French Gray Method

"FRENCH GRAY METHOD" BY JOHN K. BARRACLOUGH.

THE BASIC PRODUCT THAT I USE IS REFERED TO IN THE AUTOMOBILEREFINISHING TRADE AS "BODY PREP" OR "STEEL PREP". THE SPECIFICPRODUCT THAT I PURCHASE IS MADE BY DU PONT COMPANY AND IS LABELED"STEEL REFINISHING SYSTEM", "STEP B"*5718-S ÒCONVERSION COATING" +THERE ARE OTHER BRANDS BUT I KNOW THAT THIS. ONE DOES THE JOB FOR ME.THE PRODUCT IS OBTAINED FROM AN AUTOMOTIVE PAINT SUPPLY STORE IN APLASTIC BOTTLE, .946 LITER SIZE FOR ABOUT $20.00-$25.00.NORMAL CARE SHOULD BE EXERSIZED IN THE USE OF THIS PRODUCT. READTHE LABEL. FOR OUR PURPOSE THE PRODUCT CAN BE REUSED MANY TIMESSO POUR IT BACK INTO THE ORIGINAL CONTAINER CAREFULLY AFTER USE.POUR ENOUGH MATERIAL TO COVER THE PARTS TO BE GRAYED INTO A NON-METALLIC CONTAINER, I USE A LARGE PYREX MEASURING CUP WITH APOURING LIP AS IT IS EASY TO REPOUR THE PRODUCT INTO THE BOTTLE.FIX A STEEL WIRE TO EACH PART SO THAT IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BEHANDLED DIRECTLY. CLEAN EACH PART BY DIPPING IT INTO LACQUER THINNER AND ALLOWIT TO AIR DRY.NEXT, DIP EACH PART INTO THE BODY PREP AND LET IT SIT UNDER THESURFACE OF THE FLUID FOR ABOUT ONE OR TWO MINUTES. RAISE PART BY THE WIRE AND CHECK ITÕS COLOR. CHECK IT AGAINST A PIECE OF UNTREATED METALWHEN IT TURNS A NICE LIGHT GRAY, STOP THE ACTION BY IMMERSING IT IN CLEAN COOL WATERTAKE THE PART OUT OF THE WATER BATH, HOLDING IT BY THE ATTACHED WIRE.DRY IT WITH A WARM AIR HAIR DRYER. MAKE SURE YOUR PARTIS GRAY ALL OVER AND AS DARK AS YOU WANT IT. DO NOT BE CON-CEREND ABOUT A SLIGHTY CLOUDY FINISH, IT WILL CLEAR UP WITHTHE FOLLOWING STEPS.AT THIS STAGE, WHILE THE PART IS STILL WARM, IT SHOULD BEDIPPED INTO A SEALANT TO PROTECT THE FINISH.THE SEALANT SHOULD BE MIXED, TESTED AND CONTAINED IN AIR TIGHT JAR,AND BE ON HAND EEFORE STARTING THE FINISHING PROCESS.MIX THIS IN A SCREW TOP JAR, SHAKE AND TEST BEFORE EACHUSE, KEEP IT THINNED DOWN AS NEEDED. TO MAKE THE SEALANT SOLUTION, HALF FILL THE JAR WITH CLEANACETONE AND ADD ABOUT A TABLESPOON OF SPAR VARNISH. DO NOT USE PLASTIC VARNISH; USE THE OLD FASHONED ROSEN TYPE. SHAKE TO MIX, TEST AS FOLLOWS.TO TEST THE SEALANT MIX. HOLD THE BACK OF YOUR HAND OUT IN GOOD LIGHT AND NOTICE THE TEXTURE AND LIGHT THATREFLECTS FROM IT. DIP A FINGER INTO THE MIX AND MAKE A QUICKSWIPE ON THE BACK OF THE OUTSTRECHED HAND. THE WARMTH OF YOURHAND WILL IMMEDIATLY FLASH OFF THE ACETONE AND LEAVE A VERYLIGHT DEPOSIT OF VARNISH WHICH YOU WILL SEE AS A SLIGHT SHINYSTRIPE ON THE BACK OF YOUR HAND. IF YOU DONT HAVE A STRIPE MIX ALITTLE MORE VARNISH IN AND TEST ON A DIFFERENT PART OF YOUR SKIN.

AFTER GRAYING AND WITH THE PART STILL WARM FROM THE DRYER AND BEING HANDLED ONLYBY THE WIRE, DIP IT INTO THE SEALANT MIX. REMOVE AND REDRY THE PART IN THE AIR.HANG BY THE WIRE UNTIL FULLY DRY, 24 HOURS IF TIME PERMITS.APPLY INK TO THE ENGRAVING TO BRING OUT THE DETAIL. REMOVE

THE EXCESS INK FROM THE FLAT AREAS WITH CLOTH DAMPENED WITH ALCOHOL.AVOID FLOODING THE SURFACE, WIPE SEVERAL TIME WITH A JUST DAMP CLOTH.LIGHTLY POLISH ANY DIMENSIONAL GOLD OR SILVER INLAYS WITH A SOFT ERASER,STAY STRICTLY ON THE INLAY.SIT BACK AND ENJOY YOUR HANDWORK.

Wow! I think cut and paste worked. Hope this helps some. It is revised from it's earlier version that was messed up by a word recognition program on my scanner. Those folks that I emailed it to earlier may want to print out this version.Best wishes to all, John Barraclough.__________________-MasterEngraver.com-