Discussions: 43,731 | Messages: 589,165 | Members: 28,928 | Online: 173 | Chatroom: 0
User Name:  Password:
 

"That is called grain. It is supposed to be there." -Flotsam


 
APUG search    RSS MOBILE
Customize Sidebar
Gum-Silver Process
Author: Dwane
221 view(s)
Kodak D-19
Author: Tom Hoskinson
246 view(s)
Recognize this HCA recipe?
Author: craigclu
450 view(s)
Go Back   APUG > APUG English Forums > Equipment > Large Format Cameras and Accessories > Camera refinishing

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 05-13-2008, 10:05 AM   #1 (permalink)
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 27
Default Camera refinishing

Old Burke & James I have is beat the hell and I have two other ones so I figured I would refinish it. Everyone says they do not refinish that well but I figure whats it hurt to try. I guess I am jealous I cannot afford a Chamonix or Deardorf. Anyways:






Base taken apart



Top sanded down



Color I decided on:



I need to steelwool it out then will apply 1-2 coats off imron clear. All the metal bits I have polished up with tripoli. Should has some more rough pictures tonight. Thoughts so far?
__________________
Volvospeed
Volvospeed is offline   Reply With Quote Ignore this user Ignore this thread Ignore this forum
Old 05-13-2008, 10:13 AM   #2 (permalink)
 
Ian Grant's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Turkey (West Midlands, UK)
Posts: 4,209
Default

It looks good, should be a vast improvement over the Battleship Grey

Be interesting to see more.

Ian
__________________
My APUG portfolio
Ian Grant is offline   Reply With Quote Ignore this user Ignore this thread Ignore this forum
Old 05-13-2008, 10:13 AM   #3 (permalink)
 
Steve Smith's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Ryde, Isle of Wight, England
Posts: 2,118
Default

Makes me wonder why it was ever painted.


Steve.
Steve Smith is offline   Reply With Quote Ignore this user Ignore this thread Ignore this forum
Old 05-13-2008, 10:25 AM   #4 (permalink)
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 341
Default

I like what you are doing to your camera. Excellent job so far. Here's an image of the damage I did to mine recently . . .

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7487667@N06/2409483196/

But, now looking at the perty wood on yours, I think I'll strip it and shellac it. Notice how I cut off the tops of the front standard pillars using a miter saw.

Dann

Last edited by DannL; 05-13-2008 at 10:57 AM.
DannL is offline   Reply With Quote Ignore this user Ignore this thread Ignore this forum
Old 05-13-2008, 10:39 AM   #5 (permalink)
 
Ian Grant's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Turkey (West Midlands, UK)
Posts: 4,209
Default

Steve, surprisingly Agfa Ansco sold a Deluxe version of their 10x8 Universal View Camera in Battleship Grey, with Nickel plated metal parts, it was $100 in 1941, $17 more than the much nicer wood and brass version. After the US Government seized Agfa Ansco after Pearl Harbour the cameras changed and they were all Battleship Grey.

So it seems Battleship Grey was thought better than natural wood

Ian
__________________
My APUG portfolio
Ian Grant is offline   Reply With Quote Ignore this user Ignore this thread Ignore this forum
Sponsored Ad. (Subscribers to APUG have the option to remove this ad.)

Old 05-13-2008, 11:25 AM   #6 (permalink)
 
KenS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 153
Default B&J

Quote:
Originally Posted by Volvospeed View Post
Old Burke & James I have is beat the hell and I have two other ones so I figured I would refinish it. Everyone says they do not refinish that well but I figure whats it hurt to try. I
Thoughts so far?
When I decided that WWII US Navy Surplus Battleship grey was not a colour that I considered beneficial to the looks of my 8x10 B&J, I removed their dastardly deed with "circa 1850" paint remover (at least that's what I think the date was) at a table close to the door to the deck to get some relief from the fumes when I found that the remover 'dried' too fast outside. I was delighted to find nice maple, which responded beautifully to a rubbing down with some steel wool. The two coats of tung oil (applied with folded cheese cloth rather than the usual brush) have stood up extremely well. I would not hesitate to recommend a similar treatment. That being said... perhaps an "ugly" grey camera might be a less attractive to "disappearing" from the back seat of your car.

Ken
__________________
"Haud yer wheesht!"..... Granny
KenS is offline   Reply With Quote Ignore this user Ignore this thread Ignore this forum
Old 05-13-2008, 07:19 PM   #7 (permalink)
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 27
Default





Too much clear coat LOL.
__________________
Volvospeed
Volvospeed is offline   Reply With Quote Ignore this user Ignore this thread Ignore this forum
Old 05-13-2008, 07:58 PM   #8 (permalink)
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Ventura, Ca
Posts: 1,302
Default

This turned out very nice. Good job. As a camera builder I can appreciate fine wood. I don't understand why someone would paint such fine looking wood. This is an excellent job. Something about the look of a restored wood to its natural finish. The patina makes you a better photographer!!! Not really but it is a nice feeling of accomplishment when you are done.

Jim
Jim Fitzgerald is offline   Reply With Quote Ignore this user Ignore this thread Ignore this forum
Old 05-13-2008, 08:30 PM   #9 (permalink)
 
papagene's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Western Mass., USA
Posts: 3,064
Default

It looks really nice. You certainly did a very fine job with this project.

gene
__________________
Long live Ed "Big Daddy" Roth!!
papagene is offline   Reply With Quote Ignore this user Ignore this thread Ignore this forum
Old 05-14-2008, 02:02 AM   #10 (permalink)
 
Steve Smith's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Ryde, Isle of Wight, England
Posts: 2,118
Default

That looks fantastic.


Steve.
Steve Smith is offline   Reply With Quote Ignore this user Ignore this thread Ignore this forum
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

 


APUG.ORG Block Ads. (APUG Subscribers have the option of closing this block)
 

  Contact Us - Advertise on APUG - Archive - Top - Site Terms - Forum Rules  
    

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:59 AM.
  
All Content Copyright © 2002-2008 Photocentric Ltd.   Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO APUG.ORG is a division of Photocentric Ltd.
This site is best viewed with a resolution of 1280x1024 (or higher), we recommend using