Mark Bausman writes:

 

Groop,

This post ran back in 2003. It offers another possibility

A few years ago a customer taught me about this unique masking

Tool. I was in the middle of refinishing 8 Tansu chests for her. Two

of the chests were not very pleasing to look at compared to the

rest.  My customer asked if I could do them in black lacquer. My

dilemma was that the chests had an incredible amount of ornate

hardware on them. It could not be safely removed and masking

with tape was not an option.

My customer is a fine artist by trade and she recommended Art

Masking Fluid made by Daler-Rowney Which can be purchased

at an artist supply store. It is used in watercolor panting to place

a resist spot and then removed after the paint is dry.  And so I

painted the hardware and when dry applied the black lacquer.

The next day the masking fluid was rubbed off with a pencil

eraser and finger. It is a handy tool to have around.

 I do not have any pictures of the actual chests but they were

similar to the one enclosed.

The remaining photos are a set up of the same procedure on a

brass and black knobs.

Never to late or old to learn.

Mark B.
So. CA