Ebonite finish

[Tiny James]

I'm looking at making a pen with ebonite but I have no idea on the finish prosses also what finish should I use.

there are three finishes I'm looking at.

CA glue
Melamine
just sand with micromesh and buff with my normal buffing wheels

I'm open to any suggestions I'm just researching at the moment

James

 

[flexi]

Damn, I was just going to do an ebonite pen..... Nah just messing

Ebonite is a hard rubber, so I wouldn't go down the CA route.... Personally I would just sand through the grits and use a liquid polish to achieve the finish..... I would also try to avoid heat build up whilst polishing......

 

[Bill Mooney]

I agree with Mark.

 

[alpha1]

What Mark said.

 

[Dalboy]

And I have no Idea what Mark [MENTION=626]flexi[/MENTION] said but then do I ever

 

[Curly]

I did a couple and I sanded to 400 or 600 and then used the Beall Buffing wheels in the lathe. I start going around it like it was in the lathe then diagonally both angles and finally lengthwise. I turn the wheels at about 1,200 RPM so they behave softer and the ebonite doesn't get hot. Turning was also done slower as it dulls tools quicker when spun fast.

Pete

 

[wm460]

I did basically what Pete said, one day I might even assemble them.

 

[Pierre---]

SEM (German ebonite maker) recommands:

• Sanding to 1000 grit, better wet. If no further buffing, sand up to 5000.
  [*]Buffing with 113 GZ brown paste made by Menzerna, Karlsruhe, then with P 175 yellow by the same maker, between 800 and 2000 rpm. [I don't know them, but they look like our brown tripoli and white diamond paste.]
• Buffing without any paste
  [*]Cleaning with mild soap and cold water.

I do so when I use ebonite (except buffing without paste, my discs are all rather pasty), and can achieve a glossy finish.

 

[Tiny James]

Pierre Thank you for the great information
My buff wheels are only used with the wax they came with I have no paste waxes are white, red and yellow.

Do I need to invest in a paste if so which ones

James

 

[Phil Dart]

My own routine for ebonite is not much different than for acrylic.

Only only sand to 1200 (wet and dry, used dry), then 0000 wire wool with the lathe stopped, then Chestnut burnishing cream until I'm bored with doing it. I've tried all the "sanding to a billion grit then buffing 'til your fingers hurt" options, but frankly, unless you put it under an industrial magnification microscope, I find it difficult to see an appreciable difference with the naked eye. Whatever your sanding and polishing regime is though, you definitely don't need to put a chemical finish such as CA or melamine over the top.

 

[Pierre---]

Do I need to invest in a paste if so which ones

James, I am not aware of any British retailer that sells pastes, but there are some for sure. If you cannot find any, try what Phil says, or you can look at the German one recommanded by SEM (see above), or to the French FTFI I got the pastes I use from: brown for pre-polishing, white for polishing, or the whole set with discs.
[MENTION=735]Phil Dart[/MENTION], this set would be a nice thing to sell if nobody else does in UK...

 

[Tiny James]

Thank you all that have replied to my plea/post so good information.

James

 

[Penpal]

The experiences over here merit Pierres explanation ,cheers Pierre.

Kind regards Peter.