Hi Padre, in answer to your question, its the ca finish (10-20 coats of thin) left over night thats doing my head in. This is the bigest pen I have done yet and wondered if the size is a factor. I thank you for your interest. Johnnie.
Cambridge hybrid is a very nice kit and abit on the larger size. It is also a kit that does not leave much material eft after turning to fit the kit. Here is where you need to be dilligent in what you are doing. I will start with your finish. You are using to me way too many coats but if you are compensating for this by over turning the blank then you may get away with it. But remember you are now making what seems like like very little material and making it even thinner. You are adding a surface that does not flex because of the brittleness of its nature.
Next thing to address. Is the tubes being round. I have had on other kits tubes that either have been squashed or something made them oblong and they way I noticed this was when I placed the spacer bar for the barrel trimmer in the tube it would not slide in easily. I now check this all the time before I glue any tube in any blank. Lesson learned the hard way.
Next is the size of the parts and this is where a good set of calipers is so important in pen turning. We can not take it for granted that each tube and each kit part fits exactly. Again a lesson learned the hard way. Need to make sure the fit is not overtight.
Next and lastly is the cleaning of the inside of the tubes before fitting up the parts. Needs to be free of CA and or burrs around the edges from trimming, thus the reamer comes into play. Another valuable tool. Also after doing that many coats of CA you are bound to have buildup on the very edges of the tubes which I like to hit with sandpaper used on the back of a barrel trimmer. A coupl light passes and it will mean a world of difference.
If all this fails then pack all your kits up and send them to me.
