Problem with finish

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fbaudrit

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Joined
Jun 22, 2010
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2
Location
Costa Rica
Hello,


I hope someone can help me with this.
I follow this process after shaping the blanks:

1. Sanding all the way to 600
2. Clean with denatured alcohol
3. Apply EEE with a paper towel
4. Apply Hut Crystal Coat with a paper towel

In several of my last pens they develop white specks along the grain lines, like something white is embeded in there.
Any ideas?

Fernando
 
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fbaudrit said:
Hello,


I hope someone can help me with this.
I follow this process after shaping the blanks:

1. Sanding all the way to 600
2. Clean with denatured alcohol
3. Apply EEE with a paper towel
4. Apply Hut Crystal Coat with a paper towel

In several of my last pens they develop white specks along the grain lines, like something white is embeded in there.
Any ideas?

Fernando
Click to expand...

Lint from the paper towel?

I use a strip of cotton cloth (from an old t-shirt) to apply EEE and friction polish.

I sand to 1500 or 2000 before applying EEE.
 
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Some woods have an open grain that fills in with sanding dust or finishes. I usually use a drop of CA to the 320 grit sandpaper after I've used that grit - building a bit of dust on the paper to mix in with the CA and fill all of the pores or voids. Sometimes I need to repeat that step two or three times to make the surface perfectly smooth.
 
I would sand to a very fine grit before applying the wax. Open grain wood can catch all kinds of things. I would also encourage you to try a different finish. Good luck and welcome.
 
This could be a whole plethora of things...

First, get some acetone to wipe with! It is cheaper than DNA (at least here anyway) and it will do a better job of cleaning the debris from you tube. ALSO, try NOT to use tools or sandpaper over the bushings. "Bushing" dust makes a big ole mess on wooden pen blanks.

Second, EEE is a LAST ALTERNATIVE in my shop. TRY TO SKIP THIS STEP IF YOU CAN. The EEE results vary greatly for each wood grain.

Third, use a ratty T-shirt "rag" instead of PT to apply the acetone. Even the best paper towel leaves "lint". Be mindful to use Small sections of T-shirt and keep it from the spinning lathe.

Fourth, use CA as a sanding sealer on a clean blank.

Fifth, watch Youtube, read the tutorials here and learn CA finishes. OR learn spray on Poly finishes, ETC..... Your finished work will reflect the work that you put into it......YEARS from now.

IMHO, EEE and Shellawax are marketing gimmicks to help you obtain instant gratificaton. They are also finishes that will disappoint in a few weeks or a months. CA, Plexoglass and Poly will provide lasting results. If you decide to "go pro" the EEE will be your nemisis.
 
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Thank you

Thanks for all the suggestions and information!
I will try these and report back as soon as I can.

Thanks again


Fernando
 
Once I initially clean with DNA, I turn off the lathe and also clean using DNA with the grain. This pulls the last bit of stuff out of the grain better than with the lathe on. I also will flood the blank with DNA with the towel under the blank to rinse dust off.

Be careful with acetone. i read somewhere that it will absorb through the skin and can damage your liver.
 
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