I can understand why you'd want your planes prettier - it's nice looking at nice-looking tools (a statement I could generalize in a good many directions) - but it's not necessary.

your planes do what you want but

Dennis

>why? Nice coat of black enamel is about all you need if that.

Cleaned and waxed works for me, but if you feel the need have one of them chromed, they are yours and my guess is they won't work any better no matter what color they are.

Dennis,who is cold in Florida

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Re: Japanning Alternatives

harpa

>Japanning, I believe, is just a black lacquer. I picked up a can of the stuff at a hardware store and sprayed a couple planes with it. I have used enamel in the past, and found it to be too soft. The lacquer hardens in a few days at room temperature and will not scratch with a fingernail. Original japanning recipes aren't hard to find, but they are very messy.

Re: Another Japanning Alternatives *LINK*

Dale Lenz-Tahlequah, OK

>Please see link.

Good luck,

Dale


http://pages.sbcglobal.net/mike_in_katy/PlaneWood/Default.htm

Re: Japanning Alternatives

Moses Yoder in White Pigeon, MI

>Japanning is actually quite a bit different from laquer. A pretty nice japanning can be readily purchased, called pontypool asphaltum, from Liberty Paint company I beleive. Links were posted recently, and could be dug up if someone needed them. There is a big difference between a plane that is japanned and one that is spray painted. I have found japanning to be pretty easy to do, perhaps a little bit more work than just spray painting, but for me personally more satisfying knowing it is very close to the original recipe finish when it's done.

Re: POR-15

Derek Cohen (in Perth, Australia)

>Applying POR-15 as a substitute for Japanning is somewhat similar to using a cannon to swat a fly! Man, this stuff is tough!! I have used it to undercoat the chassis of a vintage car I restored. In fact, I know some restorers who argue that their rusty wrecks are held together by the stuff. (For those unfamiliar with this paint, the name stands for "Paint Over Rust").

POR-15 will do a good job of resembling Japanning. However, if you do go down this (expensive) road, don't use the basic paint as it is not UV stable. There is also a "Chassiscoat", which has a satin finish, and so prefered to the gloss "Blackcote". Also, POR-15 does not stick well to clean metal (it prefers a rusty surface), unless you first use their primer, "Metal Ready".

Just don't get this stuff on your skin or you will end up wearing it for a long, long time!

Frankly, I think that you would do fine with a few coats of epoxy paint. Do not make it too thick, and make sure that you remove all other layers otherwise it will have a crude finish. Or go for a ready-prepared japanning. It really comes down to what you have on hand, and whether originality of finish is important.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Re: POR-15

Lynn Kerby

>And the problem is.... :-)

I was just thinking that the japanning finish was created using the best materials they had available to protect the raw metal surface. I remembered that I did some spindles and sway bars on a car with POR many years ago and they still look fantastic.

After I cleaned a very rusty #8 in the electrolysis tank almost all of the black paint simply floated off and I discovered the plane has almost no original finish left. I'm going to put something on it, and spray paint isn't going to cut it.

Re: POR-15

Greg Sloop, Portland Oregon

>And long after the iron has turned to rust-dust and the handles have rotten into oblivion, the plane and it's "japanning" will look fabulous!

"Yup dear, the house just vaporized in that 100 megaton air burst, but my #8 still has that custom POR japanning on it!"

Sounds like a great idea!

Let us know how it turns out.

Greg

Oour Very Own Articles & Reviews Dept *LINK*

Garrett in Victoria

>has an excellent article on japanning in the Hand Tools Section. (sigh)

Cheers, Garrett

Editor WC A&R


Japanning