Thanks George,
My wife had asked for a natural finish for these pens, and since they were for her to auction off at 2 different holiday charity auctions I did what I was asked. The finish is a modified French polish using shellac then an end polish with carnauba wax. I tried not to put too many coats on it as I wanted the natural wood to stand out over a glass type finish you get from a full French polish so it was 2 coats of shellac and 1 waxing.
I can't use regular CA as I seem to be allergic to it and like the look of shellac and wax on woods such as this.
Mike,
Sure mate, these look extremely good in the natural finish and maybe a "fairer"/more appropriate finish as the Truffle has a very special and different smell that wood lovers would like and appreciate so, the fact that I said I would like to see them with a deep gloss finish, I should have said that, I would like to see "some" of the Truffle blanks finished that way, as I'm yet to finish a raw piece of Truffle, I've done stabilised and cast.
One thing that I would do if was myself and wanted to have the natural finished and that is, I would stabilise the blank, why...??? because in my view anyone that wants to present a natural finish in a pen and what it to stay looking good, clean and strong, no other process would give the wood what the proper stabilizing would give, that is, wood hardness, wood stability, wood sealing capabilities and no other product would be necessary to finish it, a simple fine sanding and a good rub with the common acrylic polishing liquid/past and the wood will preserve all its natural colours with allowing dirt and everyday contamination elements to affect the wood and finish, making to look good, always and for cleaning, a simple rub with polish compound and is as new...!
For me, there is an added cost of $1.50 for the stabilization of each blank, for pens to be finished with CA, stabilizing wouldn't be necessary but for natural finish, that would be well worth it...!:wink:
Cheers
George
