I had an epiphany!

[angboy]

I've been trying forever to perfect my CA finish. The first few times I did one, it came out great, and while things like that should improve over time, it seemed like my CA finishing skills were rapidly declining. I've gotten input from several people about how they do theirs and have watched some great turners demontrate their technique. Well finally, I was watching the youtube video that someone posted about the grub32 finish and I had an epiphany while watching it.

I noticed something, probably something everyone else did that I just never noticed, but I realized that he seemed to be using a paper towel to spread the CA. I was using foamy stuff to spread the CA- so as to avoid it sticking- and so was ending up with major ridges on the barrels, and then when I'd go to try to sand those out, I'd end up sanding away my CA finish.

So today I tried spreading the CA with a viva paper towel instead, and wiping it across well so that the surface ended up pretty flat. Amazingly, it seemed to work! Now I've only done one pen finish so far with this new found insight, but hopefully other ones that I try to finish with CA now will come out better. I kept wondering, how are people getting rid of these nasty ridges after they apply the CA, but now I think hhmmm... maybe they never created them in the first place!

 

[Rangertrek]

I started with paper towels, tried several other materials, always come back to the paper towel. Works best for me.

 

[angboy]

Since I was reminded of the rule of thumb around here that "no pictures, didn't happen" I decided to add some pictures of this pen with the CA finish. (I actually quoted that saying to a friend the other day when he forgot to take pix after visiting somewhere that I've been dying to go and I told him he couldn't log the cache since he didn't get pix, and I used this site as a reference for that steadfast rule!) :biggrin:

(And BTW, credit for the great pen blank goes to wood-of-1kind!)

 

[PaulDoug]

After a couple year using just CA (and I was good at it, if I do say so myself) I tried this method on the last three pens I've made. This is how I do it now. I love it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orcgOf4siqc&feature=player_embedded

 

[gketell]

Angela, #1 rule for a sweet CA finish: use a hard sanding block behind your sandpaper for early sanding. The hard block will make it so you hit just the ridges and the sandpaper can't get down into the valleys to punch through the finish.

Great looking pen!!

GK

 

[mtgrizzly52]

I've been using Russ Fairfield's method of using the CA first and then follow up with the BLO. It works great, I recently found out when I tried somebody else's method and destroyed a nice pen....long story! You can find Russ's method here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54VkKcFRSWQ

The only other thing I've discovered is that Bounty paper towels work for me a whole lot better than the Viva, because once in awhile the Viva will leave little pieces of fiber in the CA if you're not careful. I've not had that experience with the Bounty.

Main thing is patience, and practice.

Rick (mtgrizzly52)

 

[jocat54]

After a couple year using just CA (and I was good at it, if I do say so myself) I tried this method on the last three pens I've made. This is how I do it now. I love it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orcgOf4siqc&feature=player_embedded

X2--I could never get a good CA finish until I watched this video (thanks George) and now I get good finishes everytime (so far)

 

[Billman]

These days I have gone from using paper towels to the plastic bags that hold all the parts from the kit to apply the CA. I use a lot less CA with that method.

 

[ROOKIETURNER]

I am a fan of Russ's method. The link is above. Although Grubb has a great finish as well. Russ's site gives you three different uses for the CA. First a CA filler, then a CA only finish and finally CA/BLO finish.

Here is the link to Russ Fairfield's page:

http://www.woodturnerruss.com/PenPages-FinishingPens-CAglue.html

 

[TellicoTurning]

I've been trying forever to perfect my CA finish. The first few times I did one, it came out great, and while things like that should improve over time, it seemed like my CA finishing skills were rapidly declining. I've gotten input from several people about how they do theirs and have watched some great turners demontrate their technique. Well finally, I was watching the youtube video that someone posted about the grub32 finish and I had an epiphany while watching it.

I noticed something, probably something everyone else did that I just never noticed, but I realized that he seemed to be using a paper towel to spread the CA. I was using foamy stuff to spread the CA- so as to avoid it sticking- and so was ending up with major ridges on the barrels, and then when I'd go to try to sand those out, I'd end up sanding away my CA finish.

So today I tried spreading the CA with a viva paper towel instead, and wiping it across well so that the surface ended up pretty flat. Amazingly, it seemed to work! Now I've only done one pen finish so far with this new found insight, but hopefully other ones that I try to finish with CA now will come out better. I kept wondering, how are people getting rid of these nasty ridges after they apply the CA, but now I think hhmmm... maybe they never created them in the first place!

Angie,
I'm just the opposite... I started using the paper towel method and never got a good finish... plus the CA soaks into the towel and you lose 1/2 or more on each application... I use the little foam strips from the sheets that come wrapped around electronics... one drop of CA per application and wipe it back and forth quickly. I use the accelerator after the first coat then after about every 3 coats and the last... then wet sand through the little pads from PSI.... works for me. I use the medium CA from Monty and don't seem to get any ridges... I did when I tried to use the thick CA and the thin is so watery I get more on my hands than on the blank... Medium seems to be just right.:biggrin: