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Alternative to CA

Moondoggy

Moondoggy

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Hi Guys,
What would you regard as a suitable alternative finish to CA on wood pens?

Also, does anyone know of a supplier for the plastic cones that some people use on the mandrel for applying a CA finish?

I am having issues with the removal of the CA burr that you get between the barrel and the bushes.:sob:

Thanks in anticipation.
Paul.
 
Neil

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For a reasonably quick setting, durable finish there isnt one. A sealer and then a friction polish will give a good finish but it doesnt last that long. You could use melamine spray but it takes longer to cure is twice as smelly and will probably cause more problems than it cures.

As for the cones, I wouldnt bother, another solution to a problem that is more expensive and time consuming than the problem is! Not too sure why you get a burr between the barrel and the bushes? I've never been paid according to the smart (or not) appearance of my sets of bushes but despite the appearance they continue to function perfectly. Rarely (twice this year that I remember) do I get the CA cracking off the wood, the exception being with dense oily woods such as cocobolo. After finishing the pen, I slide the entire pen, bushes and all off the mandrel and drop a 6.5mm transfer punch through the bush and tap off the opposite end and then reverse it and repeat. A quick couple of circles on a bit of 240 and the ends are flat and subsequently and quickly assembled.
 
Lons

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Hi Paul
Plenty of comments on here re alternatives or ask Woody.

Likewise re cones which are dead easy to make yourself from coriander, nylon / acetal / etc or even metal

Edit: Neil beat me to it:thumbs:
 
Last edited:
Moondoggy

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Neil, I use the same method as you described using punches. It is when sanding the CA burr off that sometimes the edge of the CA on the barrel lifts. It is not huge chunks, but it looks untidy.

I currently lay a piece of 400 grit paper on a flat surface and gently twist the barrel.

Bob, got plenty of coriander in the garden, how do you turn it? :rolling:
 
Woody

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I have a pen on my work bench that I have been literally throwing it around and abused it for about two months even wiped some spirit over it and it still looks as good as the day I finished it with Craft Coat which took about the same amount of time as friction polish a few coats on the lathe and one off the lathe then leave to dry for a few Min but it takes about an hour to fully cure this will be my preferred finish when my EEE polish runs out another pluss no bloody orible fumes LOL Craft Coat / 2oz - Water Based Exotic Wood Finish - Craft Coat - Finishing Products - Shop
DSCF2155.JPG
 
Walter

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I am also trying out CraftCoat. Looking good so far. I will also be interested to see the results of Dan's trial of Woodturners' finish.

Another alternative to CA I sometimes use is melamine lacquer, (not the spray type), wiped on with the lathe running. Two or three coats then polished with burnishing cream and given a coat of microcrystalline wax. I think Phil Dart does something similar.
 
rayf6604

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Just to add I use friction polish and a beeswax finish. To illustrate how durable friction polish has been for me, I turned a couple of wooden handles that I fixed to the tail stock winder and the release lever that I finished with a couple of coats of friction polish. As you can imagine, both get a fair bit of handling and both are as shiny as the day I made them so I'm sure friction polish used on a pen would be fine in the long term :thinks:
 
Moondoggy

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Thank you for all of your replies.
I will continue to use CA because I like the finish. I just need more practice to perfect my technique.
However, I will give the Craft Coat and melamine lacquer a go to.
I have used friction polish in the past, but the thing I was wondering was, is there any difference between the various brands?
Which one do you use Ray?
I have only used the one produced by Record. Has anyone done a comparison between them?
 
Woody

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I have used Record , chestnut, hut, eee, maylands high build and Liberon friction polishes but I have always used woodturners stick on top of it out of the ones I have used I think for pens hut has the edge
 
Phil Dart

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Walter said:
I am also trying out CraftCoat. Looking good so far. I will also be interested to see the results of Dan's trial of Woodturners' finish.

Another alternative to CA I sometimes use is melamine lacquer, (not the spray type), wiped on with the lathe running. Two or three coats then polished with burnishing cream and given a coat of microcrystalline wax. I think Phil Dart does something similar.
Click to expand...
I do. Minimum 4 coats for me, applied with a soft tissue with the lathe running, on top of diluted sanding sealer - then immediately burnished with soft tissue between coats, and lastly 2 applications of carnauba stick polished off with a soft tissue. 4 to 5 minutes work all told from end of sanding to start of assembly.

I have to say though, I am going to investigate this CraftCoat. How much drying time do you need to give it between coats and before handling? If its more than next to no time at all, I'll stick to my liquid melamine.
 
yorkshireman

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Walter said:
I am also trying out CraftCoat. Looking good so far. I will also be interested to see the results of Dan's trial of Woodturners' finish.

Another alternative to CA I sometimes use is melamine lacquer, (not the spray type), wiped on with the lathe running. Two or three coats then polished with burnishing cream and given a coat of microcrystalline wax. I think Phil Dart does something similar.
Click to expand...


I used to use WTF a couple of years ago Walter. Quick and easy to apply and gives a great finish but I found it didn't last too long on pens. Excellent on bowls.
 
Neil Lawton

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If you are not knocking a pen out on the evening to sell in the morning, then liquid Melamine is the way to go.
I used to apply friction polish over the top, but found this only led to it dulling off earlier.
 
rayf6604

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Moondoggy said:
Thank you for all of your replies.
I will continue to use CA because I like the finish. I just need more practice to perfect my technique.
However, I will give the Craft Coat and melamine lacquer a go to.
I have used friction polish in the past, but the thing I was wondering was, is there any difference between the various brands?
Which one do you use Ray?
I have only used the one produced by Record. Has anyone done a comparison between them?
Click to expand...

I use Chestnut friction polish
 
Jim

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After having this issue myself when first using this method, i found the solution from a forum somewhere not sure now that i still use today with very good results .. I dip the blank ends into a tin of polishing wax before placing them on the bushings .. :thumbs:
 
Wrongway

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Another recommendation for CraftCoat. I tried it after recommendations here and was very pleased with the results. I still use CA or friction polish when required. I find CA is too shiny at times for my taste and takes away the attractiveness and feel of some of the wood blanks.
 
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