BLO & CA

mdwilliams999 · 04-21-2011, 10:58 PM

I have made about 10 pens using the alternate BLO, CA (medium) approach - about 5 layers on a medium speed. I move quickly so not to have any buildup. I don't have any cloudiness and the pen has a nice shine to it. I also finish it with either Rennaissance wax. The problem (or concern) is that the pen has shine but doesn't really seem to have any depth to the finish. Also, after a day of handling the pen it seems to loose some of its shine. Looks more like Semi-gloss/satin than gloss or high-gloss. Am I doing something wrong?

thewishman · 04-21-2011, 11:04 PM

You may be sanding through the CA.

KenV · 04-21-2011, 11:05 PM

Depth of the light reflection (chatoyant) starts with a good surface on the wood and builds with the finish.

You can over work/polish the surface of the wood and loose depth. 600 grit to 1000 grit abrasives seem to be about optimal. Back lighting to assure the surface is smooth helps.

I often use a "scratch remover" too.

Note that you can develop the premium finishes with lacquer, Enduro etc also --

mdwilliams999 · 04-22-2011, 03:43 PM

Ken, do you feel that using the micro-mesh is overkill. Currently I use MM in order to 12,000 and then apply the BLO and CA. Maybe I should try a pen stopping at 600 grit and then apply BLO and CA to compare the differences.

Chris, I'm not sanding between each application of BLO and CA.

G1Pens · 04-22-2011, 03:55 PM

I sand to 600. Apply CA/BLO THEN...if I want high gloss with lots of depth, I MM to 12000. If I want it to look more natural I leave it as is or only partially go through the MM.

Craftdiggity · 04-22-2011, 03:59 PM

Even if you build up several layers of CA, it is not hard to sand through it. What I do is apply 6-10 coats of CA, then sand from 400 up to 1200. I then apply 3-6 more coats and lightly sand again up to 1200 just smoothing the bumps. After that I buff with the Beall system and...viola! This ought to give you a nice finish with some depth.

Whaler · 04-22-2011, 04:03 PM

I sand the blank to 600, apply 6 to 8 coats of med CA/BLO and go straight to the Beale wheels. I never sand after the finish is applied.

Rangertrek · 04-23-2011, 07:56 AM

So many methods and finishing techniques! Nice to see the options used by our many members to get a nice finish.
I sand to 600 grit, apply 2-4 coats of thin CA, then 4-6 coats of med. CA, maybe a scratch cover and then plastic polish. No sanding after the ca is applied.

rsulli16 · 04-26-2011, 04:21 PM

ca and blo have gone good for me the last few times, soo, here's another 2 cents worth. i sand to 600, wet with blo. then a drop of blo on the towel, a drop of med. ca on the oil, rub fast and lightly. 10 coats. then "eee" and plastic polish. (fingers crossed) i hope i got it this time, worked real well. i gave up sanding ca, it dulls it never takes it evenly, or it sands thru in places.
hope this helps
sulli

babyblues · 04-26-2011, 04:27 PM

It may be that the surface of the CA isn't glassy smooth and the shine you're seeing is from the BLO, which would wear off quickly after handling.

04-21-2011, 10:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
mdwilliams999 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Glenville, NY Posts: 49 Photos: 0	BLO & CA I have made about 10 pens using the alternate BLO, CA (medium) approach - about 5 layers on a medium speed. I move quickly so not to have any buildup. I don't have any cloudiness and the pen has a nice shine to it. I also finish it with either Rennaissance wax. The problem (or concern) is that the pen has shine but doesn't really seem to have any depth to the finish. Also, after a day of handling the pen it seems to loose some of its shine. Looks more like Semi-gloss/satin than gloss or high-gloss. Am I doing something wrong?

04-21-2011, 11:04 PM	#2 (permalink)
thewishman Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Reynoldsburg, Ohio, USA. Posts: 4,354 Photos: 0	You may be sanding through the CA. __________________ Chris Non Impedite Raditioni Cogitationis. (Unencumbered by the thought process.) Tom and Ray Magliozzi

04-21-2011, 11:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
KenV Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Juneau, Alaska. Photos: 0	Depth of the light reflection (chatoyant) starts with a good surface on the wood and builds with the finish. You can over work/polish the surface of the wood and loose depth. 600 grit to 1000 grit abrasives seem to be about optimal. Back lighting to assure the surface is smooth helps. I often use a "scratch remover" too. Note that you can develop the premium finishes with lacquer, Enduro etc also -- __________________ Ken Vaughan Old Foopus Apprentice Machinist - Back in Alaska

04-22-2011, 03:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
G1Pens Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Atlanta, GA area (Suwanee/Cumming) Posts: 1,837 Photos: 145	I sand to 600. Apply CA/BLO THEN...if I want high gloss with lots of depth, I MM to 12000. If I want it to look more natural I leave it as is or only partially go through the MM. __________________ Gary V Kohl G1 Pens Winner 2011 Beginner's Most Beautiful Pen - Birthday Bash "nisi dominus frustra"

04-22-2011, 03:59 PM	#6 (permalink)
Craftdiggity Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Egg Harbor Township, NJ Posts: 1,329 Photos: 0	Even if you build up several layers of CA, it is not hard to sand through it. What I do is apply 6-10 coats of CA, then sand from 400 up to 1200. I then apply 3-6 more coats and lightly sand again up to 1200 just smoothing the bumps. After that I buff with the Beall system and...viola! This ought to give you a nice finish with some depth. __________________ Chris Merlino If at first you don't succeed... Deny you ever tried. www.woodntreasures.com

04-22-2011, 03:43 PM	#4 (permalink)
mdwilliams999 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Glenville, NY Posts: 49 Photos: 0	Ken, do you feel that using the micro-mesh is overkill. Currently I use MM in order to 12,000 and then apply the BLO and CA. Maybe I should try a pen stopping at 600 grit and then apply BLO and CA to compare the differences. Chris, I'm not sanding between each application of BLO and CA.

04-22-2011, 04:03 PM	#7 (permalink)
Whaler Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sequim, WA, USA. Posts: 1,346 Photos: 6	I sand the blank to 600, apply 6 to 8 coats of med CA/BLO and go straight to the Beale wheels. I never sand after the finish is applied. __________________ Dick http://www.picasaweb.google.com/rgpete2/Turnings# http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001445648478

04-23-2011, 07:56 AM	#8 (permalink)
Rangertrek Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bossier City, Louisiana, USA Posts: 1,781 Photos: 33	So many methods and finishing techniques! Nice to see the options used by our many members to get a nice finish. I sand to 600 grit, apply 2-4 coats of thin CA, then 4-6 coats of med. CA, maybe a scratch cover and then plastic polish. No sanding after the ca is applied. __________________ "Courage is being scared to death... and saddling up anyway." [John Wayne] 2nd Place - 2011 Edible Pen Contest Ranger (2001 -2011) Our Beloved Shelty John Carlisle

04-26-2011, 04:21 PM	#9 (permalink)
rsulli16 Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 129 Photos: 0	ca and blo have gone good for me the last few times, soo, here's another 2 cents worth. i sand to 600, wet with blo. then a drop of blo on the towel, a drop of med. ca on the oil, rub fast and lightly. 10 coats. then "eee" and plastic polish. (fingers crossed) i hope i got it this time, worked real well. i gave up sanding ca, it dulls it never takes it evenly, or it sands thru in places. hope this helps sulli
rsulli16 Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 129 Photos: 0

04-26-2011, 04:27 PM	#10 (permalink)
babyblues Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Portland, ME, USA. Posts: 642 Photos: 11	It may be that the surface of the CA isn't glassy smooth and the shine you're seeing is from the BLO, which would wear off quickly after handling. __________________ ` I could be chasing an untamed ornithoid without cause.

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