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Durable non-plastic finish

Gizmo3k

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Morning,

I am still at the stage of excitedly taking each pen I make into work to show it off. I get a fair number of nice comments (although people don't seem to see the mistakes I know are there) but one that keeps coming back is a dislike of a CA finish - people want to feel the wood.

What sort of finish can i use that is durable, but still feels like wood? Currently I only have BLO and CA in the garage, along with some abranet and micro mesh.

Any ideas gratefully appreciated!

Alan
 

rayf6604

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My favourite now is Chestnut Friction polish. It seems to hold its shine nicely, it's easy to apply and you can still feel the wood, even smell it. I made a pen with Thuya the other day and that has a strong smell to it and it still comes through the friction polish.
 

Jimjam66

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The real truth is that CA is the ONLY finish that will last. All of the others will fade over time and with use, probably within months if not weeks. BUT ... they do allow the user to 'feel' the wood. Catch-22 ...

... A while back I was asked to supply a pen which was turned and sanded to 600 grit, but not finished otherwise in any way. The buyer's reasoning was that a pen is an extension of his hand, so it could absorb his oils and sweat and become in a real sense a part of him. Horses for courses, I guess.
 

scouseroy

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I kind of get why you want to feel the wood ? but cant see why a couple of layers of CA make that much difference, if I had a Rembrandt I wouldn't complain if it had a couple of layers of varnish on it to protect it:thumbs:
 

rayf6604

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My problem with ca finish is I too frequently have a tiny bit on the end of the barrel where the ca lifts away from the wood leaving a cloudy looking bit. I've tried to be very careful when parting the bushes away from the barrel, I've tried using plastic bushes and then I'm left with a lip of ca on the end of the barrel and I find it difficult to get that flush without damaging the finish and getting this lifting from the wood. For that reason I don't like using ca.
 

Gizmo3k

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I kind of get why you want to feel the wood ? but cant see why a couple of layers of CA make that much difference, if I had a Rembrandt I wouldn't complain if it had a couple of layers of varnish on it to protect it:thumbs:

Personally, I'm almost entirely in this camp, but I suppose I have to look at what the potential customer wants!

The first pen I made was BLO and CA, but I didn't micro mesh it, or apply friction to heat/shine it, maybe that's why people like it more. Also, with that one I put on BLO then CA, then BLO then CA. More recently I have put some BLO on the cloth, added some CA and then applied it, finishing the application by squeezing to create heat. While doing this I have an organic vapour mask on, so the smell doesn't bother me.

If anyone has any better ideas I am open to suggestions.

Alan
 

paulm

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My problem with ca finish is I too frequently have a tiny bit on the end of the barrel where the ca lifts away from the wood leaving a cloudy looking bit. I've tried to be very careful when parting the bushes away from the barrel, I've tried using plastic bushes and then I'm left with a lip of ca on the end of the barrel and I find it difficult to get that flush without damaging the finish and getting this lifting from the wood. For that reason I don't like using ca.

Ray, there are several ways of getting that ca off; sanding it off with bit of fine paper, milling it off or putting it back on the mandrel, for instance if you're using a slimline, then remove the bushes and just put a blank tube on as a spacer then wet and dry the edge which will also take the shapness from it.
 

paulm

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I don't do many shows but there is always someone who says about feeling the wood. I always keep a pen that has only been waxed and let them feel that... you still don't feel the wood! One with no finish at all is the only way they'll feel the wood but within a few weeks of good use it'll look dirty
 

Woody

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Here we go again LOL there is a load of old cobblers going around about a polish finish there are many house hold items about that are hundreds of years old that in there time were handled every day all with a polish finish the difference is they were looked after and polished when needed and the polishes today are more advanced with special polishes for pens how many items are there around of that age with a ca finish how many times in the last month alone have we seen ca finish that has gone wrong within a short space of time ca you say is more durable has time proved this statement polish can be repaired with out stripping a pen down can ca
I still have polished pens that are well over 20 years old and still look good can any of you ca freaks say the same and show photos of the same go Polish go up the revelation there that's my contribution have fun
Let the debate begin LOL I'm out :whistling::whistling::whistling:
 

Woody

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One point that has not been picked up on the customers are requesting non ca finish and he is asking for an alternative so give them an alternative and tell them how to lk after it simple
Hut crystal, hut poishing sticks, eee polish, wax oil very durable, and that is just a few
 

paulm

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Here we go again LOL there is a load of old cobblers going around about a polish finish there are many house hold items about that are hundreds of years old that in there time were handled every day all with a polish finish the difference is they were looked after and polished when needed and the polishes today are more advanced with special polishes for pens how many items are there around of that age with a ca finish how many times in the last month alone have we seen ca finish that has gone wrong within a short space of time ca you say is more durable has time proved this statement polish can be repaired with out stripping a pen down can ca
I still have polished pens that are well over 20 years old and still look good can any of you ca freaks say the same and show photos of the same go Polish go up the revelation there that's my contribution have fun
Let the debate begin LOL I'm out :whistling::whistling::whistling:

ha ha, this is an excellent subject Woody that we will keep on having over and over again... I love it.

I have a pen that used to belong to Queen Victoria that was finished with ca and is as good as new :funny:
 

Woody

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ha ha, this is an excellent subject Woody that we will keep on having over and over again... I love it.

I have a pen that used to belong to Queen Victoria that was finished with ca and is as good as new :funny:

Its all good fun Paul LOL you just keep picking the wrong side :ave_it::ave_it::thumbs:
 

Walter

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This is a subject that comes up again and again. People have their preferences but here are some facts.

Once you have put any kind of finish on the wood you will not feel the wood.

CA is a hard wearing plastic coating that gives a glossy finish. Not everyone likes it. It does not look or feel like natural wood.

There are other types of hard lacquer finish that are just as durable (acrylic and cellulose lacquer to name but two) these can be either gloss or satin finish. Satin finish looks and feels more like natural wood.

Shellac (French polish/friction polish) will give a gloss finish which is wear resistant but is less resistant to contaminants such as alcohol, water and perspiration. It can look more natural than CA.

Wax finishes can give a finish that looks like natural wood but as has been said they require maintenance if they are to continue looking good.

So now for my opinion. If you don't want your customers to have to maintain their pen (they won't) then the only really effective option that looks and feels like natural wood is a satin acrylic or cellulose lacquer. If you trust your customers to maintain their pen (they won't) then any of the many wax finishes will give a natural looking and feeling finish.
 

Grump

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I see more bloody plastic pens than wood on here so give em plastic that solves the "feel the wood" argument init?

As has been said already there is only one way to feel the the wood and that is to leave it with a bare wood finish init?

If you wax it you will feel the wax till it wears off and needs reapplying.

If you oil it feel sticky.

If you ca it you will feel an orgasm.

I know which I prefer.

Simples init?
 

ataylor

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I ham not a lover of a ca finish I tend to use friction polish on any pens that I make. :thumbs:
 

Buckeye

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I see more bloody plastic pens than wood on here so give em plastic that solves the "feel the wood" argument init?

As has been said already there is only one way to feel the the wood and that is to leave it with a bare wood finish init?

If you wax it you will feel the wax till it wears off and needs reapplying.

If you oil it feel sticky.

If you ca it you will feel an orgasm.

I know which I prefer.

Simples init?

I must try to remember never to handle your ca finished pens:wink:

Peter
 
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