steel gun lettering

[Cannoneer]

 Is that a large lathe behind the girl and man at the table?

[and7barton]

Well, bit the bullet and went for the muzzle face lettering - Messed up on a 2nd hit of the "T", but the rest wasn't too awful.
I'm not sure whether to grind back and do it again. I still have to rub back with a sanding block yet.
Also did the breech lettering which I'm satisfied with, but hadn't yet put a dot in between when I took that shot . I didn't use any kind of jig on the breech.
To do the muzzle I used a simple wooden plug in the bore with a MDF disc glued to it.

[GGaskill]

Since you haven't filed it flat yet, maybe you can peen the metal back into the "hole" of the bad letter and do it again.  Always could have the letter TIG welded up and file it flat and try again.

[Victor3]

 That looks good.

 I don't really mind a few minor flaws in such things. I look at an old one-off and wonder about the man who made it, when and why. There's usually little mystique about an old factory gun with perfectly roll-stamped lettering.

 However, all the mystery and stuff might not come into play until after you've been dead for a long time

[Rickk]

Looks darn near perfect to me.

Look at pictures in collectors books of military proof and acceptance marks. Even though they are stamping out several hundred a day, many of the marks are uneven, crooked, etc. You would think that with practice they would be perfect. And they only had one or two stamps to master, rather than the entire alphabit.

That is just the way it would have been.

[and7barton]

Looks darn near perfect to me.

Look at pictures in collectors books of military proof and acceptance marks. Even though they are stamping out several hundred a day, many of the marks are uneven, crooked, etc. You would think that with practice they would be perfect. And they only had one or two stamps to master, rather than the entire alphabit.

That is just the way it would have been.

Thanks to you all for those encouraging and heartening remarks - I'm going to leave it "as is", apart from further smoothing down with emery paper and a block. To hell with doubts and anxieties!
In case anyone was wondering, the name of the gun - "Torden", means "Thunder of Thor".

Next to make a brute of a carriage.

[dan610324]

thats an very beautiful wotk
you could be proud of that

[irishman]

Rickk, thank you! The second Parrot is done less stamping. I think that I have just received artistic license from one of the most knowledgeable cannoneers on this board

                                          Michael

[and7barton]

I have another question about stamping - Has anyone ever tried to fill in the characters with something like gloss paint ?
I'd like, if it's practical, to fill the grooves with gloss red paint to improve the appearance and visibility.
But - will it stay visible ? -
Will it sand off the outside surface easily once it's dry ?
Will it actually improve the look ? - Would the grooves be wide enough for the colour to actually show ?

[dan610324]

of course it will make it easier to reed , especially red or black .
if I was you I should test vith some nail polish .
if you dont like the result its easy to whipe away with a few drops of aceton .

[Rickk]

Brownells sells  a colored wax stick (somewhat like a crayon, but a bit harder and more durable) that is intended for filling lettering on guns. It comes in multiple colors.


http://www.brownells.com/aspx/ns/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=7778&title=LACQUER-STIK~

You just rub it into the lettering, and wipe the excess off the surface. It is fairly durable, it  tends to resist oil and gun cleaners. It won't last forever, but it is easy to re-apply. And if you don't like it or want to try a different color it is no big deal to re-do or remove it.

Rick

[and7barton]

Brownells sells (or at least they did when I bought some) a colored wax stick (somewhat like a crayon, but a bit harder wax) that is intended for filling lettering on guns. It comes in multiple colors. I got red, white, black, gold.

You just rub it into the lettering, and wipe the excess off the surface. It is fairly durable, it  tends to resist oil and gun cleaners. It won't last forever, but it is easy to re-apply. And if you don't like it or want to try a different color it is no big deal to re-do or remove it.

Rick

Thanks for that info. I did try red gloss paint, but it didn't really make any discernible difference.
I'll try and find Brownells. Is this an American store ?

[Rickk]

Look up... I found a link to the item and updated my post.

[and7barton]

Look up... I found a link to the item and updated my post.

There doesn't seem to be a UK stockist. But I'll visit my local gunshop on Monday - Also a golfing shop (Players used the same thing to spruce up their club heads)

[Double D]

Brush on some white paint so the impression is filled with paint.  Then with a thinner soaked rag wipe the paint off the metal leaving it in the impression.  I confess to not brainstorming this one myself.  I was watching a program the other day on the Military Channel called Tank Overhaul  and that was how they were rewhiteing the engraved labels on the tank control panel.

That was actually a pretty cool episode.  They were restoring an M-18 Hellcat a World War II tank destroyer. That tank could go 50 MPH.  While doing the research on the tank they found out the actual WWII commander of that specific tank lived nearby. When the tank was restored they brought the 80+ year old Vet out to see the tank and the first thing he did was show every one how to climb up on it.  Then they had him up in the turret riding and and he's  hollering, "Faster, Faster!" For just a few moment the old guy was 20 years old again.  Pretty cool.

[waynef]

DD,
Ur right. I have whitened my Buffington Sights (Trap Door Springfields) the way u just described and they have lasted for years with quite a bit of use.

Wayne

[Victor3]

Look up... I found a link to the item and updated my post.

There doesn't seem to be a UK stockist. But I'll visit my local gunshop on Monday - Also a golfing shop (Players used the same thing to spruce up their club heads)

 I have three of the "lacquer sticks" shown in the Brownells link. They work okay. They're not "lacquer" though. Smell like latex paint. They're some kind of sticky goop that never cures. You can remove it easily using a tooth brush and paint thinner.

 Says here on the tube they're made by LA-CO Industries, Inc./Markal Company. They're not primarily for guns; I got mine from an industrial supplier. Maybe there's a UK distributor...