Post Graduate SpectraPly

[qquake]

The pen is a Post Graduate from PSI. The blank is a SpectraPly called Blue Angel, from Cousineau Wood Products. I'm not at all happy with how this turned out. A lot of the blue "bled" over to the white during sanding. I tried cleaning the lower body with denatured alcohol, but I think that made it worse. Then I blew off both bodies with compressed air before applying the CA finish. Blowing them off did help the upper body, but not the lower. I'm not sure what I could have done differently. Any ideas?

 

[qquake]

You can really see it in these closeups. Not sure I'll turn anymore SpectraPly blanks, unless they don't have any white or light colored layers. This isn't like the old Dymondwood, which was impregnated with resin. It seems that SpectraPly is just laminated.

And the refill tip extends a bit too far. I was careful not to trim the body too much, so not sure what happened there.

 

[qquake]

Note to self: Wear gloves when applying CA with paper towel. I've never had to use acetone to remove CA from my skin before, but it seemed to work.

 

[jttheclockman]

As I say over and over again here, learn to use the skew and throw away the sandpaper. The skew is your friend whenever it comes to any type segmented blanks.

 

[MTViper]

I've had good luck with putting 2-3 coats of thin CA glue on the turned blank before I start sanding. I let it dry for a few minutes then sand normally. This tends to seal the pores and keep the blue dust from filling in the pores on the white layers.

Steve

 

[mark james]

Myland's Sanding Sealer may also be helpful.

I have not been a fan of the spectra ply recently both for the precision of the laminate joints (ends are fuzzy - cannot come close to the clean cuts from home-grown) as well as the sanding issues.

 

[OZturner]

That is a very Nice Pen, Jim.
Shame about the Bleeding with the Sanding.

A Tip, for Applying the CA.
I use one the small Zip Lock Bags that the Kit Components come in.
I slip one over the Finger, that I am going to use to back up the paper, applying the CA.
It is very quick, and I don't have the difficulty of putting on a rubber glove, and then removing it.
Plus it is easily disposed, and costs Zero.

Regards,
Brian.

 

[jttheclockman]

I take a set of gloves and just cut the fingers off. Now I have 10. That is right 5 from each glove right. i think I did the math right.

 

[Sataro]

That is still a nice pen even with a bit of bleeding.

 

[terry q]

Jim I stabilize all my spectra ply blanks and have had no bleeding problems.

 

[DLGunn]

Jim I stabilize all my spectra ply blanks and have had no bleeding problems.

Any issues with the colors from the blanks getting into the stabilizing resin? You use same resin for different color blanks?