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Freshly Baked Chapter Ring

2/22/2015

12 Comments

 
Picture
The dial after waxing
Picture
Wax/shellac filling the numerals.
PictureThe wax is left a little bit rough after silvering.
I made a chapter ring today. The pics above show the brass after being filled with wax.

After the silvering process, the numerals are left with a rough surface; a remnant from the last stage of sanding. So typically one of the last steps after silvering, is to gently heat the wax to melting point, to make the surface of the numerals shiny.

I have tended to do this by heating the underside of the dial with a butane torch, but it can be a little tricky if you care about the surface finish on the other side. 

PictureI want to keep this silvered surface unmarked.
Apply too much heat, and it will leave a mark. It is possible to avoid it, but its also very easy to make a mistake, and leave an unsightly burn mark.

If this side is to be polished, no problem. But if it is to be left silvered, the work is pretty much ruined.

Picture
Ready to go in the oven.
Picture
So today I thought I'd try the kitchen oven, instead of the butane torch. It can heat up to 250°C which is more than enough to melt the wax, and it should be a uniform heat right? No scorch marks from an electric oven. What could possibly go wrong...

I finished the dial, and then applied a single coat of thin lacquer as usual. I decided to do this mainly because I was concerned about the silvered surface oxidising/discoloring in the oven. Of course, there was then the possibility that the lacquer might do something unpleasant while heated, but it had to be one or the other.
Picture
Nice shiny numerals.
Picture
Picture
Well it worked a treat. In less than 5 minutes, there was a beautiful sheen on the wax, and I think the lacquer even benefited a little too. It looked to be a little smoother than before it went in.
Picture
The completed chapter ring.
Picture
Masterchef, here I come...

Thanks for stopping by,
Chris.

12 Comments
Rob
4/9/2015 11:13:03 am

Nice work here Chris and a useful tip on using the oven. What did you use for the engraving, hand cutting or CNC?

Reply
Chris link
4/9/2015 11:03:12 pm

Hi Rob,

I chemically etched it. I've got a video coming out in the near future that shows the process.

Kind regards,
Chris.

Reply
Rob
4/10/2015 12:09:47 am

Interesting. I will look forward to seeing it.
Your blog and videos are inspirational. I am (very slowly) making one of Peter Heimann's Regulators and your work is making me want to speed up the process!

Michael
12/15/2015 11:18:47 pm

Chris, your work is wonderful and you do a great job with all the videos. So much better than most DIY type videos, we can tell that amount of effort that goes into just making the video and editing it.

Now my question, I love the look of the chapter ring and want to do something similar with the wax on an etched part. I just can't find more info on the internet on how to do the wax part. I suspect I just don't know the right thing to google for more info, can you point me to any info on how to use the wax/shellac to do something similar?

Reply
Chris link
12/16/2015 04:37:42 am

Hey Michael,

Very pleased you're enjoying the videos!

I get the wax from Ian T Cobb here: http://www.clockmaking-brass.co.uk/miscellaneous_items%202.htmL (order "black wax stick")

The process is as you see it on the video, just a gently heat, smear on the wax, let cool, rub back with abrasive, and then gently remelt to give a sheen. It really is as simple as that.

Cheers mate,
Chris.

Reply
Zach link
5/24/2019 08:41:39 pm

G'day Chris,

I've always been curious about your method of lacquering, can you tell me how you create the finish that you do on your clocks?

Regards,

Zach.

Reply
Chris
5/25/2019 06:26:37 am

Hi Zach,

Generally the finish is bare metal taken to a high finish with prgessively finer grades of abrasive paper finishing with this polish: https://wrsmithclocks.com/polish/ For the few parts that it suits, I lacquer with this: https://www.bunnings.com.au/white-knight-rust-guard-500ml-clear-guard-topcoat_p1564192 eg Chapter rings, dials etc There is a bit of detail in this video on the application of the lacquer: https://youtu.be/qpy5O0b7cL8

Cheers,
Chris.

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