blue dyed box elder

[skewzdust]

This is a pen I made my wife for xmas. Blank was from Penn State and the finish is many coats of CA. It's hard to tell in this photo but the CA has gone cloudy in a few areas. This happened within a couple of weeks of light use. You can see it just to the right of the centerband. (see the red line) It seems to be on the surface and I've been able to buff it out for the most part. I've noticed this same effect on a pen I made for my daughter, but my olivewood "daily driver" with CA hasn't shown anything like this in over a month. I suspect it has to do with PH or something. Anyone seen this effect?

 

[Old Griz]

Very nice... I really like the color and the finish looks good.. Sometimes that clouding is a result of moisture.. too high humidity in the shop...

 

[skewzdust]

Thanks. In this case I don't think it was moisture. In the dead of winter here everything is really dry. But I'll keep that in mind when summer rolls around.

 

[opfoto]

Great looking pen.

 

[Tom McMillan]

Another great looking pen Steve!!

 

[KKingery]

Could be alot of things.....did you use BLO/CA, or just a CA finish? Could have been something it came in contact with etc.....regardless, it's one fine lookin pen!

 

[WoodChucker]

I don't have an answer for you, but that's a nice looking pen! Hope you fine out what the problem is.

 

[DCBluesman]

That's a beautiful pen, Steve. As for the CA, some of it is not as pure as other brands, so it's possible that this is where your problem is coming from. If you are using one of the better hobby or industrial grades, that shouldn't be the problem, but some of the no-names do tend to haze. Just a thought.

 

[Gary]

Very nice work, Steve.

 

[skewzdust]

I've been using locktite CA. I thought they would have a consistent formula but maybe that's not the case. Any suggestions?

 

[Fleabit]

Good looking pen. I have never had any clouding after the fact, but during the application I did a few times. Ended up being too cold in the shop. Fixed that with a heater.