moe1970
Member
What are the recommended finishings for Lignum Vitae and African Blackwood? I am turning my first ones soon and have read that they are very oily. Is it better to just use that oil as a finish or will CA hold? Thanks in advance.
Lignum Vitae / African Blackwood
- Thread starter moe1970
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In my experience CA can be applied to Lignum Vitae.
How long it lasts I do not know. . Lignum Vitae used for pens can be difficult .... The wood can crack several years after finishing.
I have had this happen more than once. . The wood seems dry ... make a pen and finish with CA ... several years later stresses seem to build up ... CRACK !
The crack seems to originate in the wood .... not the CA finish. . The thickness of the wood on the brass tube is under 0.10". . Long Clicker pen kits.
Strangely, unused pieces of Lignum Vitae from the same batch have not cracked. . But of course, they're not glued to brass so are free to move at will.
How long it lasts I do not know. . Lignum Vitae used for pens can be difficult .... The wood can crack several years after finishing.
I have had this happen more than once. . The wood seems dry ... make a pen and finish with CA ... several years later stresses seem to build up ... CRACK !
The crack seems to originate in the wood .... not the CA finish. . The thickness of the wood on the brass tube is under 0.10". . Long Clicker pen kits.
Strangely, unused pieces of Lignum Vitae from the same batch have not cracked. . But of course, they're not glued to brass so are free to move at will.
eharri446
Member
I know that Stick Fast has a CA glue which has some flex to it. Would that prevent woods like snakewood, African Blackwood, and Lignum Vitae from crack once they are glued to a tube. Or would epoxy be a better glue for those woods?
CA will wear with use, as any surface finish. The beauty of very hard woods is they are very dense. So I would just polish it, up to MM 4000 or more. Maybe oil it w with BLO (not a surface finish, but impregnating will theoretically fill wood under the surface , even if I am not sure it could add something to such hard woods like Vitae and African Black wood.
So in doubt, just make a careful polish and that's it.
So in doubt, just make a careful polish and that's it.
PatrickR
Member
I can't comment on Lignum, I have some but have not turned it into a pen. I have made several using African Blackwood and finished them with CA. It has been fine, no cracking or adhesion problems. AB is not as oily/resinous as Lignum but just as hard and dense.
PatrickR
Member
No, in my experience. I have not had cracking issues with AB but have with SW and Pink Ivory. All used epoxy and CA. I had a set of SW ready to assemble that sat on my bench (un heated) for two years without cracking. It cracked very quickly after assembly. I think it was the radial pressure. I am trying some things now to keep them from cracking.
Bryguy
Member
I don't finish my Africam blackwood pens with anything. Sand to 1500 grit and polish with Renaissance wax.
qquake
Member
GuyOwen
Member
Bees Wax in my experience Lignum vintae finishes really well with bees wax i have only turned ebony and not black wood