Jim Nugent
Member
I've been doing OK with CA and accellerant, but I would like to look at some alternatives. I've used PenPlus, but it sometimes gums up on me. Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks.
I don't have an alternative beyond what all have mentioned (except Solarez, AlumiUV, liquified clear acylic, diamond coat, - none are as easy to work with as CA or the others.), but I do know that Pens Plus (it's just walnut oil, lacquer, and some "secret sauce" possibly) has to be applied almost hot and allowed to cool. The videos don't show that, but that has been my experience. I grip the paper towel or t shirt material (small piece so it doesn't catch anything) very tight and spin it at 2500 rpms. When it is almost too hot to the touch, I stop, let it cool for a minute and then continue. Same goes for the micro abrasive wax. You may be doing all of this already. Just try to give you a suggestion. Happy turning!I've been doing OK with CA and accellerant, but I would like to look at some alternatives. I've used PenPlus, but it sometimes gums up on me. Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks.
Which brand/formula do you like? And why don't you use it on pens? Thanks!I only use CA on wood pens but if I had to I would use spray on lacquer hands down. Durable, flexible, easily repaired if need be and pick any shine you want easy clean up and no dipping and dripping involved. Never could figure that dipping thing because it does accumulate at the bottom of the blank. But that is just me I guess.
Which brand/formula do you like? And why don't you use it on pens? Thanks!
Thank you John.Tony when I do some scrollsawn pieces and they require a top coat finish and there is not too many, I will use Deft or Watco. If I have a large amount of projects then I break out the HVLP gun and use waterbased lacquer and spray them.
As for pens, being I do not make many wood pens, I just stick with the CA finish which I have been doing for many years.
I have become pretty good at that so just stick with it. As they say if it is not broke do not fix it. But I would have no problem with using lacquer if I need a quick pen. I bet many of these fancy pen finishes have either lacquer or poly as the base ingredient in them, if they are not a CA form of finish. Not much else out there to use as a top coat.
No problem Tony. Just was outside and cut the grass. After that I sprayed 3 scrollsawn plaques with Watco satin clear lacquer. 5 or 6 coats and such a nice day for drying it was easy to finish. Still not in pen mode yet. Still woodworking. Sometime in mid Dec. I should be able to switch over if no big order comes in. Will be good to get back to making some new designed pens and trying some new things.Thank you John.