Posted by Richard Tonti on April 30, 1998 at 21:42:17 in 176.new-york-08.ny.dial-access.att.net :
With regards to the subject of brass tube portholes I have found that if you use a sharp, thin bladed Paper cutter (wood base w/ mounted blade) (you all have one right?) it makes short wofk out of cutting the tubing and leaves little to zero deformity at the clipped end. A modified dog and cat claw clipper also seems to work well. It also allows one to eliminate the tedium of sawing and cuts time and labor down demonstrably. Dikes, and other kinds of clipping tools will usually smash soft metal particularly soft hollow thin walled brass.
I am also working with a product I have used in my business in the past called "Rub 'n' Buff". This is actually a thick paste type paint that comes in a small tube (hardware stores) and is merely rubbed on with finger or cloth and then buffed with clean cloth. This will leave the paint in any recessed areas say such as caulking lines between planking and the like. It requires no thinner is water soluable so it can be mixed to desired consistancy and makes the job a hassle free pleasue. It comes in many different colors and desired pigment variations can be mixed.
It works very well on items such as the ship's base name plate.
Richard Tonti