Accelerator keeps clouding up.

[bsshog40]

I have gotten used to it but here is what's happening. I start with 2 coats of thin CA and then 2-4 coats of med CA. After that, I always spray accelerator and it clouds up my finish. I then sand with 4000mm and put about 2-4 more coats of med CA on. Then I MM sand to finish. I have gotten into the habit of using this method. I like using the accelerator in the middle of my finish to ensure the CA is hardened before putting on my last coats. Is there a reason why the accelerator always clouds up after I spray it on? I have sprayed it immediately, waited a minute and sprayed it, but either way I spray it clouds up. I've gotten used to this method but was wondering if maybe I'm applying the accelerator wrong. Thanks for any advice!

 

[1080Wayne]

Think it is the outer surface of the CA that is clouding , not the accelerator . Believe it is caused by the on-going curing of the underneath layers of CA . Accelerator hastens cure initiation and hardens the surface , but that doesn`t mean that it is fully cured . You can prove that to yourself by taking a piece which has begun to show the haze , set it aside overnight , and then add more CA . The first coats won`t haze but if you put on too many the problem will reappear .

 

[leehljp]

I experienced this on several occasions in temps below 70° and did not do any finishing below 50°. Too many problems in finish in cool temps. If your shop is heated, it should not be a temp problem though.

 

[bsshog40]

I always wait until the CA is dry to touch before I apply another coat. Not saying it's cured though but I have seen videos of people applying CA coat after coat. I have a 215,000 btu heater that I heat my shop up before applying CA. I also have two halogen spotlights that shine on my blanks and they give off some pretty good heat too. I try to get it about 65-70dg with the heater. It gets hotter than that but it takes extra heat to circulate in the shop. Could be temp.

 

[thebillofwrites]

What type of accelerator are you using?

 

[bsshog40]

I bought this a while back.

 

[Woodchipper]

I use Titebond Accelerator from Woodcraft. I have never, so far, experienced any CA problems. In the colder weather, I heat the shop to the mid to upper 60s. That's about all it will do until I close off the metal garage door and insulate the wall.
Hank, thanks for your comment.

 

[bsshog40]

Thanks Tom. Maybe I'll try that brand and see what happens. Thanks y'all!

 

[Pierre---]

I experienced it only once, with a bad sprayer that spited drops instead of blowing a cloud of fine particles. So check the nozzle. Or try another brand with a better spray.

It also helps to spray when the lathe is running in my opinion, staying far from the pen (say 10" at least) to avoid dropping.

 

[Woodchipper]

It also helps to spray when the lathe is running in my opinion, staying far from the pen (say 10" at least) to avoid dropping.

I run my lathe at the lowest speed for a few seconds when applying a quick blast of accelerator.

 

[bsshog40]

It also helps to spray when the lathe is running in my opinion, staying far from the pen (say 10" at least) to avoid dropping.

I run my lathe at the lowest speed for a few seconds when applying a quick blast of accelerator.

I do too! I apply ca at my lowest speed of 570rpms. When I spray accelerator, I'm usually at least 10-12" away. Half of the haze is mostly white dust but I still have to quick sand it to get it all off.

 

[Charlie_W]

I have heard that it is best to use the same brand CA and Accelerator as they were formulated to work together.

 

[bsshog40]

Well I bought both my ca and accelerator from the same place, rabid models. The can really doesn' have a brand name on it, just the sellers name. The ca I'm using is Robs R/C hobbies.

 

[Woodchipper]

FWIW, CA and accelerator are Titebond brand.

 

[KenB259]

This can also happen if you spray it to close to the pen, you want to be back at least 12 inches.


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