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Post by elliemayharris on Apr 25, 2013 12:45:01 GMT -5
So I haven't even gotten my new (to me) Shasta delivered, yet, but I'm sure thinking about what I should do to ensure the original birch (which has little/no water damage at all!) is properly cared for well into the future.
I looked through this section on the forum, and found lots about shellac and installing new birch, but not really anything on how people are cleaning, polishing and maintaining the original stuff...
Is a simple cleaning product enough? Do I need to wax?
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Post by schweetcruisers on Apr 25, 2013 13:16:42 GMT -5
Whatever you use make sure it does not have alcohol in it. Alcohol will dissolve shellac. The other product I would recommend NOT using is Orangeglo, the citric acid is really bad for finishes. Murphry's oil soap is a really good product, and won't harm the wood.
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Gone Kayaking
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Post by Gone Kayaking on Apr 25, 2013 16:02:03 GMT -5
Well I'm going to differ here maybe a little bit with Schweet. I've had really good success with this method. Clean with a damp rag, and lightly sand or steel wool any discolored areas. Then do a french polish into the old shellac....this will dissolve but not remove the old shellac, will help you blend it old to new. you can build up a lot of coats very quickly and it will look great. I do add a few drops of mineral oil to my french polish rag though. I followed this guys method our59deville.blogspot.com/ |
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Post by elliemayharris on Apr 25, 2013 16:43:41 GMT -5
Thanks, Gone Kayaking! So you did the 50/50 shellac/denatured alcohol with a pad (after lightly sanding with 00 steel wool), too? Did it take you 20 coats, too? I will say what he did looks gorgeous!
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mobiltec
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Restoring The 57 Shasta
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Post by mobiltec on Apr 25, 2013 18:49:14 GMT -5
That guy is nuts. I know him. He's out of his mind.....
Jim is really a good guy actually. He has helped me with some photograpy and video taping. He's been on the history channel and other TV programs because of his work in the Fire Department...
His french polish method is just out of this world. If you have the time you will never see a nicer finish. Except maybe in his Deville.
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Gone Kayaking
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long live the Vintage Shasta Trailer Forum....we're gone but you are not forgotten!
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Post by Gone Kayaking on Apr 25, 2013 19:25:59 GMT -5
I did not do 20 coats....probably 8 or 9. and I did it on cabinets and the walls but not the ceiling...at least not yet. That's the other thing about shellac because you can always re-acitivate it you can come back to a project over and over.
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Post by elliemayharris on Apr 25, 2013 20:07:16 GMT -5
Well, that just scheduled my free time for the summer (aside from camping in Rosebud)! Whoo hooo!
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mobiltec
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Restoring The 57 Shasta
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Post by mobiltec on Apr 25, 2013 22:02:17 GMT -5
Gone Kayacking is exactly right. That's one of the neatest things about shellac. Easy to repair scratches and you can just keep making it look better and better and do it in your leisure once you have a few coats on. You need to get new birch sealed right away so it doesn't check and that takes at least 2 coats. But dealing with old is pretty easy.
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hauswife
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Post by hauswife on Apr 25, 2013 22:03:08 GMT -5
So I read his and I'm still confused.. He stripped and sanded, applied shellac with a brush, French polish( which is essentially applying polish mixed with alcohol with a ball of cloth?) then clear, then polish again?
Id love to see exactly how to do it.. My interior is pretty decent so id love to get it looking perfect!!
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Gone Kayaking
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long live the Vintage Shasta Trailer Forum....we're gone but you are not forgotten!
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Post by Gone Kayaking on Apr 25, 2013 22:52:30 GMT -5
you can probably skip the first steps that he does. The first coats are just to lay down several layers of color.
On wood that looks pretty good already you just do the french polish part...that will get them looking great. And it goes really fast actually.
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Post by kto17 on May 8, 2013 9:44:11 GMT -5
If you want to see this done and taken to the extreme. Go to youtube and search for French polish or Guitar Refinishing. They use shellac on guitars and violins and take it to a high gloss shine. Its crazy!
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Post by elliemayharris on May 11, 2013 12:22:45 GMT -5
Yeah... I can see doing 20 coats on a violin or guitar... but the thought of tackling that for the entire interior of the Shasta is a little intimidating!
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Post by kto17 on May 13, 2013 9:40:02 GMT -5
Yeah... I can see doing 20 coats on a violin or guitar... but the thought of tackling that for the entire interior of the Shasta is a little intimidating! Yes, and my Shasta is 19' long. I can dream right.  |
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mobiltec
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Restoring The 57 Shasta
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Post by mobiltec on May 15, 2013 16:52:48 GMT -5
Like with a lot of boat maintenance.... One of those things you do a little at a time when you have the time. Like when you are out at sea and the auto-pilot weather vane is running the boat. When ever you have a spare hour or two, pick a spot and keep going. Before long, it's all done. But like I said, Jim Wilkins is completely out of his mind... I think he went in there and didn't come out till he was finished. If you're going to be crazy, it might as well be in a creative way right?
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Post by elliemayharris on May 15, 2013 23:46:40 GMT -5
Absolutely... I would imagine I'll probably start hearing Pat Morita in my ear when I start... "wax on... wax off." It's all about persistence, right?  |
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