Sealer yet another question

[Guest]

This sanding sealer stuff is pretty good,Mylands.
It was reccomended to use CA as a slurry to fill the pores prior to applying the sanding sealer.
I was wondering if the sanding sealer could also be used for this.
Has anyone tried it?
I don't want to reinvent the wheel if it is common practice,don't want to waste my time if it is not a good idea.
When it comes to finishing larger projects the topic of finishing is one I know very little about.
When it comes to pens I seem to knopw less and the learning curve keeps getting steeper.

 

[Fred in NC]

Sanding sealer should do it. I hate to have multiple layers of dissimilar materials, like CA, then sealer, then more CA ... I know sealer will seep into the wood, and CA will stick to it.

 

[bnosie]

Can somebody give me some details on using sanding sealer? I have not tried it yet, I'm not sure of the method.

 

[Fred in NC]

My sanding sealer is blonde shellac. Shellac is called the universal sealer, because you can put just about anything over it and it will stick to it.

Most of the time I sand to about 600, and then apply the shellac with a little pad. Allow to dry, which it does pretty fast, and lightly sand 600 again before putting on a second coat. Then I sand through the grits and finish.

 

[bnosie]

You let it dry first? Completely dry, or still kinda tacky? That's the part I have been unsure of, whether you let it dry good or sand it wet.

 

[Fred in NC]

Bill, shellac dries very fast, it is alcohol based. Besides, the first coat soaks right into the wood (with most woods). I keep a cheap hair dryier by the lathe, and unless the shop is very hot, I give it a shot of hot air after a few seconds, when it starts looking kind of dull.

Because if the way I setup to do my pens, I always have something to do while waiting. For one thing, I have several mandrels, and a 2x4 with holes in it to hold them. So I can worn on a pen, take it off the lathe, and let it dry on the rack, while I work on another one. I usually work pens in batches of 4. Also, I drill and glue, etc. while I am waiting.

 

[bnosie]

I'm gonna have to try that, sounds simple enough. Thanks, Fred.

 

[Fred in NC]

Couple more thoughts . . .

Shellac also seals oily woods so that the oil does not mess up the finish.

Since it is alcohol based, and I put it on with a wad of paper towel or shop towel, it does remove some of the surface oil.

Just my experience, your mileage might vary !!!