Aspindale Gemdale, all original to restore or conserve ?

[Tengisgol]

The Seymo sealer is very good Mike.
Probably telling Granny how to suck eggs here but do make sure it gets well underneath the gaps near the ring feet. I use a syringe now and inject the sealer into the gap until it ouzes out of the thread at the bottom of the foot, a bit of a faff but no more bleeds showing up after varnishing.

Wal.

I guess we’re going to struggle to replace that once the last is used Wal, with H&H now no longer about.

[Wallys-Cast]

To be honest Phil, I found pva woodwork adhesive just as good. It needs thinning a bit but not too thin. I found a mix of 75% glue to 25% distilled water works well.

[Ski Piit Wldie]

Thanks Wal for the reassurance, I just don't normally use colour preserver in combination with silk, can't wait for the postman to arrive so I can get cracking, Mike.

[Ski Piit Wldie]

Latest update, did a few tests to see how many coats of colour preserver I needed with a both small and larger ring ( different gaps around the feet ) on a bit of a broken tip section, turns out I needed five good saturated coats to stop any bleeding through of the top coat, beautifully smooth and pretty good colour match after burning off the few stray fibres with a lighter before dousing the silk, I reckon around four or five coats of Le Tonkinois will bring the thread around to the exact ( yellow / green ) colour of the aged original bindings, so now the real thing is in progress, will put a few pic's up soon of my first trials, hopefully ready for a June 16th trip after some crucians on a local pond, Mike.

[Ski Piit Wldie]

Threads and a trial of colour preserver ( still wet ), pictures...

[Ski Piit Wldie]

I'm now in the middle of top coat varnishing the Gemdale, so a few more pictures, as much original finish as possible has been kept so the ferrule bindings other than the lower one on the middle section are original as are those for the butt ring and all the yellow intermediates. There are a few age stains etc but I like that look as I do with all my other old stuff from cars to watches. I think they call it patina, this means I don't have to concern myself with any new scuffs and scratches so I get on with using the thing.

[Liphook]

Looking good SPW

[Wanderer]

It is looking good and I do like your philosophy on "patina" and wear and tear.

[Ski Piit Wldie]

Thanks, final coat ( for now ) went on today will put up some pic's on Sunday, too late for the last river trip but the June crucians await and then to the Stour in the autumn, Mike.

[Crucian]

That's a really nice job you've done Mike, the new silk looks just right.