Tool Talk

What's-It Forum => What's-It Forum => Topic started by: BuddyC on August 06, 2018, 08:50:15 PM

Title: Japanned Finish Tools
Post by: BuddyC on August 06, 2018, 08:50:15 PM

Hi,
Over the years I've picked up lots of tools that had remnants of a Japanned finish.  I'm not sure I've ever seen a good example of an original Japanned finish tool.  So, my wife came home with a 100+ year old music teaching kit with various pieces and parts, all of which look like they may have little to no usage on them.  These c-clamps were in the kit, likely for holding down a table top music staff.   There is no uncovered spot, including the full length of the screws. So my question is, are these an example of an original Japanned finish?

(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1793/43157333464_d9ce401d62.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/28KEBEh)IMG_4823 (https://flic.kr/p/28KEBEh) by William Clark (https://www.flickr.com/photos/154565645@N06/), on Flickr

Thanks!
BuddyC

Title: Re: Japanned Finish Tools
Post by: Papaw on August 06, 2018, 09:07:46 PM

Seems to me there would be no reason to Japan the threads. That looks like a lacquer finish added by a user.

Title: Re: Japanned Finish Tools
Post by: leg17 on August 06, 2018, 09:34:07 PM

Those clamps could have been originally for use in quilting.

Title: Re: Japanned Finish Tools
Post by: Bill Houghton on August 06, 2018, 09:54:21 PM

Japanning gets baked in an oven.  Hard to imagine the threads would still want to turn if those clamps had been japanned.

Title: Re: Japanned Finish Tools
Post by: bill300d on August 06, 2018, 10:25:46 PM

Looks like some one prettied them up with a spray can.

Title: Re: Japanned Finish Tools
Post by: Northwoods on August 07, 2018, 09:13:10 AM

I have some with japanning still on them.

Title: Re: Japanned Finish Tools
Post by: fatfillup on August 07, 2018, 12:01:12 PM

I have no knowledge of Japaning but the clamps look cleared to me at first glance.

Title: Re: Japanned Finish Tools
Post by: gibsontool on August 07, 2018, 12:19:11 PM

I also have several of these little guys and a few of them have traces of japanning on the body but not on the threads.

Title: Re: Japanned Finish Tools
Post by: BuddyC on August 08, 2018, 08:59:18 PM

OK then, maybe I still haven't seen original finish Japanned tools.

Thanks!

Title: Re: Japanned Finish Tools
Post by: bill300d on August 08, 2018, 10:24:23 PM

Take a look at an older stanley plane and you will be looking at a jappaned finish

Title: Re: Japanned Finish Tools
Post by: wvtools on August 09, 2018, 09:25:50 PM

I used to find a lot of those, and I think most had the black finish all over.