CA Finish Questions

[THarvey]

I have a question for all you CA experts. I posted this pen in SOYP. It is spalted maple burl.

It is hard to see in these photos, but the finish looks like it has glitter in it. I thought at first there were bubbles in the finish, but under magnification there is something in the finish. Could this be part of the peckiness of the wood floating into the finish?

I am very happy with the pen. I just wonder what the glitterly stuff is that is catching the light. (AND, can I repeat it?) :biggrin:

Thanks in advance.

 

[randyrls]

Could be sanding dust embedded in the finish?

You can buy "glitter" in various sizes from several places. Craft stores sell spray cans of silver and gold glitter in a clear lacquer.

 

[RussFairfield]

It is silica from the soil the tree grew in. The tree grew in sandy soil, so there was a lot of it, and the blank came from close to the ground. You may not have noticed, but it will dull your tools a lot faster than a cleaner wood.

 

[THarvey]

It is silica from the soil the tree grew in. The tree grew in sandy soil, so there was a lot of it, and the blank came from close to the ground. You may not have noticed, but it will dull your tools a lot faster than a cleaner wood.

Thanks Russ.

I noticed my skew seemed to dull quickly for this wood to be so soft. I did not put the two together.

Silica makes sense.

Looks cool, though.

Tim