Do You Apply CA With the Lathe On Or Off?

[crokett]

Just wondering. I keep the lathe turning. The finish is turning out rougher than I like. It is not a huge deal, since I use Micromesh anyway, but what kind of finish do you get with CA and how do you apply it?

 

[redneckmedic]

I've done both.. now I CA with it off. Word of caution, if you put a liquid on a spinning object don eye protection.

 

[Dalecamino]

I have never seen anyone apply ca with the lathe off. You only put a puddle the size of a dime on at a time. Try it...go back and forth 3 times, real quick, at low speed. 6-8 coats. It will be smoother, and much less sanding.

 

[lorbay]

I have never seen anyone apply ca with the lathe off. You only put a puddle the size of a dime on at a time. Try it...go back and forth 3 times, real quick, at low speed. 6-8 coats. It will be smoother, and much less sanding.

+1

Lin.

 

[Sataro]

I apply a dime size drop & rub it back & forth about twice. Then I like to pinch the paper towel together & make one more pass. Then just multiple coats till I'm satisfied... I run my lathe around 1400 rpm when applying CA.

 

[crokett]

Thanks dale. Tonight I tried only 2 or 3 wipes per coat, and it went much better . I didn't have to do as much sanding with the micromesh to get it smooth again.

 

[Dalecamino]

Glad to help, and glad it improved.

 

[Ehunt]

I also learned last weekend to keep the lathe running until the CA sets up. I was doing odd jobs around the house during the dry time, so turned off the lathe before I walked away. Wet CA runs, leaving thick and thin spots. Spent an hour trying to figure out why my finish wasn't working before it hit me what I was doing different to what had previously been working for me.

 

[mrcook4570]

round pens, CA with lathe on (slow speed)
flat sided pens, CA with lathe off

 

[keithbyrd]

Interesting - I run at about 500 rpm but never use MM to sand - I sand first with 400 then 600, cross sand between grits and then MM

 

[plano_harry]

400 rpm, thin EZ Bond CA, 5 second cure, quick wipe down and back 1 time, 16 coats with wisp of accelerator every 4 coats. If you have the patience, let it cure maybe 30 minutes before polishing it out. The finish looks so smooth I usually only need a lite touch with 600 wet to level before MM.

I used to have ridges with a thin/medium combo until I went straight thin. (Thanks Martin!)

 

[mmoncur]

I do my CA finishes with the lathe off. I start with a coat of thin or medium CA, let it dry, sand almost all of the way off, then follow with 5-6 coats of medium CA. Micromesh smooth. Works great for me.