Natural Pen Finishing Help Please

[donstephan]

Out of curiosity, what is a "natural" finish?

 

[d_bondi]

Out of curiosity, what is a "natural" finish?

Don,
What I was searching for here was something that leaves the wood looking/feeling like wood, but provides protection.
CA doesn't do that, it puts a acrylic coating over the wood, that looks great, but. you loose some of the wood character and feel.
Hope this makes sense.
David

 

[leehljp]

I did a pen/pencil set (slimline pro with paduk blanks) about five years ago and used a friction finish on it. I use the pencil fairly frequently, and the finish is still holding up. The pencil has darkened a bit more, but it's also had a lot more exposure to light.

I just use the "odie's shine juice": equal parts boiled linseed oil, denatured alcohol and shellac. I've heard good things about the Myland's brand friction finish as well. Will probably try it next time I do a friction finish because my shellac has gone off.

In the Scrollsaw world there is a specific art called "intarsia" - the making of 3D pictures out of cutting different shaped sections out of different kinds and colors of wood. The purists will insist on not painting the wood for color, but using the natural colors of wood. The problem is that over time, most all woods will change color even if covered with good coats of clear finishes of any or all kinds.

Most all woods will change color over time due to the tannins or other natural chemicals within the sap and cells - finish or no finish. It can't be stopped. Some will change in 6 months or so and some in 5 to 10 years.

Intarsia Patterns, Judy Gale Roberts, Scroll Saw Blades, Wonder Wheel

Best Intarsia Patterns: Judy Gale Roberts. Woodworking Intarsia patterns, scroll saw blades, and woodworking tools. Commission Intarsia

intarsia.com

 

[dogcatcher]

I also refinish gunstocks. I use a mixer of BLO, mineral spirits and spar varnish. Using a 1to1to1 ratio. Three or so coats and I still get a wood feel. Not the plastic look and feel that it has with CA or too many coats of spar varnish.

I used to have one client that I only used sun bleached flaxseed oil with a little beeswax in it. I used to clean and redo his stocks on an almost annual basis. I use this mix in my tool handles.

 

[Woodchipper]

Re: dogcatcher's reply, I have used Birchwood Casey's Tru-Oil which says it's a blend of linseed oil and other oils. Hmm.: redo a stock every year? Never heard of that.

 

[brainick]

Beaufort Ink - Achieving success with melamine as a pen finish

Achieving success with melamine as a pen finish

www.beaufortink.co.uk

Hopefully this link will work.

Hello Alan and thank you.
Unfortunately the link doesn't work for me.

Last week, I tried this method since I had all the materials on hand. I would like to share the results for your preference.

The pen on the left is finished with the carnauba wax (stick) over the melamine lacquer.
The pen on the right is finished with the Renaissance wax over the melamine lacquer.

I am happy with the result that my macassar wood didn't lose its charm with that method.

 

[d_bondi]

Last week, I tried this method since I had all the materials on hand. I would like to share the results for your preference.

The pen on the left is finished with the carnauba wax (stick) over the melamine lacquer.
The pen on the right is finished with the Renaissance wax over the melamine lacquer.

I am happy with the result that my macassar wood didn't lose its charm with that method.

They both look great, thank you for sharing!