Eric, that is the right physical description, the right time frame, and
even a possible rationale -- WWII would have made petroleum based paints
difficult, if not impossible to get. I didn't think the stuff was latex
because it dissolved immediately and completely, but I could think of no
earthly reason why someone would put a shellac-based product on a metal
panel in a restroom. Thank you so much for your reply.  ;)

deb

----- Original Message -----
From: "Hammarberg, Eric" <[log in to unmask]>
To: "'deb bledsoe'" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2002 9:13 AM
Subject: RE: Old metal panel finishes


> The layers that react with denatured alcohol sound like shellac based
paints
> and since they are chalky would be the failure level in any subsequent
top
> coats. You need to remove the chalky layers completely.
>
> I had a similar problem with wood windows. We were supposed to simply
scrape
> and paint 1920's windows but a week after applying alkyd paint, it
started
> to crack, peel and delaminate. After testing all the previous layers
we
> found an "inter-layer" that had failed due to poor paint products
likely
> applied during WW II. We had to strip all the 835 windows.
>
> Eric Hammarberg
> Associate Director of Preservation
> Associate
> LZA Technology
> 641 Avenue of the Americas
> New York, NY 10011-2014
> Telephone: 917.661.8176 (Direct)
> Mobile: 917.439.3537
> Fax: 917.661.8177 (Direct)
> email:  [log in to unmask]
>
>

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