Question on MoD brass cantles

**Chas** · 17th September 11, 02:58 PM

Originally Posted by davidg

When I was in the Royal Air Force it was quite common for us to lacquer our brass buttons and cap badges, until "staybrite" versions appeared in the early seventies. So I suspect the various army regiments would have done the same. We mainly used clear nail polish though, which is easily removed

I too was in the Royal Air Force in the 70's (1970 - 1982), but my experiences were exactly opposite to yours David.

Until the relatively recent introduction of polyurethane varnishes (which are clear), all varnishes were a shade of yellow - so they showed a colour cast which was easily seen. As soon as an NCO saw it, they would make you remove it and re-polish.

The varnishes would shrink and crack and peel. So some areas needed re-polishing. In doing so the varnished areas would have the shine removed by the brasso. Again it would be so obvious and you would be in trouble again.

As to nail varnish - that stuff was expensive! I don't seem to remember having a vast amount of spare cash each week to waste. Especially when cleaning and polishing materials were free!

Maybe you could get away with it, David. We certainly could not.

@ Artificer - when the sporrans were handed back into stores, they would have had the bags removed and the two parts would have been stored separately. The cantle would, most likely have been put in a brown paper bag. It would matter not to the storeman if it was tarnished or not as he was not the man who had to polish it.

Regards

Chas

**brownbess** · 18th September 11, 01:24 PM

All 3 of mine are coated. Thought that was something they did to them when returning them to stores. I too would like to remove the varnish. Artificer what type of compound did you use.

**artificer** · 23rd September 11, 11:15 AM

Originally Posted by Ryan Ross

I hear you, Sir! I also hear that ray can be hard to get and long in the waiting, but well worth it.

Can't wait to see how this turns out.

Mwhahhhahahah! I've got the first ray-skin in-hand right now!

Originally Posted by Downunder Kilt

In relation to your original question Artificer, I have now seen 6 of the MoD brass cantles, one being in the possession of the soldier originally issued with it. In fact I had a long discussion with him. I can assure you that in the Black Watch, they were not varnished. Of the other 5, I have not seen a wiff of varnish on any of them.

Will be very interested in the black leather bag you will be making for it.

curious. This one looked to be VERY skillfully lacquered with no drips, blobs, runs, streaks, etc. Very uniform depth (apart from all the chipping).

Originally Posted by Chas

I too was in the Royal Air Force in the 70's (1970 - 1982), but my experiences were exactly opposite to yours David.

Until the relatively recent introduction of polyurethane varnishes (which are clear), all varnishes were a shade of yellow - so they showed a colour cast which was easily seen. As soon as an NCO saw it, they would make you remove it and re-polish.

@ Artificer - when the sporrans were handed back into stores, they would have had the bags removed and the two parts would have been stored separately. The cantle would, most likely have been put in a brown paper bag. It would matter not to the storeman if it was tarnished or not as he was not the man who had to polish it.

Regards

Chas

Interesting, thank you.
This one definitely had a goldish cast to the lacquer, almost a light-marmalade orange.

@brownbess - I used a VERY mild rubbing compound from Turtle Wax, designed to take the scratches out out car's clear coats, and a sponge pad on a detail finish sander.

ith:

**artificer** · 28th September 11, 10:41 AM

Well, as I had a small window of opportunity and a few sleepless evenings, I have this to show off, and it's all mine!

I think the rayskin is a delightful compliment to the "hobnailed" cantle.

I was torn about a center tassle, but decided that the star of the ray itself was all the decoration it really needed.

The bag is held on using 18mm push snaps, which mate directly onto the interior studs, making it possible for a quick-change bag.

ith:

**ShaunMaxwell** · 28th September 11, 11:17 AM

Another awesome creation! I think you're spot on about a center tassle being overkill. Your work continues to amaze me. Thanks for sharing the latest.

**Harold Cannon** · 28th September 11, 11:18 AM

It looks great!!!

**brownbess** · 28th September 11, 11:51 AM

Awesome Sir!! I wore my newest to Celtic Classic in Bethlehem last weekend. You can see it in my Album.

**sydnie7** · 28th September 11, 12:44 PM

This may sound like a backhanded compliment but I haven't been a big fan of any of the ray sporrans I've seen at XMarks -- until now! That is just a gorgeous combination of materials. I kept trying to see how you had applied that "star" but your caption finally leads me to think it's a natural feature? Inspired vision and craftsmanship.

**artificer** · 28th September 11, 12:50 PM

Thanks, all. I'm pretty pleased with it. Hopefully we'll get pix of the ball this year.

Originally Posted by sydnie7

This may sound like a backhanded compliment but I haven't been a big fan of any of the ray sporrans I've seen at XMarks -- until now! That is just a gorgeous combination of materials. I kept trying to see how you had applied that "star" but your caption finally leads me to think it's a natural feature? Inspired vision and craftsmanship.

Thank you! The star is, in fact a natural feature. Some are quite faint, others actually form thin "rays" of a star. There's one form where the star actually forms a line all down the spine of the ray like a rope of pearls.

ith: