repainting knapsack.

[King47thAL]

I have a Kibler knapsack which has seen it's better days, so I'm considering repainting it. The old tarring is cracking and in many areas the white canvas is showing through.

I won't ask "how do I make period tarring" because I know with some searching I should be able to find it elsewhere on this site. But if anyone wants to save me the trouble, that'd be welcomed.

What I AM asking is just exactly how should I go about actually painting it on. Is it just as easy as just grabbing a brush and going at it?

If anyone has any advice it would be tremendously appreciated!

thank you!

Feel free to email me if you care.

jksk7376@msn.com

[Clark Badgett]

I'm sure the reciept is on here somewhere, but if you don't find it drop me a line and I'll pass it along to you, with modern names for the antiquated chemical names it uses. I also have a good pointer as to how to make it up. And trust me there is a modern safer alternative that yeilds very similar results.

As far as painting go get a good natural fiber brush so when a few bristles come out and get stuck in the pain they won't be anacronistic.

[Marc]

If memory serves me right, someone did compare the original period formula to modern paint and Red Devil Glossy Black came very close or similar products.

I repainted my haversack using Red Devil Glossy Black and just brushed it on and it came out very period looking.

[Mike Ventura]

Modern receipe that looks just like the original:

2/3 black glossy latex paint
1/3 boiled linseed oil (it comes this way, DON'T boil it! You'll set your house on fire)

Splash of Japan Dryer.

Usually takes 2 coats.

Mix together until it looks like motor oil sludge and paint away. Let dry OUTDOORS as it will stink up your house.

Yeah, it's not the period original - but lamp black and arsenic of lead are a liitle hard to come by - and are also very toxic.

[Clark Badgett]

Mike,
That is the formula I discovered, and use. I may not have been the first. It is really amazing, and very durable.

[Jeffrey Przewozniak]

Hey thar,

Try these on for size...

http://www.geocities.com/union_guard/oilcloth_and_painted_accoutermen.htm

Got that from the oilcloth thread! Let us know which recipe you choose, and how it comes out. I am in earnest,

[James Masson]

Modern receipe that looks just like the original:

2/3 black glossy latex paint
1/3 boiled linseed oil (it comes this way, DON'T boil it! You'll set your house on fire)

Splash of Japan Dryer.

Usually takes 2 coats.

Mix together until it looks like motor oil sludge and paint away. Let dry OUTDOORS as it will stink up your house.

Yeah, it's not the period original - but lamp black and arsenic of lead are a liitle hard to come by - and are also very toxic.


Lamp black is not hard to come by at all. Almost any good art store will have lamp black (Michael's is a craft store, not an art store). Lamp black is NOT poisonous, it's just sut (sp?). It is messy, so wear old clothes. Artists use it often to mix their own black paint. I've made my own black paint for paintings using lamp black from art stores. I used to get mine from an art store in Seattle, but it went out of business. Now, lithrage is a different story, it's very toxic and you can't buy it anymore. But it's my understanding that you don't really need it to make the paint. You only need linseed oil, japan dryer and lamp black. Japan dryer can be found at most any hardware/ home improvement store (Home Depot, Lowes, etc...). Look in with the paints, back where you would find linseed oil.

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Just dont do what I did 14 years ago, and rattlecan it :))

I have found the lampblack, linseed oil, and japan dryer recipe to be the easiest way to go.

[marlin teat]

A cheap (read:free) substitute for lampblack is copier toner. I raid the overflow container in my office regularly and get enough for a half-dozen oilcloths.

I'm told that modern lampblack and toner are both carbon and are indistinguishable. Then again, I'm no chemist.

[James Masson]

I forgot to mention that you can also get lamp black in paste form. It is mixed with an oil that binds it. It comes in tubes and is what I prefer to use when I'm painting. I haven't ever made a period paint with the stuff, so I can't comment on how well it works, verses the powdered lamp black. It's not very expensive at all and if you can buy it in bulk that makes it even cheaper.

[pfeiffer3964]

Lampblack can also be purchased at your local paint store (in liquid form). You'll have to ask for it, as that is one of their ingredients used when custom mixing paint. I purchased an entire quart for less than $5.00. I have PLENTY left over after making three knapsacks. Since it does not have any drying agents in it, it won't dry out on you when stored.

I did not run into any problems when using that style pigment with the other ingredients in a period recipe.

Just another option.

--Jim