$6 Lensboard for the 'dorff

[john_kasaian2]

Hello! My $6.00 Deardorff lens board arrived yesterday, it was one of those late night e-bay affairs. It appears to me to be an original mahogany 6"x6"----not a generic plywood. The reason it went for so cheap is probably because it was painted red(!) with a blue bulls eye (!!) around the opening which incidently is the correct size opening for my "spare" lens, a 14" APO Artar in an old dial set compur, thats why I bid on the thing! About a minutes work with Jasco paint remover and the paint was loose, revealing the original mahogany. Not wanting to leave the paint remover on any longer than neccesary---I was concerned about the glue being softened---I scooped off all the paint and got the remaining paint remover off. Unfortunately much of the original finish came off as well. Does anyone know what type of finish Deardorff used on thier cameras so I can refinish my lensboard correctly? I tried the Deardorff Historical Website which refers to the finish as being lacquer but it dosen't seem to me to be the garden variety laquer I'd get at the hardware store. As always, I'm grateful for your thoughts and opinions

[david_f._stein]

Be careful with lacquer, John. In the future, 3M makes an

excellent LOW-volatile, LOW-odor product called SAFEST

STRIPPER. Good luck.

[per_volquartz1]

My dad was a furniture maker back in the old country. Much of his work

was finished using cellulose lacquer.

The stuff was nasty to say the least and without a doubt highly toxic.

Anyway, the way it was applied was like this:

 

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First you had to have a dust free environment.

Then after sanding the surface extremely smooth the first thin layer

would be applied (with a good brush), going with the grain.

After the first coat had completely dried the "nubbies" were scaped off

with a flat piece of steel - without taking off the layer of laquer.

Then a second coat would be applied - after cleaning the surface for

dust.

Again, after drying the "nubbies" were scraped off.

A third coat - usually the final one - would then be applied. For a

hign gloss surface the laquer would be left as it was. For a semi matte

finish the surface would be rubbed down with very fine steel wool...

 

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From what I remember from my old Deardorff the surface appeared to have

been lacquered and then finished with steel wool...

 

<p>

 

If you use lacquer do use a mask intended for toxic fumes...unless you

have plenty of brain cells to spare...

[john_kasaian2]

Thanks for all the tips on laquer. On good days I'm borderline as

far as the brain cell matter goes. Maybe a good tung oil finish will

do the trick? Or perhaps shellac?