Please 🙏🏻 Help Fix

[djschwartz]

I am fairly new to pen turning and can't seem to figure out how to get rid of these little indentations in the wood. My steps are to turn to form, sand 150-600, thin CA 8 coats, wet sand through 12,000, and then finish on buffing wheel. From a distance, you can't see the marks, but as you get closer, I can see them. Would you just chalk this up to a characteristic of the wood? I turn with Easy Tools, and I understand it is more of a "scraper" tool. I use one of the tools as strictly a "finishing last pass" tool.

 

[leehljp]

Those marks look more like bumping or even from something pressing against it momentarily while you are maybe assembling the pen. Those dents/marks are not the result of turning itself nor is it the characteristic naturally of the wood.

Some dents are radial and some are not. I would speculate that something was set down on the blank (after it was turned) and it both rolled on the table and even turned with the weight on top. Those indentations appear to have occurred after it was finished with CA.

On second thought, how stiff is your buffing wheel?

 

[KMCloonan]

I agree with Hank - it looks like dents in the wood. What are you using to assemble the pen? Are you holding (clamping) the barrel while pressing in the end components?

 

[djschwartz]

I agree with Hank - it looks like dents in the wood. What are you using to assemble the pen? Are you holding (clamping) the barrel while pressing in the end components?

A nice push assembly vise from Woodcraft.

 

[djschwartz]

Those marks look more like bumping or even from something pressing against it momentarily while you are maybe assembling the pen. Those dents/marks are not the result of turning itself nor is it the characteristic naturally of the wood.

Some dents are radial and some are not. I would speculate that something was set down on the blank (after it was turned) and it both rolled on the table and even turned with the weight on top. Those indentations appear to have occurred after it was finished with CA.

On second thought, how stiff is your buffing wheel?

I use the triple Beale buffing system. It looks like I can see the small indentations after CA finish

 

[1080Wayne]

I agree with Hank on the radial dents , but I think the others are small surface tear outs caused by your tool . Filling them will require a coat or more of medium CA , then sanding back to a uniform level surface . A bit more sanding prior to CA application might have eliminated them . Be aware that any wood species with large open pores , such as oak , can be difficult to make totally smooth .

 

[wouldentu2?]

After you turn the blank and its rotating at about 1100 rpm lay your finger tips on the blank. If it feels smooth it is good. Looks like you had tear out you can feel that as its rotating. 8 coats of Thin CA does not fill that.

 

[djschwartz]

I am fairly new to pen turning and can't seem to figure out how to get rid of these little indentations in the wood. My steps are to turn to form, sand 150-600, thin CA 8 coats, wet sand through 12,000, and then finish on buffing wheel. From a distance, you can't see the marks, but as you get closer, I can see them. Would you just chalk this up to a characteristic of the wood? I turn with Easy Tools, and I understand it is more of a "scraper" tool. I use one of the tools as strictly a "finishing last pass" tool.

I agree with Hank on the radial dents , but I think the others are small surface tear outs caused by your tool . Filling them will require a coat or more of medium CA , then sanding back to a uniform level surface . A bit more sanding prior to CA application might have eliminated them . Be aware that any wood species with large open pores , such as oak , can be difficult to make totally smooth .

Would you recommend using medium CA instead?

 

[wouldentu2?]

It takes more thin coats than medium coats, thin coats dry faster.

Put on five coats , lightly sand and look for any shiny spots. These are low spots that need more CA. repeat until there are no more shiny spots.

 

[1080Wayne]

Would you recommend using medium CA instead?

I always start with 2 or 3 of thin , then switch to medium . The thin used first seals the wood better than medium will .

 

[Woodchipper]

It takes more thin coats than medium coats, thin coats dry faster.

Put on five coats , lightly sand and look for any shiny spots. These are low spots that need more CA. repeat until there are no more shiny spots.

Gonna get cold here so 5 coats makes sense!
OK, getting serious here. This has been an interesting thread and replies. I got a pen press a few years ago and it has paid for itself many times. I first got the one that uses the lathe but it wasn't the best. I still have it.

 

[gbpens]

The wood looks a lot like which is a very open grain. Thin CA will not fill the gaps. Try medium CA and sand after two or three coats. It will probably take about 8 coats and sanding to fill all the gaps and tear outs. If you do not sand after every 2 or 3 coats doing 8still will not get rid of the pin hole problem. CA doe not fill pin holes. It requires sanding and CA.