HC finish for an Colonial made early 18th C New England Fowler

[Rasch Chronicles]

Well hello,

and I have survived yet another encounter with the Afghans...

But that's another story for another day.

I am about to order my Chambers New England Fowler in the next few days, and I would like to know what a historicaly correct finish should be.

I'm pretty excited about getting home! Just a few more weeks!

Best regards,
Albert

[Cory Joe Stewart]

I was just talking to one of my students who is a Afghan vet.  Another one of my vet students brought me a flag that flew over their base to display in my office.  How cool is that.

Anyway, a buddy of mine made a fowler that I have and it is a dark walnut and he only applied Chambers oil finish to it.  I am not sure how many coats.  But it looks good, and over time has almost turned black.

Be safe

Coryjoe

[volatpluvia]

Albert,
I have prayed that you get home safely.  Please do tell us of your encounters with the Afgan insurgents.  I am sure that  I am not the only one who wants to hear it.
volatpluvia

[Joe S]

If you use a maple stock, the preferred stain is aqua fortis.  Chambers has an HC varnish that people like.  Kettenburg occasionally has some for sale too.  Aqua fortis and varnish can be homemade or purchased.  You can find instructions for both by searching the archives.  Spar varnish is actually very close to HC varnishes.  I know folks who dilute it with turpentine somewhat, and get very nice results with it.  Stay away from aniline dyes (that would be most stains) and polyurethane finishes

[Dr. Tim-Boone]

Spar varnish in NE makes sense.. even with some Pine Tar to help bring out the curl.  Be sure the Spar varnish is traditional and not a modern plastic... Jamestown Distributers has some mnice stuff online....personally I like the Chambers Traditional Oil finish very much and it is easy!!

[Stophel]

Spar varnish (assuming you can even find any now....usually you find "spar urethane") is made with phenolic or alkyd resins and synthetic oils.  I can imagine that it will be rather difficult to find spar varnish now with linseed oil.

[Blacksmoke]

I always check antique stores for old cans of whatever - yes I have found several cans of old spar varnish - 50 - 75 yrs. old and un-opened.  I tried some and it needs to be thinned but it is the real deal!
I know lead content is a concern but if you are not consuming it or breathing the fumes all day I do not think it is a problem.         Hugh Toenjes

[Rasch Chronicles]

Thanks fellows I appreciate both the advice and the concern.

I want to try to do the right thing on this first of what I hope are many builds. I would like to try to remain true to the spirit of the early pioneers/settlers in the Hudson Valley. My only exception is a rear sight as we discussed earlier in the year.

I've decided on the walnut stock (Come to think of it, better ask about that too...) so now I'm off to figure out what Spar Varnish is exactly, and while I'm at it Pine Tar to.  I seem to remember using pine tar on a horse's hooves long ago...

Best regards,
Albert A Rasch

[Joe S]

Forget about the spar varnish.  I’m sorry I brought it up.  As Stophel pointed out, most of it is urethane these days, and what isn’t urethane is mostly synthetics.  Real spar varnish can be very difficult to find.  The best thing to do is either make your own, or get some of Chamber’s stuff.

[Robby]

Sutherland & Welles LTD., Makes a pure Tung oil Spar. There are other manufacturers of pure tung oil and tung oil, linseed oil mixes, of spar. A good one on the west coast, Oregon I think, but can't remember the name.
Robby

[Rasch Chronicles]

Thanks for all the info!

Really appreciate all the good information. I had my suspicions that it might be all over the map, I would venture to guess you would use what was available in your area.

I'm going to take a look at Tung oil and linseed oil and see what I need to learn.

Best Regards,
Albert “Afghanus” Rasch
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles™
Big Hogs and Bigger Dogs!!

[Dphariss]

Thanks for all the info!

Really appreciate all the good information. I had my suspicions that it might be all over the map, I would venture to guess you would use what was available in your area.

I'm going to take a look at Tung oil and linseed oil and see what I need to learn.

Best Regards,
Albert “Afghanus” Rasch
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles™
Big Hogs and Bigger Dogs!!

The old spar varnishes were mostly linseed oil as were most old varnish formulas.
Tung oil is OK but not HC.
On walnut tung oil is a bigger PITA than it is worth finding a heavy bodied tung oil is unlikely. You need a heavy oil for fill on walnut unless you want to spend a lot of time and energy on it.
If you want HC it will be linseed based unless a spirit varnish.

Dan

[Rasch Chronicles]

I see...

Not only does the plot thicken, but the Linseed must too!

Thank you D. I really appreciate all the commentaries. It might just come out alright in the end!

Best Regards,
Albert “Afghanus” Rasch
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles™
Big Hog Hunting!!

[Dr. Tim-Boone]

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