CA looking like “Crackle glaze”

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howsitwork

howsitwork

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Ok

I've heard a lot about how CA is a great finish but never had a lot of luck with it personally .

So on a hybrid blank decided to give it a go ( earlier this year and finally got round to writing this )
CF207635-0D76-47E2-9568-10EC8F327CEF.jpeg
as you can see this looks like crackle glaze . So where's the perfect smooth look everyone raves about ( and shows to my chagrin on IAP ! )

Never had anything like this with my favourite melamine so I'm doing something wrong here !

Process was 2 or 3 coates of thin -all ok then a coat of medium and few more coats ( remembering to let cure overnight as don't like accelorator ) . I know I need to micromesh to "remove lines " but seriously 😳.

on another I ended up back at resin and semi matte wood ( not pictured as this one's bad enough). It's on the wood as well not just the resin ( aluminite clear ) so it ain't a resin /CA reaction .

clues please folks ?
 
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What process did you use to sand or polish after applying the CA?

Before I developed a consistent method of application, my CA finished blanks that had an uneven looking surface kind of like the one in your picture, but that was before I did wet sanding and polishing.

I wet sand around with the lathe set at about 1000 RPM then along the length with the lathe off with all 9 of the MicroMesh pads. If it isn't quite as glossy as I want then I follow wet sanding with either buffing using PSI's blue buffing compound and a no compound flannel wheel or by running through the six grits of the SPB Magic Juice liquid polishing compounds from Stadium Pen Blanks.

The MicroMesh "Grits" are:
1500 (30 Micron Grit Size = Same as 400 grit ANSI or CAMI USA Grit)
1800 (15 Micron Grit Size = Same as 600 grit ANSI)
2400 (10-12 Micron Grit Size = Between 800 grit and 1000 grit ANSI)
3200 (9 Micron Grit Size = 1200 grit ANSI)
3600 (8 Micron Grit Size = 1350 grit ANSI)
4000 (5 Micron Grit Size = 1500 grit ANSI)
6000 (4 Micron Grit Size)
8000 (3 Micron Grit Size)
12000 (1-2 Micron Grit Size)

Regards,
Dave
 
Honestly, my CA finish always looks like that before I begin the micromesh phase. If you are sanding through the finish then you probably need more coats. You said a few coats of medium after the thin...how many is that? I often will do 8 or more before I feel comfortable to start "meshing". Also I don't wait overnight for each coat.......it's CA and I don't like accelerator either. You might get some insight from the GlueBoost guys.....I haven't tried it yet. Good luck, keep at it!
 
It doesn't come smooth especially the first few times for most people. That looks like you used paper towel for the applicator. It often looks like yours when applied with PT. I, and several others use thin styrofoam applicators and it goes on much smoother and no paper towel to absorb more that it applies.
 
Disclaimer; I do not pretend to be even a mid level turner, not close to most of the people who post pics here, but the finish on my pens is very nice. I have finished maybe 60?? pens and have given most away. This is a hobby for me not a business.

I use Don's (It's Virgil) BLO/CA method. I then dry sand with MM and then polish with the Beall system using Tripoli, white diamond and carnauba. Have had no issues with bubbling, crackling, etc. except when I tried another method that involved using accelerator.

The BLO I am using I bought in the 80s when I lived in Co. Springs. I use medium Starbond CA.

Look for It's Virgil's instructions for boiled linseed oil/CA finish in the resources here. I used it on my first pen and have been using since. The initial finish before sanding is very good and then after sanding to 12000 grit MM, it is very nice. And there is no waiting overnight to dry or accelerator, etc. It is also very quick.
I have not had any pen finishes crack, cloud or whatever.
I do live in Albuquerque and the humidity is very low most of the time.
I have tried a few other finishes and got some good results, but Don's method is my favorite.

Mike
 
howsitwork said:
Ok

I've heard a lot about how CA is a great finish but never had a lot of luck with it personally .

So on a hybrid blank decided to give it a go ( earlier this year and finally got round to writing this ) View attachment 379935as you can see this looks like crackle glaze . So where's the perfect smooth look everyone raves about ( and shows to my chagrin on IAP ! )

Never had anything like this with my favourite melamine so I'm doing something wrong here !

Process was 2 or 3 coates of thin -all ok then a coat of medium and few more coats ( remembering to let cure overnight as don't like accelorator ) . I know I need to micromesh to "remove lines " but seriously 😳.

on another I ended up back at resin and semi matte wood ( not pictured as this one's bad enough). It's on the wood as well not just the resin ( aluminite clear ) so it ain't a resin /CA reaction .

clues please folks ?
Click to expand...
what about humidity/temp in your workshop? very important factors, although this one seems that its not the case. It looks like you tried to spread ca while the glue began setting and your fingers messed the finish.
 
MedWoodWorx said:
what about humidity/temp in your workshop? very important factors, although this one seems that its not the case. It looks like you tried to spread ca while the glue began setting and your fingers messed the finish.
Click to expand...
Humidity is honestly not an issue ( have a dehumidifier in workshop ) . Glue was spread with polythene applicator ( from memory ) . First few coats were fine then it went to crackle on about coat 3 or 4 . They are not my finger prints , honestly , although it may look like that. I am meticulous NOT to touch blanks after applying the CA when I leav3 them to set.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone . I shall try over the festive break and report back

Merry Christmas one and all
 
howsitwork said:
Humidity is honestly not an issue ( have a dehumidifier in workshop ) . Glue was spread with polythene applicator ( from memory ) . First few coats were fine then it went to crackle on about coat 3 or 4 . They are not my finger prints , honestly , although it may look like that. I am meticulous NOT to touch blanks after applying the CA when I leav3 them to set.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone . I shall try over the festive break and report back

Merry Christmas one and all
Click to expand...
Crackle: There is/was one CA glue brand here (4 or 5 years ago) in the USA that over a year or two - several people had crackle with the brand although not everyone who used that brand had problems. I have been using CA of many brands for years and never had that problem, and then had that problem with that brand at that time.

Then there is the occasional crackle that can be traced to old CA.
 
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