Fist I'm pleased you like them. I'm not a fan of CA its to artificial for me and quite fiddly but that's not to say I never use it its good to have a choice. Melamine seems to retain the feel of wood. But its just my opinion.
The wood is Maple Ebony and Oak. The Kit is called Atom 2 from Penkraft UK.
Yes I used a blank and drilled on the Lathe then cut them to required thickness and glued them on the pen tube.
Thats correct but the thin black line is Epoxy residue but I don't think it detracts but happened by accident. The Epoxy I used cures in 5 mins so you have to work fast.
I often finish my CA with a satin finish and doing so also creates a more "natural" look but with the durability of CA. As you say it is more fiddly though. I've never mastered a melamine finish to my satisfaction but yours is good.
Mal
At 75 whats 5 years.. hahaMal
the melamine we use over here is in a cellulose base so hardens really quickly and comes , as Kcmidrib says in 500ml tins. I think you are comparing it to model enamel which comes in small cans of about 20ml?
hope this link works? https://chestnutproducts.co.uk/
Im not. 5 minute epoxy fan baseĀ£ on past experience building model RC aircraft when after about 5 years some of the joints became a bit soft again whereas the precision version of araldyte ( 24 hour final cure) stayed rock hard. For our uses it's probably fine though and would considerably speed up my blank making
Chestnut products supply many finishing products I use there Sanding Sealer and Burnishing Cream also Spirit Stains I like. My test sofar have shown Burnishing Cream doesn't work on Melamine Laquer but after Miromesh on CA it's excellent.
Mal
the melamine we use over here is in a cellulose base so hardens really quickly and comes , as Kcmidrib says in 500ml tins. I think you are comparing it to model enamel which comes in small cans of about 20ml?
hope this link works? https://chestnutproducts.co.uk/
Im not. 5 minute epoxy fan baseĀ£ on past experience building model RC aircraft when after about 5 years some of the joints became a bit soft again whereas the precision version of araldyte ( 24 hour final cure) stayed rock hard. For our uses it's probably fine though and would considerably speed up my blank making
I've looked on the net and can't find a Canadian supplier apparently its classed as hazardous. Craft Supplies USA stock it. But will they ship it ?
Being a Laquer I wonder if Automotive Laquer would give a finish I think I tried yeas ago in Aerosol form but can't remember how successful it was, But should give a hard finish, being Acrylic it just mite work lots of thin cotes and fairly fast drying.
Also best to use Sanding Sealer when using Melamine to stop absorption.
