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I need some help. I tried brushing black shellac (dewaxed Zinsser stuff with Transtint mixed in) over the whole body without taping off the binding. Then I tried scraping the color off the binding. I've heard people do this, yeah? But I suck.



I'm tearing up the binding and taking off color where I don't mean to. I've tried using the scraper normally, and I've tried just going with the corner. I've tried razor blades too. What the heck am I supposed to be doing here?

Thanks.

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David Morris

Don't give up. Its called "skill", and it rarely happens along perfectly the first time through... Keep at it, and do-over as many times as it takes.

It'll go a lot easier on the next one. Remember, if it were easy, everyone would be doing it.....

Hi,
If your bindings are at all porous you have to seal them. Apply two coats of blonde shellac to the bindings before applying anything colored:filler, finish or stain.
Good luck... DT

Lots of good tips. Seal (at least the binding) first, don't wait too long, etc.
I use a razor with a hook turned (easy) and a pull stroke, with the thumbnail dragging along the edge acting as the "fence" (...you can get very accurate this way, moving in a few thou' at a time). Another tip, If I know I'll be colouring then scraping back, is to have a thin black purfling line innermost. That way you have .020" margin of error when scraping and the inside binding edge will always look sharp.

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Dave
Milton, ON

Ok, I was doing this wrong. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. At least I can have a do-over on this one.

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David Morris