Handbells

[awindj]

I am trying to make some turned handbells. Does anyone have any links to help me out.

My problem right now is trying to get a brass looking finish without painting over the wood.

 

[john lucas]

I only know of 2 ways to get a brass finish. spray it with brass spray or use gold leaf. You might turn them out of Osage Orange. After it ages it's kind of sort of brass color.

 

[Betty Scarpino]

If you want the wood grain to show, yet have the color be brass-like, here's something to try. Use ash as the wood for the bells. After turning the bells, bleach the wood (2-part wood bleach). You will then have a light-colored, almost white wood to apply a brass-color dye to (you might have to experiment here with mixing dyes).

After dyeing, spray on a couple coats of lacquer to get a good coat of finish. (The rattle cans of Deft brand lacquer work the best for me.)

Gently steel wool the lacquer, then apply some sort of brass-colored liquid paint to fill the grain (look in the craft stores for small jars of liquid brass paint). Steel wool the surface again, gently, to remove the paint from everywhere but the open pores.

Ash is a ring-porous wood, so the liquid paint will remain in the grain of the wood, yet be removed from the solid wood. This brass-colored paint will give the look of shiny metal, and will emphasize the grain pattern, not hide it. Try to achieve enough of a difference in color between the dyed wood and the paint used to fill the pores.


Betty Scarpino, editor, AW

 

[john lucas]

You can use a product called Rub-n-buff to do what Betty described above. It is a paste that comes in metalic colors like copper and gold, antique gold, etc. Simply rub it on and buff it off. It will fill the tiniest pores. It will also get on anything you touch for the next 3 hours so be careful. If it goes on too thick you can wipe it off with mineral spirits to take away some of the wax. I buy it at Hobby Lobby and have seen it at other craft stores. It's fun stuff to use.

 

[awindj]

I tried Rub n Buff

Here is a couple of pics of the bell. Rub n Buff worked well on small parts but it was difficult to get it even on the bell. Don't think the pictures show it well. If I try again, I think I will add some thinner and try painting it on.

 

[Dale Jablonski]

I think your bells look nice and look like a dull brass finish. Good job.

 

[john lucas]

I agree, they look wonderful. What wood did you use. It appears very smooth grained.

 

[Rob Wallace]

Al:

I hope you'll be able to bring the bell to our next turners meeting on Oct. 24th. Perfectly appropriate as a relevant example and show-and-tell - the topic is on surface embellishment, etc.....

Rob

 

[Ed Koenig]

You could also use brass or bronze powder. A "size" is used for applying leaf or powder. Aqua size is water soluble and easy to work with. Some prefer a varnish type size which is the more traditional method of applying gold leaf.

Attached is a ornament I made using bronze powder. I used Ash and lightly charred the wood, wire brushed it to remove some of the soft summer grain. This created a distinct grain texture which the powder does not cover up.

Have fun and be well.
Ed

 

[awindj]

Thanks for the feedback.

I will plan to bring to our turner's meeting and probably our AWC meeting this week.

I am not sure but I think the bell part is elm. It is not as smooth as the picture appears.