As I've mentioned in a previous post I've stripped some fireplaces and
underneath the layers of paint they're a rather attractive
silver-black colour.

I'd like to put something on to protect them (preferably not
paint)which would ideally give a shiny finish but keep the
silver-black colour.

I've tried my local fireplace shop and they recommended Stovax
Traditional Graphite Black Grate Polish which I tried on a small
section but it seems to give a very black finish.

I've seen Zebo mentioned elsewhere but that is also described as Black
Grate Polish.

Any suggestions?

"DIY Novice" wrote in message
om...
As I've mentioned in a previous post I've stripped some fireplaces and
underneath the layers of paint they're a rather attractive
silver-black colour.

I'd like to put something on to protect them (preferably not
paint)which would ideally give a shiny finish but keep the
silver-black colour.

I've tried my local fireplace shop and they recommended Stovax
Traditional Graphite Black Grate Polish which I tried on a small
section but it seems to give a very black finish.

I've seen Zebo mentioned elsewhere but that is also described as Black
Grate Polish.

Any suggestions?

My parents always used Zebright i seem to remember, my father makes wrought
iron firebaskets and they used to come up well with the stuff.....not black,
more metallic looking.

Hope this helps

Lloyd

It was somewhere outside Barstow when (DIY Novice)
wrote:

Any suggestions?

Zebo is graphite ("blacklead") in oil. If you buff it enough, it is
_somewhat_ silvery. In contrast, Liberon's black patina wax is very
black, with absolutely no metallic sheen to it.

If you really want a "silvery" finish though, go with a neutral wax
polish like Liberon's Black Bison range. With some work you can also
tint these waxes, including mixing in a little fake-silver wax
(Screwfix used to sell this, but sadly they now only do gold).

"Andy Dingley" wrote in message
...
It was somewhere outside Barstow when (DIY Novice)
wrote:

Any suggestions?

Zebo is graphite ("blacklead") in oil. If you buff it enough, it is
_somewhat_ silvery. In contrast, Liberon's black patina wax is very
black, with absolutely no metallic sheen to it.

If you really want a "silvery" finish though, go with a neutral wax
polish like Liberon's Black Bison range. With some work you can also
tint these waxes, including mixing in a little fake-silver wax

Would the metallic powders supplied by Tiranti have the same effect?

Mary
(Screwfix used to sell this, but sadly they now only do gold).

It was somewhere outside Barstow when "Mary Fisher"
wrote:

Would the metallic powders supplied by Tiranti have the same effect?

Yes, but they're a nightmare to mix in. Very prone to clumping.

Only way I've found to work is to mix the powder into a little
turpentine, then melt the wax and stir the turpentine in. For a
coloured wax, you probably want a little extra turpentine in there
anyway, to make sure it spreads and covers well.

You can get these metal powders from many fibreglass suppliers,
although they tend to be in large quantities - they're commonly used
for "cold-cast" sculpture.


(BTW - Today I'm making a crude replica of the Mastermyr chest)

"Andy Dingley" wrote in message
...
It was somewhere outside Barstow when "Mary Fisher"
wrote:

Would the metallic powders supplied by Tiranti have the same effect?

Yes, but they're a nightmare to mix in. Very prone to clumping.

I've never noticed that. But I've only used them s a surface coating,
unmixedwith anything.

Only way I've found to work is to mix the powder into a little
turpentine, then melt the wax and stir the turpentine in. For a
coloured wax, you probably want a little extra turpentine in there
anyway, to make sure it spreads and covers well.

You can get these metal powders from many fibreglass suppliers,
although they tend to be in large quantities - they're commonly used
for "cold-cast" sculpture.

Yes.


(BTW - Today I'm making a crude replica of the Mastermyr chest)

Nice, for your tools or a commission?

Mary

It was somewhere outside Barstow when "Mary Fisher"
wrote:

(BTW - Today I'm making a crude replica of the Mastermyr chest)

Nice, for your tools or a commission?

I'm just trying to get rid of surplus timber. This is an old
"Nakashima style" slab table that was made in the '60s, and I found in
a flat clearance a couple of weeks ago. It had been used as a plant
stand by someone with very poor aim when watering and was only fit for
firewood.

However I can never throw timber away, so I scrounged it. Then
discovered on planing it up that was 1 1/2" thick plane (a maple
relative). Huge splits in the middle, but ripping the centre out
turned it into 9' of 8" wide timber. That's enough to make a slightly
shortened Mastermyr, in nice timber thick enough to allow relief
carving.

I'll probably use it as a toolbox on the LARP circuit this summer
(Heartland Games - I'll be selling glasswork, furniture and tiaras).
If I ever do carve it, I'll probably give it awy to someone - shame to
sell it, it wouldn't raise enough to make a worthwhile hourly rate.

In article ,
Andy Dingley wrote:
However I can never throw timber away, so I scrounged it. Then
discovered on planing it up that was 1 1/2" thick plane (a maple
relative). Huge splits in the middle, but ripping the centre out
turned it into 9' of 8" wide timber. That's enough to make a slightly
shortened Mastermyr, in nice timber thick enough to allow relief
carving.

I'll probably use it as a toolbox on the LARP circuit this summer
(Heartland Games - I'll be selling glasswork, furniture and tiaras).
If I ever do carve it, I'll probably give it awy to someone - shame to
sell it, it wouldn't raise enough to make a worthwhile hourly rate.

My hero. ;-)

--
*Prepositions are not words to end sentences with *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"Andy Dingley" wrote in message
...
It was somewhere outside Barstow when "Mary Fisher"
wrote:

(BTW - Today I'm making a crude replica of the Mastermyr chest)

Nice, for your tools or a commission?

I'm just trying to get rid of surplus timber. This is an old
"Nakashima style" slab table that was made in the '60s, and I found in
a flat clearance a couple of weeks ago. It had been used as a plant
stand by someone with very poor aim when watering and was only fit for
firewood.

However I can never throw timber away, so I scrounged it. Then
discovered on planing it up that was 1 1/2" thick plane (a maple
relative). Huge splits in the middle, but ripping the centre out
turned it into 9' of 8" wide timber. That's enough to make a slightly
shortened Mastermyr, in nice timber thick enough to allow relief
carving.

I'll probably use it as a toolbox on the LARP circuit this summer
(Heartland Games - I'll be selling glasswork, furniture and tiaras).
If I ever do carve it, I'll probably give it awy to someone - shame to
sell it, it wouldn't raise enough to make a worthwhile hourly rate.

Hmm.

....

It would be very nice in our Viking tent :-)

Mary