Saving sticker in restoration

[Bob Loblaw]

I just picked up this Langford built in the late 60’s, looking to make this beauty shine again. I quite like the sticker up front, and would love to keep it. Thankfully the wood the sticker is attached to is in good condition, but I’m wondering if there’s a way to revive it to make it look a little less worn? Any tips appreciated!

 

[ALCEDO ATTHIS]

why ? it is his story , you must preserve it

 

[Bob Loblaw]

why ? it is his story , you must preserve it

Alcedo, I’m doing just that; trying to preserve it.

 

[ALCEDO ATTHIS]

so keep it with his scars , it' same thing with old bicycles ...painting or not ? and after the result..............

 

[MGC]

Bob,
You should be able to work with that. The trick is to avoid doing any damage while you sort out the rest of the deck. I've had decent success on a few old decals. But, don't take my word for it. Rollin is the master of holding his tongue just right while cleaning the decal with a cotton ball (Q-Tips have not made it as far North as his shop yet) and denatured alcohol. https://forums.wcha.org/threads/16-foot-skowhegan.18503/#post-96364

Once the deck is done and ready for varnish, varnish over the decal at the same time.

 

[Benson Gray]

The link below has an example of Rollin's magic with an old decal.

Benson

Post in thread 'Protecting Decal'

Mar 12, 2010

Some people can do an amazing job of removing varnish while preserving a decal. The first image below shows the faint shadow of an early Old Town decal under many coats of grime etc. Rollin Thurlow was able to remove the junk and preserve most of the remaining decal as shown in the second image. It is still far short of the example shown in the third image but that decal was lost completely during the restoration process. Hopefully someone will find a better example of this decal some day and share a clear picture of it here.

Benson

• Benson Gray

 

[Bob Loblaw]

Bob,
You should be able to work with that. The trick is to avoid doing any damage while you sort out the rest of the deck. I've had decent success on a few old decals. But, don't take my word for it. Rollin is the master of holding his tongue just right while cleaning the decal with a cotton ball (Q-Tips have not made it as far North as his shop yet) and denatured alcohol. https://forums.wcha.org/threads/16-foot-skowhegan.18503/#post-96364

Once the deck is done and ready for varnish, varnish over the decal at the same time.

I will try to hold my tongue in a similar fashion.. thank you!

 

[Bob Loblaw]

The link below has an example of Rollin's magic with an old decal.

Benson

Post in thread 'Protecting Decal'

Mar 12, 2010

Some people can do an amazing job of removing varnish while preserving a decal. The first image below shows the faint shadow of an early Old Town decal under many coats of grime etc. Rollin Thurlow was able to remove the junk and preserve most of the remaining decal as shown in the second image. It is still far short of the example shown in the third image but that decal was lost completely during the restoration process. Hopefully someone will find a better example of this decal some day and share a clear picture of it here.

Benson

• Benson Gray

Thanks for the link Benson!

 

[Andre Cloutier]

Easier to have a graphics shop recreate it and put it under new varnish, allowing a total strip of all the cracked varnish. Done it several times, no harm done on that canoe.