Foggy CA/BLO Finish

Dulos · 07-23-2011, 10:02 AM

I am continually running into this problem with my CA/BLO finish. I get little patches of foggy spots in my finish. I have tried every variable I can to eliminate the problem but it still persists. There are times when I think I got it right but a few minutes later the foggy patches emerge. I can't figure it out. Here is what I have tried so far...
- I tried CA only and letting it cure between coats
- I tried a new bottle of CA
- I tried different paper towels
- I tried various speeds from 500 to 5000
- I tried more BLO, less BLO
- I tried to really get the finish hot as it cured (friction), or keep it cool
- I tried it on a wide variety of woods
Every once in a while I will have one turn out, but there does not seem to be any rhyme or reason to the issue. I would appreciate any help you can give me.

Thanks for your help guys!

Dulos

Akula · 07-23-2011, 10:06 AM

don't stop....when I put on CA, it starts out clear, turns "foggy" but keep rubbing and it will clear right up..or it should

also if it's one spot, make sure there is no water...sweat, any moisture on that spot

renowb · 07-23-2011, 10:31 AM

Humidity maybe?

Bree · 07-23-2011, 10:34 AM

I put a coat of thin CA on first to seal the wood, then I switch to CA/BLO, CA/BLO, CA/BLO... as many coats as I want. CA first BLO second. I never put on BLO to wood first as that runs the risk of fogging the finish... undried oil under the CA.

If you plan to wet sand the finish make sure that you start by dipping the ends of the blanks in thin CA to seal the ends otherwise water from the wet sanding will wick into the wood under the CA and fog the finish.

Sometimes if you put on many layers and sand down thru some too much Ren Wax can afix itself to the edge of the layer and look like fog. Very annoying. Apply light and keep the heat down.

Hope that helps

SCR0LL3R · 07-23-2011, 10:47 AM

I've only had this happen a couple times... Always when it's really hot and humid. It might not even be the weather directly, it could be sweat on my hands getting on to the paper towel. Just something for you to consider.

BSea · 07-23-2011, 11:12 AM

One thing I do is clean with denatured alcohol. If the material is oily, like ebony or cocobolo, I use a very liberal amount of DA. Almost to the point of the paper towel dripping with DA. This seems to dry out the outer layer of the wood. Since I've started doing this along with skipping the accelerator, my fogging problems have gone away.

I probably just jinxed myself.

its_virgil · 07-23-2011, 11:43 AM

One thing I don't do is use denatured alcohol to clean blanks when applying CA glue for a finish. Water readily dissolves into alcohol (water in air such as high humidity). I use CA glue accelerator which I purchase in the bottles. I really like the aersol for using as an accelerator but use the bulk bottles for cleaning. The accelerator evaoprates quickly and causes no ill effects.

I'm not trying to be arguminitive but just sharing what I have experienced.

Do a good turn daily!
Don

Quote:

One thing I do is clean with denatured alcohol.

Bobalu · 07-23-2011, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by its_virgil

One thing I don't do is use denatured alcohol to clean blanks when applying CA glue for a finish. Water readily dissolves into alcohol (water in air such as high humidity). I use CA glue accelerator which I purchase in the bottles. I really like the aersol for using as an accelerator but use the bulk bottles for cleaning. The accelerator evaoprates quickly and causes no ill effects.

I'm not trying to be arguminitive but just sharing what I have experienced.

Do a good turn daily!
Don

Quote:

One thing I do is clean with denatured alcohol.

Ditto on not using DNA. I use to get those foggy finishes, but switched to using CA accelerator for cleaning the blank. I also stopped using BLO, but not because of the foggy finishes. I just found CA alone was all I needed to get a great finish. Another part of my CA finish process is to let the blanks gas out for 24 hours before doing the final sanding.

BSea · 07-23-2011, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by its_virgil

One thing I don't do is use denatured alcohol to clean blanks when applying CA glue for a finish. Water readily dissolves into alcohol (water in air such as high humidity). I use CA glue accelerator which I purchase in the bottles. I really like the aersol for using as an accelerator but use the bulk bottles for cleaning. The accelerator evaoprates quickly and causes no ill effects.

I'm not trying to be arguminitive but just sharing what I have experienced.

Do a good turn daily!
Don

Quote:

One thing I do is clean with denatured alcohol.

I didn't think you were being argumentative.

I wasn't thinking water was the problem. For me it's been oily wood. And DA has helped. But I also rarely use accelerator anymore as that has been reported by some to be a problem with fogging. So if accelerator helps, I'll start using that to clean blanks since I have a pretty good supply that rarely gets used.

nativewooder · 07-23-2011, 06:07 PM

How about your blanks: dry or wet or somewhere in between? Dry is better.

07-23-2011, 10:02 AM	#1 (permalink)
Dulos Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Faribault, MN Posts: 7 Photos: 0	Foggy CA/BLO Finish I am continually running into this problem with my CA/BLO finish. I get little patches of foggy spots in my finish. I have tried every variable I can to eliminate the problem but it still persists. There are times when I think I got it right but a few minutes later the foggy patches emerge. I can't figure it out. Here is what I have tried so far... - I tried CA only and letting it cure between coats - I tried a new bottle of CA - I tried different paper towels - I tried various speeds from 500 to 5000 - I tried more BLO, less BLO - I tried to really get the finish hot as it cured (friction), or keep it cool - I tried it on a wide variety of woods Every once in a while I will have one turn out, but there does not seem to be any rhyme or reason to the issue. I would appreciate any help you can give me. Thanks for your help guys! Dulos

07-23-2011, 10:06 AM	#2 (permalink)
Akula Join Date: May 2007 Location: seabrook, texas, USA. Posts: 449 Photos: 0	don't stop....when I put on CA, it starts out clear, turns "foggy" but keep rubbing and it will clear right up..or it should also if it's one spot, make sure there is no water...sweat, any moisture on that spot __________________ Stay away from the darker side, and if you start to go astray, let the force be your guide.

07-23-2011, 10:34 AM	#4 (permalink)
Bree Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 1,739 Photos: 3	I put a coat of thin CA on first to seal the wood, then I switch to CA/BLO, CA/BLO, CA/BLO... as many coats as I want. CA first BLO second. I never put on BLO to wood first as that runs the risk of fogging the finish... undried oil under the CA. If you plan to wet sand the finish make sure that you start by dipping the ends of the blanks in thin CA to seal the ends otherwise water from the wet sanding will wick into the wood under the CA and fog the finish. Sometimes if you put on many layers and sand down thru some too much Ren Wax can afix itself to the edge of the layer and look like fog. Very annoying. Apply light and keep the heat down. Hope that helps __________________ Stay safe out there! Bree What a long strange trip it's been! The 60's will never leave, if we refuse to leave them!!

07-23-2011, 11:12 AM	#6 (permalink)
BSea Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Little Rock, Arkansas Posts: 1,018 Photos: 0	One thing I do is clean with denatured alcohol. If the material is oily, like ebony or cocobolo, I use a very liberal amount of DA. Almost to the point of the paper towel dripping with DA. This seems to dry out the outer layer of the wood. Since I've started doing this along with skipping the accelerator, my fogging problems have gone away. I probably just jinxed myself. __________________ Bob Central Arkansas IAP Chapter Member See some of my Blanks at Slabs Blanks & Boards

07-23-2011, 06:07 PM	#10 (permalink)
nativewooder Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Fort Pierce, Fl 34982 Posts: 484 Photos: 0	How about your blanks: dry or wet or somewhere in between? Dry is better. __________________ Barry L Elder

07-23-2011, 10:31 AM	#3 (permalink)
renowb Join Date: May 2009 Location: Spring, TX Posts: 2,056 Photos: 0	Humidity maybe?

07-23-2011, 10:47 AM	#5 (permalink)
SCR0LL3R Join Date: May 2011 Location: NS, Canada Posts: 387 Photos: 1	I've only had this happen a couple times... Always when it's really hot and humid. It might not even be the weather directly, it could be sweat on my hands getting on to the paper towel. Just something for you to consider.

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