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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Gippsland Victoria
    Posts
    733

    Default sparkly shiny bright finish on chess pieces ?

    I'd like to have a go at some chess pieces in the future

    What key words should I be googling or web pages/ books should I be reading about to learn how to get a a nice sparkly bright untarnishable finish on brass and mild steel that wont be affected by greasy fingers ?

    Am assuming some sort of varnish / lacquer rather than bare metal ?

    Or is this where I learn how to cut stainless steel ?


    Bill

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Murray Bridge S Aust.
    Age
    71
    Posts
    5,942

    Default

    Hi Bill,
    After you've made the pieces, polish them and then have them powder coated, or do them in a clear automotive finish. If you have them powder coated, drill and tap 3 or 4 mm threads in the bases for them to be wired for P/Coating.
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    149

    Default

    l have used Incralac, spray cans. Good results.

    http://www.wattyl.net.au/nztechnical...etal/WM326.pdf

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Gippsland Victoria
    Posts
    733

    Default

    Thanks for the replies. Google revealed a similar question posted in another forum.

    Responses on that forum included hairspray, shellac, 50/50 "Rustins" and acetone, Linseed oil and "thinners"

    and this stuff ; Diamond Finish Clear Coat Information and Instructions

    this is the Rustins ; Metal Lacquer at Rustins

    Bill

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    South Australia
    Posts
    1,656

    Default

    I have used the Rustins before with no problems

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    Norwood-ish, Adelaide
    Age
    59
    Posts
    6,541

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by steamingbill View Post
    ...Or is this where I learn how to cut stainless steel ?
    One of the interesting things about stainless steel is the range of colours it goes when heated (that is, the colours of the oxides), so you could have one part of the set left natural and the other oxidised to a deep purple/ blue

    colours.jpg

    Provided that your design is not overly complex and your lathe/ mill has some rigidity, S/S should not be a problem (as every one tells me when I complain about S/S). The main issue that presents with S/S is that it will work harden, so decent cuts, preferably carbide if you can and try to keep the cut cold if using HSS otherwise it will blunt tools.
    One of the downsides with lacquers is over time they will wear/ fail so they will need to be done again - that could be 10, 15 or more years down the track but it's not do once and forget.

    Michael

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Gippsland Victoria
    Posts
    733

    Default

    Thanks Michael, didnt know that ............... or rather ........ one part of my brain just said "Of course I've seen that before ! What a good idea that would be interesting to try" ............ the other parts of brain that were controlling this particular chess set idea have been given a good kicking and told to wake up.

    Will have a few test runs in the shed on various things suggested above.

    Bill

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2016
    Location
    Lowood QLD Australia
    Posts
    1

    Default

    Hi there. I read just recently where a chap who had made his own chess men from bronze obtained a lovely shine through tumbling them in a home-made tumbler... fabricated from a vegemite jar filled with nuts. I think he said it took about 4 hours to get the level of shine he wanted. The mental image he created in my mind was a tumbler which looked similar to a concrete mixer! Hope that helps. You can obtain small motors from Jaycar Electronics... Vegemite jars from... HA!

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