Japaned tins

[rustyh]

Where did the term come from and how do you do it? Is it PC or just done to make something look old?

 

[Stumpkiller]

It's basically a black lacquer or enamel finish. It was originally done in India on pottery back in the 1600's, but the Japanese got the title. The English did a lot of it on ironware to prevent rust in Victorian times.

 

[R.C.BINGAMAN]

I find the tin that I like,size wise usally a altoids tin, using the anvil and a small ball peen hammer lightly tapping to remove the pressed impressions from the lid and sides of the tin.When I get it to where I like the smoothness of the metal just toss it in the camp fire or fire place and let it burn,keep a eye on it and ocassionally move it around a bit, this helps to evenly remove all the out side paint.Let her cool off then rub it down with a bit of 0004 steel wool.From there you can use a bit of softened bees wax on it to polish or paint a design to your desires and a light coat of varnish These make nice small boxes to put over shot cards,wads,whatever in.Hope this helps, A APPALICHIAN HUNTER

 

[msuspartan]

You should see the little shooting kit Stumpy has that he made from an Altoids tin. Very cool and am making one soon.

Cheers, DonK

 

[Stumpkiller]

These are not "japanned". They are toasted to burn off the paint and tone the steel dark - whole different finish. The result is more a steel box that has aged.

Just a cheapie little exedient that follows the spirit of experimental archeology if not the materials. I make no promise or claims to authenticity - but it's good enough for who it's for.

 

[Macon Due]

Sir
What is the narrow box on the right [in picture ]from? I plan to make a partition box like your wide one as well. :thumbsup:
Macon

 

[rustyh]

Thanks guys, now I have some more things to make... :wink:

 

[Stumpkiller]

Sir? Not me, I work for a living.

That's an Altoids chewing gum tin. Gas station or grocery story checkout display.

 

[R.C.BINGAMAN]

Thats,The rascal,I am currently working on one that had wrigleys stick gum in that my wife bought at christmas,I think it will be used as a container for a fire kit. It is just the right size for all the fixins, flint,steel,char,tinder fungus,and a small burning class, might even put a fire piston in it.

 

[tg]

This was also an option for finishing gun barrels according to some circa 1790 advertisments.

 

[Coot]

"Japan Black" is basically a black lacquer that was used as both a decorative finish and protective coating. Used in England from at least the 18th c. & in Asia from a much earlier time. I think that it is made of bitumen tar, linseed oil & turpentine.

 

[tg]

I used a similar mix made with tar, linseed oil and turp to darkne "finish" gun stocks I think in the past it was called asphaltum and sometimes used on marine application gun stocks. This mixture really darkens the wood but must be put on in thin coats or it can melt or get sticky from the second application if the first was to thick to dry. I do not think it was used a lot in the past but realy do not know. I got some on the barrels now and then but took it off. I suspect that had I done it properly it would have stayed on at least for a while. It does not seem like it would be really durable on metal?

 

[Coot]

There may be an additional drying agent - I am not sure of the formula - but the 18th c japan black will cure (not sure how long it takes) to a hard & durable semi-gloss finish - I have several 18th cutlasses with traces of the original japan black finish still intact and early 19th c ones with much of the finish still there. I call 200 years pretty durable. :grin:

 

[tg]

"There may be an additional drying agent"

this is very possible plus the fact that I had no idea whatsoever what I was doing or how to go about doing it, but that is pretty a common occurance and has not stopped me yet.

 

[spudnut]

I love burnin these little tin boxes I got em all over the place.I did a large one from a shortbread cookie tin I keep a bunch of fire makin stuff in for rondy.

 

[Marc Adamchek]

I smoked a pipe for a couple years and have a bunch of great tins, different shapes and sizes. They gete burned and polished. Great for wads, cards, fire fixins, etc.

Also, they don't have hinges, which I think is more PC(?)