Discoloration

[tmegow]

New to penturning so I need some advise.
I get maple cut offs from a local cabinet maker. Some have really nice figure.
I tried making a few pens and the wood stained dark on each end.
I suspected metal from the bushing getting into the pores.
I tried using Minwax wood hardener and it helped some.
(I am not currently setup to stabilize wood yet).
Would a sanding sealer help?
Different bushing for sanding/finishing??
What am I missing here ???
Thanks Y'all
Tom
Ala

 

[Akula]

Sounds like you are dragging the dirty sandings from the bushings back in to the wood.

Derlin bushing will prevent this from happening but you should clean the blank before applying your finish. I use DNA (denatured alcohol) to get anything off and then I use boiled linseed oil to bring the wood grain and pop back when I use CA as the finish. This is just how I do it and others will do it another way.

 

[low_48]

Sand from the center of the pen to the end, not from the end to the center as the main fix. Wrapping your paper on a paint stir stick can also help in not going too far onto the bushing.

 

[turncrazy43]

Sand and finish between centers. Mic the blank for proper diameter.