A couple of begining pens.

[darrin1200]

Hello all

Just joined the forum and thought I should post some samples of my work. I have only been at this for a about a month now, so friendly critisisms and critics are graciously accepted.
(Translated, I'll take all the help I can get)

I use a CA/BLO finish, but havn't settled on a specific procedure yet. Still working on that. Read lots of tutorials and watched videos, now I just have to try a few. These are done by sanding to 12000 MM, then 6 coats CA/BLO applied symultaniously then buffed with HUTT high gloss stick.

Darrin

 

[ZanderPommo]

all look great but for CA finishes they're a bit dull, try sanding up to 12k after finishing then buff if necessary, you should see a difference, also ive only ever sanded up to 600 grit BEFORE applying CA then 12k AFTER, but whatever works for you. i cant see a difference between 600 and 12k if done before ca except maybe more sanding dust in the pores when bringing it up to 12k.
just my 2 cents

 

[glycerine]

all look great but for CA finishes they're a bit dull, try sanding up to 12k after finishing then buff if necessary, you should see a difference, also ive only ever sanded up to 600 grit BEFORE applying CA then 12k AFTER, but whatever works for you. i cant see a difference between 600 and 12k if done before ca except maybe more sanding dust in the pores when bringing it up to 12k.
just my 2 cents

On the other hand, he may not have been attempting a high gloss finish. It could be the lighting at well. Diffused lighting can sometimes hide the true shine...

 

[Mrs Rojo22]

Really nice!

Robin

 

[johncrane]

Very nice pens!

 

[PaulSF]

All are very nice (beginner? Hah!), but my favorite is the khaya. Is that wood, or some other substance?

 

[PenMan1]

Looks nice. Keep up the good work. CA/BLO takes some time to master. Then when you think you have it all figured out, something will change. You are doing very well for a beginner!

 

[Lenny]

Yup! Look just like my first month pens .... NOT!!!
Those are very nice! Welcome! I'll look forward to seeing more of your work!

 

[darrin1200]

Thanks for all the great comments.

I am actually going for a gloss finish. My lighting is having some effect, I do difuse the light quite a bit. I will try getting a little more shine with the lights. I am going to try some CA/BLO variations over the next few days, including dry sanding to 600 before and wet sanding to 12000 MM AFTER (just picked up some MM pads) then maybe apply the polish.

Kaya is an African mahogany species. I am not even sure now where I got it.

 

[glycerine]

I don't know if the CA/BLO is harder to do than just plain CA, but I've always done just CA, with no BLO. I have heard that the BLO will dull the finish. If you're going for high gloss, I would just use CA, lots of coats and be sure to use a plastic polish to really make it shine.

 

[Displaced Canadian]

I also just use CA. Great job.