Retirement Present For Father

[DoktorD]

Hey there guys! I know I've been silent these past months, but finals consumed much of my time.

But, after finishing up my finals I'm back at home in PA and have been busy with a new project. My father will be retiring this year and I decided to give him a gift with a little "bang".

I ordered a .69 cal brass Brooks 24pdr and received it in the mail yesterday... Talk about beautiful!! I had decided to go with a naval carriage and most of it is completed. Now that I have the barrel in hand, I'll be finishing it up within the next few days.

Dont you fellas worry, I'll be posting pictures of the project real soon 

I need a little advice though, my father LOVES bright and shiny brass... All the carriage hardware is brass and I'll be polishing it and putting on a protective coat of laquer. I saw a post a good while back on laquering brass barrels but I cant find it for the life of me. Is laquering the barrel a good idea? I remember in the post it was mentioned that it wont hold up to firing and will eventually burn off. I know some of you will scream "PATINA!" but what father would want is what father will get     Any advice on the barrel?

Mat

[Double D]

Take a look at the GBO Sponsors & Internet Blackpowder Cannons related links  sticky at the top of the board.  Scroll down to Brass-Bronze Blackening Chemicals.  Take a look at those websites.  Those folks sell chemicals for coloring brass and bronze.  They also sell chemcials to seal and protect your polished finish.  If you try their stuff, let us know how how it turns out.

Extend my best wishes to your dad in his upcoming retirement.  Warn him however, not to get the rocking chair out...I retire a littel over a year ago, and I have been on the run ever since.  In fact gotta run right now and go pick up the targets for the shoot

[dan610324]

I would just buff to perfection and put some brass polish and a few rags in the gift box 
then its up to your father to keep it shiny .

will this be used as a desk top model or as a shooter ??

brass takes very long time to change color when it have been highly polished once   

this mortars havent been polished for at least 10 - 15 years .  

[DoktorD]

will this be used as a desk top model or as a shooter ??

Both    It will have a nice decorative track as well as a .69 cal ball mould and cleaning kit.

Warn him however, not to get the rocking chair out...

Oh he wont have to worry about that. He's just getting the title of retired. My grandfather "retired" about ten years ago and theres not a day that goes by that he's not down here at the family business. I have a feeling my dad will be worse 

[Cannoneer]

DoktorD, I'll second Dan's suggestion; I've had some brass pieces that were sprayed with a clear coat finish, and the problem is that it doesn't last, sections of the coating wear off, and you're left with a two-tone barrel because of the tarnishing that starts where the lacquer has worn off. Just a suggestion, but I'd get a polish that didn't contain any abrasives, so the surface of the tube doesnt wear when your dad polishes it.