Experiment

[Cwalker935]

I turned 4 american chestnut blanks and tried 4 approaches to finishing. Different approaches to applying Pensplus was used on 2 of the blanks, one approach used CA and one approach used BLO and CA. Can you tell the difference or have a preference?

 

[flyitfast]

Hard to say, although you do have good photos.
I would say that 2 & 4 are with CA with 2 having BLO.
The rougher texture on 1 & 3 are probably Pens Plus, but not many coats.
If the would was sanded equally (maybe it is, but can't tell) then it might be a better evaluation. #4 looks like it has a smoother surface - maybe it is just the CA.
I'm probably way off.
gordon

 

[triw51]

To what grit did you sand the blanks? To me they do not have a lot of shine. Usually when I see a CA finish there is more shine. Again just my thoughs

 

[magpens]

#4 looks best to me .... surface features of the wood are better filled and/or covered .... but that could be because it started off with less surface features

 

[Cwalker935]

Despite the photo, 1 actually has a smooth finish possibly the smoothest. I expected more shine from the CA as well. This was weathered barn wood and a little soft. Perhaps I needed more coats of CA. On the CA, 2 coats, reversed 2 coats, forward 2 more coats. I sanded thru 2400, applied huts, and then buffed. I have not gotten comfortable with CA. My personal preference is a less plastic look but feel like I need a higher gloss finish for certain pens. No buffing on the pensplus.

 

[mjrbuzz]

i'm still very new but my best finish is with meguiers <----hope thats spelled right, Auto body polish. seems to polish up better then anything else i have tried including novus plastic polish. well on CA that is.

 

[magpens]

What do you mean when you say "reversed 2 coats" ? I am not familiar with that terminology.

If you don't like gloss, you can use very fine steel wool ( 000 grade ) to get a matte finish on the CA after you have sanded it ( I sand to 2000 grit wet and dry ).

 

[Cwalker935]

By reversing, I mean that I changed the direction of the rotation when applying the CA. I put the CA blank back on the lathe applied 8 more coats of CA, went thru all grades of MM, applied huts and buffed. More shine but not as much as I expected. Reversed the order in this photo.

 

[mjrbuzz]

do you sand between coats of ca, say after 8?

 

[Janster]

the last one, far right looks best to me!

 

[JimB]

#2 looks best to me in the first pic. It seems to shine better but that could be the grain difference rather than the finish.

# 2 and 3 look best in the second picture.

 

[Cwalker935]

1&2 pensplus, 3 BLO and CA, 4 CA. Decided that I like 2 the best.

 

[JimB]

I would not have thought that 1 and 2 had the same finish.