New member.

[andy52]

I've restored several canoes in my life, some before the internet, with no info like this site has.
I just started what may be the last one I do. At 75, I'm not sure another is in my future.
This one is a 1943 old town and is the only one I've tried that has Sponsons.
The boat is actually in pretty good shape and was stored in a barn for 60 years.
I wouldn't call this a restoration, more of a refinish.
Some fool painted the boat yellow inside and out. I kinda grinned when I first saw it, but after a better look, decided it was well worth the work.

 

[dtdcanoes]

Andy75. I'm past 85 and had to giggle at my first impression. Find the next owner and with the deposit then hang to 'er. I did a 42 -17 foot AA Old Town and they can be beautiful as a boat for everything and everybody at the camp. The paint looks to be 60 + and would welcome the pressure washer for sure. If you are within striking distance of Penn Yan, NY., try to make it to the WCHA Assembly in July 14-19th . Lots to see and do in the NY Fingerlakes region. Wine Tours galore
Have fun, Dave DeVivo

 

[andy52]

Andy75. I'm past 85 and had to giggle at my first impression. Find the next owner and with the deposit then hang to 'er. I did a 42 -17 foot AA Old Town and they can be beautiful as a boat for everything and everybody at the camp. The paint looks to be 60 + and would welcome the pressure washer for sure. If you are within striking distance of Penn Yan, NY., try to make it to the WCHA Assembly in July 14-19th . Lots to see and do in the NY Fingerlakes region. Wine Tours galore
Have fun, Dave DeVivo

I've got an appointment to have the paint on the inside laser removed, it's not that expensive and only take a couple of days.
Strips down to bare wood with no damage, much better than strippers and sanding.

 

[dtdcanoes]

Well, that be interesting to know more about. Maybe your report here would be well received as it can be messy plus. Please let us see some after pics. Dave

 

[andy52]

I'll certainly keep a photo log of the progress.

 

[Todd F]

Like Dave said....I have seen paint removed from metal that way but not wood, very interested on the results. Glad you are looking into it. And as said, hope to see you at the WCHA Assemble, will be going to my first this year, look forward to it.

 

[MGC]

I've looked into laser removal thinking that it might be a good alternative to the current benign strippers. I was shocked to see how much the equipment costs and quickly lost interest. It is frequently used on wood, but I have not heard of anyone doing a canoe. It will be interesting to see how it turns out.

 

[andy52]

Like Dave said....I have seen paint removed from metal that way but not wood, very interested on the results. Glad you are looking into it. And as said, hope to see you at the WCHA Assemble, will be going to my first this year, look forward to it.

That's a long haul from Missouri.

 

[andy52]

I've looked into laser removal thinking that it might be a good alternative to the current benign strippers. I was shocked to see how much the equipment costs and quickly lost interest. It is frequently used on wood, but I have not heard of anyone doing a canoe. It will be interesting to see how it turns out.

The company that will be doing this is a commercial outfit, so the cost of a machine is over many projects. the units run between 6-10 thousnad bucks.

 

[Michael Grace]

People come to Assembly from all over North America and even from places like the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia... If you ever attend, you might decide it's not such a long haul after all because it is so informative and fun!

 

[dtdcanoes]

And I bet you have college mates, lost family members , fellow WCHA members along the way as you escape the heat and humidity. Makers Mark,
some Jamison or Beck's non-alcoholic beer may well do the trick. Also if you have them, the grand kids might like to see the College on the Lake and check out the others on other NY Finger Lakes nearby. Hope to see you.
Dave

 

[andy52]

I'm going to Grand Portage in August there will be a lot of old canoes to look at. My old town isn't old enough to fit the period, but I'm taking it anyway.

 

[MGC]

Take it and be proud. You are a member of the wood, wood and canvas canoe community, not the old canoe community. I am just as fond of my canoes I built or the ones that were built in modern times (50's and 60's) as I am of the ones from the late 1800's and early 1900's. It's easy to get caught up in the age thing. Don't lose sight of what a pleasure these are to paddle and admire....

 

[andy52]

Take it and be proud. You are a member of the wood, wood and canvas canoe community, not the old canoe community. I am just as fond of my canoes I built or the ones that were built in modern times (50's and 60's) as I am of the ones from the late 1800's and early 1900's. It's easy to get caught up in the age thing. Don't lose sight of what a pleasure these are to paddle and admire....

I've looked at some photos of this event and many of the "war/freight" canoes are no more than fiberglass painted to look like birch bark. So my 1943 is much older than those.

 

[andy52]

Like Dave said....I have seen paint removed from metal that way but not wood, very interested on the results. Glad you are looking into it. And as said, hope to see you at the WCHA Assemble, will be going to my first this year, look forward to it.

Here's a video of the process. It will cost 500 to get the job done. I consider that a bargain vs the time and mess of the old way.

 

[pklonowski]

I wonder if stripping furniture with a laser may be different than stripping a canoe... Furniture is generally hard woods, while canoe hulls are cedar, a very soft wood, that is easily ignited. I may be way off base, just curious?

 

[andy52]

I wonder if stripping furniture with a laser may be different than stripping a canoe... Furniture is generally hard woods, while canoe hulls are cedar, a very soft wood, that is easily ignited. I may be way off base, just curious?

I'll tell you what I know so far. The wattage setting on the machine if the main factor, it's set just hot enough to remove the finish and not the wood.

 

[Rob Stevens]

Well, the video answered a few of the questions I had.
Namely, how to follow the 3D surface of a canoe. My previous experience with laser engraving was 2D, inside a limited space cabinet. I see the coverage is about 2" wide rather than pinpoint area. And it seems to handle the complex surface OK too.

On old canoes, there are often multiple layers of finish of different types, including shellac, varnish, paint, poly, epoxy,... I'll wait to see how this tool + technique handles all that, on softwood. And I wonder how long it will take, as that will partially determine how much the pro furniture folks charge for that service.

Another question I had was what are the health implications to exposure to resulting radiation and vapourized finishes. (The guy in the video is wearing a respiratory mask of some kind, "green goggles" provided by the manufacturer, and does mention fire risk)

 

[andy52]

Well, the video answered a few of the questions I had.
Namely, how to follow the 3D surface of a canoe. My previous experience with laser engraving was 2D, inside a limited space cabinet. I see the coverage is about 2" wide rather than pinpoint area. And it seems to handle the complex surface OK too.

On old canoes, there are often multiple layers of finish of different types, including shellac, varnish, paint, poly, epoxy,... I'll wait to see how this tool + technique handles all that, on softwood. And I wonder how long it will take, as that will partially determine how much the pro furniture folks charge for that service.

Another question I had was what are the health implications to exposure to resulting radiation and vapourized finishes. (The guy in the video is wearing a respiratory mask of some kind, "green goggles" provided by the manufacturer, and does mention fire risk)

They charge 500 to do the work and takes about two days.

 

[andy52]

Well, the video answered a few of the questions I had.
Namely, how to follow the 3D surface of a canoe. My previous experience with laser engraving was 2D, inside a limited space cabinet. I see the coverage is about 2" wide rather than pinpoint area. And it seems to handle the complex surface OK too.

On old canoes, there are often multiple layers of finish of different types, including shellac, varnish, paint, poly, epoxy,... I'll wait to see how this tool + technique handles all that, on softwood. And I wonder how long it will take, as that will partially determine how much the pro furniture folks charge for that service.

Another question I had was what are the health implications to exposure to resulting radiation and vapourized finishes. (The guy in the video is wearing a respiratory mask of some kind, "green goggles" provided by the manufacturer, and does mention fire risk)

The laser ability to follow curves is the main reason for trying the laser. All the nooks and crannies make it difficult with strippers and scraping.