Record plane handle and knob

CaseyR · 4 Jun 2019

Hi all, long time viewer but thought I'd join and reach out for advice with my current quest, I have looked through the site and not found anything to help(please link if it out there and my apologies).

I am trying to get a factory finish on some record plane handles that have a burgundy kind of color (link below), I am currently experimenting with Liberon water based concentrated dye's to no avail, and what I presume the finish to be blonde shellac (mixed from crystals), as I use garnet shellac with the stanley ones and get lovely results

My query is, does the color come from the stain or the finish or a combination of the two, because I'm 3 coats in to my test pieces (link below) and feel I no where near. The original has a shine and a luster that I would have to do poly coat to achieve but looks like just the final coat gives the finish (looks like dipped possibly). Am I on the wright track and is it some technique I missing, here to learn, Thank you.

Any thought or advice would be appreciated or if any member in my ballpark would appreciate the introduction, thanks again.

Kind Regards
Richard.

Bm101 · 4 Jun 2019

Hi there's some info here
post1103943.html?hilit=mahogany%20dark%20oak%20stain#p1103943
that may help about half way down.
I'd actually (now) tend to try more like 70-30 mahogany -dark oak to get it redder. Not perfect but they come up ok and if you really want to colour match, experiment from there.
(Tru-oil is great for handles (for me) because if its warm enough you can get a lot of coats on very quickly and easily. Whatever you have to hand will probably do really.)
Cheers
Chris

thetyreman · 4 Jun 2019

I recall paul sellers saying that you can use leather dye and mix it in with blonde shellac, I haven't done this myself so wouldn't know what the correct ratios are, all I've ever used is de-waxed blonde shellac on plane totes and handles, I tried wax over it but prefer it as just shellac then once cured rub it slightly with 0000 steel wool, feels amazing in the hand.

woodbloke66 · 5 Jun 2019

You might try a few coats of this stuff and finish with a light coat of Alfie Shine after the oil has cured (at least two weeks) and leave the wax in addition for three or four days before final buffing - Rob

CaseyR · 5 Jun 2019

Hi Thanks for the replies, but I have been experimenting over the last few day and got a result I am happy with, so thought I'd pass on my results to the community.I managed to keep top original and match rest close enough. (file attached).

I used van **** crystals and Liberon dye, mixed 50ml vdc + 2 ml red, and finished with 4 coats of blonde shellac.

Thanks again for replies.