About ready to Sash my wrists.

[thiambal]

Hi Everyone,

Have just spent the last 3 days painting sash windows. A local specialist carpenter has been in to restore them, has stripped off all the old paint and I have been busy priming, undercoating, and two coats of Permoglaze MVP Gloss. I know it is not quite linseed oil paint but the local specialists swear by this stuff (whilst rightly scorning weathersheild) and it does have the advantage of drying very quickly!

With 14 sashes that is 56 coats in total - plus all the frames primed and undercoated. 14 hours days I am not used it!

These were the very windows that our survey said needed pulling out and replacing with UPVC. However, all we found was a little rot in one lower sash which needed a 1/2 inch piece of timber scarfing in. Otherwise they are 103 years old and as sound as a pound.

I must admit - I felt a little emotional as I saw them going back in!

Right - does anyone fancy scraping paint off the glass?

 

[thiambal]

Of course, now I have gaps between the wooden bay and the brick wall - where the original filler has crumbled away.

So the question is - what should I fill it with> It looks a bit like it was mortar originally. Someone explain this linseed oil mastic to me? I guess frame sealant is out of the question?

Any advice gratefully received

 

[Gervase]

Linseed oil mastic is the way to go - unless the gaps are huge, in which case a hydraulic mortar or a fat lime wth a pozzolan is a good idea.

 

[biffvernon]

Right - does anyone fancy scraping paint off the glass?

You were meant to paint the wood, not the glass.

 

[thiambal]

Quite right biff, if only who had been around to mention that to the people who have painted the windows in the past!

Should have scraped it off before re-painting but time was limited.

Currently having a crisis with the chap re-hanging them - having to add make weights but no going well - do make weights effect the operation of the sashs - in terms of distance the cords can travel - does anyone know?

 

[Penners]

I'm sure I remember Biff posting his recipe for linseed oil filler in the past. I seem to remember that it was nothing more complicated than linseed oil and fine sand.

Can you oblige again, Biff?

 

[biffvernon]

Yes, it was nothing more complicated than linseed oil and fine sand. Mix just enough oil into the sand to produce a stiff paste and don't panic if it doesn't set for ages. Just forget about it and then when you do remember it will be hard as rock. The Womersley version includes some rosin for that extra pazazz.

 

[Penners]

I know that string players use rosin, but I've never known what it is. Do you? (Damn silly question - of course you do!)

 

[Becka]

I seem to recall from my violin playing days it was a kind of solidified tree sap.. don't know from what tree tho

 

[biffvernon]

Wikipaedia is pretty informative on rosin.

 

[Penners]

Wikipaedia is pretty informative on rosin.

Thanks - I didn't think of looking there. As no mention was made of rosin's linseed oil/sand filler use, I have added a note to that effect. Feel free to edit me mercilessly if you don't like my entry.

Actually, that's why I always take Wikipedia with a pinch of salt. If idiots like me can edit it, how trustworthy can the information be?

 

[Mark]

I must confess - whenever anyone quotes wiki as backup to an argument I am sorely tempted to go and revise the specified entry.

I always wonder how many entries have suffered to that effect.

 

[Penners]

Not sure, but it's a bl**dy good idea!

Did you know that a camel is an insect? Go on - argue with that! :wink:

 

[middi]

.......and if you seriously p****d it can be anything.

 

[biffvernon]

Wikipaedia is pretty informative on rosin.

As no mention was made of rosin's linseed oil/sand filler use, I have added a note to that effect.

Wiki is now even more informative on rosin.

 

[Sue Wilkinson]

Should one use boiled or raw linseed oil or is that unimportant?

Sue

 

[NT]

boiled hardens in time, raw doesnt, so always boiled.

NT

 

[biffvernon]

hmmm, raw does, but more slowly.

 

[Craig]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mastic

In fact, Mastic is a sap resin - as used in mastic, I would imagine.

Imagine how happy my joiner was when the mastic arrived - and he realised he had to mix it!

 

[thiambal]

Yes, it was nothing more complicated than linseed oil and fine sand. Mix just enough oil into the sand to produce a stiff paste and don't panic if it doesn't set for ages. Just forget about it and then when you do remember it will be hard as rock. The Womersley version includes some rosin for that extra pazazz.

Cheers Biff, I will have a go - was not keen on buying the minimum quantity from Wormsleys as I do not need that much.

But mixing sand and oil I can understand - I will get my spoon out and have a go.

But to clarify - do I need to boil the oil or not - and can you buy this stuff from DIY stores and the like?