doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com What's in Slacum oil?

Jack,
It may waterspot if you take it through a car wash or put it in a dishwasher.Remember it's a recipe from England UK where we have a little rain all year (about 2 hours worth every day for about 340 days a year).
Now I can reveal the stock colouring trade secret (it's called Rust)

Looks more homogenous today. Sets up fast. I like it.

jack

Is it going to really adhere to a waxed surface ?

HJ, the old stuff on the Davies was combi of beeswax, BL and turps but I did want to soften it a bit. The old stuff also had some cordovan shoe polish in it [McGyver equivalent of alkanet dye]. The buffing rag didn't pick up any red so I think the stuff was well set. Hadoke's recipe has carnauba in it; plant derived wax vs. insect produced but still a "wax". BL is BL; turps is turps; the horse cuticle reinforcer sure seems to be doing its job as a drier. I doubt if the word adhesion applies here as it would with paint on greasy woodwork or a sprayed coat of polyurethane over a coat which has completely cured. I'm thinking there really ain't no unlike between like and like in this case to produce "unamalgamated" layers. Maybe a feller with a microscope could section the stuff and ID layers. Fortunately, I don't have one and am content with whatever cookery {polymerization, oxidation) is going on here.

jack

Oops, I think Philbert and I are related. I said I made a half batch but in thinking back to what I did with the measuring cup, scale etc. and dumping some water in same sized bottle, I discover I halved the linseed (8 fl oz) but put in 2oz. turps, 2 tsps Venice turps, and now I remember loading 100 grains of wax in the scale pan twice and dumping in the soup can. Anyway, mine is setting well (I can feel the "drag") under heel of hand encouragement, kicking off in less than 12 hrs. and I'm happy with the build, the sheen, and immediate hardness and non-greasiness of the surface after buffing. I'll just relabel it "jackum" and make a note on DH's recipe.

jack

Rabbit,

I reheated my concoction in a "double boiler" made from an old frying pan. I monitored the temperature with a candy thermometer and the oil never exceeded 180F even when the fry pan was at 400F. This second heating seemed to consolidate the constituents more as I've not noticed any settling. I poured off the mix into so small bottles. To one of these I added a small amount of beeswax. This made the mix more tacky but I don't think offers any advantages. BTW - I picked up an inexpensive candle heater and use that to warm the mix before use.

Still playing...

Phil

I'm inclined to agree about the relative softness and lingering greasiness of the beeswax, Phil, from my experience with the Milsurp (Garand, '03) stuff. I imagine I'm pretty heavy on the drier given the proportions of Venice turpentine to BL but this stuff is just working great. Next time I'll write down precisely what amts. I'm going to use. There's an old rule of high wire artists and road racers that says "You go where you look." Look down=go down; look at the wall=hit the wall. Mind english! So I'm thinking about halving 200 grains and end up putting in 200 grains. I do think 10 oz. of this stuff is surely plenty. A pint + seems like enuf to supply Purdey for a year. The really peculiar aspect of using this stuff is that after 24 hrs. set aside, buffing rag isn't removing anything that I can see or smell. My previous supply of rags which I keep in a metal can would make waterproof tent cloth given the BL and wax content. Got to try those recipes from the "Shropshire Lad" also when get time. I gotta say this is a lot of fun!

jack

rabbit, (Jack),
I did a bit of research into 'slacum' and found the following.
Slake = to quench a thirst,(as in quenching the wood's thirst) To hydrate and allow to carbonise by subjection to oxygen.
Slake; from the Middle English word slacian to quench a thirst.
Slacian may have been corrupted by Trevallion's Peers who cor tork proper like us Brummies, into slacum especially if they had a mouthfull of pie and peas at the time of asking "What's your stock oil called?" Reply spoken with a full mouth "Slacum"
Just a thought, maybe we can test Crossed chisels on a mouthful of Lobster at the Vintagers?

Yeh like slaked lime. Sal, I kint tawk propah nytha even with an empty mouth but I'm still laughing at that picture. You've got a gift for descriptive humour.

jack

Found Venice turpentine at Horse Tack and Supply Store.16 0z. $9.00.It it is used to coat horses hooves to treat or prevent infection.Now I can mix my Slacum Oil.
R.Moon