Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
In Summary
Hours for Restoration:
145
Supplies from Jamestown Distributors (jamestowndistributors.com):
Foam Brushes and Rollers
Epifanes Gloss Clear Varnish
Interlux Pre-Kote Primer
Interlux 4152 Brightside Yellow
Silicon Bronze Screws
Supplies from Northwood's Canoe Company (wooden-canoes.com):
Canvas Filler
Brass Screws
Brass Tacks
Diamond Head Brass Bolts - Old Town Style
#10 Standard Mildew Resistant Canvas
Other Supplies:
Stripper
Wood Bleach
Cedar
Wooden Scraper
Sand Paper
Bronze Wool
Thinner
Literature:
The Wood & Canvas Canoe by Rollin Thurlow and Jerry Stelmok http://www.amazon.com/Wood-Canvas-Canoe-Construction-Restoration/dp/0884480461/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1291335670&sr=1-1
145
Supplies from Jamestown Distributors (jamestowndistributors.com):
Foam Brushes and Rollers
Epifanes Gloss Clear Varnish
Interlux Pre-Kote Primer
Interlux 4152 Brightside Yellow
Silicon Bronze Screws
Supplies from Northwood's Canoe Company (wooden-canoes.com):
Canvas Filler
Brass Screws
Brass Tacks
Diamond Head Brass Bolts - Old Town Style
#10 Standard Mildew Resistant Canvas
Other Supplies:
Stripper
Wood Bleach
Cedar
Wooden Scraper
Sand Paper
Bronze Wool
Thinner
Literature:
The Wood & Canvas Canoe by Rollin Thurlow and Jerry Stelmok http://www.amazon.com/Wood-Canvas-Canoe-Construction-Restoration/dp/0884480461/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1291335670&sr=1-1
Saturday, October 16, 2010
The Seats
The oak seat frames were sanded before applying three coats of Epifanes Gloss Clear Varnish. After re-caning the seats, one final coat of varnish was applied.
 |
| Before |
|
| After |
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Primer, Paint...Primer, Paint
After the filler was dry, the sanded and varnished gunnels were reattached. The keel and the brass half oval stem band/keel band were also sanded and installed on a layer of Dolfinite Bedding Compound.
The hull was then lightly sanded and primered with Interluxe Pre-Kote Primer for One-Part Finishes. The primer was applied on a warm day and the brush strokes didn't flow out as well as hoped. I thought that the following coats of Interluxe Brightside Polyurethane paint would fill the imperfections in, but didn't. After three coats of Brightside paint, I decided to sand the hull down and smooth out the primer and start the painting process over again.
When the sanding was completed, some of the grey filler was showing through the white primer. In hind sight, I should have re-primered the grey areas because it took five coats of yellow paint to cover up the light and dark shadowing. I used almost three quarts of paint on this canoe and would have expected to use just one.
The hull was then lightly sanded and primered with Interluxe Pre-Kote Primer for One-Part Finishes. The primer was applied on a warm day and the brush strokes didn't flow out as well as hoped. I thought that the following coats of Interluxe Brightside Polyurethane paint would fill the imperfections in, but didn't. After three coats of Brightside paint, I decided to sand the hull down and smooth out the primer and start the painting process over again.
When the sanding was completed, some of the grey filler was showing through the white primer. In hind sight, I should have re-primered the grey areas because it took five coats of yellow paint to cover up the light and dark shadowing. I used almost three quarts of paint on this canoe and would have expected to use just one.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Canvassing the Canoe
Before stretching the #10 Standard Mildew Resistant Canvas onto the canoe, it was turned over and lightly sanded. After the exterior of the hull planking was cleaned up, a generous coat of boiled linseed oil was applied to limit its ability to absorb water. Over the years, the hull planks developed many highs and lows and aren't as fair as they once were. The multitude of clench nails prohibited me from doing much fairing of the hull. The highs and lows of the hull will be another part of the canoe's patina.
Before stretching the canvas, we had to build two clamps that would hold each end of the folded canvas. These clamps were hung from the ceiling about 17 feet from each other. One of the clamps was connected to a stud in the wall with a chain. The opposite end was connected to a wall with a come-a-long.
Once the canvas was folded in half and suspended by the homemade clamps, the canoe was nestled down into it. Sand bags were placed into the canoe to weigh it down and prevent the canoe from squirting back out when the canvas was drawn tight by the come-a-long. Once everything was in place, the canvas was stretched tightly around the canoe longitudinally. Another set of brackets resembling large clothes pins were built to pull the canvas halves together at both stems.
Special canvas pliers were then used to stretch the canvas up to the gunwales where two copper tacks were used to hold the canvas taught. When the proper tension is achieved, a small fold of fabric forms above each tack.
At each end of the canoe, the canvas was cut so that each side could be folded over the stems. A small amount of bedding compound was applied to the stems before tacking one side of the canvas to it. A second light layer of bedding compound was applied before stretching and tacking the second side of the canvas over the first.
After the canvas was stretched and tacked in place, the traditional alkyd oil and silica-base filler was applied. filler protects and waterproofs the canvas. It is applied by hand rubbing several coats into the canvas. The filler can take four to six weeks to completely dry.
Before stretching the canvas, we had to build two clamps that would hold each end of the folded canvas. These clamps were hung from the ceiling about 17 feet from each other. One of the clamps was connected to a stud in the wall with a chain. The opposite end was connected to a wall with a come-a-long.
Once the canvas was folded in half and suspended by the homemade clamps, the canoe was nestled down into it. Sand bags were placed into the canoe to weigh it down and prevent the canoe from squirting back out when the canvas was drawn tight by the come-a-long. Once everything was in place, the canvas was stretched tightly around the canoe longitudinally. Another set of brackets resembling large clothes pins were built to pull the canvas halves together at both stems.
Special canvas pliers were then used to stretch the canvas up to the gunwales where two copper tacks were used to hold the canvas taught. When the proper tension is achieved, a small fold of fabric forms above each tack.
At each end of the canoe, the canvas was cut so that each side could be folded over the stems. A small amount of bedding compound was applied to the stems before tacking one side of the canvas to it. A second light layer of bedding compound was applied before stretching and tacking the second side of the canvas over the first.
After the canvas was stretched and tacked in place, the traditional alkyd oil and silica-base filler was applied. filler protects and waterproofs the canvas. It is applied by hand rubbing several coats into the canvas. The filler can take four to six weeks to completely dry.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Stripping and Sanding
When we took on this project, I had envisioned doing a light but thorough sanding of the interior followed by two or three coats of varnish. After sanding a little, I realized that the original varnish was no longer in tact in the area around each of the approximately 1,000+ plank/rib clench nails. To assure lasting protection and integrity, it was decided that all of the old varnish would need to be removed.
Stripping the old varnish turned out to be a more daunting task than I had originally envisioned. The chemical stripper that I used had a hard time breaking down the varnish. It took several coats of stripper and much scraping and rubbing to get down to the bare wood. With some experimenting, it was found that the most productive way to remove the varnish was with a heat gun and a scraper.
Most of the varnish was removed with the heat gun and scraper. Then the chemical stripper was used to remove the final bits from seams and tight spaces. The stripped area was then sanded and bleached. The bleach was used in hopes of lightening the dark stains in the wood around each clench nail. I don't believe the bleach had any effect on the stains. This was fine because the stains contribute to that natural patina we love so well.
After the interior was stripped and sanded, a few minor repairs had to be made before we could begin with the varnishing. Two of the floor boards had suffered from rot. Wood from the damaged areas was removed and the new cedar was spliced in. The punctured plank was repaired by removing the damaged area and a new piece was shaped and epoxied in its place using West Systems epoxy.
The keel bolts (screws) were very corroded and the wood around them had deteriorated over time. I removed the affected wood, filled the void with putty made of West Systems epoxy and wood flour. Mahogany plates were placed over each repaired keel bolt for cosmetic and structural reasons.
The first of three coats of Epifanes Gloss Clear Varnish brought out the rich colors of the cedar planking and ribs. The next couple of coats brought out the bright luster. The gunnels had been sanded earlier and were now varnished as well. The outwales would be removed for the canvassing and needed more varnish work later after the final assembly.
Stripping the old varnish turned out to be a more daunting task than I had originally envisioned. The chemical stripper that I used had a hard time breaking down the varnish. It took several coats of stripper and much scraping and rubbing to get down to the bare wood. With some experimenting, it was found that the most productive way to remove the varnish was with a heat gun and a scraper.
Most of the varnish was removed with the heat gun and scraper. Then the chemical stripper was used to remove the final bits from seams and tight spaces. The stripped area was then sanded and bleached. The bleach was used in hopes of lightening the dark stains in the wood around each clench nail. I don't believe the bleach had any effect on the stains. This was fine because the stains contribute to that natural patina we love so well.
After the interior was stripped and sanded, a few minor repairs had to be made before we could begin with the varnishing. Two of the floor boards had suffered from rot. Wood from the damaged areas was removed and the new cedar was spliced in. The punctured plank was repaired by removing the damaged area and a new piece was shaped and epoxied in its place using West Systems epoxy.
The first of three coats of Epifanes Gloss Clear Varnish brought out the rich colors of the cedar planking and ribs. The next couple of coats brought out the bright luster. The gunnels had been sanded earlier and were now varnished as well. The outwales would be removed for the canvassing and needed more varnish work later after the final assembly.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Getting Started
I was surprised to see the variety of woods used to construct this canoe. The planing is of western red cedar and the ribs are of northern white cedar. The breast hooks, seat frames, thwart, and keel are made of white oak. The inwales are made up of Douglas fir, and the outwales are of African mahogany. Each wood was chosen because of its characteristics and ability to perform specific functions well. The cedars are very light and rot resistant and the white oak is very strong and fairly rot resistant and holds fasteners very well. Besides the mahogany's aesthetic appeal, it is a good all around boat building wood and the Douglas fir is very light and strong.
After John and Nancy had owned the canoe for a number of years, it was again damaged when blown away in a storm. I believe it was found under a neighbor's dock with the canvas torn and a puncture in one of the planks. The torn canvas was removed and the canoe was then stored. Over the years, the varnish deteriorated and a couple of the floor boards suffered some dry rot, but overall, the canoe remained structurally sound.
After doing a quick survey and cleaning (including removing the old mud hornet's nest) we were ready to start refinishing the interior. The first step was to remove the seats and the center thwart. This was more difficult than it sounds because the diamond headed bronze bolts were badly corroded. Several of the bolts were damaged beyond reuse.
In an effort to keep the canoe's appearance original, John opted to have the corroded diamond headed bolts replaced with after market replicas. We purchased 10 Old Town style diamond head brass bolts from Rollin Thurlow at Northwood's Canoe Company. As we continued through this project we found that most of the fasteners used in the gunnels and keel were almost completely depleted. All of the original fasteners were replaced with new silicon bronze screws from JamestownDistributors.com.
After John and Nancy had owned the canoe for a number of years, it was again damaged when blown away in a storm. I believe it was found under a neighbor's dock with the canvas torn and a puncture in one of the planks. The torn canvas was removed and the canoe was then stored. Over the years, the varnish deteriorated and a couple of the floor boards suffered some dry rot, but overall, the canoe remained structurally sound.
Our goal was to refurbish the canoe without losing the hard-earned patina that it had developed over the last 46 years. The hull of the canoe has its share of bumps and bruises and each one tells a story. The antique wooden canoe is beautiful in itself, but it is the patina that truly gives it character.
After doing a quick survey and cleaning (including removing the old mud hornet's nest) we were ready to start refinishing the interior. The first step was to remove the seats and the center thwart. This was more difficult than it sounds because the diamond headed bronze bolts were badly corroded. Several of the bolts were damaged beyond reuse.
In an effort to keep the canoe's appearance original, John opted to have the corroded diamond headed bolts replaced with after market replicas. We purchased 10 Old Town style diamond head brass bolts from Rollin Thurlow at Northwood's Canoe Company. As we continued through this project we found that most of the fasteners used in the gunnels and keel were almost completely depleted. All of the original fasteners were replaced with new silicon bronze screws from JamestownDistributors.com.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
