Painting Sharps

[bases-loaded@juno.com]

I am not familiar with Apsco Keyblack, but it sounds like a dye/stain. 
Try this on one key: clean each sharp with mineral spirits to remove
grease,wax, etc..  Scuff it with a grey scotchbrite rubbing pad(available
at paint and hardware stores), and wipe off "scuff dust" with rag
dampened with mineral spirits.  Mask off key, then spray with black
lacquer from a spray can.  I would not recommend high gloss unless you
have some pretty pristine sharps and a great technique.  Try semi-gloss
or satin if you can find them.  If there are places where the black has
worn off considerably, you could try wiping it down with the stain first,
removing all excess and allowing sufficient dry time before top-coating. 
Hope this helps.

Mark Potter
bases-loaded@juno.com
On Sat, 27 Mar 1999 00:00:54 EST LTpianoman@AOL.COM writes:
>List,
>Does anyone have a suggestion for blackening sharps without going 
>through a
>long sanding process? Obviously I never painted sharps before.  I have 
>a
>bottle of APSCO Keyblack that I just opened for the first time and it 
>is about
>1.5 to 2 years old and it is like paste. Is it supposed to be like 
>this, only
>in need of alcohol to thin it? It is advertised as a quick drying 
>easy
>application kind of stain. Is it supposed to be easy? (no sanding).  I 
>also
>read somewhere that Ditzler Automotive paint is good to use but does 
>anyone
>know the process for this kind of paint?  It's probably lacer.  I'm 
>not too
>knowledgeable of painting products and I have some spare keys to 
>experiment
>with if there are some suggestions to explore.  Thanks in advance for 
>your
>help.
>
>Larry Trischetta, NE PA Chapter
>Scranton, PA