keithbyrd
Member
I have used a lot of CA for my pens. The last two years have been frustrating. I usually put 3-4 coats of thin then 3-4 coats of medium. Two problems:
1. I was experiencing some cracking in the finish using stickfast so abut two .years ago I switched to Gluboost. At first i thought this is good but I could not get away from gumming up sandpaper after letting it cure even overnight. So I switched to mercury. About 50% of the time I have the same problem - gumming up the sandpaper and having a heck of a time getting it smooth. I let it cure overnight most of the time and degloss it with 4/0 steel wool and it still happens about 50% of the time. I dont get it!
2. On open grain woods like black walnut and mahogany I cant seem to get a finish without little white specks in the pores. I sand to 6oo and 4/0 the blank, blow it of with air compressor and wipe it down with DNA and I still get it. Last week I finished a black walnut and it took 4 tries - sanding down between each try till it was clean in the finish. I don't get it.
I fairly consistently get the same results. I used paper towel to apply, switched to plastic bag and, switched to paper towel and alternate to apply - still get it. Does anyone have any answers or suggestions? Your help is greatly appreciated - I have gotten to where I don't want to make wood pens especially open grain wood pens! HELP!
1. I was experiencing some cracking in the finish using stickfast so abut two .years ago I switched to Gluboost. At first i thought this is good but I could not get away from gumming up sandpaper after letting it cure even overnight. So I switched to mercury. About 50% of the time I have the same problem - gumming up the sandpaper and having a heck of a time getting it smooth. I let it cure overnight most of the time and degloss it with 4/0 steel wool and it still happens about 50% of the time. I dont get it!
2. On open grain woods like black walnut and mahogany I cant seem to get a finish without little white specks in the pores. I sand to 6oo and 4/0 the blank, blow it of with air compressor and wipe it down with DNA and I still get it. Last week I finished a black walnut and it took 4 tries - sanding down between each try till it was clean in the finish. I don't get it.
I fairly consistently get the same results. I used paper towel to apply, switched to plastic bag and, switched to paper towel and alternate to apply - still get it. Does anyone have any answers or suggestions? Your help is greatly appreciated - I have gotten to where I don't want to make wood pens especially open grain wood pens! HELP!
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