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 Post subject: faux fiddle back ???
PostPosted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 11:52 am 
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Was long time ago, way back when me heard of doing a faux fiddle back finish using
a burning rope.

Alls me remember was that because the heat burn penetrated the wood, it looked a heck of a lot more real then the Faux paint jobs of the 60 and 70's.

Cant find anything about it on line.

Any old timers remember how this technique was done did?


thanks
duh Padma

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 Post subject: Re: faux fiddle back ???
PostPosted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 12:24 pm 
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sounds interesting. I imagine they used hemp rope back in the 60's and 70's laughing6-hehe


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 Post subject: Re: faux fiddle back ???
PostPosted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 12:37 pm 
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I don't know about the rope method, but I read in a book about wood graining techniques that one approach was to use a stain applicator made from a twisted cotton rag. The applicator was rolled in a tray of water-based stain (i.e., dye) so that the outer edge of the folds were coated with dye. Then the applicator was rolled across the wood, leaving a pattern of irregular stripes simulating curl.

I've seen some old wood with pretty convincing faux curl and wondered if this is how they did it.

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 Post subject: Re: faux fiddle back ???
PostPosted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 2:27 pm 
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Thanks Tim,

Twisted up rag. That will do it.


blessings
duh Padma

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 Post subject: Re: faux fiddle back ???
PostPosted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 2:36 pm 
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Quine wrote:
sounds interesting. I imagine they used hemp rope back in the 60's and 70's laughing6-hehe

...which brings to mind a wonderful passage from a great book - At Home by Bill Bryson
"Historically, the two most common fibers were linen, made from flax, and hemp. Hemp was roughly similar to flax, but courser...so tended to be used for things like rope & sails. It did, however, have the evidently very considerable compensating advantage that you could smoke it & get high, which ... may account for its prevalence and rapid spread in antiquity. Not to put too fine a point on it, people throughout the ancient world were very, very fond of hemp, and grew more of it than they needed for ropes and sails"
laughing6-hehe ...love it!

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 Post subject: Re: faux fiddle back ???
PostPosted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 3:49 pm 
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Get some wood,rope,water and Fire. See what happens!


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 Post subject: Re: faux fiddle back ???
PostPosted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 4:46 pm 
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Yo, Filippo

Thank you.

Me is thinking the twisted rag, some accelerant and a wet plate may be the ticket for what me looking for.

Gonna start doing tests and will post the results. But not today.

blessings

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 Post subject: Re: faux fiddle back ???
PostPosted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 7:39 pm 
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Another option is called a Tiger Tail and has been used since the early American days to add value to plain Maple and Walnut Gunstocks. Shred some Steel Wool and mix it well into some thick yarn. Soak the yarn in Cider Vinegar and wrap the stock in the wet yarn. Cover and keep damp for a day or two.


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 Post subject: Re: faux fiddle back ???
PostPosted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 9:07 pm 
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TimAllen wrote:
I don't know about the rope method, but I read in a book about wood graining techniques that one approach was to use a stain applicator made from a twisted cotton rag. The applicator was rolled in a tray of water-based stain (i.e., dye) so that the outer edge of the folds were coated with dye. Then the applicator was rolled across the wood, leaving a pattern of irregular stripes simulating curl.

I've seen some old wood with pretty convincing faux curl and wondered if this is how they did it.


I imagine this technique is mentioned in several books. I know it from Tage Frid's "Shaping, Veneering and Finishing" volume for Taunton Press. This book includes photos of the process, as well as a technique for imitating Brazilian Rosewood with a goose feather, and a very good introduction to French polishing.


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 Post subject: Re: faux fiddle back ???
PostPosted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 8:18 am 
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Fender had what they called a photoflame paint job they did on strats. I have one and it looks ok for a fake. They somehow transposed a photo of flamed maple to the finish.


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 Post subject: Re: faux fiddle back ???
PostPosted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 8:25 am 
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Quine wrote:
sounds interesting. I imagine they used hemp rope back in the 60's and 70's laughing6-hehe


Oh Yes. Lots of hemp was used in the 60's and 70's. Surprisingly, most of it was not used for faux finishing techniques! Shocking, right?

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 Post subject: Re: faux fiddle back ???
PostPosted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 8:43 am 
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Quote:
Fender had what they called a photoflame paint job they did on strats. I have one and it looks ok for a fake. They somehow transposed a photo of flamed maple to the finish.


It was basically like a clear decal with some figure showing.
Heaven help you if you had to do a repair and sanded through the decal.
Several Japanese guitars used this technique for "flame top" Les Paul copies.

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 Post subject: Re: faux fiddle back ???
PostPosted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 6:13 pm 
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Hey, Padma,
Believe it or not, I recall that this faux technique was often done to muzzle-loading rifles WAAAAAY back. The plain maple gunstock was wrapped with rope. Then intense heat was applied briefly. Today, we would probably apply the heat with a plumber's torch. In the old days, it was probably done over an open fire--perhaps with a bellows to intensify the heat. The rope protects most of the maple from the heat. Scorches appear between the wraps of the rope. Those scorch marks simulate the tiger stripe effect of natural figure. I don't think it makes a fiddler's dang what fiber the rope is made of.
What matters is how much heat penetrates to the desired area of the maple. The rope is going to be toast for the compost pile when it is all over. It should go without saying to an old graybeard like you (no offense, only homage implied there) that experimentation is the key to success.

Go for it, and let us see your results. You da' man!

Patrick


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 Post subject: Re: faux fiddle back ???
PostPosted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 6:58 pm 
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Filippo Morelli wrote:
Padma, when we use to go fishing when I was a kid, sometimes we would use a plastic lure. My mom would ask, "what are you planning to catch, plastic fish?"

So unless we're building faux guitars, probably don't want any faux finishes around. But then again we're getting real close to BS on that one ...

Filippo


I'm half and half on that.
Yes, you're right, BUT...

We have colors, pigments, the black stain trick for poping out the grain, etc... I know violon makers that make their white instruments oxyde at the sun before finish it, just as some others use ammoniac to create the same oxydation effect.... Isn't the same thing, a little bit?

idunno

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 Post subject: Re: faux fiddle back ???
PostPosted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 7:36 pm 
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Filippo Morelli wrote:
...
So unless we're building faux guitars, probably don't want any faux finishes around. But then again we're getting real close to BS on that one ...

Filippo


Yo, dude,
all me builds are smoke and mirrors, you know $3 bills ~ faxsimalies of me "faux gonzo tinkerings". laughing6-hehe

Me could babble on but Ti-Roux laid it all down nice n clear.


non the less
blessings
duh Padma

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 Post subject: Re: faux fiddle back ???
PostPosted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 8:08 pm 
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Filippo Morelli wrote:
Violin makers have been making faux instruments for hundreds of years. They were relic'ing violins before the term existed. The fact that they have done so for centuries and actually consider relic'ing a high art form does not necessarily validate it. There are no lack of examples of violins made in America that were not actually made in America, but instead regraduated, relic'd and labeled. Not my thing ...

Filippo




Is OK Flipo,

You be entitled to your thing, weather its validated or not. laughing6-hehe

If fact, other than me self and a few oddballs, me think thats about all the "Official loofiers" on dis site be doing...relic'ing and regurgitating stuff. And thats ok by me.
But as you said Flip...ain't really my thing ether.

Oh and Flipo, perhaps you could steer me head clear of this "Validation" process...like who, or what body or authority has the right to validate stuffs? And if they do exist...who validated them to validate? The Government? the Church? the Boyz in the Band? Just wondering. laughing6-hehe

Validation... Ya right! pfft


Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law" ~ François Rabelais


blessings

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