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Dave Macfee writes:

I didn't want to leave ya'll hanging too long after Mike's Sunday
edition, so here are some pictures from Don's visit here last weekend.

The pictures are essentially in order showing a surface we picked
out to test and then after building shellac over it. A small section at
the right edge of the base shows an area we finished off with some
wax and rottenstone mixed together.  The pictures at the end are
from our tour to the top of our capital dome. It was a pretty fun
time and our tour guide was a real trip.  Mary was extremely nice
to take us on the tour after hours, but I have to say probably the
only reason was Don. She was a little taken with his credentials and
charm to say the least. You'da had to been there to appreciate it.

I have to needle Mike a little for reporting that Don called him from
atop the capital dome in Kansas City. He was oh so close- he only
missed the location by 60 miles. It's the spirit that counts though,
Mikey, and I wouldn't change yours one bit. I forgive ya.

So- What we have here is this rather ornate and mammoth rostrum
that my happy customers in the Kansas Senate desire to transform
with that famous shellac sparkle and gloss like the desks we did last
year. I had stripped the desks and done a little tar and shellac
undercoat topped with nitrocellulose lacquer. This was a home run
shot both in terms of accolades and return on investment, so I was
most eager to step up the plate again.  Only this would require a
different approach since it has to be done on-location in the Senate
Chamber which has recently undergone a few millions in restoration work.   

I'm going to skip over nearly all the job details knowing that if I
start into them, I'll never get this out of my draft folder. That is, how
the planets aligned once again for Don to come at just the right time
as we were starting the project, and how critical his guidance was
to us. He showed us in 30 minutes what I couldn't figure out in
weeks of attempted self training. Not only that, but with these new
skills and Don's input on other parts of my proposed schedule, I
should save about 20% of the hours I had figured for this job.

It's pretty cool to know the guy entrusted to take care of the Mace
of the United States of America, is the same guy in these pictures
having a great time here in old Topeka, Kansas, brushing shellac
and helping a brother along the path to more knowledge and earning
power. I have no idea why I would find it surprising that increasing
my knowledge might also translate into more money in my pocket.

Dave Macfee, Not in Kansas City.



















More Pictures on Page 2

More Pictures on Page 3





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