Today's efforts

[Robert]

So today I plucked up the courage to turn the wood I had in the segmented jig thingy I made, here: http://www.penturners.co.uk/your-tips-jigs/5283-segmented-blanks-gluing-clamping-jig.html

Quite hard work that was, didn't go as smoothly as I hoped, and had to do a bit of improvising and repairs along the way. But the result just about passes I think.

I finished it with CA, first time I've used that as a finish and I obviously need a bit more practice at it! Compare to the Christmas dec which I also made today, from spalted beech, finished with friction polish

Edit: Having previewed the post, I don't think the pictures do the finishing justice, but suffice to say the xmas dec is much shinier than the pen in real life.

 

[brody2123]

Both absolute beauties sir!! The pen is veeeeeerrrry nice

 

[wm460]

Very Nice Rob.

 

[chas_41_uk]

Both are spot on Rob

 

[Buckeye]

They look really nice

Peter

 

[paulm]

You've done a great job on both there Rob and well worth the effort you put in. If you've got small ridges on the finish, don't be worried about sanding with say 400 grit to get rid of them. Then use some wet and dry and then some car polish or finishing cream.

 

[Robert]

You've done a great job on both there Rob and well worth the effort you put in. If you've got small ridges on the finish, don't be worried about sanding with say 400 grit to get rid of them. Then use some wet and dry and then some car polish or finishing cream.

I put on about 3 coats of CA and it was looking really good/shiny. So I thought I'd better give it a quick rub down, cos that's what I saw on you-tube/threads on here, so used 600 grit followed by some micromesh pads, and all the good work disappeared. Put a couple more coats of CA back on, followed by brasso, but didn't seem to get it back to where it was before.

Like I said, more practice needed probably.

Or stick to friction polish. Does the friction polish wear with time?

 

[Grump]

Or stick to friction polish. Does the friction polish wear with time?

No sir it wears with use not time.

 

[Robert]

No sir it wears with use not time.

But the CA finish won't?

 

[Grump]

But the CA finish won't?

Ahhh but it will, practice practice practice.
Then chuck it all in bin and go to pub.

I was having a problem with my golf swing so I saw the club pro who gave me the best advise.
He said when you can't get things right, take a break, have a holiday two weeks off.
Then when you return give it up altogether.
Good advise I no longer play golf and have no problem with my swing, it worked for me init?

 

[paulm]

I put on about 3 coats of CA and it was looking really good/shiny. So I thought I'd better give it a quick rub down, cos that's what I saw on you-tube/threads on here, so used 600 grit followed by some micromesh pads, and all the good work disappeared. Put a couple more coats of CA back on, followed by brasso, but didn't seem to get it back to where it was before.

Like I said, more practice needed probably.

Or stick to friction polish. Does the friction polish wear with time?

When you rub it down the surface will go white. Use the 600 wet and dry and then 1200 wet and dry to bring back to a dullish shine and then apply the car polish or cutting cream for buffing cream... whatever and the shine should come back instantly

 

[Grump]

Everything wears with use but ca is the longest lasting, hardest wearing and shiniest finish we have available for a quick finish.
The more you apply the deeper the shine, the finer the grit, the shinier it will be.
Look up a few youtubes and watch a French polisher in action, apply the same techniques and you will be astounded at the results.
So nice you won't want to touch it when finished for fear of putting a finger print on it.
No need for expensive finishing products, I use ordinary everyday household scourers to talc, people laugh until they see it demo'd then they cry at the money they have spent.
I use clear boot polish as my micro crystalene wax which buffs and seals to a high gloss cheap as chips init?

 

[billyb_imp]

Nice work there Rob, with a good finish