von stetina Posted February 19, 2013 Share #1 Posted February 19, 2013 I've read in the Underhill book that he coats his rigging with shellac as a preserbvative. Do any of you do this? I'm working at 1/8 scale and beesway hides the rope detail. Thinned shellac sounds like a good idea. It seems to me that the rigging would be less subject to humidity etc. von stetina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MSzwarc Posted February 21, 2013 Share #2 Posted February 21, 2013 I often use shellac as a wood finish and sanding sealer, but I've never used it as a rigging preservative. I wouldn't think a preservative would be necessary for synthetic materials, but for cotton and linen (which I prefer) I use beeswax. A thinned shellac would work well as a preservative, but it might have a couple of effects which might be undesirable. It could make the rigging line shiny,and it could stiffen it as well. Experimentation on your rigging line will show you just how shellac affects its appearance. Another choice would be to dissolve beeswax in turpentine or xylene, and dip the line in that. If you make it thin enough, you won't get the detail-hiding buildup that you get by drawing the line over a block of beeswax. Quote Mike_______________________________In progress: nothingCompleted:Midwest Chesapeake Bay flattiescratchbuilt Grand Banks doryYoung Modeler 1:100 turtle ship “This was the morning when father, mending one hole in the thermos-flask, made three” --Dylan Thomas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
von stetina Posted February 23, 2013 Author Share #3 Posted February 23, 2013 I'm using linen for the largest standing rigging, and Egyptian cotton for the rest. Some DMC Cordennete cotton maybe too, not sure yet. So far experiments with shellac look OK on the running rigging. I'm thinning it a lot. Im yet to try it on the running rigging thread. I'll see tonight. I'll try thinning the beeswax further, but it hasn't soaked in as I've wanted yet. we'll see. Von Stetina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
druxey Posted March 2, 2013 Share #4 Posted March 2, 2013 Beeswax has been identified as being slightly acidic, which is not good for the lines in the long run. Conservators' wax, which is pH neutral, might be a better choice. aviaamator 1 Quote Be sure to sign up for an epic Nelson/Trafalgar project if you would like to see it made into a TV series http://trafalgar.tv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
von stetina Posted March 3, 2013 Author Share #5 Posted March 3, 2013 Hi Druxey, Thanks, I'll check it out. Hope it's not too expensive. Speaking of expensive, the shipping prices are killing me! I'm hoping to use what I've got at hand though. Haven't put anything on the model yet as I'm still undecided. Bruce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dgbot Posted March 3, 2013 Share #6 Posted March 3, 2013 The author Rob Napier uses conservator's wax. I have read all of his works and have talked with him. He is a firm believer in the stuff. David B Quote Work in progress USS Maine in cardstock.http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/7446-uss-maine-by-dgbot-hmv-card/#entry220003 Completed Blockade runner Teazer http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/6063-blockade-runner-teazer-by-dgbot-card-stock/#entry175967 Completed The Monitor Lehigh http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/6920-the-monitor-lehigh-by-dgbot-card-model/#entry203680 Completed Kingston Class MCVD http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/forum/10-kit-build-logs-in-progress/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Matson Posted March 7, 2013 Share #7 Posted March 7, 2013 (edited) I use the conservators wax. I got mine off amazon. I believe it is made oversea by Piercator Enterprises Ltd. www.picreator.co.uk. Edited March 7, 2013 by Geoff Matson Archi 1 Quote Geoff NRG member #2666Current build : USS Constitution Finished builds: Armed Virginia Sloop (in gallery) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Matson Posted March 16, 2013 Share #8 Posted March 16, 2013 (edited) In addition to the conservators wax I found three kins of bees wax off the internet The basic yellow color, black, and a white or neutral color. I also found a thread treatment from an American company www.herrshners.com It is similar to the conservators wax. I still learn to the conservators wax Edited March 16, 2013 by Geoff Matson Archi and aviaamator 2 Quote Geoff NRG member #2666Current build : USS Constitution Finished builds: Armed Virginia Sloop (in gallery) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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