I have been playing around with metal lacquer for the last few weeks. I have desperately been trying to figure out how the hot lacquering of microscopes was done. Information on lacquering metal is rather hard to come by and I want to use the original techniques, not modern lacquers.
I have tried various recipes with varying degrees of success, in the next few days I should be receiving some sandarac and elemi in the post. I think these resins may be my secret weapons.
As soon as I get something close to perfect I shall post a picture. In the meantime here is a link to a very nice blog I stumbled upon; not metal lacquer, but very interesting just the same.
Recreating Western Lacquer using Historic Recipes – Day 1 | Marianne Webb.
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Comments on: "Recreating Western Lacquer using Historic Recipes – Day 1 | Marianne Webb" (4)
If you haven’t already, try searching through JSTOR, the old journals are free and might provide just what you’re looking for.
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Thank you, a source I was not aware of. I shall have a hunt.
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Someday I hope to have the guts to dive into restoration, till then I let your efforts inspire.
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I just found a “new method” for lacquering from 1909 which uses electrical heating to apply multiple coats of lacquer very quickly. Reducing the speed from days to 1.5 hours. I have found that heating the tubes means teh lacquer dries too quickly but perhaps i have not fully understood the process. I shall try heating it continuously and see what happens.
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