On a side note, I think the term "patina" on a pen with a friction polish finish applied should be replaced with "built up oily body grime". I have yet to see a pen with a friction polish finish after being in use for a period of time that didn't look like grimy! :wink:
Then this might be a first for you, George. My youngest sone turned this spalted Pecan pen for me when he was 12. He is 25 now and I carry, and have carried this pen nearly everyday since he gave it to me. While the shine has long since worn off, I certainly don't see any grime. I know the barrels are a little proud, I knicked it somehow up by the finial, and the plating has worn off where I hold it. But the Pecan still looks amazing... IMNSHO.
Now concerning the question originally posed, we have all had different and varying experiences in this art we call pen turning. And these experiences mold our views, results and opinions. This means that you will get almost as many opinions as there are pen turners. But we all agree on one point. No friction finish, and Mylands is a friction finish, is a lasting finish. But that doesn't necessarily mean that it should be dismissed... IF that is what you want to use for a given pen. For me, I reserve it for hard, dense, oily woods that will stand on there own with normal wear and tear.
Just by way of example as to the differences of opinion, I won't do any more CA finishes. Yes, I have done them successfully, and many here swear by them. But I had a repeat cutomer bring a curly Cherry pen back to me after 3 weeks looking like it never had a finish at all. And the wood was NASTY looking. The acids in his body chemistry ATE the finish away (he used the pen alot!). I refinished it in lacquer and 2 years later it still looked good.
Ray, I have tried rubbed lacquer (not Urushi, the Japanese style), but I wasn't very successful with it. I don't think I had the patience for it. I only use the dipping method for lacquer because I have found it to give ME the best results. You may, or may not have the same result.