OTCA outer stem blending

[mmmalmberg]

I have both outer stems back on; in some areas the canvas-covered inner stem exceeds the width of the outer stem, and occasionally the outer stem slightly overhangs the former. Can I use something like the canvas filler to blend between them? Or is accepted practice just to accept these differences?

 

[mmmalmberg]

ps I will be of course priming and painting the outer stems. Thinking of filling the screw slots (only) with the Dolphinite to make someone’s job easier 50 years from now.

 

[MGC]

Thinking of filling the screw slots (only) with the Dolphinite to make someone’s job easier 50 years from now.

Could you explain that?

 

[Dan Miller]

Since you are going to prime and paint the OS stems, just butter them really good with bedding compound, smooth that out best you can, and paint.

No need to fill the OS stem screws, they get countersunk until the heads are just flush, then they'll get covered up by the stem brass and its layer of bedding compound.

 

[Dave Osborn]

Paint!!! Egads!
The outer stems look so cool when left bright!

 

[mmmalmberg]

Could you explain that?

Well sometimes it's a pain to dig out old dried paint from a slotted screw head. So sometimes I've put something like wax into the slot so that when the time comes, it's easier to clear out than dried paint.

 

[mmmalmberg]

Paint!!! Ee gads!
The outer stems look so cool when left bright!

It's true, but the rear stem is original and aside from having been painted and stripped with a heatgun had a tip replaced and looks in all very different from the brand new front outer stem...

They were painted when I got it and I guess I assumed that was the original treatment. Did OT always leave them bright?

 

[Dave Osborn]

Nope, I think they were painted. Someone my correct me, though.
I usually replace both ends if one is bad.

 

[mmmalmberg]

Since you are going to prime and paint the OS stems, just butter them really good with bedding compound, smooth that out best you can, and paint.

No need to fill the OS stem screws, they get countersunk until the heads are just flush, then they'll get covered up by the stem brass and its layer of bedding compound.

I was thinking prime & paint, then bedding compound and stem band. Do you paint after the stem band goes on?

 

[mmmalmberg]

Nope, I think they were painted. Someone my correct me, though.
I usually replace both ends if one is bad.

You're probably a much more accomplished bender than I Both ends had rotted tips, but the front one was also fractured in several places. Generally I've been trying to keep as much of the original canoe as I can if it's serviceable.

 

[Dave Osborn]

Keep doing what you are doing! Great job!
You’ll love it!

 

[mmmalmberg]

Keep doing what you are doing! Great job!
You’ll love it!

Thanks Dave Also the front one that I bent, had a split that I pulled open and glued so that makes it a bit less attractive I've done all my gluing with resorcinol and that one shows the glue line pretty well. Outer stems do look really spiffy bright but since I had thought I'd be painting them from the start I didn't really worry about cosmetics with them.

 

[Benson Gray]

Did OT always leave them bright?

Usually, The one below is shown in the factory during the early 1970s.

Benson

 

[mmmalmberg]

Usually, The one below is shown in the factory during the early 1970s.

Benson

Darn it
I shall ponder. I've not tried to hide repairs anywhere else on the boat so maybe I should do the same with the stems...

 

[Nick Dennis]

This is interesting as I need to bend and fit some outer stems on my 1911 OT CR. Watch with interest and listen for the crack of ash and a few choice swear words from the UK side of the pond Then again I could be really patient and leave it in the steamer for a couple of hours. Its got to be bent a long way around the curve...

 

[mmmalmberg]

Usually, The one below is shown in the factory during the early 1970s.
Benson

Is that typical placement of the line between the painted keel/stem and bright stem?

 

[Benson Gray]

Is that typical placement of the line between the painted keel/stem and bright stem?

No, it looks like a mistake to me. The picture at https://www.wcha.org/forums/index.php?attachments/6177/ shows a more typical line. Some other examples are even further down and closer to the keel.

Benson

 

[mmmalmberg]

Of course I'd just started priming these last night But we aim to please.... This about the right placement?

 

[mmmalmberg]

Ooops just got your updated image. I'll move it down to match - thanks

 

[mmmalmberg]

Figuring some blo and a little orange shellac will knock back the split. I had never seen bright ends on this canoe ( http://www.markmalmberg.com/canoe/000000280001.jpg ) so had only planned on paint. But I think this will be nice, in spite of my cascophen split fix...