• Thanks for visiting The Penturners Forum today.

    There are many features and resources that currently you are unable to see or access, either because you're not yet registered, or if you're already registered, because you're not logged in.

    To gain full access to the forum, please log in or register now. Registration is completely free, it only takes a few seconds, and you can join our well established community of like-minded pen makers.

I've Been Thinking

Garno

Garno

Fellow
Joined
May 12, 2021
Posts
1,372
Location
Dronfield
First Name
Gary
Due to a blank splitting whilst turning it today I did something that I really should not make a habit of, at least, that is, according to Mrs G.

I started thinking ..............

Amongst the many things I was thinking about, one thing in particular stuck in my mind.

No doubt thousands of pen turners before me have thought of this, to me it is something fresh (Both the thinking and the thought)

Why don't pen turners just dip the finished wooden blank into Polyurethane clear gloss varnish?
Apart from it taking 4 - 6 hours to dry is there any other reason.

I have dipped the remains of a blank that fell apart whilst turning it and will see tomorrow how it looks.

I have read the penturners.org method and see they mention using something called Minwax Minwax 230004444 Fast Drying Polyurethane Gloss, 1/2 pint : Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools but by the time postage has been added it becomes a non starter, does that brand contain some magic ingredient that makes it different to other polyurethane varnishes :rolling:
 
alan morrison

alan morrison

Fellow
Joined
Feb 26, 2019
Posts
2,577
Location
Co. Down N Ireland
First Name
Alan
Les Elm, who used to frequent this forum, has an article in Tutorials on the dip method using Polyurethane.
You can find it under 'Finishing'.
It comes right after Phil Dart's tried and tested and much quicker melamine lacquer method.

Alan
 
flexi

flexi

Executive Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2014
Posts
6,457
Location
Maidstone
First Name
mark
Thinking.... Is that like 'reading instructions??' :rolling::rolling:
No honestly, there has always and probably will always be a 'Holy Grail' of finishing with penturning.... I have seen a few come and go....
Les's dipping method uses a specific finish, but I can't see why other brands couldn't be used. I have a plastic bottle of this I need to try
Polyvine Lacquer Gloss Clear 1L
 
wm460

wm460

Grand Master
Joined
Mar 16, 2013
Posts
23,113
Location
Tennant Creek, Northern Territory, Australia.
First Name
Mark
Here is Les's tutorial.

http://www.penturners.co.uk/misc/pdf/50_Finishing/Pen_Finish_Dipping_Method.pdf
flexi said:
be a 'Holy Grail' of finishing with penturning....
Click to expand...

There is one, I know there is one, I will find it one day....:pray:

BTW
I have a 20 + year old tin of minwax sitting in the shed, someone gave to me, he tried it and thought it was to slow a process, sat in his shed till I said I was looking for some and he said take this.
Used to be clear now gone darker but tried it couple days ago still dried OK.
 
Garno

Garno

Fellow
Joined
May 12, 2021
Posts
1,372
Location
Dronfield
First Name
Gary
flexi said:
Thinking.... Is that like 'reading instructions??' :rolling::rolling:
No honestly, there has always and probably will always be a 'Holy Grail' of finishing with penturning.... I have seen a few come and go....
Les's dipping method uses a specific finish, but I can't see why other brands couldn't be used. I have a plastic bottle of this I need to try
Polyvine Lacquer Gloss Clear 1L
Click to expand...

That looks OK but with a £10 delivery charge takes it to £30, However I would be very interested in how it turns out for you. :drool:

I have now got some play-doh replica stuff from Aldi (Mrs G got it) for very little cost, 4 small tubs of it, so I suggest you pull your finger out and get experimenting with the Polyvine :funny::funny::funny:

I will send you a tub of the play-doh if you want :ciggrin::ciggrin:
 
Penpal

Penpal

Grand Master
Joined
May 26, 2013
Posts
25,342
Location
Canberra AUSTRALIA
First Name
Peter
I enjoy Potato to stuff one end of my blanks. No one has bested the CA finish my mate in Melbourne achieves every time so I stay with a modified form involving one two or three coats of CA. I hope weather permitting to prove and you can judge them as you wish. In every phase of penmaking I try to simplify the processes,my picture taking is a 7 minute process over the last thirty years at least using an open box of conduit and three common lights. Wish everyone success with all your processes,may you enjoy what you do .I had another cancer op yesterday and more to come but I have been there twice before.I nowawait results. They are what counts in the long run. My good friend Les Elm has a prodigeous output,he also stramline his methods so well. Enjoy.
:thumbs:
 
Garno

Garno

Fellow
Joined
May 12, 2021
Posts
1,372
Location
Dronfield
First Name
Gary
Our (Mine and Mrs G's) thoughts will be with you over this worrying time Peter :pray::pray::pray:
 
Warning! This thread has not had any replies for over a year. You are welcome to post a reply here, but it might be better to start a new thread (and maybe include a link to this one if you need to).
Top