For enthusiasts of early banjo
Applying "Rusty Water"
I decided on "rusty water" - vinegar, water (roughly 50/50) with rusty bits of metal and torn-up steel wool. I've had this mixed up for a few weeks and did some tests on scrap pieces prior to this. After this may be a second treatment of rusty water, then linseed oil, a little dry time, then multiple applications of shellac and a final polish with olive oil and rotten stone, ending it all with a light coat of wax. That's the plan anyhow.
Views: 129
Albums: My Banjo
Location: Ladenberg PA
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Comment by Matthew Mickletz on May 9, 2012 at 8:34pm
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Note: I was tired after sanding, but couldn't resist putting the rusty water on!
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Comment by Bell Banjos on May 9, 2012 at 8:46pm
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At the speed you're going, you'll be done in .... about 20 minutes !! This is a great little documentary, not just about the kit, but your traditional finishing, too.
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Haha! Well I did have to sleep and eat and just got to work today, so it'll be a few hours until the next steps. I checked how things dried this morning and will need to go back to the rim - had one erant drip spot gah! Glad you like the photos Terry!
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Comment by Dave Culgan on May 10, 2012 at 6:24am
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Got any of that rusty water left Matt, I'm hoping for a package soon myself?
I'd better get my stuff together and be reading to hit the ground running. Dave Culgan
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I do have more Dave! Plenty infact. I'll post photos of my test runs on samples of maple. It really is a neat finish!
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Oh and if you take a look at the rag I'm using, below it and directly below the neck you'll see the container of "rusty water", that yellow, brown mucky lookin stuff.
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Comment by Steve Jeter on May 10, 2012 at 8:25am
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cool, I am anxious to see how it turns out
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Comment by Roberta Perkins on October 8, 2012 at 1:47pm
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Hello, Matt: I'm curious, what does the rusty water do?
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Hi Roberta!
The rusty water - which is mostly vinegar with a little water and rusty nails and other bits - will react to the sugars in the wood. Maple has a higher sugar content (depends on its hardness) and will reenact an interesting way. See the images of the rim to REALLY see the effect it can have; turned it gray! But it changes it another color after the linseed oil and shellac coats.
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Thanks, Matt: This may have been in an earlier comment and I missed it; how did this mixture come about?
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