I'm in the process of restoring a No 4 type 17 Stanley plane and I'm interested in redoing the japanning. Does anyone have any recommendations for a pre-made japanning product available for purchase? I'd prefer this option over using engine paint, which seems to be commonly suggested.
3 Answers
Check out this product I found: https://aplanelife.us/products-for-sale/ols/products/18-pint-traditional-japanning. It looks genuine and could be what you need!
Cool find! I remember someone on Lumberjocks who used to sell a similar product. Wonder if this is them.
If you can cook the asphaltum and linseed oil into a varnish first, you'll get a much nicer finish. Just be aware that that process can't be done with any premixed products that contain solvent, as it won't allow for proper crosslinking—definitely a project for outside with good ventilation due to the fumes!
Good to know! I had no idea that cooking it outside was necessary. Sounds like quite a process, though!
While it’s a nice idea to do the japanning yourself, I’d think twice about it. I tried it years ago and it turned out to be a lot of hassle for not the best results. I ended up using high-temp automotive engine paint instead, which gave me a similar, if not better, finish without the fuss. But hey, if you’re up for the challenge, best of luck with it!
Thanks for the encouragement! Good to hear different perspectives on this.
I saw that last week too, but they were sold out at the time. Maybe they restocked!