Arghhhhh CA finishes !!!!

[Snaggle]

Why is it so inconsistent !! I make 5 pens with a flawless finish then i get an order in for a African Black wood with coke can through it and will it take a nice finish !!! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

It really does grind my gears as applying 5-7 coats only to have to remove it all and redo it only to have to do it again ... But of course 1 part is fine and no issue !

I always use pads and wet polish ... Through every grade but i can usually tell after the fist 2 grits (1500-1800) if its going to work out .. If its not white marks or lines where there was no lines or some other random mark even though it was sanded within an inch of its life ... grrrrrrrrr again !!

Also why do my kitchen towels go up in smoke after applying the finish ? I assume it a mixture of the friction and CA but it always freaks me out . !!

 

[Penpal]

Two unusual reactions for me firstly I chose my brand carefully sounds like a fire risk.

Peter.

 

[Scots Bill]

Well Darren, hope you keep a bucket of water handy to put out the fire, or to cool yourself down, you do seem rather heated.

 

[Buckeye]

When I have used a CA finish on ABW I always wipe the wood with acetone and leave it a few minutes to evaporate.

Peter

 

[wm460]

I know the feeling Darren.

 

[Bill Mooney]

I do the same as Peter only I use meths. ABW is an oily timber & the meths or acetone degreases the timber so you can apply your finish.

 

[RodN]

With oily woods, even if de-greasing before a CA finish, then in time the oils in the wood will migrate back up to contact the CA and spoil it one way or another. A common result is that it will turn milky looking in places. In the worst cases, the CA will separate from the wood.

Think of what will happen to your pen in a year or so. Then think again about using a CA finish at all.
CA finishing was invented by the Americans. They like things to be shiny and plastic looking rather than natural.

Rod

 

[Woody]

Never use the stuff as a finish don't like using it or trust it and never will and I dont like not being able to breath when the fumes hit you

 

[Snaggle]

i did wipe it down before applying . It looked fine after 4-5 coats but on the 7th summit was not right ... this happened twice . I agree to a point that its not always best but it does come up nice if done well and its so far pretty durable . And it was what the custard requested .

I have rubbed it all back and will have another go this afternoon .

 

[Woody]

Have you ever considered using an acrylic gloss lacquer here's the one I use http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201448675843?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[Scots Bill]

Right enough as Vic says the fumes do choke me as well, mind so does the wife, well threaten to anyway. Must be very vexing to say the least.

 

[Gary G]

Sorry to hijack your post Snaggel Woody how many coats of lacquer do you apply and do micro mesh once applied

 

[stevenw1963]

Use spray lacquer, less chance of your workshop going up in flames.
& doesn't affect your health as much.

Gary G

I put about 3 or 4 layers of lacquer on mine.
Light sanding in between coats (don't forget, even though it's touch dry on the surface it's still curing underneath)
Leave for at least 24 hrs before burnishing if you want, personally I don't see the point as it's shiny already.

 

[Snaggle]

How do you apply your lacquer withought covering the lathe in it ?

 

[stevenw1963]

I have a piece of wood with 2 long nails hammered into it at one end.
The tubes are taken off the lathe & put on the nails in the wood after sanding sealer has been applied.
The lacquer is sprayed on the tubes, thin coats only.
The wood is then put in a vice so the tubes are horizontal to the vice rather than vertical & left to dry or the wood is put in front of a halogen heater & the tubes turned every 5 minutes or so.

 

[Woody]

Hi Gary normally 2 - 4 coats over sanding sealer and yes it will micro mesh once fully cured

 

[Les ELm]

MINWAX WBOM Polyurethane using the Dipping Method.
Results in a consistent, reliable application each and every time with a finish that is just as durable as any CA finish.

Les

 

[Penpal]

Good solid suggestions over time proved worthwhile. Results on the board.

Peter.

 

[johnny5]

Never use the stuff as a finish don't like using it or trust it and never will and I dont like not being able to breath when the fumes hit you

CA finish :angry: No thanks
Same here woody, only use ca for tubes and the occasional burr pothole fix .
Wood is wood and i encourage all my buyers to wax and polish my pens regularly when they buy them from me , this will teach them to appreciate the timber grain & tactile feel of timber and this will encourage them more to appreciate it more as a unique hand made item in this throw away world we have created.

 

[Penpal]

No magic in this world if it sounds too good to be then put up with the odd problems worth every minute.

Peter