Japanning Recommendations

[JohnerH]

Mornin' all,

Whilst I wait for my 3 phase to be installed so I can continue with my garage and eventual Wadkin restauration(s), I've been turning my attention to my hand tools,

Yes, I am one of those who want the full set of Stanley planes and am quite happy to buy completely neglected planes and bringing them back to their former glory.

With that being said,

I am now at the Japanning part of this process, I'd like to keep the planes as much as possible to their original look/feel and Japanning is integral to that, I did think about primer/paint, but, no... Original look always came back to mind.

So,

Any recommendations on where to get this primal and wonderful substance?

I did think about making it myself, but, I've got enough going on and quite frankly I'm pretty sure better and smarter people out there have cracked this formula in a better way than I could ever do. Besides, I don't want to re-invent the wheel.

Appreciate in advance the help and pointers.

 

[BentonTool]

Mornin' all,

Whilst I wait for my 3 phase to be installed so I can continue with my garage and eventual Wadkin restauration(s), I've been turning my attention to my hand tools,

Yes, I am one of those who want the full set of Stanley planes and am quite happy to buy completely neglected planes and bringing them back to their former glory.

With that being said,

I am now at the Japanning part of this process, I'd like to keep the planes as much as possible to their original look/feel and Japanning is integral to that, I did think about primer/paint, but, no... Original look always came back to mind.

So,

Any recommendations on where to get this primal and wonderful substance?

I did think about making it myself, but, I've got enough going on and quite frankly I'm pretty sure better and smarter people out there have cracked this formula in a better way than I could ever do. Besides, I don't want to re-invent the wheel.

Appreciate in advance the help and pointers.

This may be of interest:

 

[Ollie78]

I restored a record 5 1/2 a while ago and had to strip it right down. I used a spray enamel in a can, mainly because it was just the right record blue.
Once ready I degreased everything and masked of the non painted bits. One coat of etch primer and 3 or 4 coats of enamel was a surprisingly good result. Not proper japanning but it still looks good and is not flaking off or anything.

I wonder if a powdercoat type of thing might be good for it.

 

[Owd Jockey]

I've done Japanning a couple of times on a Bailey No.7 c1907 and No.6 c1899
I would love to give you the 'recipe' I used, but it is long forgotten. Except I think I ended up using a combination of ingredients from various recipes. The main ingredient however is Asphaltum which was easy to get hold of. Probably the trickiest bit of the process is ensuring you have access to your kitchen oven for the three 'cooking phases' you need at the 3 different temperatures, so be to careful to plan when SWMBO is out!!

 

[JohnerH]

@BentonTool I know about those, however I was hoping someone had an opinion about a market made one that I could buy?

Or is it a case that I would have to make my own?

Probably the trickiest bit of the process is ensuring you have access to your kitchen oven for the three 'cooking phases' you need at the 3 different temperatures,

@Owd Jockey,

Is there any risk to residue being left in the oven after the process is complete? I.e.: particles of japanning?

I like sauce with my roasts, but japanning flavoured would be a bit too far

so be to careful to plan when SWMBO is out!!

I'm lucky in that respect, my SWMBO is on board with this...

 

[Owd Jockey]

To be honest I thought I would stink the kitchen out but I could hardly smell anything. Ok I had a look through some of my old notes and found the recipe I used. Asphaltum 30%, Turps 50%, Boiled Linseed Oil 20%. Once you have made the mixture apply and leave for one hour. Check your oven trays are level. Bring Temp up to 200 deg F(95 cent). Cook for 1hour. Then let oven and piece cool. Then bring oven up to 300 deg F and cook for another hour. Then let oven and piece go cold. Then apply 2nd coat of mixture. Then bring up oven to 200 deg F for one hour, let cool then repeat for 300 deg F for one hour, let cool the 350 deg F for one hour, cool then finally 400 deg F for 1 hour. The results on my Bailey No.6 where ok. But in retrospect, I could have removed some of the casting marks from the bed (although that would have detracted from the originality of this tool from 1899) and I could have probably applied a thicker coat. However, I do have half a jar of the mixture left over, so I could do more cooking in the future

 

[BentonTool]

@BentonTool I know about those, however I was hoping someone had an opinion about a market made one that I could buy?

Or is it a case that I would have to make my own?

I have never seen pre-made "Japanning" for sale... ever... too bad, eh?

 

[JohnerH]

I have never seen pre-made "Japanning" for sale... ever... too bad, eh?

I think wood by wright used to make it and sell it, but I can't seem to find it now.

Either way it was over in the US, I was hoping to find (if it exist) a local supplier. (I'm in the UK)

But, the masses have spoken and off to the shop I go to get all the supplies needed to formulate and make such black liquids....

 

[JohnerH]

To be honest I thought I would stink the kitchen out but I could hardly smell anything. Ok I had a look through some of my old notes and found the recipe I used. Asphaltum 30%, Turps 50%, Boiled Linseed Oil 20%. Once you have made the mixture apply and leave for one hour. Check your oven trays are level. Bring Temp up to 200 deg F(95 cent). Cook for 1hour. Then let oven and piece cool. Then bring oven up to 300 deg F and cook for another hour. Then let oven and piece go cold. Then apply 2nd coat of mixture. Then bring up oven to 200 deg F for one hour, let cool then repeat for 300 deg F for one hour, let cool the 350 deg F for one hour, cool then finally 400 deg F for 1 hour. The results on my Bailey No.6 where ok. But in retrospect, I could have removed some of the casting marks from the bed (although that would have detracted from the originality of this tool from 1899) and I could have probably applied a thicker coat. However, I do have half a jar of the mixture left over, so I could do more cooking in the future

Thanking you sir... One shall try...

 

[niall Y]

I have a couple of recipes from a book with the rather grandiose title - Henley's Twentieth Century Book Of Formulas, Processes And Trade Secrets, which might be of some interest. The terminology is a bit archaic but they are listed as follows -

Glossy Black for bicycles, etc -
Amber................................................ 8 ounces
Linseed oil........................................ 4 ounces
Asphaltum........................................ 1 1/2 ounces
Rosin................................................... 1 1/2 ounces
Oil turpentine.................................. 8 ounces

Heat the linseed oil to boiling point, add the amber, asphaltum, and rosin, and when all melted remove from the fire and gradually add the turpentine.

Japan Black - The following is a good japan black for metal surfaces :
Take 12 ounces of amber and 2 ounces of asphaltum. Fuse by heat, and add 1/2 pint of boiled oil and 2 ounces of rosin. When cooling add 16 ounces of oil of turpentine.

 

[Derek Cohen (Perth Oz)]

I made a cold cure japanning many years ago, which was very successful. it is just a mixture of asphaltum powder and marine varnish. Takes a few days to cure.

Frankly, I prefer using a motor engine black spray. This dries thinner, leaving sharper detail, and is just as durable.

Regards from Perth

Derek

 

[JohnerH]

I made a cold cure japanning many years ago, which was very successful. it is just a mixture of asphaltum powder and marine varnish. Takes a few days to cure.

Frankly, I prefer using a motor engine black spray. This dries thinner, leaving sharper detail, and is just as durable.

Regards from Perth

Derek

I was hoping to keep it to the original as possible.

But good shout.