sid Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 Hardly "house renovations" but I didn't think it should go under "driving in France" either! Here goes...I have obtained an old charette (a cart), in a very dirty condition (carte grise? [:)] ) and I intend to clean it up, paint/lasure it, and put it in the front garden loaded with flowers (well, that'll be next year). A friend has told me that I need to treat the woodwork with linseed oil as it will be very dry and brittle, and if I don't do this it's likely to deteriorate very quickly once it's out in the weather. Apparently this treatment needs to be done over many weeks as each application soaks in. My intention was to clean it with a pressure washer, give it a couple of coats of 'xylo' and later to paint most of the woodwork with a microporous paint, the chassis with lasure, and the iron work with a 'fer' paint. I'd welcome any advice.Sid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daisymay Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 Sorry, can't help with the renovation but please don't paint it blue! Blue charettes are as common as bluebottles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sid Posted June 21, 2007 Author Share Posted June 21, 2007 Oh Daisymay! Apparently tradition says that they should be blue, now I'm blue! [:(]Sid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave&Olive Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 hi ok I have had good results using this mix on out side wood ... after you have given it the xylo treatment and its dry ...mix 2/3 of a bottle of linseed oil with 1/3 bottle of pure turpintine ( not subturps ) must be pure , then add large table spoon full of sciatiff ( spelling ??? ) you can then give it up to 2 maybe 3 coats a day , it will dry hard it time and feed the wood , and you can paint over it when fully dry . all the products can be got local hope this helps Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daisymay Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 Have you ever seen a blue one on the road? This blue idea is just for gardens I think. What is wrong with a lovely wood finish. It would show off the plants better as well. I remember a garden in Deux Sevres which had two charettes, both painted blue alongside what was supposed to be a garden. Somewhere near Hanc I think, I cringed whenever I saw them. However it's your choice in the end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sid Posted June 22, 2007 Author Share Posted June 22, 2007 DaveThis sounds like what I heard about. So, it's all about feeding the wood, a bit like oiling a cricket bat? I wondered about this; presumably lasure doesn't have any nourishing effects. It sounds like a long process as the cart is just over 6 metres long. I'm going to need a bulk supply of linseed and the other ingredients. Are they available at the usual DIY places?Sid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sid Posted June 22, 2007 Author Share Posted June 22, 2007 DaisymayActually, I've never seen any on the road! [blink] This one of mine must be nearly 100 years old judging by the local maker's label. I agree that natural wood would look better, but I'm told quite categorically that blue is the colour and I can see traces on various parts of the frame. I think they're referred to as "charettes bleues". I can't envisage any farmer taking the time to maintain the paintwork on a working cart, and I guess that's why most of them finish up looking grey and neglected. If I am to to do a proper renovation I'd have to use the original colours, but as it's not going to be used as a 'show cart' for concours events, and it's just going to stand in the garden, I think we can use discretion on the colour choice, so I'm going to mull it over. In the meantime there's plenty to do before I can start painting.At least I don't have to worry about getting a registration for it!RegardsSid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave&Olive Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 hi ok you can get them all in Mr Bricolage linseed oil in 5 ltr or 1ltr bottles .. the pure turps is just to thin it down but it`s better than white spirits for the wood . the sciffatiff ( spelling ) is a hardener look out for it in a small glass bottle in the brico`s should say sciffatiff sans plomb. a few good coats should be enough . lash it on thick wait for say 30 mins and wipe of excess. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bejay Posted June 25, 2007 Share Posted June 25, 2007 Yes, blue is the colour I'm afraid. If I have my facts right it goes back deep into French history, the thirteenth century I think, when south west france manufactured woad. It was very expensive stuff so it was a mark of status to be able to afford to paint your property with it.Apparently the trade was wiped out "overnight " by cheap foreign imports.bj Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre ZFP Posted June 25, 2007 Share Posted June 25, 2007 You can get a DVD on this subject. I features Mr L. Marvin and Mr C. Eastwood.It's called............. Paint Your Wagon [:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperlola Posted June 25, 2007 Share Posted June 25, 2007 deleted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sid Posted June 27, 2007 Author Share Posted June 27, 2007 Thanks everyone.I get really curious when someone deletes a posting [:)]"Paint your Wagon" got it! [:D][:D][:D]Sid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave&Olive Posted June 27, 2007 Share Posted June 27, 2007 and you must have on the Elvis record ..... b,,,, sued shoes [Www] dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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