Gatsby Sapphire Blue

[qquake]

This is a black and chrome Gatsby, with a blank called Sapphire Blue, both from Rockler. The blank is like the old "Crushed Velvet" blanks. I'm a little underwhelmed, there's not much figure in it. I'm used to seeing more "flakes" in blanks like this. But overall, it's not too bad.

 

[More4dan]

Beautiful Pen, fit and finish look perfect! What method do you use for finishing/polishing?


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[qquake]

Through experimentation and with TonyL's advice, I've come up with a regimen that is working really well for me. I wet sand with 320-400-600; polish with all 6 grades of 3M Tri-M-Ite wet; then finish with Meguiars 105 and 205.

 

[More4dan]

Wonderful results. How long do the 3M sheets last? They seem pricey to me. I use micro mesh pads that last for about a year. Thanks for sharing.


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[magpens]

Nice !! .

I use a similar "regimen" but with different products that are more readily available in Canada ... a different Meguiar's for the next to last stage, and then Novus 3 and Novus 2 for the fine finishing, followed by Meguiar's PlastX. . The Meguiar's products are surprisingly versatile.

Often I can go straight from the 600 grit to the Meguiar's "coarse" and then the fines without any specialty polishing pads.

 

[qquake]

Wonderful results. How long do the 3M sheets last? They seem pricey to me. I use micro mesh pads that last for about a year. Thanks for sharing.
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I think the Tri-M-Ite is comparable in price to Micro-Mesh, if not cheaper. It comes in 8-1/2" x 11" sheets, vs. the Micro-Mesh 2" x 2" squares. I realize you use both sides of the Micro-Mesh, but the sheets still have a lot more surface area. I don't know how long it will last, I don't turn all that many pens. I cut the sheets into quarters, and I'm still on the first set. I've polished maybe a dozen pens with the first set, and will be able to polish many more with it. One of the things I really like about the Tri-M-Ite is that I get the same results with only six grades vs. the Micro-Mesh 9 grades.

Zona 37-948 3M Wet/Dry Polishing Paper, 8-1/2-Inch X 11-Inch, Assortment Pack One Each 1, 2, 3, 9, 15, and 30 Micron: Toy Vehicles: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

Zona 37-948 3M Wet/Dry Polishing Paper, 8-1/2-Inch X 11-Inch, Assortment Pack One Each 1, 2, 3, 9, 15, and 30 Micron: Toy Vehicles: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

www.amazon.com