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Robert Chickey

@bespokefinish

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Bespoke Finish
Enhancing surfaces with art and science.
Offering training and consulting
Authorized VeroMetal partner NorthAmerica #colorspecialist

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Come visit booth 109 at the “Gather Catalyst” on Thursday to discuss our brands. Bespoke Color, @verometalna @nikkolor_italia @bellefiniture

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Transforming Poplar to Knotty Alder through a multi layer process #bespokefinishes #woodfinishingspecialist #woodfinishing

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Just finished day 1 of a private @verometalna training at @markjupiterdesign It’s quite rare that I encounter a founder who’s desire is to both build incredible objects and push out on the edge of what’s currently possible. Mark Jupiter is that type of founder. With collaboration being such a core value for me, opportunities to create incredible outcomes with an open minded company is where magic occurs. Stay tuned all. Tomorrow is always that eye opening moment when the metal is revealed. Follow along….

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Let’s discuss the anatomy of a “Bespoke Finish”. What does it mean? How to deliver one…

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I’m in the shop today mixing up some of my modified dewaxed shellac. Shellac whether it’s waxed or dewaxed is best made using fresh flakes and denatured alcohol, 190-200 proof. Any shellac already in a can is compromised period! Its only use from a can is as a single coat sealer. Stacking coats is not advisable as the shellac will remain somewhat soft and too flexible. In our process, we use both dewaxed and modified dewaxed shellac. This is Blonde dewaxed shellac direct from India. This is how it arrives. In a paper sack weighing 25kg or 55 lbs US. Why modify shellac? As wonderful as shellac is, there are some negative at times, outcomes. It’s susceptible to water and alcohol. The beauty of this coating is it’s also quite easy to repair. For our current historic restoration project in Atlanta, I elected to provide a more durable version while maintaining the historic accuracy of using a period finish like shellac. Why? This house will host public and private events, so there will be significantly higher traffic in the home. This is an easy decision. To modify the shellac I’m using B-72 which is a paraloid acryloid. This inert acrylic resin will beef up the durability and convert the dewaxed shellac into almost the strength of a pre cat lacquer, without losing any clarity. It still could be reamalgamated if needed, but it will be more time consuming to do so. Choices!!!
When I was a contractor we were making 20-40 gallons of fresh shellac every month for our various projects around the US. That was considerably easier as I had a pneumatic drill station set up. I could make 5 gallons of shellac in an hour. Mixing the B-72 into shellac is a very slow process, but worth the effort. Hopefully by tomorrow everything will be mixed and I can get them into gallon cans and then shipped to Atlanta when Russell & Robie Kraujalis @russellkraujalis will return for the second of three trips for phase 2. Stay tuned all….

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I’m starting phase 2 of my historic restoration at the Zuber Jarrell House in Atlanta today. Yesterday Russell & Robie Kraujalis flew in to be ready for today. They are starting on the second level with the fine finish sanding. Since this house has some history, the woodwork in places has excessive wear. We are steaming all the wood first to remove as much of the deep gouges as possible. We are not after perfection, just refining. My task today is to determine the finish schedule which starts with color. I’m able to adjust the color in way that provides the perfect base color for both the flame birch and the long leaf pine. The control sample is in the middle. I have applied the color layer, followed by 2-3 coats of 1.5 lb cut dewaxed shellac which we mix by hand. Next I will create the appropriate different glazes using my favorite Mixol pigments to bring the wood up to the control sample on both but different species. Then 2-3 more layers of modified dewaxed shellac. It’s been modified using B72 which is a paraloid acryloid. This material will fortify the shellac and make it more resistant to water and alcohol. Then after that cures, the surface with be rubbed out with a white scotchbrite or steel wool and receive one coat of neutral wax. Then the final will be about a 35 degree hand rubbed satin finish. Stay tuned all….

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Stopped in at @pillsburycastle to check on the re amalgamation of the original shellac in the Music Room. Mind you this is just the first few steps. Later we will start the wet sanding process to get it flatter. Then start building new layers with modified #dewaxedshellac . This is going to be a mind blowing transformation. I love the process of revealing and celebrating wood. Stay tuned….

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I stopped in at @pillsburycastle today to check on progress. We are now in the Music Room. When I initially agreed to be involved in this #historicrenovation #historicpreservation I told the clients that it might be challenging for them to imagine what this room could look like when restored. The common path likely might have been to completely remove and start over. Experience and knowledge allowed me to understand that re amalgamating the existing finish could and would bring it back. This is just the cleaning stage and it’s profoundly brighter and clearer. When we complete the restoration and add 3-4 more layers of modified dewaxed blonde shellac, you will need sunglasses to enter the room. Stay tuned all…..

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I stopped by the @pillsburycastle today to check on progress. It’s always interesting when restoring old homes. Apparently at some point in the history of this home, three beams near what is now the kitchen were replaced. Unfortunately, they chose to use something other than #honduranmahogany . That in itself is not uncommon. Then someone applied many layer of washes to blend it. When we were assessing this room, there was significant water damage in the present finish that it was difficult to see. Nonetheless we will come up with a plan to blend them in. Then @russellkraujalis started in #themusicroom to reamalgamate the existing spirit varnish. Over time, shellac and other spirit varnishes can be compromised by poor choices for cleaning agents or just breaking down from time. It’s amazing the depth of color revealed with an initial application of denatured alcohol. This is a slow and time consuming process. That said, when completed this room will be alive again after 100+ years. Stay tuned for this transformation…..

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Today we are starting the restoration of the The Grand Salon at @pillsburycastle This is an incredible room and I can’t wait to restore the #honduranmahogany back to the glory of early 1900’s when it was originally built. I have tried to convey how extraordinary this room will be once completed by us. Helping me with this product is @russellkraujalis Stay tuned for updates…..

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I visited @pillsburycastle today to check on the progress of the project. I initially met with @russellkraujalis and his wife who are assisting me with the restoration of the original woodwork of this extraordinary home. Then we went upstairs to view Ryan’s Office which was just primed by the drywall vendor. We are also applying @verometalna to the ceilings in this room. They were originally in rough shape and have been skimmed and sanded. They are having @verometalna #copper troweled on and polished to 1000 grit. Assisting me here is Drew Beninati from @theplastercenter who will be a reseller of our @verometal_international products. The clients have elected to leave the Copper as a live finish. It will be extraordinary. We are also applying #VeroMetal to the rear staircase balustrade handrail and newel posts. Since a lot of the work in this project is discounted and/or donated I reached out to Billy Naumenko @billyenvirolak to see if Stefan DeSantis from @envirolak could donate some #envirothane170 to this project. We absolutely love using the #170TB as our primer of choice on all our onsite #VeroMetal projects. Stay tuned for this reveal…..

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True alchemy is possible with #verometal. From #MDF to #texturedbronze

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