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Door panel preservation

junior

By junior
in Boat Building & Maintenance

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junior Veteran II

junior

Posted
Posted

I've got these door panels on my rear cabin doors. They've got some lovely artwork on them which is showing signs of age. 

I don't want to start messing around with touching them up (ooh err missus) or anything like that, but I'd really like to preserve them as best as possible to preserve them as long as possible. 

 

What is the best way to go about this?

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Alan de Enfield Veteran II

Alan de Enfield

Posted
Posted (edited)

I fear you may be too late, but try hairspray (shellac) that'll stop any more flaking and stop loose flakes from falling off.

 

Hairspray was what we use on barographs to seal the needle trace in the soot. (Nick Norman will remember it !)

Edited by Alan de Enfield
dave moore Influencer

dave moore

Posted
Posted

Those look to be the work of friend and colleague Phil Speight. They are well gone, I think, but to prevent further deterioration I’d apply a couple of coats of decent yacht varnish, not polyeurothane. Good luck!

David Schweizer Veteran II

David Schweizer

Posted
Posted (edited)
3 hours ago, Alan de Enfield said:

I fear you may be too late, but try hairspray (shellac) that'll stop any more flaking and stop loose flakes from falling off.

 

Hairspray was what we use on barographs to seal the needle trace in the soot. (Nick Norman will remember it !)

 

No not too late. They could take some careful renovation and restoration if you are good with a small brush, but if not, Dave Moore's suggestion is the best way to go, it is what many boat decoraters would do.

 

 

Edited by David Schweizer
junior Veteran II

junior

Posted
  • Author
Posted
2 hours ago, dave moore said:

Those look to be the work of friend and colleague Phil Speight. They are well gone, I think, but to prevent further deterioration I’d apply a couple of coats of decent yacht varnish, not polyeurothane. Good luck!

Thanks Dave. They are indeed Phil Speight. I'd like to try and preserve them for as long as possible. If a covering of Yacht Varnish will give them a few more years then that would be my aim.

 

Would you recommend any sort of light sanding to try and remove any loose paint, or just start applying the varnish to try and seal it up as it is?

22 minutes ago, David Schweizer said:

 

No not too late. They could take some careful renovation and restoration if you are good with a small brush, but if not, Dave Moore's suggestion is the best way to go, it is what many boat decoraters would do.

 

 

Whatever I do, I definitely don't want to try and touch them up or do any sort of pain restoration. I want to keep them as is, albeit try and 'seal' them up to prevent any further deterioration. 

dave moore Influencer

dave moore

Posted
Posted

Yes, I’d use a Scotch cloth or fine abrasive paper to remove loose bits then coat with varnish. My choice would be Craftmaster Clear, it’s good stuff.

David Mack Veteran II

David Mack

Posted
Posted
22 minutes ago, junior said:

Whatever I do, I definitely don't want to try and touch them up or do any sort of pain restoration. I want to keep them as is, albeit try and 'seal' them up to prevent any further deterioration. 

I would be minded to repaint the red border around the castle panel and to rescumble the top of the doors, but varnish the rest. That way you preserve the artwork, but the doors would look less scruffy overall.

 

I have a pair of back cabin door lining panels removed from Belfast. The castles are not a patch on yours but have a certain naive charm, and are in similar condition. Think I will varnish them as suggested.

 

David Schweizer Veteran II

David Schweizer

Posted
Posted (edited)
17 hours ago, junior said:

Thanks Dave. They are indeed Phil Speight. I'd like to try and preserve them for as long as possible. If a covering of Yacht Varnish will give them a few more years then that would be my aim.

 

Would you recommend any sort of light sanding to try and remove any loose paint, or just start applying the varnish to try and seal it up as it is?

Whatever I do, I definitely don't want to try and touch them up or do any sort of pain restoration. I want to keep them as is, albeit try and 'seal' them up to prevent any further deterioration. 

 

I dont know if he is still around and/or still painting, but you could always ask Phil if he would be willing to tidy them up a bit. Alternatively you could try Meg Gregory, who was Phil's aprentice, and paints in a similar style.

 

Edited by David Schweizer
junior Veteran II

junior

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Yes I appreciate Phil is still around, but I'm actually quite keen to keep them as they are and just preserve them as best I can. I like things that look a bit 'used' and with patina, rather than everything shiny and new. So I can live with them how they are. 

dave moore Influencer

dave moore

Posted
Posted

The best choice, in my opinion. Any attempt at touching up would lead to a striking contrast between old and new paint unless hours are spent to colour match existing paint. I’ve been asked to do this many times before and I’ve always offered to repaint completely rather than bugger about. In working days, decorative painting was often refreshed at docking times. Any restoration would be a long and costly exercise.

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