CA Not behaving itself.

Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad
M

MatthewZS

Member
Joined
Jul 22, 2010
Messages
482
Location
Georgetown Texas
I've applied a CA finish before... I'm not expert, but I know my way around the process and it's different variations that this shouldn't be happneing. I'm workin on a piece of walnut. Previously from the first coat of CA I could start to see a glossy surface. With this walnut tho I apply a coat and let it set and walk back to it and it's mily white.... the whole surface that is and still feels like wood. I apply another coat same thing, third coat the whole thing starts to get lumpy looking. Even after hours of curing if I try to sand one of these layers it's like sanding a rubber ball, the CA peels off and clumps up.....

Is my glue bad? Is the humidity too high? No yellow socks?
 
Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad
Is it the same brand you used before? I noticed a difference in behavior when I changed brands, and had to re-experiment and change methods. Now I stick to one brand of glue.
 
Same brand.... actually reason I mentioned humidity is I last used this CA in texas.... I've since moved to Oregon and it's been raining for a week..... I'm wondering if I'm going to have to re-learn CA....
 
GIven that, and on the assumption it is Med you are using, it might be humidity. I'm in Michigan (which is pretty humid and my shop is in the basement) and if I let medium sit on the blank to cure, it turns white. I dont know if it's humidity or something else that casues it, but now I use accellerator and I dont get the white. (it also goes much faster :D).
 
Sound like you have some moisture affecting the CA. I would suggest you try a very fine spray of accelerator to set the CA.
 
Monty said:
Sound like you have some moisture affecting the CA. I would suggest you try a very fine spray of accelerator to set the CA.
Click to expand...

I actually just ordered some accelerator from you as well as some other stuff.

I've looked around and can't find anything..... have I seen people say that using a woodchuck properly will lead to much less sanding prior to either micromesh or polishing compounds?

I need supplied and I figure this is a good time to try and solidify a process. Should I buy sandpaper and micromesh and plastic polishes or skip the sandpaper and micromesh and get a woodchuck or all of the above or something else? Keep in mind, I would just wily nily buy one of everything but I'm on a VERY tight budget.

Thanks:)
 
There really isnt just one answer. I can get away with out sanding on some woods until after CA is applied - for example I simply don't sand segmetned blanks so I dont contaminate light colors with dark dust and visa versa. But, some woods need sanding. And, if it is all one kind of wood, then I usually sand.

The wood chuck is a good tool - I dont think you will be sorry to get one.

If my CA is really rough (usually) I use the woodchuck to smooth things out (light cuts), then start wet sanding the CA at 600 grit.

The woodchuck is really great on PR. After a light smoothing pass, I can usually start sanding at 1000 grit.
 
A CA finish done well is a wonderful thing, but as is noted with previous posts, a CA finish can also be very frustrating. I use a French Polish finish Bill Sampson introduced me to which I would put up against any CA finish and never have the problems so many describe when trying to use CA. And it takes a fraction of the time.
 
jppensplus said:
A CA finish done well is a wonderful thing, but as is noted with previous posts, a CA finish can also be very frustrating. I use a French Polish finish Bill Sampson introduced me to which I would put up against any CA finish and never have the problems so many describe when trying to use CA. And it takes a fraction of the time.
Click to expand...

Well, I'm one of those that would like to know what that French Polish finish is and what other steps you take to make it so successful...!

I'am all for trying new things, particularly if they are an improvement...!:wink:

Cheers
George
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom