Originally Posted By: Salopian (Peter Harris)
July 07, 2006 05:16 AM
The oil is sometimes known in the trade as 'slacum' and it is a mixture of a number of ingrdients, recipes vary a little but it is basically turpentine and linseed oil.
Here is one recipe if you want to make it yourself:
Boiled linseed oil – 16 oz
Spirits of turpentine – 2 oz
Carnauba wax – 200 gr
Venice turpentine - 2 teaspoonfuls
Mix together and heat until it simmers. Simmer for ten minutes then allow to cool.
Be careful it does not catch fire -!!!!
However, Napier produces a ready-mixed formula in a neat little box with all the odds and ends to get you started. These kits are available at gun shops and save a lot of mess and smell. I find the Napier bottled oil works very well if used properly.
First prepare the wood - as with any job, the preparation will govern the finished result, so go back to the bare wood, restore the shapes and angles if need be and raise or fill any dents or gouges.
Apply red-oil (turpentine & bolied linseed oil in which alkanet root has been steeped.
When the colour is right, it depends on the wood how many coats this will take.Apply two coats of finishing oil with the palm of the hand sparingly – it will be absorbed. Remove any excess gently with fine wire wool, buff with a lint-free cloth (not a woven one) and then leave for two days before you apply a clear grain-filler, allow it to dry thoroughly and then rub it gently with fine wire wool.
Now begin the finish – this must be built up gradually in VERY thin layers. Rub the finishing oil in with the palm; use half as much as the minimum you think necessary. Do not leave any sticky residue on the wood, rub the oil into the wood until you feel it get hot in your hand. Leave a day between each coat and expect the process to take four or five weeks before it is finished. The results are surprising and pleasing, making all that work worthwhile.
Don't be afraid to cut the finish back with a little oil on a pad of fine wire woolwhen necessary - even half way throuh the process. This will ensure that the finish is smooth and it flattens out any indents where the grain may show. You want the finish to be smooth, flat and even.
Unfortunately, I do not believe you can easily find Napier in the US. However you can find slacum oil as part of the Purdey Warthog kit:
http://www.jeffsoutfitters.com/store.aspx?panel=3&productid=176&categoryid=1-----------------------------------------------------------------
I can't find the Dig Hadoke recipe with plaster at the moment. I have only used Peter's although I cut the proportions of everything but the carnauba in half. "Simmer" doesn't mean a roiling boil but it does mean hot enuf to produce a few small bubbles rising. The other "exotic", Venice turps, is available from farrier suppliers and some retail stores catering to the nag trade. As with most of this stuff, get the "pure" version rather than an adulterated or improved preparation.
jack
