KenmoreRulesAll

It's going to look brand new. Wow!

Cari-in-Oly

Lookin' good Mike.

Cari

HelenAnn

Nice job! What kind of paint are you using?

frudemoo

Just been reading up on the alcohol debate, but I use isopropyl for this kind of thing. All the metal parts. Stuff just comes right off. Sounds like you definitely need this!!!

manicmike

Enamel, I believe (I didn't paint it). I wanted to re-do the Japan (you melt an old 78 ROM gramophone record in alcohol for several days then filter) but the oven's a problem - not that I can't get the machine in but the house smelled for days the last time (I'm serious). I'm now thinking baked enamel or something similar. The paint so far hasn't really supplied a thick enough coating to emulate the original finish: It needs to fill in all the ridges and gaps in the cast iron. Hmm.. maybe I just need to apply with a brush.

Rodney

I don't know if you can get this down there or not.
http://www.libertyonthehudson.com/pontypool.html
A japan finish you don't have to bake. Unfortunately I haven't tried it yet.
Rodney

KenmoreRulesAll

I used warm sudsy water, then rubbed dry and set in a warm window so that all the moisture would bake off. It seemed to work, but alcohol would have been faster!

Rodney

I'm a big believer in alcohol on non-japanned parts like feet. It works fast on dried oil and is a lot less toxic and harsh on the skin than other solvents. The only drawback I've found is it will mess up shellacked surfaces (actually a good thing under the right circumstances, like repairing a damaged finish).
Rodney

manicmike

And unfortunately they won't ship outside the U.S.
Maybe I'll find the recipe somewhere.

Rodney

I was afraid of that. A quart of the stuff isn't cheap either- the reason I haven't tried it yet. I've toyed with making my own Japan (I like old hand tools too) but I know my wife wouldn't approve of my baking it in the oven.
Rodney