QUERY: gilding a plate

[bases-loaded@juno.com]

Paul and Terry -

It was me who recommended you try shellac.  I use lacquer, but you
(Terry)had expressed an aversion to using such a strong solvent, and were
not having any luck using the Waterborne coatings.   I have never done an
entire plate with shellac as the only finish, but have many times sprayed
shellac with bronze powder onto problem areas (fish eyes) between coats
of lacquer, when necessary, with no problems in application at all.  Like
Paul, I commonly begin with a barrier coat of "unbronzed" shellac to
minimize problems with fish eyes.  

As I mentioned before, I would see a problem keeping a wet edge long
enough to do a whole plate with shellac as the only finish, and had
recommended getting an additive called "shellac-wet" from Homesteading
Finishing to help with this problem.  I have heard that there are soon to
be a few products that can be added to shellac to serve as a crosslinker
of sorts, making it a much more durable finish without negating it's
wonderful attributes.  We will see. 

I have used waterbased finishes exclusively on piano cases for probably 8
years now, but for the plates, for me.....lacquer is still King.

Yeah, it's smelly, but only for a couple hours.  Good time to go for a
walk and smell the roses.

Mark Potter
bases-loaded@juno.com 


On Tue, 22 Aug 2000 21:45:25 -0400 "Farrell" <mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com>
writes:
> Either Mark Potter or Jim Bryant (???I think one of them???) told me 
> that
> they use bronzing powder in shellac with very good results. I tried 
> it and
> it went on OK in some places, and real spotty in others. I think it 
> has
> potential and I would need to play with bronzing powder amount, gun
> settings, etc. I would have tried it some more, but at the time it 
> was about
> the 137th method I tried to make my plate gold. I was tired of 
> trying to use
> my HVLP equipment and just bought a can of Behlen Piano Gold spray 
> laquer
> and got super excellent results. I would however, be interested in a 
> harder
> finish.
> 
> Jim, Mark, was it one of you???
> 
> Terry Farrell
> Piano Tuning & Service
> Tampa, Florida
> mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Paul" <tunenbww@clear.lakes.com>
> To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, August 22, 2000 3:22 PM
> Subject: Re: QUERY: gilding a plate
> 
> 
> > Mark and list
> >
> > Has any one tried shellac as the medium for spraying bronzing 
> powders
> rather
> > than lacquer? As a rule, I seal the old finish on the plate with 
> shellac,
> > then proceed with Behlen's Piano Gold and lacquer top coats. I'd 
> like to
> > short cut the process and still get a good looking job without 
> problems
> like
> > the bronzing powder turning dark or green after a time.
> >
> > Paul Chick
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: <bases-loaded@juno.com>
> > To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> > Sent: Sunday, August 20, 2000 10:44 PM
> > Subject: Re: QUERY: gilding a plate
> >
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > On Sun, 20 Aug 2000 22:55:05 -0400 Jon Page 
> <jonpage@mediaone.net>
> > > writes:
> > > >> >What sort of preparation work is done?
> > > >
> > > >   Clean, clean, clean. Spot fill, sand. Spot fill, sand
> > > >
> > > > >What type of finish is applied?
> > > >
> > > > Lacquer
> > > >
> > > > >What materials?
> > > >
> > > > Lacquer w/ bronzing powder. S&S color is the colour du jour
> > > >
> > > > >What are good sources for materials?  Etc.
> > > >
> > > > Mohawk for lacquer,  Steinway for the powder
> > >
> > > The S&S bronze powder can be purchased from Walter Wurdack, Inc 
> for a
> > > fraction of the cost that S&S charges.  A pound is less than 
> $20.  As I
> > > recall, that was about what 4 oz cost at S$S.
> > >
> > > Call: Walter Wurdack @  (314) 351-6600.  Located in St. Louis.
> > >
> > > Mark Potter
> > > bases-loaded@juno.com
> > >
> >
> >
>