Finishes - Melamine Lacquer

[Gizmo3k]

Hi,

Has anyone tried using Chestnut Melamine Lacquer as a finish on pens? Is it fairly hard wearing?

I love that it is so easy to apply (vapour mask takes care of the smell), I just don't know if it would stand up to daily use.

Thanks!

Alan

 

[Doug]

I've used if before but if I remember rightly whilst it goes off quickly to the touch it takes a while to set properly, not a problem if you're not in a rush to assemble the pens.
It does give a hard wearing finish.

 

[PhillH]

Give it 24 hours to go off properly.

Not that I've tried too soon you understand......... someone told me honest

 

[Gizmo3k]

I put some on a seam ripper last night, might burnish it tonight, might wait til the weekend. It isn't very warm out in my garage!

I am thinking of using it mainly for pens that aren't in a rush.

One more question - has anyone tried using it with a wood like cocobolo? Still not sure what I am going to finish that with!

 

[paulm]

Melamine is very hard so I can't see why it wouldn't last on a pen but I've never tried it myself.

 

[stevenw1963]

Alan,

I use it on most of my pens. Quite a hard wearing finish, spray, let it stand for a short while, lightly sand & spray again. Just like spraying any lacquer, the outer layer will harden first so be careful how hard you sand it between coats. Burnish it after a couple of hours or if you're impatient like me, assemble the pen & just polish it.

Not use it on cocobolo yet.

 

[Gizmo3k]

Alan,

I use it on most of my pens. Quite a hard wearing finish, spray, let it stand for a short while, lightly sand & spray again. Just like spraying any lacquer, the outer layer will harden first so be careful how hard you sand it between coats. Burnish it after a couple of hours or if you're impatient like me, assemble the pen & just polish it.

Not use it on cocobolo yet.

I don't have the spray - I have the liquid one. It applies easily from a cloth, or you can brush it on apparently. If you let it dry properly, you need to de-nib it, alternatively you can wait until it flashes off and add another coat straight away apparently.

 

[Phil Dart]

Alan, I rarely use anything else. My standard practice is 1 coat sanding sealer- lathe stopped. 4 coats liquid melamine - lathe running at about 700- 800. I apply with a tissue rubber, and burnish immediately with a dry tissue rubber- lathe still running. Consecutive coats applied in same way without the need for delay. 2 coats of carnauba stick at about 2500rpm (polished off with tissue between coats) Again, no time delay required after the melamine. Assembled immediately - job done. The finishing process takes about 5 minutes or less and the result is dry, hard and bullet proof, ready for instant use. Why all you people mess about for hours with CA is beyond me. Perhaps you like the fumes (actually that might explain a lot on this forum)

 

[donwatson]

I have never used it for pens. I tried it on a plate once and it dried in one spot before I could get a coat on it. It has sat on the shelf since

 

[Penpal]

Alan, I rarely use anything else. My standard practice is 1 coat sanding sealer- lathe stopped. 4 coats liquid melamine - lathe running at about 700- 800. I apply with a tissue rubber, and burnish immediately with a dry tissue rubber- lathe still running. Consecutive coats applied in same way without the need for delay. 2 coats of carnauba stick at about 2500rpm (polished off with tissue between coats) Again, no time delay required after the melamine. Assembled immediately - job done. The finishing process takes about 5 minutes or less and the result is dry, hard and bullet proof, ready for instant use. Why all you people mess about for hours with CA is beyond me. Perhaps you like the fumes (actually that might explain a lot on this forum)

Its a toss up Melamine fumes or CA neither healthy mate both beaut finishes.

Peter.

 

[MarkNotts]

Alan, I rarely use anything else. My standard practice is 1 coat sanding sealer- lathe stopped. 4 coats liquid melamine - lathe running at about 700- 800. I apply with a tissue rubber, and burnish immediately with a dry tissue rubber- lathe still running. Consecutive coats applied in same way without the need for delay. 2 coats of carnauba stick at about 2500rpm (polished off with tissue between coats) Again, no time delay required after the melamine. Assembled immediately - job done. The finishing process takes about 5 minutes or less and the result is dry, hard and bullet proof, ready for instant use. Why all you people mess about for hours with CA is beyond me. Perhaps you like the fumes (actually that might explain a lot on this forum)

Either im thick, over thinking or tired or even all 3

When you say tissue rubber so you mean a tissue like kitchen towel to rub with or is a tissue rubber an actual thing?

Ive done a quick google image search and it brings up medical products, Ive heard of people using dentists drill bits for engraving and fine carving so maybe my over thinking is right and you do use some sort of rubber tissue?... or im wrong and i should have gone to bed an hour ago!

 

[Sgreen]

Alan, I rarely use anything else. My standard practice is 1 coat sanding sealer- lathe stopped. 4 coats liquid melamine - lathe running at about 700- 800. I apply with a tissue rubber, and burnish immediately with a dry tissue rubber- lathe still running. Consecutive coats applied in same way without the need for delay. 2 coats of carnauba stick at about 2500rpm (polished off with tissue between coats) Again, no time delay required after the melamine. Assembled immediately - job done. The finishing process takes about 5 minutes or less and the result is dry, hard and bullet proof, ready for instant use. Why all you people mess about for hours with CA is beyond me. Perhaps you like the fumes (actually that might explain a lot on this forum)

fumes?
what fumes?
Anyone got any CA?

 

[wm460]

Tissue rubber is a new one to me, google shows me double sided tissue rubber tape and medical stuff.

 

[Phil Dart]

I mean "rubber" in the french polishing sense. Fold up your tissue to form a rubber - a soft wad or pad. I use single ply tissue from a centre-feed roll - I have a dispenser fixed to the wall in my workshop, and I buy rolls by the half dozen from a company called Parrs. It is less absorbent than kitchen roll. If you're only turning a pen or two a week though, 6 rolls will last you a lifetime so you may want to source your tissue from somewhere you can buy it in smaller quantities.

Fumes? I didn't mention fumes from melamine - that was Penpal. There are no fumes from melamine - I was referring to the fumes from CA.

 

[Vic Perrin]

I mean "rubber" in the french polishing sense. Fold up your tissue to form a rubber - a soft wad or pad. I use single ply tissue from a centre-feed roll - I have a dispenser fixed to the wall in my workshop, and I buy rolls by the half dozen from a company called Parrs. It is less absorbent than kitchen roll. If you're only turning a pen or two a week though, 6 rolls will last you a lifetime so you may want to source your tissue from somewhere you can buy it in smaller quantities.



Fumes? I didn't mention fumes from melamine - that was Penpal. There are no fumes from melamine - I was referring to the fumes from CA.

I know your a very busy man Phil, but a nice tutorial on your finishing method when you get a chance would help forum members

 

[Phil Dart]

I'll try to put something together that is a bit more comprehensive, when I get a moment. (if I can work out how to put it in the Tutorials section)

 

[fortress]

Thanks for that Phil, your method seems like a no nonsense way to do it. Will it work with spray on lacquer?

 

[bigbob]

This has got me curious so today went down to my local turning supplies and purchased a tin of chestnut Melamine so as I understand it sand to about 600 put on a coat of sand sealer then 4 coats of melamine now do you sand between coats or just polish between coats or just put 4 coats on at a time then instantly go to the canuba wax?

Bob

 

[Penpal]

So much about Melamine I don,t know will look for a data sheet and together from this post learn more. thanks.

Peter.

 

[Phil Dart]

Thanks for that Phil, your method seems like a no nonsense way to do it. Will it work with spray on lacquer?

This has got me curious so today went down to my local turning supplies and purchased a tin of chestnut Melamine so as I understand it sand to about 600 put on a coat of sand sealer then 4 coats of melamine now do you sand between coats or just polish between coats or just put 4 coats on at a time then instantly go to the canuba wax?

Bob

Sorry Gents - I didn't spot your questions until now

I've not used the spray stuff, but I imagine that most of it goes anywhere except on the blank, and I also imagine that the covering would not be even and would require sanding between coats.

With the liquid stuff from the tin, there is no sanding between coats required - just burnishing with a dry tissue. The carnauba wax can be applied after a couple of minutes. I usually go and get the kit parts and the press ready after the last coat, which takes a minute or two, then come back to the lathe and apply the wax.